Started something new

 I give my first exams of the semester later this week, and I decided I needed something easily portable to work on (Yes, the Moon Moth pullover is still in progress, but I'm not very many rounds from starting the colorwork, and that requires more concentration than invigilating allows)

So I thought about what I wanted to start as a next sweater. I had some Lion Brand "Respun," which is a recycled (post consumer waste) polyester yarn - so basically soda bottles. It's not the softest yarn ever, but it doesn't feel horrible; it reminds me a bit of the scratchier wools but not in an unpleasant way.

I had been wanting to make the "British School Slipover" from Folk Vests for a while, and I had enough of the yarn for that (it was kind of an impulse purchase). It's a golden yellow color they call "sunshine"

So I spent some time yesterday casting on. And found that the Knitters Pride "Dreamz" wooden needle just.... snapped....when I picked it back up after casting on. This was a size 4, so not tiny. And I didn't manhandle it, I was actually surprised when the wood split

I think wood is a bad material for needles; most of mine are bamboo and that seems sturdier - I think I've broken the small bamboo sock needles but that was by stepping on them or getting them caught in something and not realizing the strain that was on them.

I was able to move the stitches to a size 5 (it doesn't matter too much as it's the ribbing; when I swatched for the body a size 6 was the right size) and get it started, but I'm a little annoyed at that needle breaking.

Also yesterday was Candlemas (also known as Imbolc in other traditions, or St. Brigid's Day, or Groundhog day) and I decided to light a few candles for it

I should do that more often (as allergies permit), having the light there (different from the light from light bulbs) is pleasing and nice, and it is a nice small ritual to have in the evening when I'm home.