Wool & Words

In the mail today I received this:

It's the yarn for Heather's socks. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Miata! I've never driven one, but I think these socks might make me want to hop in the passenger's seat, put the top down, and stick my vibrant tootsies out the window to flash my sass!

The plan right now is to make knee socks using the Pippi Kneestockings pattern in Stitch 'N Bitch. I've never done knee socks and I'm looking forward to working out the "anatomy," particularly as regards the shaping at the lower calf and ankle.

A side note: I'm amazed at how this book has really blazed through the knitting universe. It seems that everywhere I turn, someone is casting on for one of the projects inside. For the money, this book is the best one around for learning new skills and challenging yourself. I hope its appearance encourages the scores of new knitters out there to push past scarves and really play, create, have fun!

Ok, enough book review-i-ness.

Other Sock News

Still plugging away on Lizz's Vegas pair. Pics as soon as they're done, both on the wearer and off!

Posted by KnitNut at 05:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As you may know, I teach Freshman Composition at UGA. I love living in Athens, and I love working here. As much as I gripe about them (and I'm sure this semester will find many gripes on this page), I do so love teaching and I enjoy the time I have getting to know the various students who land in my classes.

I always feel a bit sorry for the 8:00 a.m. students. Most, if not all, of them get stuck here through the difficulties of scheduling, and since I struggle to get up to be here in time to teach the class, I'm sure they have trouble getting up in time to attend. While the start of class is usually lackluster, though, about 1/4 of the way through things always get cranking, and that's the good stuff, as far as I'm concerned. Today we were discussing a lovely short story by Katherine Mansfield titled "Miss Brill." I love teaching with this story; like all good literary pieces, it allows for discussion along so many avenues and really "opens up" nicely when you begin to apply pressure to it in various areas. It's short enough to be read quickly, memorable enough to be referred to at various points in the semester, and rich enough to satisfy the most voracious of literary appetites. My 8:00 a.m. class really did a good job discussing it, and I hope that my 11:00 class continues that trend.

And yes, knitters, there is a knitting woman in the story. Perhaps I'll have to start a list of tales with knitters...

Posted by KnitNut at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A busy day of thinking through XML structures, solving student software problems, and getting nervous about an upcoming presentation. What is this all about?

Meet EMMA. EMMA is the Electronic Markup Management Application, a product of the UGA Department of English. She's a writing environment, a text editor, a display generator, a--well, she's a lot of things. And even though she's cranky at times, we like her.

I'm currently working with the lead EMMA designer on a project template for students doing poetry explications. The idea is that the student will markup various features of the poem they are explicating so that the different markup schemes appear alongside the text of their actual explication. I'll try to come up with a better, sexier, less-dull-as-dishwater explanation someday. This is just the problem that's tickling my brain today.

Knitting

Of course, there are knitting brain teasers as well. I hit the end of the first skein of Regia that I'm using to make Lizz's Socks, so I had to pick up skein two. That, of course, requires hunting through the skein for the right color to complete the pattern. Handy ball winder to the rescue!

The scarf is still going strong. I want to finish it...it's cold! But I've got other things to do, so it waits.

Guest Kitty

Say hello to Gazoo, intoxicated recipient of a catnip mouse.

And here he is in a calmer moment. I think he's greeting his new roomies.

Gazoo is the son of my schoolchum, Valerie, and she loves her baby!

Posted by KnitNut at 08:54 PM | Permalink

Spent the evening in a pain healing workshop at our church this evening. I haven't experienced half the pain and trauma that some of the participants have experienced and I feel blessed to be able to learn from them and from the ways in which they have managed to heal already. The courage of the human spirit is always awe-inspiring.

Why I Need Courage

In 3 months, I'll be taking my comprehensive exams. I've had a hard time getting my head in the right place to do this study and preparation. What's hardest is the self-motivation, the getting into the right place to do what needs to be done. And I've come to a striking realization.

Reading is hard.

