Dichroic Reflections

knitting - nearly done and what to do next

So now with all the knitted presents finished last night I got back to the poncho I've been working on pretty much forever (where "forever"=since early September, not including the time since October when I've been working on hats and scarves for gifts). Rudder's parents and grandparents got here around 5 with no problems other than being a little stiff from 2-3 days of driving. His grandmother seemed impressed with both the poncho and the Gryffindor scarf I wore when we went out to dinner. She was also much taken with my set of Denise needles, which is a shame because we actually talked about getting her some but didn't know if she already had them or would like a set. It sounds like she has a Boyes set but doesn't like them as much.

I don't really know if I'll ever wear the poncho; it's very lacy and open so will onlky work over certain shirts. Also, when unstretched it's only 13" wide instead of the 16" it's supposed to be. It is very stretchy, though (which has also made measuring length to see if I'm almost done difficult - it's a different length every time I check). I might try blocking, but I don't know if that would help on cotton.

Anyway, I'll definitely wear it at least a few times just because of the work I've put into it, and it's been good practice. It's nearly done. What I'd really like to make next is a Clapotis, but that's a little silly for someone who lives in a hot climate, knits as slowly as I do, isn't terribly good at keeping track of rows and stitches. Still, it seems to be very wearable according to the many bloggers who've made one, the majority of it is a simple pattern (k1, k tbl, k3, k tbl) with purling on alternate rows (I don't mind that part because I can *see* whether it's a knit or purl row instead of having to remember) and it would be good practice.

What I should work on instead is the sleeveless shell I've started, which is simpler, requiring only knit or purl rows with a few increases/decreases, and which I could wear all year 'round out here, with a blazer over it in winter. But then, the majority of knitters do see to have multiple projects at a time.