Wool & Words

Moving Plans

Aside from the massive stash purge I'm planning, I have to figure out what to do about my UFO collection.  I'm thinking I'll set myself to finishing any project that's 40% done. Imagine going into a new home, new marriage, new job without the baggage of unfinished knitting projects. Why 40%? Anything that's not that far along isn't something I'm that committed to as a project, that's why. Those started but not at that stage will be sent to the frog pond and, perhaps, the stash purge pile.

That means I need to complete:

My Vest-Turned-Cardigan

My Aqua Velvet Socks

My Hanne Falkenberg

Emily's Warming Truly Tasha Shawl

The Moderne Blanket

The Stripeosaurus

Ruth's Baby Bunting

You know, when I started to write this list, I thought it would be pretty long, but I'm feeling like I can actually finish all of these items by the end of May. No promises--I'm working on only promising what I know I can deliver. Still, this looks manageable.

Brutal Honesty

I took that Blog 365 button off of my blogroll. Who was I kidding? When it comes right down to it, I blog when I have a minute, when I feel inspired, when I want to, which seems to just fly right in the face of a blogging regiment that requires, nay, demands daily compliance. I read and write something everyday, but that something may not be a blog post and I need to make my peace with that.

But enough angst about my lack of writing. What's going on with my knitting?

Truthfully, not a whole lot. I'm looking at my knitting basket right now. It contains my Silkroad Aran Tweed (that's a mouthful) vest, which I'm trying to make a cardigan with the knitting of sleeves (limited amount of yarn--this will be a nail-biter). One layer below is a pair of socks--2 socks, knit at the same time, on the same needle--in Louet Gems. Final layer? A couple of skeins of Galway that were supposed to have been long ago transformed into the fronts of a jacket I'm planning in linen stitch. I have about 4" of the left front.

And then there's the other basket, the long, shallow one that lives under the coffee table. It's full of projects in little ziploc baggies and I don't even want to look in it to see what's actually in there. Flanking that basket are two smaller baskets (part of a set) which hold spinning supplies. SPINNING supplies because I have (thank you sweetheart!) a beautiful new (to me) Lendrum wheel (remember, I showed it to you a while back?) and I really want to do some spinning too.

And my stash. Well, Steve was a sweetheart (as always--I don't deserve him) and photographed the stash I've marked for deletion. I need to price it all and tell the world. It needs to be gone from my home in short order because I just don't want to move it.

Last night I was in a chat room as a participant in an online conference. The keynote was an anthropologist* who had noted (among other interesting things) that the community he had observed underwent a transformation when the technology of writing (we don't really think about paper and pen as technology, but they are). The need for an accurate census listing necessitated the need for actual, discrete names where relationships had named villagers before. And their living spaces were transformed from scattered huts into neat rows.

One of the other participants wondered whether the introduction of the web instead of the introduction of writing would have made a different sort of difference. I immediately fired back the observation that the web is based on writing; writing presupposes the web. The web, for all of its visual and audio offerings, is really a writing-based enterprise. In that moment I was struck with this sense of how truly different we are from less-developed (or differently developed) cultures, and how much our culture shapes the way we think about the world.

What does this have to do with my little stash/time inequality? I realized that these are really silly problems to be complaining about, aren't they? I'm whining about an abundance of fun, productive, creative work. I have too much inspiration around me, too many resources to work with, too much to be and do, and too many opportunities to explore and examine. I think that these things are good and valuable because my culture says that they are so, but to another culture, my complaints about my stash may just mark me as, well, insane. 

That's about as brutal as I want to be today, I think.

*The anthropologist is Michael Wesch, composer of a great YouTube commentary on our digital culture called The Machine is Us/ing Us. The presentation that we watched for our conference was called Human Futures for Technology and Education (left column, 4 down).

First FO of the Year

No photo yet, but I finished the Breast Cancer Awareness scarf today. What a great knit; the pattern was just challenging enough to be interesting, easy enough to be a quick knit. Of course, the 37" length helps...

And the yarn? An absolute dream to work with. I heart Classic Elite Wool BamBoo.

Monday Monday

No school today, so I'm playing catch-up: getting my grade book organized and populated, prepping for my campus visit in South Carolina tomorrow, arranging for teaching subs, washing dishes, doing laundry...

Wait. Sounds like any other day.

Yesterday I taught class one in my Top Down Socks class. I used to only teach the magic loop technique, but I've branched out and now teach socks on either circs or double points. I thought it was going to be rough, but things worked out surprisingly well yesterday--at least, from my perspective they did. I really enjoy teaching sock knitting and hope that my students enjoy learning!

And today? Well, I've cast on another project that must be finished by next Monday. It's Classic Elite's Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf. I purchased the kit from The Needle Nook at an AKG meeting last fall and am making it for an old schoolmate. I can get 2 balls of yarn knit up in 7 days, right? Especially when it's silky Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo.

First You Make a Swatch...

Yeah, I'm still knitting.

Darilee and I are teaching a sweater design class at the moment--we have 4 fantastic students--and we both decided to work on sweaters with the class as well. Darilee, wise woman that she is, decided to work with Noro Silk Garden Chunky. She's already swatched and is about halfway up the back of her sweater. One week after the class started, I finally got a swatch together.

I've been eyeing this particular shade of Galway Highland Heathers (color 746) for a long time. It's a gorgeous deep heathered red; it has hints of charcoal and silver, and it just makes me happy to look at it. I bought a bag of it in December for this sweater and started to think about the sweater I would make.

And I thought, and I thought, and I thought.

I considered making something really casual--a simple garter or stockinette cardigan that I could wear with jeans, or a cozy pullover, or a hoodie. Those would have been wise choices; easy stitch patterning, fairly quick knitting, simple finishing.

But hey, why go easy when you can go hard, eh? I picked up my needles and started swatching. I picked a stitch pattern that would make the kind of fabric I wanted, and proceeded to increase my needle sizes until I was using US 11 needles to get that worsted to 5 st/inch. While I did that work, I worked out a few other things as well.

So I'm working toward a linen stitch jacket, with set-in sleeves, a round neck, a slight bit of waist shaping, i-cord edging (in charcoal or the same red--I haven't decided yet), and some unobtrusive, but effective, closure.

Amazing what making a swatch can inspire you to do.

Tragedy

I find myself interviewing at a large conference in a faraway city with no knitting. It's going to be a long weekend.

Good Times

I taught class 2 of my sock class tonight--heel flap, turn, and gusset, which is always a fun one. I never get tired of seeing people's faces when they turn their first sock heel. Good times had by all.

Yesterday Steve and I visited some friends of his in the Atlanta area. We had a blast watching the Bulldogs inter Auburn, eating a glorious dinner, and then retiring to their basement movie theatre (with real movie theatre chairs and a popcorn machine) to watch The Bourne Identity (which Steve and I still hadn't seen--quite fun). Again, good times.

Tomorrow I'm back to school. Good times? Tune in tomorrow to find out.

Why I Should Fear for My Soul

An elderly woman was wearing a gorgeous knit cardigan. It was in my favorite charcoal grey/deep red combo, knit in wool, a yoked cardigan with little cardinals circling round her shoulders.

I wanted so badly to snatch it off her shoulders when I went up for communion. Heaven help me.

Fiber-Filled Weekend

I sit here a 9 p.m., another weekend over, another fall break ended. At least we beat Florida...and I got to have 4 great days!

On Thursday, the first day of the break, I chilled. Just hung out until about 2 p.m. at which time I went to the Apple Store at the Mall of Georgia with Ruth so that she could get her Iphone repaired/replaced. That was an experience--I'd never been in an Apple store at that point, and I didn't expect to feel so un-hip. But I did.

On Friday I went to a symposium in Atlanta for work. It was great--I learned a lot and thought about a lot and generally enjoyed thinking about my work. It was a long day, though; I had to leave home at 6 a.m. and returned that evening exhausted. Ruth and Tricia talked me into going to the yarn shop for card night, though, so I got to bed later than I planned.

