A KAL, or knit-a-long, is when a group of people all make the same thing, using the same pattern, the same yarn (usually) and there's an end date to when the project must be completed. It's a mostly solitary thing, there are a lot done online, with discussions and the like to bitch and moan and commiserate and share tips and tricks and offer help. And when it's done, everyone shares pics of their completed projects with one another.
I got an email from my LYS that they are sponsoring a KAL and I thought, "Oh! How perfect! This is a way for me to get involved but not be really involved and it's just a little bit involved and I only have to come out of my shell a little. Baby steps are good."
Except the timing is all wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Because, you see, deadline is July 12 and I'd have to run over to the LYS right this very minute and get the yarn and start knitting like crazy. Which would be fine except for the fact that there is a very (incredibly) large afghan that I'm supposed to be working on and I'm not supposed to be doing anything else until I get that done.
See? Bad timing.
I can only hope that they get a good response and they will do another one in the future. And that I am brave enough to jump in and do it if/when that happens.
On the upside, I've ordered yarn from a wee shop in Scotland. I'm finally getting 100% real live Scottish yarn. Made from the wool of Scottish sheep and processed and spun in Scotland. I'm so excited about it. Like, if I had a tail, it would be wagging.
I was a bit surprised at the pounds to dollars exchange rate (damn, the dollar is weak) so it's not something that I would do a lot of, buying from there. I'll have to settle for buying Rowan at my LYS. But there is going to be some incredibly lovely yarn coming my way. I already know what I'm going to do with some of it (Auntie's birthday is in January) and the rest of if will be for me. I swear this time. I bought the color, a pretty blue, and the fiber (or should I say fibre?) of Shetland and cashmere just for me.
Which, of course, means I need to get cracking on Sis's afghan because I'm sure as hell gonna wanna play with that yarn when it arrives.
Oh, I hope your yarn store has another knit-a-long, it sounds like fun.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, you're doing your bit for our economy, that's nice. I hope the yarn is all you expect and you make yourself something nice with it.
How is the afghan going? How many skeins still to knit up?
Yeah, I don't know how much I was actually helping your economy...hehehehe. I just really wanted the yarn. And I'm certain it's going to be lovely. My yarn muse is already sort of planning something, but she wants to see it and touch it and get a feel for it before she makes up her mind.
DeleteThe afghan...well. Yeah. Only six and half more skeins to go! :P I've totally been a slacker this week. But that's because the words have been riding me like a porn star!