I am totally in pre-holiday mode now. I have three more classes to teach, and then Youth group, and then I am essentially DONE. For over a week, DONE.

I am so looking forward to it.

I'm pretty well packed - the first thing that got packed were the books to read (three mystery novels - an Inspector Alleyn mystery and a couple of modern 'cozies'- and I can blow through those pretty fast, and a book on statistics and its role in the development of modern science, and one called "Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth"). And projects are packed. Then I packed clothes and the Christmas presents to take home.

I hope I can finish the Lady Detective Hat this afternoon/ evening after youth group. It would save me having to either lug the heavy "Knit 2 Together" book or bring it up here and make a surreptitious photocopy of the pattern (Surreptitious because I don't know if it's ok for us to use the copier for "personal" use).

I have to say this: I really, really do not like doing the twisted stitch pattern it calls for. I like how it looks and all, but it's murder (heh...Lady Detective Hat) on the hands. Basically, it is a p-2-tog, and then IN THE SAME TWO STS YOU PURLED TOG (without dropping them off the lefthand needle), you have to k-2-tog.

And this is on a size 11 circular needle where the stitches I'm working with BARELY fit. And this is Noro Iro, a thick and thin yarn - and woe betide you if you're in one of the thick fluffy bits if you're on the p-2-tog, don't drop sts, k-2-tog row.

I will say I am on the LAST brim row requiring that treatment - after this row, it's just plain knitting or decreases until the hat's done.

But, ow. I don't think I'll be making another one of these, unless it's out of a much more tightly-spun yarn.