a lovely afternoon

I skipped out on work this afternoon (well, took a half vacation day) and walked over to Borders. The weather today is particularly nice, so I turned my ipod on and made my way. I looked at a bunch of knitting magazines and have confirmed my love for Interweave Knits’s Union Square Market Pullover–the cover sweater. I admit I’m not entirely convinced about the little foldover/button deal, but the structure of the piece calls out to me. Love those sleeves!

I also sat and looked at the knitting books, just to see what I could see. A woman came over, and I asked if I was her her way–I wasn’t–and then she started talking to me. I didn’t realize she was at first, what with the ipod being on, but then I stopped listening to chat with her a bit. She asked me if I know about the yarn stores in the city (yes) and if I’ve made specific patterns from books that I do not own (uh, no). It was a weird conversation. And as she left, I realized she was the woman I saw in Sophie’s that day. What a coincidence.

I looked at Weekend Knitting and Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (no need to link, right? everyone knows these ones) for some time, but ultimately decided that the few patterns I liked were too simple to buy a whole book for. The hourglass sweater? I can definitely write my own pattern for that one.

So I bought the Interweave Knits and then made my way to Sophie’s, to get a pair of size 5 Addi Turbos, which I want for the Tivoli (since my gauge was too tight on the 4s). The store cats were “agressively friendly,” as Jennifer, the owner put it. The longhaired one kept reaching out and putting his paw on my arm. It was cute, but, well, being allergic, it kind of had to stop. I ended up buying Rowan #30, which I had been looking at online.

Despite all this knitting-related action, all I’m going to be doing for now is the rest of the Lopi bag and thinking about how I want to tackle the Tivoli. I may just go back to the original pattern. (Someone on knitty pointed out to me that the straps are wider–hence the starting with fewer stitches. But I would prefer the narrower straps.)