So, where's the fiber? Well, Saturday was the beginning of my fiber weekend. Steve and I (joined this year by Melanie)  made our annual pilgrimage to North Carolina in search of fiber and Frog jam. We returned with a healthy amount of both.

I love SAFF. It's fun to just wander around and look at everything and see what other folks have done. There was a knitblogger /raveler meetup in one of the barns that afternoon, which afforded many a meeting with new and old SAFF acquaintances and the definitive visual definition of concupiscence:

So, what did I get? My shopping was limited, but good. I got a pair of square knitting needles (jury's still out on their utility), a pattern for the Almaza I bought last year, and this lusciousness from Brooks Farm:

These 4 skeins, plus one I purchased last year in a near-colorway, will join with a pattern for a diamond mitered vest to become a cool piece of knitting. On size 3 needles. Cause that's how I roll.

And yes, we did get the frog jam. Delicious.

Sunday's fiber? Well, let's just say that I've spun on a wheel now. I love it and can't wait to get some more.

What's Going On

My knitting--oh, my knitting! It's been pretty dull actually; I've finished knitting the vest pieces and I'm now putting in the pockets. I decided to put in 2 little waist pockets (big enough for keys and my library card), but I wasn't sure about what yarn I wanted to use. I knew, however, that I wanted the pockets to be knit into the sweater and not sewn on later. My solution? I put in a piece of waste yarn as a place holder in each pocket spot and am now knitting the first pocket into the garment. I'm using a fingering weight wool in lieu of the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed for the pocket innards; I wanted less bulk, tighter gauge. It's fun.

Other things? I'm averaging a job application out the door a day, which I've got to step up in the next week; many jobs begin their review Nov. 1. I'm actually enjoying it. There's so much to coordinate and organize!

Photo-free Harlot Zone

Steve and I braved the heavy traffic and light parking to visit Virginia Highland Wednesday to catch the Yarn Harlot's Atlanta talk. In all the excitement we forgot cameras (I didn't even bring my cell phone), so all I have for you is this:

*crickets*

The talk was good; I'm glad that I went. I was really surprised by her voice. We got there about 20 minutes before she was scheduled to go on, so we were sitting in the nosebleed/no visuals balcony. I got a good bit of knitting done while I listened to Stephanie's talk and laughed along with the crowd. She's a funny lady, as you all know, and I got her to sign a couple of books. Steve gave her the Captain Morgan wristband he scored at a local pub that night--it was Talk Like a Pirate Day after all.

I'm knitting a new project--a baby bunting for the shop--and enjoying that quite a bit. I can't be bothered to do anything remotely complex; all I want to do is knit stockinette and garter, and I have no desire to see any lace. Don't get me wrong--I'm enjoying my plain knitting tremendously. At busy times in my life (which seem to be the whole of life lately), I need my knitting to comfort me. Knit the sweater, wear the sweater--it's all good.

And then a friend reminds me that it takes little steps. Every stitch I take, every paper I grade, every class I teach, every application I send gets me a bit closer to the goals.

I'm still thinking about mail order wedding dresses, though.

Back in (the photo) Business!

I finally got my card reader working again; if you're having a similar problem after a Vista upgrade, check the support pages from your 'puter's manufacturer for new drivers.

Thanks for the encouragement; I stopped whining and started knitting and I feel on top of things again. I've been working on my vest:

I'm knitting the vest in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed, color Licorice (119). I can't really make it exciting. The front may be more interesting; I'm planning a pocket or two at the waist and I'm thinking about chunky antiquey pewtery buttons. Mmmm...

I love plain stockinette socks. I'm jazzing these up with coordinating colors:

Lorna's Laces (what else?) in Vera and Cedar.

Fall approaches.

I Need to Get Excited

I'm having a really tough time getting excited about my knitting. I have no desire to pick up my needles. Two fabulous sweaters that I want to wear when the weather allows are languishing in my knitting basket. Languishing. Two pair of socks await. I can't seem to get it together.

The MLA website is exploding due to all of the eager job seekers pouncing on the Job Information List (JIL, for short). Poor JIL. I, of course, am trying to hit that too, but am finding myself thwarted by my (apparently gagillions of) peers. I feel the stomach acid churning just thinking about the job search process. It's going to be a long year.

I need to go shopping for a wedding dress. If only it were that simple. I have thought seriously about just ordering something from the internet and taking my chances. It would certainly save me a ton of time.

This is me these days, a dreary churning bundle of not-knitting-job-hunting-dress-delaying neuroses. This too shall pass, eh? This time next year I'll have a great job, be married to a great guy, knitting something incredibly fantastic and fulfilling, and will still be trying to get my students' papers graded.

Can't wait.

Peektures

A very belated thank you to my fabulous sock pal, Jessica, for a lovely package full of socky goodness!

The socks fit great and are soooooo soft!

And there was a box of these beauties as well:

Again, thanks Jessica for being such a great sock pal!

The Things You Learn

I love finding new blogs, especially when they're the blogs of people I actually know. It's even better when you learn something! James of subdue it with a sweater (great blogname, eh?) has actually made me want to buy another of Debbie Stoller's books. Son of Stitch 'n Bitch won't be out until later this fall, but I want to knit the argyle scarf on the cover NOW.

And then there's Darilee of Knitting Marries Dirt Bike. Darilee is an incredible fiber artist, a great knitter, and just a really good, cool soul. Keep an eye out for her felt scarves (I hope you plan to put up some photos eventually, my lady), because they're just beautiful.

In Harry Potter Land:

I'm still digesting, but yes, I did read (all but the first 4 chapters) the book yesterday. I even skipped watching "The Closer" to read, which is a serious sacrifice for me. The series ended just as I hoped it would. It was triumphant, that ending, in a subtle, gentle way. I found myself getting a bit lost as I got closer to the close because I was giving in to my baser reading instincts to rush through and find out what happened. I made myself slow down, read some of it aloud, and it was really lovely and thoughtful and made me dig deep. And then this afternoon I was speaking to a friend and I could see how wonderfully Rowling had crafted the story from the beginning, how she had led us to this point so logically and nicely. I want to read them all again and will eventually. For now I'll just savor the satisfaction of the ending. Good storytelling, whether it's for kids or grownups, always satisfies.

In about a week I'll make comments that actually speak to what happened, since I assume that by that time all who might read this blog who want to preserve the moment of discovery will have finished their read. But I'll make sure to give a spoiler warning, ok?

Goings On

I've been stocking up on Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock:

Plans for it? Well, I see socks, of course, and perhaps a set of Endpaper Mitts. Small knits are good knits, eh?

In other news, I finished the Mini Shawl:

It was fun, quick, and mindless--my kind of project! Takes one skein of Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters. Nice over the shoulder little knit.

That's me in the mirror sporting the shawl and Steve to my right. Main Street Yarns & Fibers hosted a cookout as the close to their Open House week and we enjoyed good eats and chatting. The porch was the place to be as the afternoon wore on:

Socks were the things to knit...except for my shawl knitting:

Summer in Georgia is underway.

A Real Knitting Post

It's a short one, but a real one nonetheless. Here's my latest WIP:

This is the Weaver's Wool Mini Shawl from the KnitList. It's done in 1 skein of Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters. The color I'm using is Mountain Twilight and those are size 10.5 needles--much bigger than I usually use, I'd say. Does anyone get a weird feeling in their hands knitting with big-ish Addi Turbos?

What else is up? Well, my summer class was canceled due to low enrollment. While the department tried to get me another class (because otherwise, I don't get paid), I decided to just suck it up and not teach. What a load off!

Revelry or Ravelry?

I got a Ravelry invite (thanks Cathy!) and have spent the evening goofing around. It's so very cool and I can't wait till it's out of beta for the world to experience. My id is "AnaNg" if you're on.

Five Oh Oh

For this, my 500th post, I thought I'd write a really heartful, warm, loving little missive. Then I saw this meme and thought it might be more fun to think of past glories and future fun, so happy 500th to me!

