Floppy fronts

Looking through stores window-shopping yesterday, I saw lots of jackets with extended fronts which were just allowed to drape; they looked really appealing to me. Then today, in the supermarket, more of them. I am going to have to make at least one, but how does this fit in with my resolve to make shawls? I have bought two patterns by Evelyn Clark:

they really appeal to me. As does the silk/cashmere lace yarn from Soupdragon which I also bought. Discipline!

At least this week I finished two pieces: the top from 'Knitting Nature' and the tank top in Lassoo. No photos because it was dark when I finished them and I'm still experimenting with lighting.

We had our knitting group at Borders on Monday evening - all arrived to discover that the member of staff responsible had left and, although they had advertised the group, nothing had been done to set up an area for us. We are determined to continue, however. I also looked in vain for the discounts on knitting books advertised in one of the magazines to celebrate National Knitting week. But apart from pinpricks like that, we are getting to know each other.

I'm working on a shawl in Parisienne, a simple pattern given to me last weekend by the lady in The Knitting Hut. It's going quite well. I'm learning a lot: the real Shetland 'lace' wool is rather thicker than I like; they spin another quality which I need to track down. It certainly gives a lovely crisp finish to the holes, but it feels much less appealing than the non-specialist lace yarns. I also learned that if you have dark-ish yarn, a complicated pattern is wasted - should have known that from bobbin lace days. So I'm thinking about a simple-ish pattern for the black Kidsilk Haze in the stash. At the same time, I really want to make up one of the Evelyn Clark patterns: perhaps it would look good in the Soup Dragon space-dyed yarn?

Thanks to Yarn Harlot I have bought 8 plumbing rod things, so I'm ready (ish) to block the shawl when knitted. I keep trying to picture how it works. Will put up a picture when I get there ...

I am watching with interest for some news of Colinette's sock wool, Jitterbug. I found a blog yesterday from, I think, Wye Sue - she'd been to Llanfair Caereinion and had bought some there. I'm due for a sock-knitting workshop next Saturday - wouldn't it be nice if I could get some for that? I did see stuff about their new double knitting, Cadenza. It's good that finer yarns are beginning to be popular.

Meanwhile, my fine yarn in bright charcoal is waiting, along with a DVD of CSI Vegas. On a rainy Sunday afternoon, I expect to feel good.