The knitting librarian stores her yarn in her bookcase

2008-12-12T16:00:00.003-05:00

Christmas knitting is frantically getting knitted. Or something like that. The thing is, however, that I really only have until next Friday because of travel plans. Yikes!

My Kitty Toy Swap partner sent me a lovely package the other day - great toys for the babies and a supremely lovely sock/lace-weight yarn for me. Love it. My package for my recipient(s) went into the mail today. I hope they like it! :D

My Traveling Scarf Swap person, ever so lovely, sent me tea! And not just any tea, a Harney and Sons sampler pack. The English Breakfast and Apricot were lovely. The peppermint is 'okay'. Not something I'd purchase separately, but I wouldn't turn it down if it came in a sampler pack.

The Garden Variety shawl patterns are on sale right now. So far I have them and the pumpkin patch scarf in my cart for just $24. I'm trying to decide if I want to add Leaves of Grass and/or Sherwood.

Forgot my regular glasses at home today, so I've been wearing the spare set (2 prescriptions old). My vision is okay enough I can get out of the house with them, but my astigmatism is bad enough I can't spend the day on the computer without them and remain headache free. Even with the old glasses I had a headache by 10:30. Ugh.

whew

2008-12-01T10:08:00.003-05:00

My dimply car has returned from the dead and it wasn't even half the cost of the lowest estimate I was originally given. Thank goodness. Of course, I found out after test driving this wonderful little Corolla that I would have happily walked off the lot with (it was even within my budget!). But that saved me money! And this was the motivation I needed to get off my duff and start up that emergency fund everyone should have.

In other good news, we won a plane ticket lotto (or at least it seemed like it) and ended up with free tickets to visit the grandparents over Christmas. Part of it sucks because I didn't get to see the local family last Christmas and won't again this Christmas. At the same time, said grandparents were up for a cousin's wedding and the traveling was so rough on them they don't plan to return any time soon. If ever. (I was offered money to elope when it comes time for me to get married.) The most I'll have to pay for this trip is to board the cats for over a week - and that'll be half the price per night that was quoted to me by the old vet before the move.

I'm already starting my trip packing list:

nightgown (always forget that)
knitting
laptop
traveling sock for plane knitting
iPod
knitting yarn wishlist
jeans (2 pair + wearing on plane)
tops (5 days worth, we'll do laundry)
layers (5 days worth)
more knitting

Knitting news: I was super lucky and won a 'you finished the shop hop' prize and a door prize for the yarn tour. The 'you finished the shop hop' prize was a Berroco sock pattern book and two skeins of their sock yarn (awesome colors, one navy and the other jewel toned self striping). The door prize was the Louisa Harding Gathering Roses: The Design Collection book. Lovely book. And it even has a pattern very similar to a cabled sweater I'd planned to try to design for myself (boatneck, cable up the sleeve, split to go in front of and in back of neck, down other sleeve). Her version is knit sideways and the cable is at the neck and cuffs, so it isn't it exactly. But I've never done a knit sideways pattern, and I always try to learn something knew with each pattern I do. I'm not certain if the yarn I have is the right weight for this sweater (it calls for a worsted weight ribbon yarn), but at least one person has done it in malabrigo and that looks lovely. I think any worsted weight wool would be great.

The shop were I won the Louisa Harding pattern finally got the new Linie/On Linie cabled sweater pattern for Outland yarn. I picked it out during the yarn tour, but didn't buy since the pattern wasn't in. And who decided (after telling me she wasn't going to buy yarn when we stopped to pick stuff up) to buy the yarn for it Saturday? Mom. Of course, she got the color I wanted too. So, unless we want to look like twinkies I probably won't be making that any time soon.

We finally found (online) green fun fur for the bag I'm to make for Mom for Christmas. I'll start the back tonight (have a blue ton of TV to watch that I missed last week) and will hopefully have it done fairly quickly. Not certain when the yarn will arrive, but I'll start on the front when it does. I'd really like to have it finished/felted well before Christmas. (Seriously, if the yarn arrives this week my goal is to finish it this weekend. We'll see how that works, that wrap I was going to finish by the 22nd? Still only just past the half way point.)

