Felting - oh no no no! It's the combo of heat plus agitation that causes the shrinking and "fulling" (which, btw, is actually the correct technical term).

Re yoked sweaters - I found this pattern template online, thanks to a well-keyworded Google search. I think I'll try it next, to make for featuring my other precious skein of handpainted superwash merino from Great Adirondack.

If you have a Michaels or Craft Warehouse near you, they probably have some metal size 13 circs, if you want to get some to try. Wal-Mart might as well, if you don't have serious philosophical objections to shopping there.

Re knitting methods - I have a healthy admiration for Continental, but can't do it myself because the way I hold the needles to do it greatly aggravates an old thumb injury. I taught a friend to knit, but months later when I observed how she was using the needles, I told her that she needed to learn Continental method, that I was sure it would work MUCH better for her. She did, and it has - now her knitting cruises right along, and she can knit by touch. I can knit English by touch, but *not* Continental.

Isn't it great that there are so many ways, and projects, to knit? :)