I've always been a big reader. I read constantly and I read just about anything. But reading for a living--well, that's just work.

I love reading and I want to read the texts I need to read/review for the exams. But everything else in the world seems more interesting. And when I do read, I find that I need breaks to let my brain process what I've read. Icky.

And the knitting?

Well, I'm knitting. Trying to finish this freaky scarf because it's COLD. Low of 23 degrees tonight. Northerners, be kind; for Southern gals, that's like 30 below. When the scarf is done, then it's on to the socks for Lizz, which I'd really like to finish by Saturday.

Kitty Love

Posted by KnitNut at 10:35 PM | Permalink

On a day like this, drowsiness appears to be the only mode and sleep seems to be the only option. Sleep and hot chocolate. Unfortunately, I've got to drive to Snellville for a meeting tonight, so I'm afraid a nap is out of the question.

Unless, of course, I take one in my car. Which would be a bad thing.

Perhaps a better solution would be to consider the work of someone who wasn't sleeping on the job: William Blake.

I'm sitting in on a course in Early Romantic Literature in preparation for my comprehensive exams and today we discussed a few of Blake's works. I'm always startled at the vivid imagery Blake used in his graphic design. The Blake Archive at UVA is a fantastic site for images of Blake's work, and I recommend a bit of a tour through the pics. Striking, surprising, and certainly not sleeping. I would link a photo, but copyright...well, just check out the site.

A bit of Blake poetry, though, may be enough to jolt you out of your sleepy reverie or at least tickle your brain in the half-haze of drowsy icy days.

from Blake's Notebooks

Mock on Mock on Voltaire Rousseau
Mock on Mock on! tis all in vain!
You throw the sand against the wind
And the wind blows it back again

And every sand becomes a Gem
Reflected in the beams divine
Blown back they blind the mocking Eye
But still in Israels paths they shine

The Atoms of Democritus
And Newtons Particles of light
Are sands upon the Red sea shore
Where Israels tents do shine so bright

Posted by KnitNut at 02:28 PM | Permalink

The weather outside IS frightful. Very cold for Georgia and wet to boot, so not the best driving conditions I'm afraid. Which makes me look longingly at the fireplace that I'm barred from using by my lease...I wish my landlords (wonderful as they truly are) would have the thing inspected so that it can be utilized! On a day like today, you really need a blazing fire to put things into perspective.

Here are a couple of icy photos taken from my car.

And the haze of the day's weather I think really comes through on this one.

Knitting News

Yesterday, Steve and I visited my friend, Colin, and I cooked a pot of gumbo for him to enjoy. If there's anything else that goes with this weather, it's a hot bowl of gumbo, cooked with love by an authentic Creole chef (me, in case you're wondering).

What does this have to do with knitting? Well, gumbo takes a while to cook, so after I got it going, I sat down with the boys and gave a little knitting lesson.

Here's Colin working hard on the scarf he started, oh, 3 or 4 months ago?

And Steve, a very fast learner, who picked up knitting and purling in about 1/2 hour.

It was fun teaching them, especially since the only knitting project I had with me was the scarf I'm making for myself. No pics of it--it's too boring to chronicle in its progress, so I'll only post it when it's a finished object.

Kitty Torture (don't try this at home!)

Merc looked so cute when Steve held his ears back for me that I had to get a picture. Looking at it now, it doesn't seem to have been such a good idea--he looks so PITIFUL!

Posted by KnitNut at 03:04 PM | Permalink

It's amazing what perspective a fresh start can give you. Especially when you're knitting.

First, here's Lizz's sock, post ripping and reknitting.

Beautiful, no? I'm much happier with it. It looks to be the right size now, and the way the greens ended up at the cuff, heel, and toe made me very very happy. I can only hope to replay this success with sock #2.

And then, there's the new project. As if I needed a new project. But I need a scarf, so I'm knitting one with Lion Homespun in Coveredbridge Red on size 10 bamboos...lucious!

