As others have commented, startitis is spreading through the knitblog world. So far I've resisted, unless you count starting (and finishing) a herd (flock? gaggle?) of catnip mice, but yesterday I cast on another Pink Lady, this time in a pretty blue Cascade 220 (the color number of which escapes me, but it's pretty). I love those, they're fast and inexpensive to make, and the leftovers will become mice. All out of $10 of yarn. This one will go into the box of church festival contributions - I may have all that stuff knocked out before summer officially starts, at this rate, and the event isn't until fall. Go me. I am feeling the "buy yarn" urge, though - when the going gets tough, etc. If I succumb, it will be for more Cascade 220 from those wonderful guys at Threadbear.


I received the latest J. Jill catalog in yesterday's mail - some nice clothing, but what caught my eye were a couple of jewelry pieces which were very cute and also way overpriced. I need to let my fingers do the walking through Shipwreck Beads today and see what it would cost to make knockoffs as gifts. I'm betting I could make six or so for the price of one item from their catalog. I like J. Jill and sometimes buy from them on sale, but actually they're more of an inspiration source for me - I am really inspired to take up sewing by the pages of very plain, boxy little linen blouses a blind monkey could make selling for $60 and up, and inspired to sit down with my jewelry tools by seeing anklets made from $6 of materials selling for $40. Yep, very inspiring.