Oh, I should perhaps have noticed this a bit earlier.

I realized late last night that the wobbly oddness of the ribbing in the not-so-cashmere Lace Blouse may not be caused by me suffering from a rare lack of rib-knitting ability as much as my using one 3½ mm and one 3 mm needle, when I really, really meant to use two 3 mm needles.
And in yarn this fine it really does make a difference.
But my big fat fingers don't quite feel that same difference.
And I wonder if this ranks next to the pea on the list of signs you're not a princess.
I'll just start over.

I've actually finished something

The Monkey socks are done.
I should get into some sock-blocking, as it would most likely make for prettier photos.
But, well, I think washing and wearing is all I really need. Still there may be some important point I'm missing. I wouldn't be surprised.
And I am now working on the Spiral Boot Socks, enabled by the lovely Linnea.
They are meant as a birthday present for the wonderful girlfriend of one of my best friends.
And I hope I will have them finished on time. Which is in less than two weeks.
Right now I doubt it.
But then there's always Christmas.
Filcolana's Arwetta is by now my absolute favourite sock yarn.
It is gorgeous.
The colours are incredible, and it's soft and wonderful to work with - and not at all expensive.
However I am using the also very, very lovely Regia Silk for my not-Cashmere Lace Blouse. And it works wonderfully.
As always my ribbing looks odd and wobbly, but as usual I trust it will straighten itself out with a bit of careful and hopeful washing and blocking.
Otherwise I'll just ignore it and still be happy.
I love this lace pattern.
The first of the eight rows has me entirely confused every single time. And then I feel utterly brilliant being less confused the remaining rows.
Even if it's probably one of the nicest, simplest lace patterns there is.
Gauge is a bit fun for this one.
40 sts and 40 rws to 10 cm in ribbing.
30 sts and 42 rws to 10 cm in lace pattern.
And that made me think sock yarn.
And for once I wasn't completely off target.
I have stitch-gauge perfectly, and it seems quite right row-wise too, but I will check that again. Later.
I cannot wait to finish this.
Just as I cannot wait to finish Elizabeth I.
Or the black Elfin Bride.
Or the City Coat.
I want more arms. Or learn to knit with my feet as well.
Or maybe just learn to finish things before starting others.

In the meantime the weather continues its unsummery oddness.
Today we have so far had very heavy rain, a bit of thunder, and now brilliant sunshine paired with strong wind - and a rare glimpse of blue sky.

Today I worship at the feet of Teva Durham

While the postman brought neither yarn nor books yesterday, the library had good things waiting for me.
And one of these good things was the incredible Loop-d-Loop.
It is beautiful. Very, very beautiful.
And the patterns and the reasoning for and the thought put into them ... all awe-inspiring.
I wonder how it took me so long to discover it.
And now I have two knitting-heroines.
Stafford and Durham.
And so, to add to the unfinished need-only-four-pattern-repeats Monkey socks, the unfinished, not-even-halfway-there Elfin Bride, the unfinished but-getting-closer Elizabeth I, oh, yes, ... and the just cast-on Spiral boot socks, and the unfinished oh-my-where-am-I City Coat, .... I decided to cast on for this.
The Lace Cashmere Blouse.
My not-so-little play-swatch in Regia Silk loves it and clearly wants to become like it when it grows up and into shape.
(Yes, I do have that much Regia silk, in a lovely cream even. It was on sale, and I went greedy.)
At first I was stupid enough to think it could become Elizabeth I ... making the second attempt Elizabeth I II, or something, but gauge went off once I moved from swatching to actual knitting.
But now the poor little yarn finally has a direction in life!
And a beautiful one it is!
But I really, really should finish something. Just something.
For crying out loud.