Alaskan fireweed cowl

My family and I just returned from a 2.5 week vacation in Homer, Alaska visiting my in-laws.  I always lament that I can't sew while on vacation, so while traveling I tend to gravitate to small knitting projects.  I'm not much of a knitter--truthfully, it is a craft of last resort for me--but I can't be without a project of some kind for that long!

This project was a small cowl, made with lovely hand-dyed yarn purchased 2 years ago in Homer.  The colorway is called "Fireweed", which represents a gorgeous flowering plant all over the fields and hills in Alaska.  Here's a (rather unrepresentative) close up of the plant.  In real life, when completely carpeting a field, it's stunning.  By the time I got out into the fields to take photos, the fireweed was almost completely bloomed out (waaaay early, thanks to a warm summer).  

The pattern is lacework (Estonian Leaf Cowl--it's free!) and while I'm not the best knitter, the pattern was doable and the mistakes are not too obvious because the yarn is nicely variegated.  

My cast-on stitches are okay, but I made some mistakes binding off, so that edge rolls all over the place when I wear it.  Anyone have a good bind-off that is stretchy, but doesn't roll?  It's a bummer.

Anyhow, this was intended to be a 'practice run' for some extra-special yarn, but I don't love the shape of the cowl--it kind of slumps down when I wear it--so I'm back to square one.  However, I'm pleased I finally used this lovely yarn (and created something while on vacation!).  Actually, I purchased another hank of yarn and managed to knit a really simple open-work infinity scarf the night before our flight home, but I've not yet taken any photos to show it off :)  

Return from Alaska and sewing indecision

My family and I just returned from a nearly two week vacation to Homer, Alaska to visit my husband's parents.  It was lovely and peaceful, and we did a million things a person can't do in Silicon Valley: digging for clams, picking rhubarb, wild raspberries and blueberries (I made jam!), fishing for halibut, salmon, dolly varden, rockfish, pollock etc., seeing the sun set at 11 p.m., playing in the rain... :)  It was refreshing to have a completely different life for a few weeks!  

Since I couldn't bring my sewing machine (though I just may next time!), I purchased some local handmade yarn.  I'm not much of a knitter, it's like a craft-of-last-resort for me, but I saw this color (named "Fireweed" after a local wild flower--a photo of the real deal is at the top of the post) and my fingers started itching to make something.  Well, after about 20 rounds on the circular needle in a basic lace pattern for an infinity scarf, I had "lost" 4 out of 260 stitches.  Now that I'm back in the land of sewing machines, it might be hard to persuade myself to figure out how to remedy that situation!

Canary ponte knit from Mood Fabric

Which brings me to my next problem: while I was away, I ordered bunches of fabric, which was all sitting on my doorstep when we got home.  I feel most inclined to sew something with this lovely, but summery, striped ponte knit (image above).  But what to make??  Some options:

Lady Skater

Vogue V8663 (out of print)

Another Myrtle?

Another Renfrew modified with a boat neck?

Dresses are always my initial inclination, but with Fall approaching, a top might be more versatile right?   I may modify the Renfrew to have a boat neck--seems to go well with the stripey print and will be well-worn, I'm sure.  With an upcoming bathroom remodel, I've had to make a so many decisions lately--I just need someone to tell me what to sew!  

Once I'm done with this fabric, it's the transition to a Fall work wardrobe--wools and darker prints, skirts, trousers and blouses.