Posted by KnitNut at 06:46 PM | Permalink

Today I think about the things that were broken in yesterday's monkey-ish cataclysm.

Broken Childhood Memories

Bob Keeshan's death has me a bit on the broken side. As I child, I was a regular viewer of the Captain, and that Mr. Green Jeans is embedded in my memory too. I love this quote from the article linked above:

As for "Barney and Friends," Keeshan found the popular 1990s show gentle but boring -- "what we used to call 'a program in a telephone booth."'

A program in a telephone booth. Yep, that's about the size of it.

Broken Diet(s)

I'm on two diets and I must admit I've fared much better on the yarn diet than the food one in general.

Yesterday, however, broke that one too. I bought 3 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Miata. Been itching to get my hands on that yarn! Lest you think I'm a fickle chippie (after all, I've only been on the yarn diet since Jan. 1), I purchased the yarn for a pair of socks for a good friend to whom they were promised in December in return for a huge favor she did for me.

So I feel that my transgression can be overlooked this time. But we're back on the wagon now. Even if Elann has some yummy new yarns, including a wool/llama blend.

Must. Use. Restraint.

As for the food diet. Well, I have a ruthless sweet tooth. I need to curb its enthusiasm.

Broken Homes

Yesterday I also found out about a family who lost everything in a fire. So I'm packing off a ton of clothing and a coat or two to them today. Looking around my house after finding out about this tragedy really brought home to me how much I have that I don't need. I feel like a commodity glutton.

Don't worry too much. The feeling will pass. Much sooner than it should.

Posted by KnitNut at 10:24 AM | Permalink

Drowsy day. Long day. Good day.

Pics of socky goodness tomorrow. For now, we're sleeping.

Nitey night.

Posted by KnitNut at 12:46 AM | Permalink

Much to do today. Not much energy to do it. I'm beginning to feel a bit...well, underwhelmed.

I'm going to open the windows and let some light in. I think that'll help.

And then I'm going to sit down at this machine and write some XML. Mmmmm....coding.

Posted by KnitNut at 09:40 AM | Permalink

I'm experiencing a bit of it today on several fronts.

Local News

There's a plan afoot to make GA 316, the highway I travel weekly, a toll road. I can only hope that I move away from Athens before this actually happens. The thought of paying to use a road is hard enough. Paying for a road built by a private firm is even more annoying. And it's kinda creepy.

Knitting News

I'm ripping today. I realized this morning that Lizz's socks were just too big. So I'm pulling 'em back today to start a new pair. As of 10 p.m. this evening, the sock was ripped, reknit, and I'm ready to start on the heel flap. Whew.

I've got to do something for myself.

Gratuitous Kitty Photo

Zeus in repose

And goodnight to you, too.

Posted by KnitNut at 07:18 PM | Permalink

Just looked at today's word on my Word Origin calendar:

Raining Cats and Dogs

It's one of the most common and colorful expressions in use, and it has been in use [. . .] possibly since the 1600s. Several explanations have been proposed, but the most likely is a literal description of the aftermath of a downpour, when rising water in city gutters would wash away the dead bodies of cats and dogs, in plentiful supply at that time.

Disturbing, no?

Posted by KnitNut at 11:20 PM | Permalink

After a filling meal of cheap Chinese food, I received the following fortune:

I'm holding on to this one. For a very long time.

I'm sure this little critter wishes he had had such a good fortune. One of my friends is involved now in a local letter writing campaign, and I wish her (and her brethren) good luck. Boys may be boys, but this is just sick and twisted.

I still love the South, but that's just sad.

Knitting News

Worked on Lizz's Las Vegas Socks for an hour while watching Dr. Phil today. That's the only way I can knit--when I'm watching a program I'd watch anyway. The colors are wacky, and I'm glad that Lizz is who she is, cause I don't know that I would have knit these for any other adult and kids grow too fast. Here they are so far; pretty snappy, I think.

The colors don't look quite as bright in the photo as they do in real life, but I think you get the idea. Very loud and fun.