Also got the afghan I made for Grandma back. It is not, however, a feather and fan stitch. Very similar, but the YOs are stretched out over three RS rows. I'm tempted to rip and start over. And for good reason. Callie!girl got a little too interested in my knitting last week while I was at work. And I arrived home to find that the start of the afghan was no longer attached to the skeins. *facepalm* The afghan for Grandma also has six stripes, which kinda makes me want to go back and get three other colors. I have ecru, so actually it'd only be two other colors. I just don't know which to go for. It is meant to go with my bedspread which is dark brown and a light blue/aqua. Not a lot of colors there to match. Need to think about it. And come up with a good reason NOT to go to Hobby Lobby.

2008-11-17T13:04:00.003-05:00

I take back everything I said about the cats not caring for catnip. I came across a bag last night and gave them a new try at it. OMG, I thought Grady was going to try to burrow himself into the carpet. And even though I put it out in two different spots, he wouldn't let Callie near it. At all (there was growling involved). I had to put him in time out (their cat carrier) so the poor girl could have a shot. Very funny considering that not too long ago they couldn't care less if it was right under their noses.

The car will go in to the shop tomorrow. I had several talks with my parents this weekend. Dad is worried that there might be damage to the engine since it was out of oil when it went in last time. Mom was looking for used cars for me online. Which is sincerely depressing, as even if I find a car in my price range, with insurance it may be total payments of $300 a month. Technically, I have that money - I'm just using it to pay more on other bills than the minimum payments required. Basically, I won't get everything paid off as quickly as I'd like. Here's to hoping that whatever is wrong is fixable. :S

On to less depressing news: knitting! Worked some of the striped afghan for myself. I did all of two rows. Yeah, I know. My excuse is that the kittehs were super clingy and snuggly this weekend. It's hard enough to knit with just Grady (the Velcro kitteh) on my lap, but add Callie to the mix and it's near impossible. (The only knitting I got done was when just Callie was up there, but then she was having fun playing with my yarn and since this is the kitteh who ATE through a strand of acrylic (yeah, I don't know), I figured it'd be safest to set things aside.) I was super surprised about the super clingyness. Callie is not a snuggly kitteh, she's not a lap kitteh either. She's a 'I'll be close to you but not touching, unless I'm using your dominany wrist as a pillow and then you'd better not even think of moving' kitteh. Last weekend she experimented with laying on my legs( (up on the ottoman) while Grady snuggled on my lap. Saturday she ventured into 'let me climb up to the back of your chair' territory. Color me surprised when, Saturday afternoon, she decided to puppy pile on top of Grady on my lap. And stuck around when he jumped down. Wow.

I really need to stop cruising Ravelry over my lunch (there's a reason my favorites is as huge as it is). Otherwise I wouldn't have noticed that the Poinsettia Scarf is almost ready to go on sale. I love what I've seen of it so far, but it is a free gift for everyone who purchased all the Garden Variety patterns so far. I adore Iris, and think it might be good with my Knit Picks Grape Hyacinth Shimmer (a bit different than the sample Iris, but something stashed that I can't figure out what to do with and it's purple, white and green all the colors of Irises, plus Iris is rectangular and the reason I'm having a hard time finding something to make out of the shimmer is because I don't like the way it pools in circular or triangle shawls), Zinnia is gorgeous, as is Hydrangea (though I actually prefer the stole to the shawl). The only one I don't really are for is Crocus Pocus, but that may because I'm not fond of the colors the sample is knit in, but since I adore Poinsettia I could tell myself that I was buying it and getting Crocus Pocus free. Not that I need to be buying any patterns (see above re: car and money).

Still, I adore Susan's designs. Arabian Nights is my big goal project: I'll make it some day when my skill level has reached that point (hence the working on easier lace and beaded knitting now). I've thought about getting/making Magic Carpet Ride (the smaller scarf version) as a prep project. I'd love to try either Leaves of Grass or Sherwood. And Pumpkin Patch has been calling my name since Halloween (that said, I don't think I'll ever afford the Camelspin for the fingering version - I do not love orange but I love the russets in that scarf). It's fun to look at her designs and make wishes. But I really need to finish a few things before I even think of buying.