Legend:
Stuff I've done/am doing
Stuff I'd like to do
Stuff that I'm thinking about maybe never doing

Afghan--no pics, but I've got one in process (Moderne Log Cabin) and I've done the block on the baby blankie thing..
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl--See one here (scroll to the bottom) and here and here
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down --just type socks in the search field and you'll find a pair or two!
Socks: toe-up--not my fave way to make them, but I have completed one pair
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with Bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/Doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental Knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with Alpaca
Fair Isle Knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured Knitting
Kitchener Bind Off
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and Purling Backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed Toys
Baby items
Knitting with Cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with Linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers

Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/Bolero/Poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public--my most public moment: knitting while competing in a spelling bee!

I Am...

Writing my diss--ugh. Painful

Knitting a top down summer cardi--love those designers at KPS . I'm knitting the Summer Cardigan (#221) in Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, color Merlot. Mmmmm...that's the closest I'll be getting to wine for a while!

Reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Infidel. Gripping.

Friday Feast

First some knitting:

I'm working on a sweater that should be done by early next week--joy! Khaki pants and springtime here I come!

On to the Feast--

I've been reading this blog for a while now...guess I should participate:

Appetizer
Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?

On my right forearm there's a dark mark. The mark is actually a piece of pencil lead from a 3rd grade injury; someone ran into me with a pencil, the lead broke off, and here we are today. My 30-something mind doesn't want to ponder beyond that.

My right hand, between my index and middle finger, sports a lovely shiny scar from my accidental pickup of a broken soda bottle (back in the day where you turned in your empties). More that I don't want to contemplate. I still love a Coke in a glass bottle, though.

Soup
What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?

When I was young (what is it with my youth?), my father had an auto accident in his van. I was in the backseat of the van, and the middle seat had been removed to make room for various bits of equipment. This was long before carseats (which I would have been too old for, anyway) and I don't recall functioning seatbelts. A truck ran him off the road and straight into a lightpost. The van's front (a VW bus) wrapped around the post.

My father was unharmed. And I swear to this day that the blanket we were sitting on somehow ended up covering the equipment and cushioning our fall.

Salad
Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.

Tyra. Fucking. Banks. I hate her.

Main Course
What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?

Not a clue about this one. I think I was likely more funny when I tried to use words that I didn't know the meaning of. Maybe.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have always thought the bayou was beautiful.

That was fun!

New Scarf!

Here's my Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf:

Yarn: Patons SWS in Natural Earth (3 skeins)

Needles: Size 9 Crystal Palace

Thoughts: I enjoyed knitting this scarf. The pattern is (as I'm sure you all know) easy to memorize. The yarn? Eh. It's soft and the colors are lovely, but I'm not in love--you know? I'm hoping that a good bath will make me change my mind; the yarn feels a bit scratchy.

This photo is really washed out. I'll try to get one with a sunnier disposition tomorrow.

Everything is Beautiful

Even a simple grey vest.

It's all finished now--every end woven in, all trims on. Sigh. Really done.

Specs:

Pattern: Concocted from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns

Yarn: Plymouth Galway Highland Heather, #751

Needles: Denise-O-Rama, Sizes 6 & 7

Thoughts: The neck is Oh So Manly (although it looks cute on me). The next vest will have a deeper V and a bit of side shaping to make it better fit the girly bits.

The Eternal Knitting Dilemma

I want to knit:

Cordelia (I gifted myself the kit for my birthday back in September)

A Multidirectional Scarf in Patons SWS (color 70013)

I have to knit:

A beading sample

The Entrelac Scarf (it grows and grows)

Why are the garter stitch projects so attractive? Little knit vixens. Stop winking at me and let me finish the other stuff!

No Whining

I wrote a post that consisted of a bit of whining about my current headache. The computer ate the post. I figure it was a sign.

Since we had the day off yesterday and Steve had to work, I spent my day doing laundry, watching the BBC Pride and Prejudice (mmmm....Darcy...) and knitting the first half of the entrelac scarf.

Between that knitting, the vest blocking, and the laundry (lots of handknit socks in there), I've been smelling lots of yummy wet wool. Mmmm.....wet wool.

The Beauty of Grey

Some ass on the couch time means I've finished the main bits of that endless grey vest. Evidence:

Next up: exciting seaming! Edgings!

I've cast on for an entrelac scarf in Noro Kureyon. Will make for better photos and quicker finishing...I hope.

Counting Counting

I'm helping with inventory over at the shop. Everyone is enjoying delicious pizza. I'm blogging because I have a tummy ache.

Pity me.

I Really Don't Want to Whine

One more day and then another and a day to sleep. Then I get to do it all again. But we've got MLK day coming, which makes me feel a touch more calm.

 The first week of classes is always tough. The whole drop/add cycle exhausts me. I like to start right away, get right into the material. Otherwise, you just waste a week of perfectly good class time. I also like to set the tone and pace early. Ususally there's a bit of turnover as folks "fine tune" their schedules, but I plan things so that we're warming up, really, before we get to the brass tacks. Tomorrow is the first full class day and I'm curious about what I'll get.

I'm teaching two classes, back to back. One starts at 9, the other at 10. At this point, I've got about 1/2 the original enrollment in the 9 a.m. class, but almost 100% of the original enrollment in the 10. Is there something magical that happens between 9 and 10 that makes a 10 a.m. class more attractive? Who knows? I'll just be glad when the roster stops fluctuating.

Four more inches of grey stockinette before I can start on the highly anticipated "V". 

A World Wrapped In Grey

The sun was out today and it was gorgeous and cool and clear; not quite January, but a far sight better than the late fall Louisiana rain we've been getting lately in our Georgia winter. So much sunshine and beauty. All snuffed out by the interminable grey of the sweater I'm knitting.

Don't get me wrong: I love grey. I wear black, charcoal, brown, tan, cream/ecru, and white all the time. These are my base colors, punctuated by blues, reds (the deep, bluesy kinds), the occasional green and rare purple. No yellow and only one orange item (the t-neck I only wear on Halloween). And Uli would find little to inspire in the way of prints were she perusing my wardrobe. I dream of a new wardrobe that would be a much more expensive version of the one I already own: neutral based, solid focused, splashes of color and controlled pattern.

So it's a bit amusing to me that I'm whining about this very practical garment. It is perfect for my wardrobe. I can already imagine wearing this basic charcoal v-neck vest with a white blouse and jeans. This would be the go-to top on days when I want to look like a casual professional who has it together, but doesn't have the energy to try--we all have those days, right? Just the thought of the finished garment makes my little '80s preppy heart smile. I want to go out and buy a pair of black penny loafers and fill the penny spot with a shiny new dime to welcome the sweater when it arrives. Makes me feel all sunny inside.

If only I didn't have to knit it. Sigh.

Not A Stitch

Haven't knit a stitch today and don't think I'll get to. I've got to prep for my class tomorrow and do laundry and clean the kitchen and make the bed and, most important, cut my nails. I hate having my fingers actually clicking as they hit the keys. I type faster with short nails.

The grey vest patiently waits. I decided to forgo any fancy moves on the front: keep it simple. It'll have a V-neck or crewneck option; I think that's plenty of excitement, don't you?

I Haven't Moved an Inch

Unless you count the walks to my car, the bed, up the stairs to my office, the shower, the refrigerator. I admit, I'm intrigued by the 100 Miles thing, but I think I'll have a better chance of sticking to the belly dance regimen. I need finger cymbals. I think when I was a kid they were called castanets.

The lure of the couch is seductive. Coffee or tea within an arm's reach. Chunky, funky suede ottoman boxes to rest my weary feet. Knitting nearby*. Laptop on lap. Jane Austen adaptations on the small screen. This is the life!

*Endless miles of grey wool and stockinette. At least I'm on to the vest front now!

Stuff I'm (Still) Knitting in 2007

Ah, those WIPs that carry over into the new year! Here they are, in their glory:

Mason-Dixon Knitting Moderne Log Cabin: I'm stalled on the last two big blocks. It hasn't really been cold enough in the Southland yet for me to get the lead out and finish it.

Braided Scarf from Vogue Knitting: So little done on this, but I'm still quite interested in the project.

