On "sleeve island"

I started the sleeves for the other sweater I am knitting ("Boxed Raglan"). These are just simple stockinette until the point where you decrease to fit the raglan armholes. (Kind of the reverse of the Basketweave sleeves, where you have to do increases, keep track of them, and work them into the pattern as you add them, until the sleeve is wide enough).

Knitters refer to being on "Sleeve Island." Sort of a knitters' in-joke. The idea is, sleeves seem like you're nearly done! with the sweater. But sleeves can take as long as an entire sweater back (and they take as much, if not more, yarn, depending on the fulness of the sleeve - so if you're afraid of running out, they represent another trap).

Way back in 2011, "Nothing But Knit" described Sleeve Island:

"Sleeve Island is a destination all knitters look forward to. It’s the point you reach when the body of your sweater is done and you just have to knit two sleeves. It seems like a lovely spot all warm and sunshiny with umbrella drinks, silky soft sand beneath your feet and a glistening ocean all around because you have nearly finished your sweater and we all know what a high that is. But in reality sleeves are kind of big. ...So in actuality Sleeve Island is merely an illusion. There may be warm sunny beaches but watch out, that ocean is full of sharks."

(And for any of my CPAAG peeps who may be reading this: "And where has the rum gone?" Heh.)

I don't know. I guess as sort of a desultory sweater-knitter, where a sweater that takes some knitters weeks can take me months to a year, I don't get so bugged by the sleeves. (And anyway - you COULD always do them first). To me, starting the sleeves still represents a milestone. No, I don't see them as being like an island paradise or anything like that, but maybe more like reaching the landing for floor 30 when you have 35 flights of stairs to climb or something.

I also took a break the other night and re-read some old Interweave Knits, just to look at the patterns. I found one for Berroco's Zen Colors....a pullover type thing, sort of a dressy top. And I realized: "Didn't I buy some Zen ages ago, when Elann was closing it out?"

Turns out, I did. (I may have a large stash, and it may not be well-organized, but I can still find stuff in it). I have enough to make the top. But, I don't know. It's sort of a yellowish green/yellow/tan colorway and while it's a color that probably looks well on me, it doesn't excite me at this point. I did pull it out and put it with the pattern just in case. (But if someone really wanted to try to talk me out of 8 balls of  it, they might succeed, depending on what was offered in trade. I don't remember the color number - this is a discontinued yarn so I can't easily fine a photo online).

I know I bought it FOR something - probably a shawl - but I can't find the pattern now.

I'll have to think about it, maybe post it to the destash area of Ravelry if I decide to get rid of it.

(I also never got around to sorting through my fabric stash to do a fabric swap. I have two pieces put aside; I might be able to locate more but it seems that teaching and research are just eating my life this summer)