Got a call from my LYS yesterday and I've got homework for the Steeking class next week. Yup, I have to knit a couple of 6 x 6 in. squares to c u t ! I am terribly excited about trying out the steeking. I should be done with the sleeves for the Dale sweater by then and so it's appropriate, I think, that I learn the steeking technique as I begin knitting the body (to be c u t !).

All this cutting talk reminds me of when I was a new knitter (about a year and a half ago) and began going to the local knitting group. There were some mighty inspirational knitters there (some of whom have moved on to other cities and other hobbies). One woman, Melissa (hi, if you're reading!) was a great inspiration for fearless knitting. She knit fabulously and never used a pattern. And if anyone ever said "uh oh" she would respond, "you can just cut it!" Thanks to her, I had the courage to cut the body edging off of the the new year's stripey sweater last year, so that I could make it longer. I wish she had been around when I was having the problems with elizabeth III. She would have had some sound (but scary) solutions.

And a quick update of the two active projects at the moment: the front of the crazy continental (into the waist shaping) and the second sleeve of the Dale sweater (past the pattern and on to the stripes).