New Designs and Mitred Crosses

Front and center: I hope I'm not the last knitter out there to begin Kay's Mitered Crosses blanket. If you haven't begun, or at least purchased the pattern, or at least become aware of the pattern, check it out. All proceeds go toward the relief efforts in Japan.

In our house, "blanket" means "cat fur magnet," so I decided to make a long scarf instead, either one or two squares wide and many square long. I'm using Noro Sekku, which is a sensitive twiney laceweight yarn that breaks if one so much as looks at it with displeasure, but which also blocks out fabulously and is light as can be. I've accumulated many balls of Sekku thanks to its placement in a basket to the right of the cash register at Windsor Button; it's like a Snickers bar, I can't resist. (Note: It appears that most stores no longer carry Sekku, and that the yarn itself may be discontinued. Working with it, I can understand this.)

Background: A lot of new designs, dark things all. I've committed myself to a new book(lette) that will be available this coming September, as well as several self-published individual patterns, so it's time to get to work. The color palette is dark; the theme is dark. Call it my reaction to a recent overload of "easy femininity."