I've been slowly picking away at the Tilling the Soil vest:



I think it's noticeably larger than the first picture. I'm beginning to think about buttons. The original had pewter buttons, and those are nice, and I've been looking in my catalogs. But I also like the antler buttons that Morehouse Merino has - I like the idea of using a rustic, organic button on my vest. I'm torn between the grey and the white. I'd need nine of the 5/8" size.

Also, here's a shot of the progress on the scarf for my friend:



Yes, I am quite obsessed with the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf. And this is almost an instant-gratification project - the yarn is chunky and knits up fast on size 13 needles. (the colors are more bright than the picture shows).

This is made out of Lion Brand "Color Waves." You know, I realize it's fashionable for some to run down the Lion Brand yarns as "crap yarn" or "cheap yarn," but for simple projects, things you want people to be able to wash easily, they're not bad yarns. And it's a real boon for those of us with no local yarn shops to be able to find decent yarns at craft-type stores or discount stores (the modern version, I guess, of the old downtown department stores). Would I rather that Hobby Lobby carried Cascade 220 and Artful Yarns? Yes, I would. But since the majority of people who make things of yarn don't want to or can't pay $10 for a 50 gram skein, I think it's nice that there's Lion Brand. (I personally dislike the Red Heart yarns, even though I know lots of people like them and use them. I prefer the worsted-spun yarns to have at least some wool in them. I'm more tolerant of acrylics in boucles or other novelty-type yarns).