(I also really love the looks of ~~The Blues~~ Jazzed Up, but as she hasn't released that one yet I don't feel so guilty drooling over it.)

Tonight my goal is to do at least two more rows of the afghan or a few rows on Versatility.

Monday Monday

2008-11-10T18:27:00.004-05:00

Walked to work today, if nothing else being carless will be good exercise. However, it also means that Versatility (which I brought with me) is probably going to become a work only project - my knitting bag and regular bag and lunch were just more than I wanted to carry. This means I'm less likely to make my Nov 22 anticipated deadline, but I'll still try.

I started on a new afghan this weekend. It is feather and fan, but not in the round. It's based on an afghan I made years ago for my grandmother - this would be the yarn I just exchanged. I swatched, figured out how many repeats to make and got started. Even on size 17 needles it'll be slow going - these rows are 270+ stitches. But that's okay, because it is mindless knitting without being boring - having a pattern stitch row every 4th row helps with that.

Oh! My first gift Traveling Scarf Swap swapee went out. Not necessarily today, or Saturday or Friday. Definitely not yesterday (Sunday). But I'll never tell. :> It's a little starter gift, I have more plans for greater spoiling later on. Mwahahahaha.

Ultimately, in true Monday fashion, I'm rather boring today. But since my week is crazy, here's to hoping tomorrow isn't more exciting. ;)

...

2008-11-08T18:12:00.003-05:00

My poor car is old. A teenager. And while I've had the fortune to live in areas where I can do a lot of my travel (work, shopping, etc) via public transportation, this is not one of them.

I've had a slow oil leak for a long time. I'll check the oil, add extra and things will be fine. Not now. Last night I noticed my car making a strange grinding noise and turning hard on the way home from work. I hoped it was a one time thing, parked it in the garage and waited until morning. This morning I took it out again. Still making noise, still grinding. Not good at all.

Off to Sears we went, where the manager of the auto department helped me out. We took a short ride through the parking lot, he said it was the engine and not a bearing like he thought. We discussed the oil leak I'd had for a while. He took a look at it. The plan was to fill the oil, clean the engine off and then go back next weekend for them to look and see if they could tell where the leak was coming from.

Instead, he called me and informed me that I have a 'massive' leak. The quart of oil he put in before driving the car into their garage - gone by the time they were done. And it's big enough and in an awkward place, so it isn't something they can repair. So I have a referral to a place that isn't open on the weekend and my poor car is back in the garage. I don't even know if I have enough oil to get to this other place - I may have to go and get some to top off before I head out.

I'm lucky enough that I live within walking distance to work (just under a mile) and there is a grocery store about a mile away as well. Walgreens is just over half a mile away. Wal-Mart a bit further, though it's across a very busy highway that I'm not certain I'd want to cross even though it does have a cross-walk.

On top of all this I've been very moody this week, I screwed up a short-row heel (how is it I can't count properly on a SR heel?), one of the cats threw up last night and I forgot to get my swapee's first card in the mail. Also, I've been under a lot of stress lately - semester is nearly over, the search committee's I'm on, deadlines coming up on stuff, colleague leaving, etc. All this resulted in me having a major meltdown on the phone with my Mom.

Now, however, I'm feeling much better. I have a bad tendency to internalize stress and internalize more stress until I fall apart. I'm certain that the long bath, hot cocoa and raspberry chipolte black bean and cream cheese dip I'm having helps. It's going to be a no knitting night - or if I do knit it'll be something new/different. The sock needs to frog and I'm not liking the yarn, Versatility is not something to knit while trying to veg. I may work on the striped feather and fan afghan I wanted to make for my bedroom. Or I'll pull out the other sock I have somewhere - except I think I'm to the heel on that too. Oi. I'd start Ice Queen, but it requires a provisional cast on which is more intense that I want to deal with right now. :(

Versatilely Versatile, afghans and oooh pretty

2008-11-06T10:11:00.004-05:00

Finished 4th cable panel repeat. This thing is 35+ inches long and, unfortunately, I'm getting tired of it. Not tired of it in the sense of 'I don't like this any more', more of a 'I really want this to be done now so I can work on other stuff' sense.

