Illegal Cast-On!

I know, I've said before that I'm only allowing new CO projects if they are part of my gift-giving intentions! But...I bought this pattern, had the yarn back-0rdered for months, and when I finally got the yarn, I couldn't find the pattern! So I just found my pattern the other day and couldn't resist! Psychologically, I seem to believe it is a 'quick knit', requiring only 5 skeins of yarn. It detracted from my SSiii knitting yesterday, but my justification (as if my Plain Vanilla socks don't fill this bill!) is that it is a non-thinking, quick, mostly stockinette project! So far, it seems there is a weird error in the beginning (row 5 or somewhere abouts) that I will need to have Nartian examine with me tomorrow. But for now, I pushed through anyway and figure it is minor enough that I can fix it later. But the further forward I go, the more of a PITA it will be to fix, so I am back at the SSiii for now.

I am past Clue 1 and about 10 rows into Clue 2. Below is my SSiii up to Clue 1...

And I neglected to show the Sweet Baby Cap I had finished knitting a while ago. It was officially finished yesterday when I added the i-cord.

Side view, no i-cord...

Front view, post i-cord, being modeled by the recipient's cousin who will deliver the gift to his cousin for me! It's a bit big and is more of a toddler-sized hat. The model is 5 months old, born on April Fool's Day!

Details (geez, I need to go copy this format from IrishGirlie or Nartian!):
Pattern: Sweet Baby Cap
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks that RockHeavyweight-Tlingit (leftover from the Forest Canapy, used for the beginning edging and i-cord), Jasper and Rare Gems (blue, green, browns, burgundy...)
Needles: Size 3 circs
Mods: though the pattern instructs to change yarn every 2 rows, it is really a pattern most people make their own choices on where an when to change colors and not even all the pics for the pattern follow this striping pattern-so really, though my striping did not change every two rows, I would say it wasn't much of a "mod"
Size: 6 mo., but this yarn is a nice, thick yarn and knit up at a slightly larger gauge and as you can see, would probably be more of a 9 mo-1 year size.

On on to a random thought...If Brain Age training is supposed to help my memory, and if I just scored an age 24 the other night (age 20 is the best and lowest age you can get...)...why did I forget I was steaming corn and still not remember even when I could smell the faint burning of the bottom of the pan?!

Swatching, not Watching...

...the Olympics, that is! Never been very big on them except as a kid when I was into ice skating. But then, again, that would be the winter olympics!

Well, here is The Knittery lace in Moonlight. LOVE this colorway. Don't love how the lace is knitting up with it. The colorway is so incredible that it really competes with the lace patterning. LOVE the way it washed up and the feel of it, too! Oh well...

The good news is that if I decide not to purchase new yarn and continue on this attempt at insanity that is, the Mystery Stole 4 KAL, I still have other things to occupy my time. Like the Secret of the Stole iii, which I finally started to swatch for!

I'm further along that what is shown in this pic, and the beads above were placed on the swatch. I think I should have read up on the crochet hook beading method first, cuz then I would have realized I needed to hook the beads on as I went along! Oh well...I continue on the swatch and am this swatch will at least have the upper three bead rows with beads attached.

So far, I still can't tell which beads I like best. I'm now leaning towards the Colonial Gray-lined (the ones I have placed on the right side...). I will probably try going up a needle size or two and do a second swatch at which time I'll add the Orchid-lined crystal and see what the overall look is.

And while I'm discussing my swatching, let me add that working with the Laci so far is FABULOUS! It has a softness to it and good stretch! Me loveses it! But what else could I expect from a Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn?! Definitely less lofty than the Dream In Color Baby I'm using for the Mystic Lights shawl, but its smooshiness is much like that. And the hand is soooo soft! I'm sure the Baby will feel softer once washed, but the Laci already feels so soft knit up without washing! I'm no expert on lace, but so far, I have to say that this is a winner in my book!