Knitting Zen

I decided I'd better make a list of the things I want to make so I don't forget. Just a short list of wonderful patterns that I find, so that when I finish something, I don't have to search for the next thing.

So far:
"Bohemian Bag" from Interweave Knits Winter 00/01 issue. Just a little rectangular woolen bag much like what I think of as Peruvian, or at least South American, woven bags.

"Sweater for your head" from Knitter's Winter 2000 issue. A miniature aran sweater with the neck sewn up, and the sleeves either tied at the top of the head, or not. A funky, funny hat; I don't wear hats, but I've thought about this one for (obviously) almost two years, so I'm going to make it. I'll use Wool Ease in light grey heather.

One I found last night: Lisa Parks' "Liu Had a Dream Short Vest" from "Knitting in America," which I got from the library. It's a really interesting shape, short and wide (kind of like me!). It has a matching cardigan, but I wasn't as crazy about it as the vest; I don't really like the sleeves. I suppose I should photocopy it anyway, just in case.

When I find a pattern I want to make, I photocopy it, then I re-type it. The re-typing has two purposes--one, I convert it into RTF format and download it to my Handspring Visor. I seldom actually follow a pattern from the Visor, but once I have it on there, I can check things like yarn and needle requirements if I'm away from home. The second reason is that typing a pattern helps me to understand it. I'm a quick, good typist, so when I'm typing words I can zone out and not pay attention, but when I'm typing things like "(RS): P1, [RPT, LPT, p2] twice, RPT, LPT, p1," I have to pay attention, and I visualize the stitches in my head.

I was thinking just now that I should make some kind of notebook with patterns in it; when tends to happen is that I photocopy a pattern, stick it in my knitting bag, and then it gets bent and folded over and eventually thrown away. I seldom make anything twice, but I should hang on to the patterns. I also need to do something with my ever-growing collection of yarn labels. Maybe some kind of collage . . .