I've reached the point I can knit a row without screwing up. As long as I'm not watching one of my shows like I was last night (I LOVE Criminal Minds and CSI: NY). Instead, last night, I perfected the lost art of 'picking up a YO wrap from the row above upon realizing I missed one yet again'. I'm getting good at that.

I'm rethinking Hemlock Ring. I found someone's Feather and Fan afghan on Ravelry, based on the Feather and Fan shawl in Gathering of Lace (I love that book. I have a personal rule that I can't buy a book unless I've checked it out from the library more than twice - I've checked this out enough I should have a gazillion copies.) I love Feather and Fan stitch, adore that shawl and (while I do have some Knit Picks Gossamer in Sweet Pea to make the shawl) realized that I prefer the center point of this to the center of Hemlock Ring. On the flip side? I'll likely have to go get more yarn from the LYS.

Which is a nice seque for my plans for this afternoon - stopped at Hobby Lobby yesterday for some stitch markers and blocking pins and decided to check out the yarn they have. I have 3 balls each of four colors to make a Feather and Fan afghan like I made 10 years ago for my grandmother (purchased this summer). But I no longer have the pattern (well, I can no longer find it - it's somewhere), so I'm going from memory and not certain I have enough yarn. Of the four colors, they still had the same dyelot of two. So I'm taking the other two back to exchange for the dyelot they currently have and then I'll get extra of all four colors. I want to find out their exchange policy - I'm thinking of getting three extra of each. I have a queen-sized bed and I'd like for this to be able to cover it when I get cold. I have no clue how much yarn I'll need or how much I used and I can't find this pattern on Ravelry. Hopefully I can just get as much as possible and return what I don't use for store credit (I'm positive I didn't have more than 6 skeins each when I made the other - but I'm planning to make this larger). And if I run out, well, I'll decide then what to do.

Hobby Lobby is also having a sale on jewelry making stuff. Normally I'd ignore that. I've made stitch markers, but I'm not always all about handmade jewelry. BUT, earlier this week a colleague and I went to the gift shop off campus for me to get a postcard for my TSG swapee. And she found these wonderful earrings. I held off. They were $7, not bad, but I was there to get something for my swapee, not me. Then I get to Hobby Lobby last night, decide to use the 40% off coupon I found for a bead spinner (they've been talking about it in the Moroccan Days/Arabian Nights group and how much it helps when you're threading 3000+ beads and since I do want to eventually make that, it seemed like a good idea). So I headed that direction. And found the pendants used to make those awesome earrings. In PINK. I also grabbed some lobster claw earring findings that I decided last night I don't like. So I'll look for different (I'm thinking posts - and possibly see if they restocked the pendants, I adored the teal which would have looked awesome with the dress I'm wearing today) when I exchange the yarn.

But really, the moral of the story? No more yarn for, oh, ever. Or at least until I finish a few things. And don't knit complicated stuff while trying to bite your fingernails in suspense over your TV shows.

Mwahahahaha

2008-11-03T23:21:00.002-05:00

I have my TSG Swap Partner. :>

I already have plans of how to start. :>

Been a while...

2008-11-03T10:45:00.003-05:00

Been a long while. There was a new job and move in there somewhere. And an addiction to Ravelry. And yarn. And...

Ah well, current knitting queue (Rav links):

Versatility - love this. Can't wait to finish it. Have pretty much reached the halfway point. My goal is to finish this by the 22nd.

Traveling Scarves - I'm in the Ravelry Traveling Scarf group and currently have two at home. The first is finished, the second I'm waiting for the book to catch up to it. My scarf is out there somewhere - but I was told by the last person to knit on it that it was beautiful. Whee!

Noni bags - I love Noni bags. I love knitting them up and felting them. I do not love lining them, adding decorations and handles. As such, I have two almost finished Noni bags somewhere in my house. (I was recently trying to remember where they are - I'm not certain.)

Special Olympics Scarves - 1 finished, I plan to do another. This is actually crochet. *gasp* I know. Me, crocheting. Who'd a thunk. The first scarf just needs to have ends tucked and fringe added. The second will wait until after some other knitting is finished.

