the circle game

I left that bleak last post up a long time, didn't I? How about some color?
I've had potholder envy, ever since photos like this one, and this one  from Potholder Swaps  Adrian/Hello Yarn and Maryse masterminded. I declared I'd jump in this year (you should! Still time!). I figured it'd use up some blue cotton yarn leftovers, from Craft Activism projects. I hate to let leftover skeins hang around unloved. But as soon as I started crocheting, I felt I needed more colors to make it work...and crochet gobbles yarn like nobody's business, surely I would run out before completing 3 double-sided potholders? Two skeins of Seedling later, I was good to go. Except you know what? I forgot what I don't like: crocheting cotton. crafting deadlines. making things you can't wear. I don't know why but that is the truth. Another truth? I need to enjoy the process, no matter how much I want that product. So you might say, I wasn't a happy hooker.
I was forcing myself to stay on task when (dingdingding) I was alerted to a knitting urgency: Zoe needs a new sweater! She's traveling to Peru to meet her other side of the family for the first time. It'll be Fall there and..ohmygod how will anyone know we love her if she doesn't have a brand new handknit sweater on her back???

the blanket and Zoe a few months back

I'd been saving the leftover yarn from the Zoe baby blanket. Have I mentioned that I hate to let leftover skeins bits go unloved? My plan was to make a striped hoodie to go with the blanket. A plan that would have been perfect had I followed it when she wore a size 12 mos sweater...but now? Now I quickly realized I am running out of leftovers, just a few stripes in. You guessed it, I bought 2 more skeins to round out the stripes. I started with the leftover & discontinued Cleckheaton and needed more superwash-. My LYS came to the rescue with Dalegarn Falk that matches up  and is also 100%wool and washing machine friendly. End score: 1 potholder almost done, most likely staying here.Striped sweater underway, likely to fly way south next week, on this cutie.. Some leftovers used up. 4 new skeins here, destined to have leftovers. Circle of life.