Mary Ella from Knitty: I started this as a gift, but I think the recipient was happy with what they received instead. I'm enjoying this one (after I got the beads strung) and have materials for at least 4 more.

Baby Bolero in Zara Plus: This hot pink number is intended for a toddler gift. Since the recipient is only 3 months old, I have time to finish. I'm almost done--just the seaming and ribbing to go!

Simple Grey Vest: I'm knitting this one in preparation for a class I'm offering for advanced beginning knitters. The back is moving along, but dull as dishwater. There will be either a cable or a little coin pocket on the front to make it a bit more interesting.

Best FO of the Year

It wasn't knit by me, but for me. Steve decided to make a shawl for me. I guess it was an excuse to learn how to knit lace. I provided a very un-manly Victorian Pink fingering weight (Nature Spun, to be exact). Steve decided on the Faroese Flower Shawl pattern from Lucy Neatby.

I want to wait a moment to continue. I want to impress upon you the complexity of this undertaking, the sheer magnitude of this project. For a first lace project:

A lace shawl.

In the Faroese style.

With intricate patterning.

Many charts with which to cope.

In fingering weight yarn.

The mind reels. Anywho, on New Year's Eve, I found this beauty neatly wrapped in nice gold packaging.

Sufficient to say, I sashayed into the New Year wearing this little lightweight bonbon. A true labor of love, knit for me by the man I love. Life is very good indeed.

Stuff I Knit in 2006

I feel like there are more knits, but this seems to be the complete list.

Sweaters:

Lara Cardigan finished

Pearl Buck Swing Jacket

Knitting Pure and Simple Top-Down Tee

Baby Bolero

Heartbreakingly Cute Kimono

Blue and Blue Baby Sweater

Lion Homespun Tank Vest Thingy (for the Knitting Olympics)

Shapely Tank in Red Cotton Classic

Socks:

Socks Falling on Cedars (LL--where are these?)

Trekking XL Socks for Steve

Simply Lovely Lace Socks (Sockapaloooza)

Cherry Tree Hill Socks in Java

Sock Wars Socks in KnitPicks Merino Style

Embers Socks in LL (used reinforcing yarn on toe and heel. Love them.)

Black Socks in LL (for my sister, whose feet have likely frozen waiting for them. They've run off with the Socks Falling on Cedars, I believe.)

Hats:

Odessa (from Magknits)

EZ's Very Warm Hat (for Mike in Galway--blue/grey)-- no pic

Odds and Ends:

Keyhole Scarf in KnitPicks Decadance (for Mindy)

Fair Isle Headband (from SAFF class with Nancy Shroyer)

An Assload of Baby Bibs from Mason-Dixon Knitting (haven't given away one. What am I waiting for?)

The King Charles Bordered Baby Blankie (I still have to write up that pattern...)

Four Play Scarf (yarn from SAFF)

Camera Phones Take Lousy Photos

But we've got at least one good one (well, there were several, but I was in them and they don't look great!). I present a completed Pearl Buck Swing Jacket (Interweave Knits Winter 2005):

Happy Holidays! We're headed home tomorrow for a week; better pictures then!

Four Pictures

The semester is winding down, I'm grading fast and furious...and I want to show you my knitting.

First up, a sweater for a new cousin I've yet to meet. A bit of seaming left to do on this one:

Next, a scarf knit from the delicious Brooks Farm Four Play I purchased at SAFF:

A whiff of knitting with some merino/tussah I spun on my drop spindle:

And, last but not least, Odessa, knit for the shop with RY Classic Silk Wool DK:

I love small knits.

Some Recent Knits

Steve's sexy foot modeling his new Trekking sock--part of a completed pair.

The baby blanket I've blogged about, but never shown you. It's made with Mission Falls 1824 Wool. The blanket has a creamy stockinette center wrapped in a crispy King Charles Brocade (from Barbara Walker's first book) and covered in a contrasting garter stitch mitered border. Blankie perfection. Perfect for the crib, the carriage, or a cozy lap warmer. Now for the fun part--writing the pattern.

Currently on the needles:

1. A simple baby sweater a la Debbie Bliss--cardi with contrast color ribbing. Knitting it in Cotton Classic, two shade of boyish blue.

2. A scarf in the Four Play I bought at SAFF. I love this yarn.

3. A pair of socks (of course) in a pink/green Trekking colorway.

On Deck: an interesting (I hope) rendition of the braided scarf on the cover of the latest Vogue Knitting.

SAFF Report 1: The Shopping

I figured I'd get this part out of the way first. SAFF is a small, but growing, fiber festival held in North Carolina every fall. Last year I didn't make many purchases. This year, I decided that I would only look for shawl pins, interesting buttons, and useful knitting tools. I only purchased one thing that fits in these categories:

This is Nancy Shroyer's Knee-sel, an ingenious and utterly necessary tool for any knitter who follows any kind of pattern/chart. It made knitting in the car on the way home a breeze. I never have to worry about having a flat surface to hold my chart; the Knee-sel is always there, always standing at the ready. I love this thing and am so thankful to Nancy for making and marketing it.

So what else did I buy? Why yarn, of course.

From Jojoland comes Melody, a variegated fingering weight wool. I got two skeins in a beautiful blue/brown colorway. It will become either socks (hand wash only, but lovely) or a scarf. Very soft and lucious--and 220 yards on a ball.

I also purchased an Entrelac Shawl pattern from this vendor. I liked the way the model draped, but will likely use a different yarn than the pattern calls for.

Next, we have Just Our Yarn's Almaza:

This is a laceweight tencel yarn. I fell in love with the colors in this skein, particularly since the yarn's properties catch the light. I see a shawl, of course.

I purchased 2 skeins of sportweight from Bovidae Farms in black. I have two cones of a deep red in sport that I bought a couple of years ago from Webs. I'm hoping for a sweater with some stranded work on the cuffs, yoke, and waist.  No pic or web--it's almost like it's top secret! Nice stuff, though...trust me!

What did I do before Brooks Farm? I can't believe I was restrained enough to walk out with just two skeins.

On the right we have Four Play, a merino/silk blend hand-dyed and utterly gorgeous. These folks know how to work some color.

On the left is Acero, a new yarn for Brooks Farm. It's a wool/silk/viscose blend and it's Just. Freakin. Gorgeous. I touched this stuff for two days. I want to make a pair of pajamas from it. This photo doesn't even begin to illustrate how this yarn catches the light.

Scarves, I think, from both, or a small shoulder shawl from the Acero, since the skein has a generous 420+ yards of sporty goodness.

From Interlacements, I purchased a kit for their beaded scarf. I bought a silvery grey yarn with black beads.

Now, the yarn purchases were fun and lovely and all, but there was one thing that I was absolutely OBSESSED with getting my hands on this year. About 1 hour after we left SAFF on Sunday afternoon, we got half a dozen of these babies:

 Frog Jam is the best damn thing in the universe. Fig, Raspberry, Orange and Ginger--can you stand the flavor explosion that's happening in your head right now? This morning we made whole wheat biscuits and enjoyed a bit of this delicacy on them. MMMMM!

Next time: Classes and Knitters!

Socktober's Over

And I finished a pair of socks!

Specs:

Yarn--Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Embers

Needles--Size 1 Addi Turbos. Sniff. These are the socks that killed my Naturas.

Notes: As you can see, I have difficulty getting the socks to be the same length at the top. I get bored on number 2 sometimes...

I used reinforcing thread for these at the toes and at the base of the heel flap and on the heel turn. I'll see how that works out.

Tomorrow: SAFF Part 1

R.I.P.

When I first saw you, I knew that our time together would be limited. A thing of such delicacy and beauty could not possibly survive the stain of this imperfect world. That we had so much time together (at least 3 pairs worth) is a miracle. You will be missed.

Addi Natura

Size 1 (no longer manufactured due to, well, what you see above, I suppose)

Died: September 28, 2006

Checking In

I'm still around. Gosh, I really miss blogging! I've been busy reading lots of essays for a research project. While reading, I've been knitting away on a Moderne Log Cabin:

I'm using some Lamb's Pride Superwash from my stash, which makes me feel good. Loving the all-garter-all-the-time action--I don't have to really look at what I'm doing, which was perfect for this essay reading. I read over 400 of them. My eyes hurt.