Chemo Cap - *facepalm* It just needs a button. Yeah. I know. This is a goal to get finished this week.

Coming up:

Christmas present - felted bag. Yeah, I don't know what I get myself into either.

Ice Queen - My first beaded lace project. Since I know Feather and fan to the point I can do it in my sleep, I figured this would be a good way to try something new.

Twist + Shout - LOVE this. Scored some excellent sale yarn at Elann.com for this. Can't wait to start. Think it is going to be a bit tricksy, so it may wait until the new year.

Hemlock Ring Blanket - the Lace KAL for November. Got some great Encore at the LYS yesterday - and double stamps on my pink card!

Cosima - Local yarn shop tour netted some beautiful Silky Flamme and this pattern book. I can't wait to get started. I just have a few other things to do first.

Flower Basket Shawl - This may be knit out of either some Noro Kureyon Sock or my Knit Picks Shimmer. I may have something else to use the Shimmer on, but I do love the pattern.

February Lady Sweater - Nearly bought the yarn for this over the weekend. Only problem, the day the online shop had it on sale all the colors I wanted were sold out. Next day? Everything fully in stock. While I understand that it is hard to keep a real time update of everything in an online stock, especially if you get new stock in, it still feels like a let down. I think that now I'll wait until one of the LYS's from the yarn tour gets it in (they're looking into it).

Happy Tuesday!

2006-11-21T16:59:00.001-05:00

Book Reviews:
Knit One, Felt Too - This is a great beginner's book for felting projects. The introduction to felting has a lot of good information and there is a nice range of projects to work on. I, for one, loved the lunch bag carryall and the draft blocker. But other than that none of the projects really called out to me. I'm glad I got it through ILL for the technique information at the front, but it'll probably not be going on any wishlist of mine.

Christmas Stockings 18 Holiday Treasures to Knit - This one has some great stockings in it and some very specialized stockings in it. If you want to knit a stocking for your dog, this is the book to have. I liked the idea of the 'artist's stocking' but would have really preferred a 'knitter's stocking' instead - which could probably be easily done with some mild alterations to the pattern, but I didn't necessarily like the idea *enough* to do them myself. The Austrian Alpine Treasure stocking is gorgeous (but I fear trying to find the specific yarn for it since substitutions aren't suggested) and there were several others I loved. This is another book I'm glad I got through ILL. If I ever decide to start knitting up stockings this'll be the place I look (and probably request it again) but I'm not planning to get it just yet.

The Shop on Blossom Street - I hate to say it, but I was rather 'meh' about this book. I suppose it is in part because I've been in a cozy mystery mood lately and this isn't a cozy mystery. It isn't even a mystery. But is has knitting. It ended up being a bit too much of the romancy-chick lit kind of book for me. But if anyone enjoys that kinda book, then I say go for it. I have the sequel from ILL, but I think it might end up going back as well.

Other stuff:
The first of the babies has arrived! My oldest cousin was induced on Friday and, though I didn't learn the news until Saturday evening, managed to spend the weekend knitting my fingers off. The baby kimono just need to be put together (after it finished blocking) and the baby hat (a little Ann Norling Strawberry hat) is finished as well. I would like to put everything in the mail tomorrow on my way out of town, so the hope is to try to sew up the kimono tonight. I was hoping to get a pair of booties out of the same yarn as the kimono as well, but we'll have to see. I'll have plenty of time for knitting over the holiday as well, what with the big trip even further up north.

I also finished one more Christmas present (at least the knitting on said present), which is also blocking (with two other versions of said thing - one for me and another present) with the baby kimono. I'm hoping that I'll get Mom's gift finished while we're in the Big City Even Further Up North, and I'm going to start on another just like it - either for myself or for a Christmas gift. On the other hand, I also have a cone of absolutely gorgeous bottle green Jaeger Zephyr that I'm tempted to start knitting some lace with. I even have a pattern in mind - just need to print it off. And it is an 'Intermediate' pattern, which is probably what I need considering that other than the swatch for my 'Lucky' cardigan (which has slowly started growing into a scarf - the swatch not the cardigan) I haven't knit lace in almost 10 years.

