A day off

If I can push myself to do my little bit of grading, and read a few more journal articles, I am taking tomorrow OFF.

For one thing: the boiler's out (it's a long story) in part of the classroom building, and while the office area has heat, it's not up to its normal hotness. In the classrooms, I get cold, and it's hard for me to get warmed up again. And it's chilly enough in here. (It's about 21 degrees C, which is warm enough, except when you're sedentary - sitting at a desk typing or reading - it really ISN'T. And no, I am not hailing the coming of any new kind of Treadmill Desk Overlord, despite what some hip workplaces are doing).

For another: this is probably the calm before the storm and I really should take free time when I can.

For yet another: I want to finish Thermal, and I want to do that when I'm not tired from a full day at work. And then I want to think about what sweater's next: do I just continue on with Potter, or do I keep to my SOP of two-sweaters-on-the-needles?

I will confess: back, earlier in the fall, when I was stressed out from the packet-preparation, I looked into, and wound up ordering, the yarn needed for the Prince of Wales vest in Folk Vests. This is an ultra-traditional British Fair Isle vest, very similar in style to one that King Edward the Whatever was shown wearing once.

It's Jamieson Jumper Weight - sort of analogous to a US sport weight. Knit on size 3 needles. I know, I know, I said I was sick of sweaters on size 3s, but....it's colorwork. Which I haven't done in a long time. And it's one of those things that follows a chart. I love patterns that follow charts - much more so than the ones where you are supposed to knit the thing for X inches until you do the next thing.

With charts - especially BIG charts that have a large chunk of the pattern on them - you can see your progress. You can see how with each row on the chart marked off, you're getting closer and closer to the sweater being done. Your time knitting, somehow, is made more visible, more tangible.

The sweater vest is also steeked. I have never done steeks before. (For non knitters: this is where you allow in a couple extra stitches, then either sew or crochet a "stopper" on either side of them, and then CUT the knitting to form armholes or the neckline. It's a scary, scary process for many knitters. But I own a sewing machine (the standard way of finishing off before you steek). And at any rate, the steeks are one of those things I can think about "another day" (like Scarlett O'Hara said). It'll be months and months of knitting before I come to those.

The other option, I'm thinking, is to do another worsted-weight vest. (I have oh, so many worsted-weight-vests' worth of yarn ahead...some pink, and some leaf green, and some oatmeal colored and some variegated).

Or pull out the BRIGHT turquoise yarn I bought from Elann and start the Basketweave pullover. (The yarn really is very bright. And yet, I think it will be a good color on me.)

I want to KNIT ALL THE THINGS. Or at least START ALL THE THINGS.