If it turns out you don't like the yarn you bought, you can always call it "practice stash." Or you find someone who likes the colors and make them something out of it.

(I knit and I have an English degree. I can rationalize *anything*.)

Passing along a book recommendation: The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges by Ann Budd

Thanks for the book rec. I'm sortakinda sure I'll like the colors (the "Maine woods" variegated is the trickier one--I'm picky about greens.) The other two are a sort of "sea colors" mix of turquoise/green/purple and a blue-denim/orange/gold/green combo that I think would be great for a kid's blanket who wasn't at all into pastels. Either girls who liked strong colors or boys (I'm betting that boys get stuck with blue, brown, and tan a lot.) The patterns on the site for doing these are all for baby blankets, and show only pastels of most babyish type (cream, white, pale-pale-pale mixed pastels.) But the sizes include larger, as suitable for older kids. I'm thinking I'll concentrate on larger sizes in more interesting colors.

Bottom of this page:
http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-fiber-acrylic-microfiber/webs-knitting-yarns-berroco-comfort/ "finian's rainbow" "maine woods" and "sanibel island."

I need to learn to read knitting directions. k and p are easy enough but some of the others I haven't a clue about.

Ooh, pretty!

There is, sadly, a certain amount of variation in knitting directions/abbreviations. HOWEVER, I've found that most designers are good enough to explain what the abbreviations THEY use on their patterns stand for. When in doubt, there's always Google. Or you can bookmark this glossary:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary

They have videos for some of the abbreviations there so you can see, not just read, what is intended.

Thanks again!

I really like the 'sanibel island' one.

I'm looking at the multicolor ones and trying to figure out which ones each of my children would like.

I want to learn to make granny squares. I have a friend who makes big granny squares in situations where she's just listening or just conversing, and it looks like something I'd enjoy doing.

I think I'm just feeling waffle-y because it's been so long since I knitted anything. It's more about me than about the yarn.

Thanks...this looks really interesting. I am looking forward to having my say!