And to close with a bit of the Orient: Crouching Kitty (scared of hidden dragons, I'd say):

Posted by KnitNut at 09:14 PM | Permalink

Watching a bit of coverage of the Iowa Caucus. That Dean is a really glib public speaker...

Of course, I can't quite get my jaw up off the floor over Kerry's impressive appearance. And I'm sort of disappointed that Gephardt dropped out. Just doesn't seem like a Democratic primary season without him.

And, of course, I'll have to figure out who to vote for eventually. Although the Democrats are making the decision a little harder now.

Anyone else think Dean looks like Dennis the Menace?

Posted by KnitNut at 06:44 PM | Permalink

Or, perhaps just a minor deity. After all, I haven't created any new worlds--just figured out how to solve the problem I was having with my wee web one. It's good to have what you want.

More changes will be forthcoming, but I think this little site is here to stay. And, with any luck, I can get back to knitting soon so that I have something to post.

Edit: Oops. I spoke too soon. Back to the drawing board...

Posted by KnitNut at 01:43 PM | Permalink

Steve and I watched Pirates of the Carribean last night while Mercury napped peacefully beside us. Zeus decided that the pirate's life was not for him and stayed upstairs in their kitty bed while we were amused by the swashbuckling antics. I think that Steve must have been fighting skeletal pirates in his dreams and lifting them over his head WITHOUT bending his knees; he's laid up this morning with an awful backache.

This was a perfect knitting movie and I got a good bit done on the prayer shawl while we watched. Yes, I know, watching a movie doesn't constitute prayer. But I think at this point I'm referring to the pattern, although I do think about the intended recipient often as I work on it. She's one of my aunts who has long suffered from a variety of internal problems. I started the shawl when she was having her 21st operation. She's doing very well now, and I hope to complete this shawl within the next month so that I can send it on to her.

Today I'm heading to the local Borders for coffee and a bit of "reading atmosphere." Currently, I'm working on Samuel Butler's The Way of All Flesh, a delightful romp through Victorian writing conventions. The book is really quite good and I wish that I could find it on tape so that I could listen to some witty Brit (maybe Ralph Fiennes-ish?) reading it out to me while I worked on my knitting and sipped a cup of tea. But for now I must content myself with the gentle hum of sometime readers and the whoosh of the cappucino machine.

Merc sleeps:

Posted by KnitNut at 11:47 AM | Permalink

Did a wee bit of knitting on the big sweater last night. It's a big, loose-fitting cardigan in Lion Homespun. The color I chose, Nouveau, is a really rich mix of browns, greens, reds, and blues. The sweater is done in Moss stitch and since the yarn is so heavily textured to begin with, I'm getting this wonderfully soft and drapey fabric that is just yummy.

And the back of the sweater:

Yes, I know, I'm waxing poetic (well, maybe just mildly prosaic) about acrylic yarn. But I like Homespun for comfy projects like sweaters and casual scarves. Anything that can come through the wash OK is alright by me.

In other news, I'm still progressing on the Prayer Shawl I started, although I'm not quite enamored of the "pattern." Also knit in LB Homespun, the shawl follows a K3, P3 repeat throughout. No real pattern shows in the shawl because of the yarn's texture, which makes me want to find something that will really show up in the knitting. The purpose, though, makes me take a step back. If I'm true to the "ministry" of this knitting project, then the pattern of 3's really should be considered from that perspective, and the act and rigor of following this simple, boring, and unseen pattern should increase my own spiritual awareness of the simple, often boring, and unseen patterns in everyday life. Put that way, I think I'll try to be more mindful of the simple spirituality in knitting, and of the blind faith that I put into every project at the start.

Posted by KnitNut at 01:34 PM | Permalink

On Wednesday, I committed the ultimate sacrifice. I gave a hat I'd knit for myself to a friend in need.

