Aftermath

I have now bought a new stereo, and will be getting it installed tomorrow.  $212 includes stereo plus iPod-enablement, so I can control my iPod through the stereo interface.  Whee.

What to do about the missing iPod remains a separate question.  I have a Nano, but it doesn’t hold my entire music library on it the way my old one did.  It looks like I could buy a 4th-generation iPod for about $100, a refurbished 5th generation iPod for about $190 (including tax and all).  Or I could just use the Nano.  Haven’t decided yet, will probably defer deciding until after I get back from Ghana.  At that point I should have a better idea of whether I can live with the Nano, and will know just how much the Ghana trip cost me, which will no doubt influence my decision.

I have knitted up test swatches for the travel shawl in 2/28 silk, 2/18 silk-wool blend, and 2/12 silk.  I’m going with the 2/12 silk – it’s heavier than the other swatches but has the drape and shine of silk, so how can I resist?  I’m knitting it on size 4 needles.  It’ll be glorious.

I’m starting to select patterns for the entrelac squares.  I’m still not 100% certain that I’m doing it in entrelac – a Pi shawl still sounds very interesting – but I’d have to select patterns anyhow, so it’s not wasted effort, either way.  I’ve photocopied the interesting patterns from my Barbara Walker Knitting Treasuries and am starting to sort through and graph them.  I’ve decided that each square will be 26 stitches and 52 rows, to accommodate 12-stitch patterns as well as 10 or 20-stitch patterns (filling in the extra stitches with stockinette, of course).  So I’m choosing patterns that fit that mode.  Next comes the charting, and figuring out when to start each repeat.  I can see why the author of the Forest Path Stole (the pattern I’m knitting in the kid mohair) selected relatively simple patterns.

I do not expect this entrelac shawl to be stunningly beautiful. In my opinion, lace is best suited to relatively simple patterns and repeats, which this won’t be.  What I do expect from it is that it will be a beautiful lace sampler that can also be worn.  The reason I’m still considering a Pi shawl is that I think a Pi shawl would be more attractive…but with fewer patterns.  I’m really not sure yet, probably won’t be until I cast on.

I am still working on my budgeting for the year. It’s surprisingly hard to fit all my little luxuries into the budget I’m attempting.  I may do a combination of belt-tightening and expanding the budget; it’s hard to say.