Variety is the Spice of Life, if it doesn't give you heartburn

My knitting progress has been like some just learning to drive a manual shift car...that uneven, jerking forward motion. I'm working on too many projects.

I'm knitting three display items for the Fabric Place (my second, part-time job): a tank top (Classic Elite Cotton & pattern), a beaded ascot (Scarfstyle, Classic Elite Classic Silk), and a yet-to-be-started pair of socks.

As I wait for the computer to boot up or load a new page, I work on my baby afghan for Afghans for Afghans. I'm using KnitPicks Yarn of the Andes - one strand of Amethyst and a second strand of another color (which changes every 3 rows, randomly). I was quite pleased to see that the result was a tweedy sort of blended striping. As I watch tv the Charmed Knits Beanie or the Orphans Foundations red scarf get some attention - I'm almost finished with the beanie.

I did finally pull together the yarn for the bag I will knit for the International Tote Exchange 4, but I'm still waiting for the sock yarn I ordered for the Hogwarts Sock Swap, and haven't made any decisions about my Sockapalooza socks. On one hand, when I'm knitting for someone else, I'd like to turn out something special and memorable, on the other hand, I keep telling myself that I have to choose something that I can finish by the deadline without losing my job, my mind, or my friends.

I'm not really complaining. I'm a process knitter, and enjoy having lots of different projects going. This way I can knit what I feel like knitting, and when I'm ready for a change, there is always something else to do. Since I like all the patterns and yarns, and I do have a streak of "project knitter" in me, I eventually do get stuff finished.

I've started dyeing yarn. I've only done two skeins, but I keep planning how the next colorway is going to go. My crockpot will probably get more use from dyeing than it ever got from cooking! Since I want to blend colors during the day with natural light, my next skein will get done this coming weekend.