Half of a basketweave scarf

The weekend is here, and it couldn't have come soon enough. It's looking a lot like last weekend, so I don't know how much rest it will bring. Regardless, I'm ready to have a couple days that I can dedicate to knitting and writing and not a lot of running around.

Kristin was the only soul brave (or foolish) enough to join me in running the gauntlet of all seven screenings this week. Next week also has seven films on the schedule, with an eighth possibly sneaking in there, so I imagine I'll be feeling about the same a week from now. I'm tired and in a bit of a daze, but I'm not sick and don't feel like I'm coming down with anything. Hooray for us, the warrior class of film critics!

It didn't hurt that the last of the bunch, The Holiday, was also the best. Who cares that the majority of the critical community doesn't agree with me? I saw it being criticized for predictability and fluffiness. Maybe it was my fatigue, but after a week dominated by serious, depressing films, something familiar and light was just what I needed. There's been a shortage of romantic comedies this year. I'd much rather go to mediocre rom coms than the surplus of horror films filling multiplexes, most of which I've strongly disliked. And just so we're clear, I liked The Holiday.

I should have been writing today, but with the frequent interruptions and my dull mental acuity this morning, it wasn't happening. I found some time to knit, although purling breaks my rhythm and keeps me from going into the automaton mode that makes the minutes melt away.

Not long ago I polished off the first ball of yarn for the basketweave scarf. Halfway done! I'm happy with how it looks so far, but I'm a little concerned about how open it appears when holding it up to a backlight. I'm assuming it's okay because...I made gauge!

The pattern calls for two balls of Lion Cashmere Blend. Since the finished product is supposed to be 4.5 inches wide and 52 inches long, I thought I'd check to see how close I am at the midpoint. I knew the width was correct long before this. I was thrilled to discover that the scarf is 25.5 inches long with one ball done. I know that's a half inch off, but I have a tail where I need to join the balls. I figure I'll lose a little length to that. Otherwise I'm on the right path.

I'm glad I bought a row counter, but I still have to be careful in keeping track of what row I'm on. The row I'm knitting is the number displayed. When I finish a row, I turn the number on the counter. The problem is if I decide to count the stitches (or get a phone call or knock on the door) at the completed row and then forget if I already changed the counter. Since the pattern calls for doing the opposite of what has just been done, except for where a new repeat begins, I've been able to look at the stitches and determine if I purled or knitted the last four. I've been finishing each repeat before stopping to cut down on any other confusion.

This weekend I'll be preoccupied with finishing the basketweave scarf and starting another of my Christmast projects. And crazy as it's going to sound, I'm planning on going to the movies tonight. The unfortunate catch with some smaller films and retrospectives is that you only get one or two chances to see them. Mutual Appreciation is only being shown twice, and I can't go tomorrow night. At least I want to see this one.

Next...the basketweave scarf as FO.