Back to the writing grindstone tomorrow. Everyone have a good night!

P.S.--Anyone watching Project Runway? I was quite sad about Malan...

No Interesting Title

Writing a dissertation is hard.

It's a big project. You always second guess yourself. You always think you haven't read enough--and sometimes you're right. You live in fear of criticism, not because you think you can't be wrong, but because you are certain that you are wrong. And you never feel like you're smart enough to be admitted into the club.

Just thought I'd share.

I'm knitting lots of baby bibs. So if I know you in RL and you've had a baby recently, you may see some bibs coming your way. They are great projects. Bibs and socks, socks and bibs. That's what I'm reduced to, since this project that I'm working on pretty much saps my ability to string a coherent thought together. I've found that I prefer the solid Sugar/Peaches 'n Creme colors to the variegated. I don't mind pooling in my socks, but baby bibs should be, imho, solid punches of color punctuated by well chosen embellishments. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.*

But there is something popping up on the horizon. I want to knit my wedding veil. No, we haven't set a date yet, but I know that I'll have at least 6 months to do it, since we have to do the Catholic six month waiting period once we set the date. So that little project is running around in the back of my head, eating up whatever thinking cells remain.

And if you're itching to read something, I've got another blog at http://www.speaklightning.com. Sparsely updated, but will eventually become a teaching/professional sounding board.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

*It's amazing, isn't it, how irritated you can get over the most trivial things when you are under stress?

Twiddling

All pieces of the Pearl Buck are done. Seaming to start sometime soon.

I'm sitting here wondering what to do next. It's purple month. So something purple. I'm going to think on that.

I miss my blog. I'll be back soon.

Finis

The KPS Tee is done. Finis. Finito. Well, mostly done--a few ends to weave in.

Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Raglan Tee
Yarn: Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool (thanks sweetie!)
Needles: Size 6 & 4 (the pattern calls for a gajillion needles--I used a 40" in each size--love that Magic Loop)

Thoughts:

I will knit this again. And again. And again. I will, however, make the next one longer in both the body and the sleeves. I heart this pattern.

I see a Rowan Calmer version (or 4) in my future. And maybe Cotton Classic. Or something linen-y. Oh yeah.

Places I've Knit

I'm a sucker for this kind of contest. Thanks, Kat, for the stroll down memory lane!

5 Places I've Knit (not home or LYS):

1. 99X 2005 Concert Series. Outdoors. In the rain. I kept my socks in a special baggie.
2. The 99X Mistletoe Jam 2004. Gwinnett Arena. VERY LOUD. The socks I was working on needed to have their hearing checked.
3. The emergency room at St. Mary's Hospital. In a gown. Waiting for my kidney stone diagnosis. (Do I get extra points for posting a photo of this extreme experience?)
4. The Atlanta Botanical Gardens on the day that Steve proposed. Yes, I put the socks away when I sensed a Big Moment was coming.
5. Braves games. Great sock knitting time.

T.K.O.

Finished the Shapely Tank. Here it is on a hanger:

Trust me: it's Very Shapely on. I am officially past my tank/cami curse. The trick: knit the right size (duh!). I think I'd like it as a tee...

In Other News

I feel very behind in posting about what's going on, so here are the highlights to get caught up:

--Attended 3 fantastic classes at Main Street with Annie Modesitt. She's an incredibly good teacher and I felt absolutely empowered when I was finished with her classes. Thanks Annie for such a great time!

--I'm deeply entrenched in data entry. This is some slow, mindnumbingly boring stuff. The worst part is that I have to use my hands to do it...so I can't even use knitting as a way to muddle through. Any suggestions on how I can make it more enjoyable?

--Steve's watching basketball. Steve will be watching basketball for the next 2 weeks. I'll be entering data for that long, so I guess it's a blessing! Love March Madness!

--I'm planning a trip to Chicago at the end of the month for a conference. I'm driving there. From Georgia. Insanity!

--I'm still waiting for word from the bank that my account is all fixed. Thanks for all the good thoughts. I've been pretty calm about it, but I know that I'm a lucky girl...

--Knitting: Trying to finish the green tee that I was working on a couple of weeks ago. At the halfway point on the front. It will never end. Also working on a sock for Steve--if he's really good, he might even get a pair. And then there's the Pearl Buck, which is stalled while I get this green thing done. Sigh.

--Thinking about Knitting: A Debbie Bliss summer cardi from the cover of Wish You Were Here in that blue Cotton Patine that I was moneying around with last summer. I think I've found the perfect fusion of yarn and pattern...finally. Also planning the Yoga Wrap from Vogue Knitting Winter 2005/06 in this gorgeous blue/green Plymouth Suri Merino, 'cause nothing says "Summer Knitting" like merino and alpaca.

An FO!

Finally--a bathroom mirror pic of a finished Lara:

I need to get a cute shower curtain.

Yarn: K1C2 Paintbox, color 10, 15 skeins (including seaming)
Needles: Addi Natura, size 7

Mods: I added about 6" to the bust measurement to accomodate my natural curvature (that Debbie Bliss doesn't write for the busty gals). I also added 4" of length in the body and sleeves, since I wanted the cardi longer.

Thoughts? I'm wearing it for the second day in a row. I love it. Love it. Love it. I will knit more of these. The pattern is just too freaking easy.

Last Bits

Thanks Mouse for the snappy Team Georgia button!

Thursday is KnitAlong Day!

I figured I needed to get my act together on my projects, so expect a KAL report on Thursdays.

Sock of the Month KAL

For my first pair, I'll be knitting Steve's Trekking XL socks. He deserves these, and I'm a bad fiancee for not getting them knit before now. He likes 'em simple (like me), so we're just knitting around and around.

Here are a few candidates for upcoming months:

What a bevy of riches! The blue/green combo is Strumpfwolle, a gift from my last Sockapalooza pal. The others are delightful Trekking XXL in colors 107 & 105 (bottom row, left to right) and 05 & 70 (top row, left to right). I'm trying to find a good color card online, but having no real luck with this color set.

Knitting Olympics

More about this in yesterday's post. Project Lineup:

Homespun Sleeveless Top (KnitIt! Spring 2006)
Oat Coture Baby Blanket in Lion Pound O' Love
Random Homespun Scarf (Straight Garter Stitch, baby!)

In Other News

I thought I should post a pre-Olympic project status so that I can see how much I actually knit on these non-Olympic projects. See how I'm already cheating?

First, the Pearl Buck Cardigan:

That's the cardigan back panel. I've finished knitting it, but still need to bind off the back to create the pleat--I'll be doing that today. There are 2 sleeves, 2 fronts, and one YOKE to go. How many sweater patterns have a yoke?

Next, the cotton twins. First we have Oat Couture's Tropical Tee in Plymouth Fantasy Naturale (what an awful name for a yarn):

Every time I pick up this knit, I can understand the pull of the lime! I'm enjoying it but have already planned to eschew the pattern finishing directions. The instructions have you leave the shoulder bits live and then connect them with a three needle bindoff. I say, why bother with that bit of irritating seaming on a summer top? I'm planning a grafting session instead. We'll see how that goes.

Next up, the second half of an ill-fitting blast from last summer--the Shapely Tank:

With any luck, the sizing gods will be on my side in this one. I'll never forget last summer's tank debacle!

Posted by KnitNut at 10:34 AM | Comments (1)

Lone Voice in the Wilderness

All around the blogisphere you can hear the needles swatching.

But not here in Chez Words. We're knitting models. We don't need no stinkin' swatches!

OK...I'll probably end up regretting my impulse to jump into the Olympic fray sans swatch. I may end up with an enormous version of this top:

I have faith, though, that the pattern writer knew what they were all about when they called for those size 10 needles.

And why worry about gauge when you're knitting this:

It's Oat Couture's Building Blocks Blanket. I've got a Pound of Love in a denimy blue that is just perfect for this bad boy. And it's a blanket--no swatching required!