I knit Knitty's Coronet last week to keep my head warm. While North Georgia is nowhere near the kind of cold you see in, oh, Wisconsin, it does get pretty nippy for a girl from South Louisiana. So I made the hat and wore it a few times. While I have no photos of me in the hat, here's one of Pillsbury modeling it.

An excellent model, that Pillsbury. No whining, no preening, no potty breaks. He just smiles and looks at me with those happy blue eyes, and only requests a few cookies now and then to keep his tummy full.

I gave him to my friend, Leigh, who was visiting from her grad program in Missouri. It is colder in Missouri than it is in Georgia. Leigh, like me, is a gentle Southern flower, who grew up in much more balmy climes. So I offered to make a hat for her, as she admired mine, then realized that if she was willing, I could give her the hat off my head, so to speak, as I was not as needy in the headwarming department as she. She accepted with glee and put the hat on for a group pic.

I felt good giving it to her. Now I can make the felted hat I really wanted to make (gasp! how self-serving I am!) and Leigh's got a new wool hat to keep her head warm..and it's UGA Dawgs red!

Posted by KnitNut at 12:11 PM | Permalink

In the interest of documenting this somewhere, here are pics of some projects I've done/am doing.

Hat in progress: a wee bit of stripey goodness in Lion Wool-Ease Autumn Print

Next, two baby hats in Bernat CottonTots:


A pair of socks pour moi:

A white keyhole scarf in Lion Homespun:

And my UGA booties before felting (not quite brave enough yet)"

Posted by KnitNut at 10:44 PM | Permalink

So, after giving my students a long tirade today on the importance of carefully following directions, I looked at the directions for Coronet and realized I had to rip out the 2 inches of knitting I'd done after picking up stitches on the band. I hadn't realized that the band was folded over, i.e., that the stitches needed to picked up from the wrong side of the band. So I ripped it out and started again.

Lesson learned. Next time, I'll be much more careful.

Posted by KnitNut at 07:40 PM | Permalink

And here she is, the hatband for Coronet:

Can't wait to pick up the hat stitches!

Posted by KnitNut at 09:09 PM | Permalink

Totally left the beaten path today. The cold weather made me very aware of my need for a warm hat. I've been vacillating between starting a felted Bucket O Chic or a red Coronet and decided that Coronet would be less hassle. I cast on for the cabled band around 3 and now, at 7:38, I'm 4 repeats away from finishing that part. The plan is to get it into the round on DPN's before I have to catch the bus tomorrow. Hats and socks (but not the heel turning) make for perfect bus knitting.

Perhaps I'll post a pic tonight when I've finished the band part.

Posted by KnitNut at 12:47 PM | Permalink

Here's the prayer shawl as of 10 p.m. today:

It's not nearly as long as it ought to be, but it's getting there. I think it'll be my bed knitting.

In other news, picked up the new Knit It today. Very disappointing. The Children's sweaters are cute, but everything else is pretty doggy. Also got the new "Twists and Turns" Newsletter. Not as bad, but I'm having a bit of a time convincing myself that I like the cardigan. The vest is good...might have to add sleeves to that one.

Posted by KnitNut at 10:36 PM | Permalink

Before I left for the holidays, I got a box of yarn I'd won on Ebay. Today I sorted out the contents:

The yucky yarn:

Lots of icky pastelly baby blankety acrylics that will get tossed out and a couple of interesting things: some orange Canadiana and some variegated purple Caron acrylic. May use these for kiddie sweater projects.

And then, there's the yummy-ish yarn:

This stuff is more fun. Lots of Lion Brand Wool-Ease in good basic colors. Some strange purple cotton/nylon blend. Should provide sweaters, scarves/shawls, hats...goodies!

Posted by KnitNut at 09:29 PM | Permalink

Bought a camera today, so hope to soon have lots of pics of projects. I want to chronicle my progress--maybe then I'll actually start completing things in an organized fashion.

We'll see how long that lasts! I am, though, committed to this no yarn purchasing...still going strong!

Posted by KnitNut at 07:28 PM | Permalink