Present to myself

Most years, I buy myself some kind of a Christmas present. Because. Because I've been a good girl all year, because I don't generally go nuts over buying lots of expensive things (I'm not a shoe-girl, I'm not a purse-girl, and I don't even buy clothes all that often - most of my clothes shopping is to replace something I already have that's worn out).

So I let myself buy "one big thing." Something I want but which is normally more money than I'd spend. One year it was a dvd player. Another year it was enough Noro Kureyon for the Rosedale cardigan I'm currently not working on as much as I'd like.

Well, this year, I decided it would be yarn again.

I had seen Berroco's "Lodge" in the local quilt/yarn shop (and it still sends me into little raptures of delight to think that Durant, USA, now HAS a quilt/yarn shop). I thought, "This is a pretty yarn and looks like it would be nice to knit with. I wonder what I can make with it?"

I didn't have anything in mind so I resisted temptation.

Then, the one book I purchased this weekend was the fall issue of "knit.wear" (Apparently a new Interweave venture - I can't tell if it's meant to be minimalist-knitting, or knitting-for-beginners-that-doesn't-look-like-beginners'-knitting. But there are some nice patterns in there. (Though the "Thermal" pullover, the largest size might still be a bit small on me, poo).

Anyway, they had A Norah Gaughan pattern called Boxed Pullover in it. That uses Lodge. And I really like it, even if boxy stuff doesn't always look the BEST on me. (I can wear it over slimmer pants or a straighter skirt).

I like Gaughan's designs. Generally they are nicely tailored, have interesting details, but aren't trendy or overly fussy - pretty much exactly my style. Potter, which has fast become one of my favorite sweaters, is a Gaughan design. So I decided my present to myself would be the yarn to make the sweater. (Even if I do have many sweaters' worth of yarn ahead).

So, I ran out during my between-classes break and cashed my refund check from the hospital. And I ran to The Hollow Tree, a small gift shop in town (I know the owner pretty well). She sells really nice fancy cards and I have a couple friends I used to exchange gifts with but who now (because of expense, and because they don't want more "stuff") elected to just do cards - so I try to find extra nice fun cards to send. And the Hollow Tree has some very fancy 3-D stand up cards. I also wanted to get a mini OXO measuring cup - it measures in teaspoons and Tablespoons. I have one and use it a lot, so I thought it would be nice to get one for my mom and slip it into her Christmas stocking.

I realized while I was in there I had forgot to check the magazine I had at home to remind myself of how much Lodge I needed. I contemplated running back home, but meh, I figured "9 balls sticks in my mind, so that must be what it is" and decided it wasn't worth dealing with getting back out into traffic (we have on-street angle parking downtown, and some days it's kind of a pain to get out of a parking spot). So I just walked down to the quilt shop.

I found the color I wanted. I decided on Jackson Lake (though that photo really doesn't do it justice; it's a darker, richer green, more of a verdigris sort of color, than what that looks like it). They had ten balls so I decided to buy all ten just to be "safe." (And then I hoped and prayed I had enough - well, it was nearly 1000 yards of a bulky weight would have to be enough).

And after paying (and now I have a filled loyalty card to use next time I shop), I ran home.

As you can see from the pattern link above, for the size I am likely to make (I think I better do the 43" size, so it won't be so enormously boxy on me. Possibly the 38 1/2" size would even suit, these days), I should only need seven balls. So I have plenty. (I suppose I could return the extra, but meh - I can make a scarf out of it or hats or something. And I'd probably have to get the amount of the return deducted from my loyalty card. It's just simpler to keep the yarn and find another use for it.)

(The cost of my "one big thing," in case you're curious? About $80. Which is extravagant for me but certainly won't put me in the poorhouse. And when I think of the pleasure knitting the sweater will bring, and the pleasure wearing it once it's done will bring....)