I don't want to talk about Hourglass anymore until it's done. I think I'm jinxing it. Short summary: Plan did not work. Must rip and try double decreasing with a knit row every other.

Instead let me distract you with a shot of my current pair of socks:

And the detail of the twisted rib pattern:

I think I'm running into another patttern/yarn mismatch.  I dunno, what do you think?  I think with self-striping yarn you gotta keep to horizontally running patterns (like a chevron or ripples).  For ribby-variations, such as this one and my last pair, I think I have to go with solids or much more variegated yarn (with shorter stretches of color).  Spank me if this is old news to you, but this revelation really makes me feel like I'm growing as a knitter.

For now, I don't care. The pattern's cool to do and the yarn is soothing (NOT GRAY).  It reminds me of the screensaver on my work monitor (clouds rolling by over meadows) and so I shall name them after the screensaver: Bliss. and I really want to get through it because it's Esprit Puzzle Collection that I got cheap over at Elann.  Because let's face it, after the yarn orgy that is Stitches, the Esprit will have no hope for attention. (As a side note, good Lord, you know you're a knitter when $13 sounds "pretty good" for socks... that you make.)

Yesterday's casual poll was a resounding, "Keep the 3 needles".  I accept that result and I raise the ante.  Armed with a nail file and lots of squinting, I have rescucitated the 2 maimed needles to usable condition!  Behold, they live!

Albeit, they live stumpier but dood, I could not face the idea of shelling out for another set of Crystal Palaces. It's not like they grow on trees, y'know.

Wait... wha?