Reckless Knitting, Princess Fitting.

It's been nearly two years now, hasn't it, that we've battled, Suss Alpaca? We first met at the Suss closing sale in Soho, where I see looking back that I once had 8 skeins of the stuff. Then came a series of Alpacattacks, apparently trashed two of the skeins, since I only count six now and do have a haunting memory of prying white alpaca, tangled beyond recognition, out of Catty's greedy paws more than once. I have few yarns in my stash in sweater quantities. This is one of them, and I've been uncertain what to do with it. Also, I was always confused by the fact that Suss said it was a worsted-weight yarn (US 7-9 my foot!), when it's really more like a DK. This is inexcusable, for this since every good knitter knows not to trust in what the label says and instead to swatch, swatch, swatch.

Today I swatched. Here you see the results of an unblocked swatch in reverse stockinette (okay, on the other side it's a stockinette swatch). I am considering, but only considering, dedicating it to this lovely Phildar pull. This design never grabbed me in the Phildar mag, which could have something to do with the fact that it's knitted in magenta acrylic and involves turquoise sequins. Ravelry, however, led me to this one, and then to Parikha's as-usual-stunning version, in an alpaca blend. So why not? Why not start knitting a close-fitting alpaca pullover on the cusp of a New York City spring and then summer? Why not start another project in reverse stockinette, after you just dragged yourself through a purling marathon on your last project? When you're not sure this color won't make you look sallow and assy? When you have a million baby things you could make? When you literally cannot turn your back on this yarn, which has a mysterious power over your cat, without her going into "destroy! destroy! destroy!" mode? Why not?

Exactly. You know how it is when a pattern calls you. None of that really matters. I have the pattern and the yarn in my stash, and I'm itching to move it out. I've always wanted to try a scooped neckline like this one. I envision this sweater with a hot pink tank top underneath. What can I say? And if it makes me look like ass, I'll give it away. Probably it's worth sleeping on, but recklessness will prevail. I just know it.

Oh, and you needle-and-thread types may be interested in the adventure I had with my friend Sara yesterday at Mary Adams The Dress on the Lower East Side.

And also anyone who's ever wanted a dress that made him / her look like a princess. You'll be interested too.