Yarn Along: "The Magicians" and Earnest Cardigan

Yarn Along is a wonderful weekly link-up hosted by Ginny at the Small Things blog about two of the best things in life: books and knitting.

Reading: I started "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman at the beach over the long weekend and haven't gotten too far yet (it's tough to begin a new book when you're surrounded by distractions, I think) but what I have read I've enjoyed. It's about a university for magicians -- Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy -- and our main character, Quentin, has just passed his entrance exams at the point where I'm at. I've read a zillion times that it's like an adult version of "Harry Potter," and I can definitely see that.

Knitting: I skipped several Yarn Alongs because I completely ripped out what I had done of my Earnest Cardigan and just could not find the motivation to get it going again, then when I did I had problem after problem! But I'm finally on track and almost to the point where I (very rashly; lesson learned here: step away from the knitting when I feel my blood pressure rising) ripped out all my progress.

I was frustrated because I had bought two skeins of additional yarn to supplement what I already had in my stash so I'd have around enough (I thought I still might be a bit short) to make this sweater. It arrived after I'd already started knitting, and when I tried to incorporate it in by alternating rows, it quickly became apparent that the yarn came from a vastly different (much lighter) dyelot than what I already had. And I had made two errors rows and rows before that were bothering me, so I said to hell with it and in 10 minutes the sweater was back to being balls of yarn.

This yarn color has apparently been discontinued, so there aren't a lot of alternative buying options. I had hoped (after ripping it out) that I might find some miracle solution to the mismatched dyelot problem, but apparently there isn't one. So for now, my plan is to use the lighter yarn for the sleeve cuffs and the bottom ribbed band and hope that I have enough of my darker yarn to make at least 3/4 sleeves. Fingers crossed!

Anyway, I'm pleased with the way it's coming along now (error-free!) and I'm nearly caught up to where I had been before. I'm excited to once again be working on the back cable panel and the seed stitch (which makes up the body of the cardigan). I chose the pattern because it features two of my favorite knitting elements, cables and texture, and it's so fun to knit. (For reference, that long cable piece is the back collar.)

P.S. I love the newest addition to our patio, a rhoeo. I've had a great time shopping for some tropical plants to decorate our new house here in Hawaii. (Now let's hope I can keep them alive... not my strong suit!)