Of course, all this preparatory swaggering will, of necessity, lead to some eating of the Humble Pie. But I say, it's part of the spirit of challenge! I'll be the Olympian who comes unprepared, donuts and cigarettes (just kidding sweetie) in hand, with dreams of medal glory and actions that only qualify for the Couch Olympic Games.

Add to this the fact that I'm knitting with mercenized cotton yarns right now, a surefire way to screw around with my tension, since I have to be a bit tighter with the cottons to get an even fabric. I will not be swayed, however--no swatching for me!

In Other News

I'm carefully considering my options for my SockPal. I'm thinking lacey socks and for some reason, I can't get the color pink out of my head. Stay tuned for further developments.

Someone's Got to Do It

I've been mulling over the Harlot's Knitting Olympics challenge. I signed up with this vague idea that I would design and knit a shawl in the time alloted. Then I got down and dirty with my dissertation and realized that I don't have the mental capacity to design and knit anything of moderate complexity. What's a girl to do?

I need to do something challenging to me...that's the rule, eh? I need to start it and finish it within the time of the Olympics. And now, I find, it needs to be challenging in some way other than the technical.

So I'm going to be knitting with acrylic yarn. Lion Homespun, Pound o' Love, WoolEase. For the entire Olympic challenge. I have a bunch of it earmarked for various things (models for my JoAnn teaching, charity knitting, baby blankets), so why not? I can knit stockinette to ease my tortured mind; the challenge will come from resisting the siren call of all those lucious wools calling to me from the knitting bag (case in point--I'm currently knitting Trekking and Lorna's Laces socks and a sweater in Jo Sharp DK--bliss!) and sticking to my servicable-but-not-as-luscious acrylics. A challenge of will.

I even made a button:

In Other Knitting News

Thanks for the great stash management tips. I hope to apply them this weekend. The loose stash (the stash not located in the craft closet or cedar trunk) is currently residing in my bedroom. Steve helped me reorient the furniture in my office/guest room/craft room Sunday, and it was all we could do to just get the furniture appropriately situated. This weekend I'll be sorting, sifting, and generally deciding who gets to stay, who must leave, and how they will be departing.

And, of course, I'll be drawing names for a FABULOUS PRIZE. So get those ideas in if you've got em! All comments posted by Friday, Feb. 3 at 11:59 p.m. with some stash management suggestions will be entered.

Stash Management

I have a stash that is far too large. I keep bringing yarn into the house, but very little leaves in the form of knitted projects.

I want to cut my stash in half, at least, 3/4 if possible. Any suggestions for approaching this task? I'll take all suggestions, ruthless or amusing. One of you will be the lucky winner of some delight removed from the stash.

In Other News

Lara Cardigan is blocked and ready for seaming.

I'm working on the back of the Pearl Buck Swing Jacket from IK Winter 2005. I love it! The sweater will be a shop model for Main Street.

I'm physically and mentally exhausted. I've got to turn in something chapter-like on Tuesday to my diss advisor. Wailing and gnashing of teeth from the general vicinity of Athens, GA can be assumed to originate from my home.

Almost FO and Next Knits

I finished the Lara Cardigan today. Well, the knitting is finished--I've still got to block it and sew those Really Long Side Seams. Pictures when it's all over.

Cedar Socks are still going--2nd verse same as the first and all. Love the yarn, love the color, love, love, love the Lorna's.

Next Knit: The Pearl Buck sweater from Interweave's Winter 2005 issue in Jo Sharp DK. A really rich red. Mmmmmmm.

So that's my life in knitting--miles of stockinette ahead, punctuated by a few bits of charted stitch goodness. Perfect no-brainer knitting.

I'm trying to decide if I should sign up for the next go-round of Sockapalooza. The button alone is worth signing up...and I love to knit socks.

It's late...I'm off to bed. Expect either spotty or ranting posts this week as I write...

Links, Pains, and Writing To Do

Thanks Amy for putting together such a fine list of sock patterns on the net. Excellent resource!

I'm laid up today with a bottle of muscle relaxants, my knitting, and DVDs (watching Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave right now). I'm working on the Lara sweater and the Cedar socks. Both are plain stockinette, which is good since I'm drugged. Why am I drugged? I don't really know. A couple of days ago I started having icky back pain--bad enough to require a doctor visit. Not the stones, but maybe stone-related. So I'm on drugs till my monthly visitor leaves and then we can sort out what the real problem is. Sigh.

Oh, and I've got to have a chapter of my diss ready for reading by Jan. 31. So I'm reading a bit this afternoon too, in moments of lucidity.

One of which I'm using up now composing this entry, so I guess I'd better make hay while the sun shines and all that lot.

Lemming Along

There are always just so many cool things happening in the knitting world. I've been trying to only sign up for the things I know I have a reasonable chance of maintaining interest in and finishing. My latest? Chrissy's Sock a Month Knitalong and the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics. We'll see how well I do in each.

Another bit of lemming-like behavior from me--check this out:

I'm not one to use That Statement often, but I think it's ridiculous that a company can trademark such a common phrase.

What's on the needles?

Socks Falling on Cedars

and

Think of Lara

Cheers!

Hats Off to Ya!

First up, thanks for all the thoughtful responses about wedding business (and checkout lines!). I'll be writing a bit more about that situation later this week, so stay tuned (will be drama-lite, though).

Thanks also for the kinds comments about my little plumbing issue. The stone has (thankfully) passed and been sent to a lab for identification and processing--I hope they pulverize that little bastard.

In Knitting Knews:

So, you saw one hat a week or two ago. Here are some others:

2 more EZ Very Warm Hats, modeled by the trusty Maurice:

And here are Steve's nieces and nephews with the fruits of our hat-knitting labors. He knit the hats for the boys, I knit the ones for the girls:

Current projects:

--a pair of socks in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, Cedar
--a Lara Cardigan in K1C2 Paintbox (see the beginnings here)

Guessing Game

You wouldn't know it to read this blog of late, but I have indeed been knitting quite a bit. Steve and I knit hats for the nieces/nephews...nothing really exciting there. I've knit some more hats, but I can't show pics yet...so no hat photos for you. I will, however, share the yarn choices:

Lamb's Pride Superwash (a personal favorite for the color shading and the washableness)
Cleckheaton Country 8 Ply (a new fave...flat color, but oh so soft!)
Plymouth Galway Heathers (soft yummy wool AND heathered colors--what's not to love?)
Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed (can we say eternal yum? I may not be able to let this hat go)

Pics to follow after the holiday madness is over.

I can, however, share pics of some other, more personal projects, with you. I'll leave you to guess what I'm knitting:

1. Knit in K1C2's Paint Box (a great Kureyon sub, if you ask me), this item is a repeat of something I've knit already. The yarn choice is a bit out of character for me (I tend to like a great deal of color control), but I think I'll like this one better than the first that I knit. Any guesses?

2. Not as much knitting here, but I'll give you a hint--this design recently appeared in a major knitting mag and has literary ties. Yarn: Jo Sharp DK Wool. This is destined to be a shop model for Main Street...for a while.

Guesses?

Ring Around the Ring

While you're waiting, no doubt, for pics of my knitting adventures (and believe me, there are plenty!), check out:

HEJ's Beautiful Shawl
knit 'n lit's Beary Merry Christmas neighbors
You Knit WHat?'s Latest Find

I'm finishing up hat #4 (which is really hat #6--any guesses why?) and working on 2 sweater projects. Lots of lovely yarn. I promise I'll snap some shots by the Christmas tree tonight!

Fast Walkin'

I haven't even put the button on my sidebar yet, but my Jaywalker socks are done.

This pair is, alas, destined to be sent out into the world, but I wanted you all to see their beauty. The yarn: Lorna's Laces in "Purple Iris".

Fun pattern + fun yarn = fun socks to knit (and, I hope, to wear!)

Other Stuff

Thank you all for the kind comments about my recent engagement. Steve and I are very happy and both are adjusting to the new naming conventions this change in relationship status requires. He just loves referring to me as his "fiancee". Giggle.

