I don’t generally suffer from second sock syndrome.  If I can make it through the first one, I must like the pattern enough to finish.  Right now I am suffering from a bit of “second mitten syndrome,” but that’s because knitting fair isle with my right hand is kind of painful for me, so I’m not in a hurry.  Also, the weather keeps hovering around 70, which doesn’t inspire thoughts of mittens.  Where are you Autumn?  Oh well… at least my socks are autumn-y!

Tomorrow night I’m having two friends over for a first knitting lesson.  Any advice to give me on the best way to teach?  Things to start with?  I’m super excited about it… I must spread the knitting love around!  They both already crochet, so I’m teaching continental (I crocheted first, and continental was much easier for me to grasp.)

I got my copy of Amber this week, and right now I’m engaged in finding a sub for this wrap:

It calls for Rowan Colourscape chunky, which I think it overpriced.  There are lots of yarns with long color changes now, so I will look around (none of them are as nice as Noro for the colors, IMO, but they are all nicer in feel.)  Also, I would lose the belt.  I can’t think of a time when I really wanted to belt my shawl.  Any suggestions for a chunky yarn with color changes?

I’m also thinking of making this cardigan:

I have some Kid Classic that I was saving for a vest, but I now think I wouldn’t wear it, whereas this could be a wardrobe staple, especially in the nice gray I have (and I would have enough left over to make Soul, the lovely hat from the same book.)

Finally, I’m looking at getting some yarn to start “Baby Cables and Big ones too” over.  I decided I wanted nicer stitch definition than I was getting with the sylvan spirit, so I’m going with the yarn used in the pattern sample, which is discontinued and cheap.  The question is, which color?  I’m torn between the two below.  I love the pink because it looks similar to my favorite store bought sweater, which is in danger of wearing out.  Pink makes me nervous as a redhead, but I can usually wear brown based pinks.  The brown color is pretty too, very sophisticated but not gray (I have too  much gray yarn for some reason.)  What do you think?