I'm knitting, I swear!

2006-11-16T16:55:00.000-05:00

But I feel that I'm getting more accomplished in the reading department, which is a first in a long time for me. Grad school sucked up all my free time and the wonderful part of being out is that when I get home from work there's no homework. None. I can sit and knit or sit and read or...

I really need to start looking into audio books, that's what I need to do.

For the recent reads:
At Wick's End - Guy's aunt dies. Guy inherits candle shop. Guy finds out he inherits mystery as well as property. Guy solves mystery. It's your basic simple cozy mystery and there have been times (expecially lately) where a basic simple cozy mystery is what I'm looking for. There is a lot of information about the candle-making business and hobby, a multitude of references to the Dame Agatha, a couple of recipes in the back and a few hours of entertainment to be found. I enjoyed it and will be getting the next in the series through ILL, but I don't think it'll be going on the To Buy list (unless I'm near a Half-Priced Books anytime soon).

Murder with Peacocks - This was an Agatha award winner for best first book, and it was definitely worth it. I'm not sure how Meg did it, if it had been me I would have long since told the various family members to plan their own darned wedding. And she had a murder (or was it murders) to deal with in the process. And peacocks to find. This was definitely one of those 'can't put it down' kind of reads - that had me giggling the entire way. I couldn't wait for my lunch break so I could find out what happens next. I've already requested the sequel from ILL and this is definitely going to be a book I'll look for at my next book store run.

On the knitting front, Librarian Twin (who started a week before me, has same color hair, eyes and also wears glasses (and is also practically the same clothing size) and has the same love for fun shoes I have) has officially joined the realm of knitters. There was a three hour long knit in last night at her place as she started on her practice skein and took to knitting like a duck to water. She was quick to figure out how to recognize when she's done something wrong and is even beginning to figure out how to fix mistakes. A wonderful student overall and I can't wait for our next knit in - especially since we'll be on disc 2 of the Muppet Show for that. ;)

My own knitting included working on Mom's Christmas gift (which I've been threatening (at least to TG) to keep for myself). There was a last minute rip and recast on yesterday morning (third time, btw) and then several hours worth of knitting at LT's. I've a pretty sizeable amount done, though not nearly the amount when I first had to rip (oh the joy of running out of yarn). Now all I have to do is to remember to switch skeins every two rows (something I'm having difficulty with) and just continue on. The good news is that there should be plenty o' time for knitting next week - after the Turkey Day festivities TG and I are planning a trip to the Bigger City Even Further Up North and he doesn't at all mind driving while I knit. There may or may not be friends joining us, but we'll probably have separate cars and I'll not be driving regardless. (I may have had no problem driving around Tucson or Phoenix, but the last time I was in the Big City Even Further Up North I had the priviledge of sitting in the middle of the backseat (eschewing the seat buckle which I RARELY do) and had a front row view of some idiot driving way too fast trying to squeeze through where he shouldn't. It involved him flipping his car. And his flipped car nearly landing on our car. I'm NOT driving in that city.)

After leaving LT's house I spent a bit more time (when I wasn't reading At Wick's End) working on the baby bolero, getting four more rows of the back shoulder shaping done. I plan to at least finish the back shoulder shaping (if not getting to the back neck bind off, though I don't want to jinx myself) tonight. But, to add fun to that, I just recieved a copy of One Skein through ILL today. I've seen it before (and it sits rather high on my wishlist) but I have a single skein of sari silk in a delightful purple/mauve colorway that I know will never be duplicated (and there was only the one skein at the LYS where I used to live). While I could happily just sit and fondle the yarn, I really want to start to look for ideas of something to do with it. But I'm not certain I want a hat or any of the usual projects (though I do kinda like the idea of a short ascot-like scarf that I could fasten with a lovely dragonfly brooch I have). I need IDEAS. Plus I also have one skein of Noro Silk Garden in the right color but wrong dye lot, so unless it becomes a fringe on the Lady Eleanor I'm likely to knit (I figure that fringe is the one place you can play fast and loose with the dye lot), I'll need an idea for it as well. Especially if that Silk Garden becomes a Klaralund or other project (I really don't think I need any more scarves, no matter how much I love the Lady E).

