Shorter Rows

I feel like I've reached a very happy part of my Boxy progress: I'm pretty sure I've knit the last of the really long rows! Last night I reached the shaping/patterned part of the back and officially switched over to the final color in the sequence. I've knit about eight rows of welting and am ready to start the short-row shaping for the shoulders. If all goes well this evening, I might even be ready to join my shoulder stitches by the end of the night (though that depends on a lot of factors). The bottom line is that I'll be onto the sleeves by the weekend.

I've also cast on a new lunchtime project in the form of a charity hat. I'm using the leftovers from the gradient mini skein set I used for my Undamo Cowl -- basically just using each color in order until it runs out. I don't have a recipient in mind just yet, but I figure that I can just keep knitting with scraps and leftovers and that bit will take care of itself. There are so many bad things happening in the world right now that I don't feel I have the power to help, so of course my natural inclination is to try to make it better with wool. I certainly won't solve huge issues like hunger or poverty or inequality with knitting, but come winter, I can make someone's head a little warmer.

The weekend ahead looks to be a scorcher, so if you need me, I'll be knitting in the air conditioning.