We haven't set a date yet; I've got a dissertation to finish and next year is proving to be quite hectic with family obligations. As soon as we've decided, you can bet I'll be posting here.

I still haven't visited my gals at the LYS yet (I'm home grading papers this morning), but must give a shout out to Ruth, who we ran into That Night at a local restaurant. Imagine our surprise when the waitress delivered a lovely bottle of champagne to our table, compliments of my fave LYS owner! Thanks so much for that--it made a special night even more special....and me a bit more tipsy!

More Guilt

I'm rounding the corner on the Guilt Knitting. Latest updates:

1. Baby Blanket 1 (brights)--crocheting the squares together, then need to make a border--ETF*: Saturday, Nov. 19
2. Baby Blanket 2 (muted)--squares complete, bringing to group for finishing tonight--ETF: before the baby arrives (already devolving...)
3. Stripeosaurus Scarf--Need 3 more stripe pattern repeats, which equals 24" and some wicked clever way to end it without Fringe. ETF: Saturday, Nov. 26.

Then there's the Christmas knitting, which can't begin until these are done. Good thing I'm knitting hats all around--those are relatively fast. Oh, and I'm working on sock #2 of the Sockapal2za Angel pair. Add that to the Guilt column (since I'm working off someone else's guilt karma)--ETF: Saturday, Nov. 19.

My goal: to enter 2006 Guilt Knitting Free. Steve has requested a cardigan in sportweight yarn, and that will provide plenty of guilty knitting pleasure for the upcoming year.

*ETF: Estimated Time to Finish (or FROG)

The Guilt, Oh, The Guilt

I'm on another of the Guilt Projects: The Stripeosaurus Scarf.

Halfway there...only 2 years after promising to knit this for a Very Dear Friend.

Lots of delicious Plymouth Galway. Cozy. Soft. Cuddly.

Miles of endless stockinette. Boring, but perfect for watching endless episodes of Law & Order.

SAFF Stories

An entire week to post about SAFF...I'm a real slacker! Better late than never, I suppose!

We started off at 8 a.m.

Co-pilot....check.

Handknit socks...check.

Simian companions...check.

Maurice wanted to drive, but I convinced him that he'd have a much better time riding shotgun with Steve. Bongo, the little guy on the dashboard, got to have front row view for all the scenery...and he got to come inside the festival, since the cheeky little thing hid in my bag!

When we got there, we went straight for the goodies.

And weren't disappointed:

The monkeys were a bit concerned they might not be warmly embraced by attendees, since some of their avian kind were threatening:

Inside was all yarn, roving, wheels, locks and happy fiber folk.

I bought a few goodies. First, some roving from Wauka Valley Farms:

And some lovely stuff from Carolina Homespun:

And some silky goodness from Yarnsmiths, handpainted by Danette Taylor:

I also picked up a bunch of old mags and pattern books:

And I'll leave you with this image--desperate or not?:

Enjoy your day!

Ils Sont Parti!

We're off to SAFF for the day. Pics later this week!

First Assignment

When I left home this morning, I gave Maurice a task: choose a Socktoberfest victim. When I got back for lunch, I found this:

We discussed the relative merits of working these Trekking XXL socks (color 69) over the pair I'd already begun for Steve (in Wildfoote, Cadet Grey) and decided, after deliberations and dill havarti, that the Trekking socks were THE ONES to push to the top of the pile. I'll be casting on for those tonight.

In Other News

Thanks for all the great comments! I promise, I'll be responding soon!

And a dream knit:

It's Hanne Falkenberg's Cordelia in Colorway 5. Mmmm.

Actually Wear the Sweater?

Last year I got caught up in the Debbie Bliss Lara craze and knit the dang sweater out of Berroco Softwist. Cause I'm cheap. After finishing it, I promptly put it away because it just didn't feel right.

I guess stowing it away in a closet for 1 year changed its attitude...or mine. I'm wearing it now and it looks great. I may make another.

I need to clean my bathroom mirror. Oops.

Guilty FO

My first big finish in the Guilt KAL was the Wool Peddler's Shawl from Folk Shawls. This shawl was a gift for my good friend and mentor, Monica, who is just fabulous and has recently earned her Ph.D. I gifted the shawl to her at a recent Girl's Night she hosted.

And a little vamp:

Other Knitting News

I'm working on two guilty baby blankets...one so guilty it has missed the birth of the wee one. I've also joined Lolly's Socktoberfest (button on the sidebar), which should result in at least one pair of stocks for poor Steve, who has been so patient.

Naming Day

My monkey has been impatient--dare I say, on my back--about getting this naming done. As he's watched the names roll in, he's been thinking hard.

What great choices: Oliver (with a nickname, Ollie, no less), Chou Chou, Bananarama, Cornelius, Wallis, Basil, Chumley, Cheeky, Simon, Clever Trevor, and, from my sweet baby sister, Maaauuurice!

I left him alone for an evening of quiet contemplation, so that he could choose wisely. When I asked this morning, he calmly, while sipping his coffee, said that he would let me choose. When I inquired as to why, he said "The names, they are all fabulous, and each would suit me nicely. I am, after all, all of those names. But, my sweet dear keeper, since it is you who will utter the name, I prefer that it be the one you'd like to roll off your tongue."

Clever monkey indeed! He understands the first rule of living with this gal--all decisions are ultimately mine!

And so, without further ado, I present to you the newly named Maurice. How could I not choose that name, as it comes as part of a clever monkey's theme song? Thanks Em!

Of course, choosing the name my sister sent in doesn't do any good for the yarn, since she doesn't knit and already has a gift project in the works (which will not be seen here until after Xmas to maintain its anonymity). Em, you're getting some yummy chocolates and perhaps another pressie or two. But the yarn...well, I'm drawing names for the goodness of Lavold.

So, the runner up (and provider of Maurice's middle name) is .....

Carrieoke, who provided Oliver/Ollie.

Which, now that I think of it, makes his name Maurice Oliver DeRouen. Or MOD for short.

I like.

Send along preferred mailing addresses, ladies and your goodies will be on their way! Thanks to everyone who sent in an entry--I'll have to devise another contest for Thanksgiving!

A Flutter

The blog world is a-flutter with reports from Rhinebeck. Here's mine.

I didn't go. I live too far away.

Now that we've got that out of the way, I can share what I have been doing.

How I Spent My Weekend

Well, things have been crazy busy. I'm teaching now at my LYS and at a nearby JoAnn store, so I'm doing doubletime on class preps and models. I'm really a nut about designing my own patterns for class (even when something similar already exists), so I've been knitting alot. This week it was Santa hats and Christmas stockings. I've knit 3 hats out of 3 yarn combos...one more to go this weekend. I console myself as I knit these things that I won't have to do this particular model again...small consolation, but the knits are cute and don't take too long.

Saturday was the Fall Festival in downtown Watkinsville. I taught an Entrelac class that morning, and Steve came down to visit in the afternoon. We didn't get to do much festivaling--I was trying to finish a hat--but we did get some tasty festival food. On Sunday we were back at the yarn shop for Sunday knitting and we got to hang out with lots of great peeps. Steve's working on a felted rug right now which looks great--lots of berry-shaded stripes.

This Sunday we're heading to the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair. I'm looking forward to it and have decided that I will ONLY consider handpainted lace yarns, sock yarn that is so unique my feet are screaming for it, and Very Special Fibers to spin.

Monkey Naming Day is tomorrow. Watch this space!

Guilt is Good

I updated the buttons on my sidebar. Most notable among them is the Guilt one. January One started this up and I'm all for it. I've finished the Wool Peddler's shawl (pics when it gets gifted), just knocked off a hat for charity that's been languishing in a basket, and am in full baby blanket finishing mode. Once that's done, I must turn my attention to this scarf that has been ripped out and restarted 5 times now...I need to get this thing done asap. My best friend, a patient man (and that's saying a lot for a Scorpio), has been waiting 2 years. That is some serious Guilt knitting...