Tuesday Book Review (or the joy of being a knitty librarian)

2006-11-14T16:56:00.000-05:00

The joy of being a knitty librarian is that you can Interlibrary loan whatever knitting book you want to use. Or in my case, check out before deciding to buy. The only bookstore in town is a used bookstore, the closest town with a yarn shop (and presummably a book store, I haven't actually been anywhere but the yarn shop) is an hour or so away, so generally my purchasing happens via the good old World Wide Web.

The current ILL knitting books include Knitting Rules by the lovely Yarn Harlot and Mason-Dixon Knitting by the ever amusing Kay and Ann at Mason-Dixon Knitting.

Knitting Rules is fun, amusing and, what I like best, not only patterns but also 'recipes' for various items. During my phases of sock knitting I've found myself too dependent on this sock pattern here and that sock pattern there and it helps to have someone sit down and say 'You know, all you really need is your gauge swatch and some thinking and you don't need those'. (Even if I already knew that.) Kinda opens up the possibility for, oh say, fun stitch patterns on my socks if I do say so myself. In all it goes on the wishlist. The Guy (TG) even had fun with it, ambushing me with the stash quiz - according to him you have to be out on the sidewalk to be at least 10 feet away from the stash. But I don't even have a sidewalk! And I think there may be a room somewhere without any yarn in it. Errr... The kitchen! (If the knitted up poncho laying over the back of a chair don't count.)

Mason-Dixon Knitting is a good book with several new variations on old ideas and a lot of things that aren't your typical knitting project. I like the fact that instead of have 30 different gorgeous sweaters there are instead rugs and bedspreads and curtains and cushions. Big plus - quick and easy baby items. I have a cousin with a baby due this month, another due in February (neither of which I found out about until last month) and a boss due in April. There was no way I was going to get the in progress baby blanket as well as a second finished in time. I figure I'll get to start knitting for myself in about May. But it was TG who (while flipping through the M-D K) pointed out the baby kimono that happens to be the perfect use of some Plymouth Encore languishing in the stash (I bought it last Christmas for some mittens but it wasn't a good match at all - which is sad considering it is white). And I pulled out some leftovers of pink (as a semi-yarn snob I confess, Caron Super Soft or whatever it is) from the second (and working) attempt of said mittens that I may use with other leftovers for a striped kimono (I figure there has to be a girl in the works there somewhere).

Tonight, however, this knitty librarian is working late, swapping an evening shift with a co-worker. But tomorrow will be the interesting part. Tomorrow I may just end up helping to introduce two other librarians to the wonderful world of the knitty-ness.

(TG has also claims to have resigned himself to the fact that I'll probably end up teaching him to knit. I plan to get him a copy of Knitting With Balls when I do so.)

2005-06-30T21:36:00.001-05:00

It's been one of those weeks. Well, last week was one of those weeks where you're so busy it's just 'go go go' and by the time it's all over you can't remember half of what you did. This week is just meh. It's been hot and humid, which makes it hard to motivate myself to knit, and still rather busy. Today was a not great day a work, and then I came home to try to make some supper. Only the chicken didn't quite smell right, the zuchini has some little slimey spots on it and the rice burned in the microwave.

I called Pizza Hut.

However, by some cosmic force, my SP5 person knew that it was a meh kind of week. On the up side of today I came home to find a package! Complete with the Twisted Sisters Sock book and two skeins of Lorna's Lace Sock Yarn in the purple-y/amethyst color. This are looking brighter all ready. I think I might have to get the socks I've got on the needle finished so I can get a start on those!

And maybe this weekend I'll actually have some knitting time again. *crosses fingers*

SP5!!!

2005-06-17T18:34:00.000-05:00

Eeeeee!!! I have an awesome SP5 buddy, it has been decided (not that there was any doubt before, it's just been confirmed :D). I came home Tuesday (after a long day at work) to a great card from my pal. And a set of beautiful notecards with Georgia O'Keefe's Oriental Poppies on the covers. Just lovely. It completely made my day.

