Knitting knitters who knit (thoughts on you-know-what)

You know what I have become addicted to? Cotton. And coasters. Holy hell, coasters are easy to make. I bought a variegated 100% cotton yarn in sunny colors and have been whipping up coasters like nobody's business. They are SO EASY OMG. Plus they are crazy useful. God knows we need some funky cotton coasters up in this apartment. So do you want bright spicy little things to keep your table- and desktops from condensation and water rings? Do I have the pattern for you!

Ingredients:
Worsted-weight 100% cotton yarn
Size 5 straight needles

Recipe:
Cast on 20 stitches using whatever cast-on floats your boat.
Row 1: *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2: *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you've got a nice even square.
Bind off in pattern.
Place around your home in attractive manner and enjoy!

Cotton is super-durable and holds up so nicely to glasses of water, beer bottles, milk, everything. Plus they add a little je ne sais quoi to your home, especially if you choose the color just right. I am in love.

I still have a metric ton of cotton (or so it seems, anyway) left over from the lampshade, so I think next will be a funky yellow-and-white bath mat, because my bathroom needs one! Excited. It'll be thick and textured and I'll probably have to buy some sticky mat paper to put under it so it won't slide around. Man, I am becoming my own personal interior decorator. My sister must be so jealous.

Oh, speaking of my sister, she's been invited to go to NYC this summer for a two-week design course made for high-schoolers. It's quite a bit of money, but it would be a huuuuuge opportunity for her, so I really hope she can go. Plus, NYC, which is second only to Paris in my sister's dreams (understandably).

On Paris, I'm going to spend my summer learning French and knitting up a France wardrobe, because I find that if I actually start doing stuff to advance towards a goal it is more likely I will actually accomplish said goal. (Who knew?) So France is on the radar officially. I'll buy one of those "Teach yourself French!" systems they sell in the school bookstore or something. Or I'll get a tutor, but I'm pretty sure that would actually be more expensive. As for the knitting, that's where Kristeen Griffen-Grimes becomes my best friend (omg ilu so much Kristeen, SO MUCH). I have her book French Girl Knits and I'm planning on making Anjou in the near future (google it because I do not feel like linking right now). Also, maybe I might save up for some Lorna's Laces at the LYS here in Tuscaloosa so I can make another colorful Clapotis, because the Silk Garden one is HEAVEN. I love wearing it and showing it off.

But yeah, Kristeen, you are my knitting heroine and I want to be you when I grow up. Anisette is lovely and if I could afford all the Rowan yarns you have such an affinity for I would make it, Satine, and Viola like, yesterday. If you are not Kristeen and have no idea what I'm talking about, here's her website where you can see her sheer awesomeness. Will you love her? If you are anything like me, YES OMG YES.

So there's about a frajillion more things I could say, but my hands are itching for yarn and I have a cardi pattern calling my name right now. Toodles, kiddies, and I'll see you later.

PS. I know that Kristeen did not actually do the Clapotis pattern; that was the amazing Kate Gilbert. ilu too, Kate.