And if you want a bit of guilty pleasure, check out this transcript from a sketch on A Prairie Home Companion. Those wacky cowboys...

PS--Don't forget to submit your entry in the Monkey Name Contest!

Sockapal2za!

Got my package yesterday--it's like starting my birthday celebration early!

This package traveled all the way from Germany, lovingly wrapped and knit by the lovely Rachel at Have You Any Wool. In the package?

German sock yarn (be still my heart!)! Tasty Chocolates! A shot glass (pass the vodka!)! And the socks....oh, the socks!

The Chutes and Ladders pattern from the 6 Sox Knitalong, done in a merino/cashmere blend in simply elegant grey. I'm in love! Thank you, Rachel, for these perfect socks! They fit great and will be worn an awful lot this winter!

Done!

I finished my Sockpal2za socks last night.

Specs:

Pattern: Retro Ribs (IK Winter 2004)
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Nearly Navy

I had a lot of fun knitting them and can't wait to wrap them up and send them on their way to parts colder than GA!

I used an Addi Natura for these (size 1, 40") and fell in love--really swooning on that Natura. Precious bamboo with that fab Addi cable...what's not to love? Loathe to part with them so soon, I cast on my latest sock yarn acquision, Opal in the Ladybug colorway from the Rainforest series. Loving them.

Socks are just good.

Lookie, Lookie

My sweetie is a knitting machine. Check out his FIRST SWEATER EVER:

It's the KBTH Honey Bearan, a pattern from their archives (which I can't seem to find right now in the vast world of the web). He did a marvelous job. You should all tell him so.

I wish I'd taken pics of his fabulous finishing. Truly something to behold.

New to the Bookshelf

Picked up a copy of this at the LYS yesterday:

In love with several patterns, particularly the capelets from Ann Budd's master pattern, Nora Gaughan's cabled capelet, Teva Durham's argyle poncho, and the two gorgeous lace pieces by Shirley Paden, Kathleen Power Johnson, and Evelyn Clark. And more. I love this book!

My Camera Isn't Broken

Or lost or stolen or anything. Actually, it just needs new batteries, but I haven't yet been able to convince myself to go on a hunt throughout the house for them. So I'll try to write some images for you of my current knitting.

First the Wool Peddler's Shawl.

Picture a deep red, tinged with flecks of black, which give it a sooty, sultry appearance. A plush garter stitched center, with a hint of the lacy border beginning to peek out. Heavenly.

Then there's the Baby Blanket. Cute, perky garter squares in a cool, soothing light blue--all completed and neatly stacked, waiting for their more intricately patterned bretheren.

A sock of blue and grey, evoking many a thought of the Old South, even though the tweedy texture of the yarn doesn't attempt to bring those old dogs out on the hunt. Very small needles, the kind that one is cautious with in Crowded Spaces, lest one inadvertently start a mini-conflict.

Yep. That's what you'd see if I'd get off my fat ass and take some photos. Maybe tonight.

Harry Potter Update:

I'm on pg. 50?--I'll be finishing this evening for sure!

Not So SABLE

I've been thinking a lot about stash lately. I've been thinking about projects I want to knit now and projects I wanted to knit then. I've been thinking about what types of knits I want to do and why.

I have a lot of yarn. I bought it all with a project in mind. The project may not have been totally specific (i.e. a pattern attached), but there was definitely an idea (a twinset, a wrap, a blanket, a baby gift). But right now I'm really tired of feeling the weight of projects I haven't knit when I'm looking at the ones I want to knit now.

Frankly, I want to photograph the whole lot of it (minus the sock yarn, the laceweights, and the yarn for Steve's sweater) and sell it all, either here or on ebay. I want to cast off my knitting infancy, the last 3 years of learning and trying and buying, and head into my knitting childhood (or adolescence) with a spirit of adventure and an embrace of the unknown. I want to knit the sweaters I want for me. I want to knit socks for every pair of feet I meet. I want to knit miles of lace. And I want to match the yarn to the project and not feel like I have to go stash diving to make something work.

Thoughts? Do any of you feel weighted down by stash?

Yes, I'm Still Knitting

In case you were wondering...I have been a busy knitting bee!

First, for the sock lovers--my teaching socks, a pair of short cuff house wearabouts:

For the Summer of Lace-sters, two projects.

The Wool Peddler's Shawl from Folk Shawls:

And the Viennese Shrug:

And just for fun, a baby blankie from Vogue Knitting on the Go: Baby Blankets:

Whew! That's a lot of knitting going on! I've also got a sock in Sockotta on the needles--the second in a pair.

The Viennese Shrug, unfortunately, is on the back burner. The Wool Peddler (which is slowly creeping toward its lace border so that I can really get my Summer of Lace cred), is a gift for a friend and needs to be finished asap. The blankie is for a September baby. It is now my chatting knitting, since it's pretty much round and round. If you're wondering about that pattern, it's the one with the stripes and the bear in the pocket (if you have that book). I decided to forgo the stripes since I'm really not in the mood to deal with those ends! I'm using Cotton Fleece for the blanket, one of my faves. The Wool Peddler is in Lamb's Pride Superwash, not necessarily my ideal choice, but the color was so perfect (Shane's Red) and it's washable AND I'm wearing Superwash on my tootsies (those little short socks) and I'm comfy, so I figure the shawl will work out well. The Viennese is in Dale Svale.

All of this delicious yarn! Yummy!

Stash Exodus and Enhancement

I succumbed to the Cotton Ease frenzy (I've actually been eyeing it for some time), so I have to clear out MORE of my stash. Watch for new sale listings (see link in the sidebar) next week.

Back to the knitting!

Ring around the Ring

A lot can happen in a day or two. To wit:

Cari's had a lovely Beauty Pagent that speaks most charmingly to my SKFD.

Tipper's got some bling going on.

Ann's been attending naughty parties.

And me? The new hard drive is installed and partitioned--80GB total. I've also purchased a CD-Rom holder to house my new backup system. Lesson learned...

Yarn Sale will be up tomorrow, since I've got to take some pics again.

Let the Summer Begin!

The Summer of Lace, that is!

Since I'm feeling kinda lacy, I've joined ranks with Wendy & co. Click on the Summer of Lace button on the right if you want to know what all the fuss is about!

My lace projects:

1. The Wool Peddler's Shawl from Folk Shawls--a gift for a friend--in Lamb's Pride Superwash (Shane's Red). While I'm waiting for the yarn (had to be ordered), I'm working on...

2. The Viennese Shrug from the Summer '05 IK. You know, the one in this picture?

Yarn? Svale. In Black. Which may not turn out to be the best choice, but I love the way it feels. And I want to wear this thing this summer.

3. The Kimono we talked about last time. It's freaking gorgeous, isn't it? Of course, it will have to wait for 1 & 2 to be done, so I'm guessing that it will make its debut early July. Can I wait that long?

Sigh. So much lace...so little time.

On Monday--Yarn Sale!

Coming Attractions

This

Plus these

Will become this

That's the Kimono Shawl from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls. The yarn is Jaggerspun Zephyr in Sable. The sticks are good old bamboo.

Mmmm....kimono....

An FO!

I've finished the Tahki Shawl Collared Wrap! The ribbing was endless--I actually finished casting off the collar while listening to Jim Caviezel speak at the Atlanta Diocease's Eucharistic Congress on Saturday. An interesting day in general; Caviezel's talk was particularly moving, although I really enjoyed hearing Jeff Cavins speak as well.

I've got to block and weave in ends...joy and wrapture! LOL

I'm now working on the latest incarnation of the Stripeosaurus--the stockinette and color switching was not fun (note to self: you hate knitting stripes, so just don't knit them), so I'm doing the scarf that graces the cover of Vogue Knitting on the Go: Scarves 2...that's a mouthful, eh? I think I will enjoy this much more.

I'm also still plugging away on the Spearfish, but need to really put all of it aside for the following:

1. A syllabus for my summer writing class which starts on Thursday
2. A website for the same
3. The final group project for the class I'm taking, which ends on Wednesday
4. The t