Because what I really need right now is yet another WIP....

But whatever. Seceret project (now finished) was on the home stretch when I cast the new project on, Clapotis is 3/4 of the way done...and dammit, I was sick all week, and tip money from serving beer at the NFL game on Sunday (for my figure skating club) and JoAnns 40% off coupons were burning a hole in my pocket. So before going home and spending the rest of the evening in bed with a box of Kleenex, some DayQuil, and the season premier of Desperate Housewives (which was soooo good!), I stopped by JoAnn. They had nothing of interest to me, so I went across the stree to Michael's. Sometimes one can be pleasatntly surprised at the yarn they can find at such craft chains, and there is nothing more exciting for a knitter on a budget than finding much cheaper, but equally wonderful yarn to substitute for a project. Or in this case, a substitution for a substitution. I've had my eye on the Lady Eleanor stole from Scarf Style ever since Amy cast hers on several weeks ago (using Noro Silk Garden). Then Jenna had to go and start hers. Noro is a little out of my budget at the moment, but the project was definately on my "for when I am working again and yave yarn money" list...but now, thanks to this wonderful find at Michael's, it's on my needles :) Let's think of the economic genius of this: The LaLana Wools yarn suggested for the pattern: $22 for a 118 yd skein (!) at 15 skeins suggested for this project. Right. That's a car payment and a tank of gas. Noro Silk Garden? More reasonable at $10-11/ball (x 10-15), but still out of reach. Patons Soy Wool Stripes? $5.99/ball? 4 balls so far purchased for about $3.60/ball thanks to coupons? I'll take it!!

The details: Patons Soy Wool Stripes (70% wool, 30% soy), in "Natural Earth" (110 yds/ball)
Size 9 needles from my interchangable set

So far I am through just over a ball and a half. The yarn is nice to work with, I really like how the colors are turning out. When I bought my first few balls, all that was visible from the outside was the purple/blue/peachish...so I was pleasantly surprised to pull out the center of my first ball (also blue), begin knitting, and find all these greens, reds and golds hidden inside. The pattern is easy and still at the fun point (it has potential to get boring, but right now, the way the colors are turning out is making it exciting).

Yay.

Clapotis also needs to be finished and blocked by Friday since it's a gift. I plan on working on it tonight at knitting group (not too much more to go) and blocking tomorrow.