Spring in my Step

First off thanks for all the comments on my Autumn Rose.  You probably picked up on it in all my gushing but I really love it.  It’s a well-crafted pattern with a beautiful result!

I’m plugging away on NaKniSweMoDo sweater #2, Vivian by Ysolda Teague from Twist Collective.  In a rare break from habit, I knit the sleeves first because I couldn’t decide if I wanted to go for the zipper or a button band.  I like the casual, comfy look of the zipper, but I feel like a button band looks a little more polished and makes the sweater a little more versatile.  Plus I like button shopping and haven’t gotten to do it in Seattle yet, which is as good a reason as any!  I really liked Sarla’s version (sorry, Ravelry link) so I’m following her lead and replacing the 4 edge stitches (3 slipped stitches and a purl) with two knit stitches.  I haven’t decided what to do about the button band yet–maybe seed stitch?  Luckily I don’t have to make that decision for awhile:

I’m just about to start on the waist decreases.  In other news, this lovely showed up on my doorstep today and I couldn’t be more excited.

I haven’t seen a single must-cast-on-now-no-really-right-now pattern in Interweave since the Apres Surf Hoodie (which I still adore and wear almost weekly, even in the winter, and which happens to be crumpled unceremoniously on the floor at the moment…I need to remedy that–that’s no way to treat a handknit).  I felt like Fall ‘08 was a bit uninspired and flat; Winter ‘08 was slightly better, but I’m not sure I’ll ever actually knit anything in it.  But I am positively swooning over the Spring issue, mainly because of this little number:

The Zizkzack Tunic.  I’m hoping that the yarn I have will work for it–Knitpicks Gloss Lace in Aegean.  Oddly enough I first bought that yarn as a sub for a different IK pattern knit in Naturally Dawn, but I’m never going to get around to that one.  I’ll have to pick up another skein, but if there’s any difference in dyelots I think I’ll be able to hide it in the ribbing where two strands are held together.  I think I might have to set darling Vivian aside for the night and swatch during my weekly Thursday night Office/30 Rock extravaganza.  I’m also loving the Whisper Cardigan, but wondering if it’s a bit too much of a boob framer, the Bettie’s Lace Stockings (Helllllloooooo Business Socks!) and the Millefiori Cardigan, perhaps in a less tutti frutti color (no really, that’s what it’s called).  I also really like Connie Chang Chinchio’s two sweaters, but I’m not much of a wrap-style sweater wearer, and I think the Petal Halter has potential as an interesting and eye-catching top, but I’d have to find a way to make the straps sit a little farther apart.  So with four “most likely will knit”s and three “who knows?”s, this is by far the most exciting Interweave I’ve had my greedy little hands on in quite awhile!  Off to swatch…