I struggle with tension myself when working two or more colours, I get too tight unless I really focus. I hope you won't have to start over though, that's so demoralising =/

Interesting selection of craft buys! Do you have plans for the embroidery thread?

Hard though this may be to believe, but in over 40 years of knitting I have never blocked and pressed anything. Maybe with a scarf I'd find myself having to, just to get it to look right, but I hate the thought of pressing handknitting, and blocking has never seemed important. I'm not even sure why it's done.