Wednesday was made with a trip to the bookstore and coming home to a package from the evil muse - who had sent that hank of yarn I sent her off to get me for my cardigan. Now I should have enough to finish that particular project, if I get back into my knitting grove. Which will probably not be tonight as the evil muse and I were up until 2:00 my time (3:00 her time) chatting away and the alarm clock went off at an all too early 6:00. Between a mug holding 8-10 cups of coffee (yum), two cans of Diet Vanilla Coke and judicious amounts of chocolate I've managed to make it this far. And it fifteen minutes a friend'll be picking me up from work to go for dinner and to see Batman Begins. Eeee!! Even dead tired there is excitement here. Just a little more subdued. :D

Goodness

2005-06-14T11:14:00.000-05:00

Has it really been that long since I last posted? The sad thing is I looked over my last post and I really haven't gotten much further. I did make it to the point on my bolero jacket front that I'm about to start decreasing for the shoulder, but that's about it.

Instead I've been reading and trying out my new drop spindle. The drop spindle came with some lovely roving, however it was too pretty for my sad attempts at spinning, so I bought some undyed roving at my LYS this past weekend and spun for a bit on Saturday. It's coming out sort of think, a bit thicker than worsted but not quite bulky, and sorta fuzzy, but I'm really liking it a lot. I'm already dreaming up things like Kool-Aid dye and maybe something felted to do with this. Not sure what, I'll have to see how far I get with it.

The reading has been my chance to finally tackle my summer reading list, though I added to it on Sunday. But I've already finished one of the added books and have gotten a start on the second, so I'm not feeling too bad about adding to the list. Though I may be singing a different song tomorrow when I get the sequel to the book I finished yesterday.

This evening, though, it going to be all about the knitting. I have a heel to turn on the travel sock and a front to my bolero jacket to finish. Hopefully I'll get one of those worked on. :D

2005-06-07T08:41:00.000-05:00

Knitting has, unfortunately, been at a minimum lately. My boss had budget money left over for the fiscal year, so she offered me the chance to work full time until my next round of classes begin (the 20th). So not only has my free time decreased, but I'm usually so tired when I get home that I just crash (but happily my insomnia is going away!). Add to that the fact that the cotton I've been working with is killing my wrists, there definitely hasn't been much knitting. But now that I've given my hands a break and I've caught up on sleep, hopefully I'll get the chance to pick it up again.

I did get some knitting finished since the last post, though. I've gotten to the heel on the travel sock, so I'll start turning it today at lunch. I'll work on the other front of the bolero jacket on the bus today, as well. Gotta get my knitting in!

Two posts at once!

2005-06-01T13:51:00.000-05:00

Well, we'll see if it works. Wireless has been up and down my entire lunch hour. Makes me wonder just how great it is to have the most wired (or technically wireless) campus if you can't get a signal on the only side of the library where the electrical outlets are actually wired themselves.

Not a lot of knitting related accomplishments to regale. Though my buying yarn on Saturday was apparently the motivation I needed to get other knitting projects finished (probably has something to do with the potential 'can only buy yarn for one project once finish two projects' rule and the fact that I'm already 'in the hole' since I had the unexpected acquiring of yarn). In other words, I finally seamed that one shoulder seam and did the neckband of my vest. Still have another shoulder seam and then it's side seams (ick!) but I have made progress on a project that has sat at 90% complete for nearly two years. And I also have made enough progress on the travel sock that I'm nearly to the heel. Yay! As soon as I get those finished I'll have two projects finished and won't feel so guilty about yarn purchases on Saturday.

I also finally got that survey/meme thinger posted for SP5 (with a little helpful poking by my secret pal).

I had a great Memorial Day weekend. A friend travelled down to visit, and it was her birthday on Saturday. So we went to the winery and did a wine tasting. And then were thankful we had a DD, as we were just tipsy enough that we knew we shouldn't drive. There was supper at a cow palace, great big hunks of meat were consumed and margaritas were drunk. Sunday was a cookout, the THE - toss, hit and eat. Though actually the order was toss (lawn darts and horse shoes), eat (brats and salads and incredibly wonderful banana puddings) and hit (fizzball). Fizzball is an idea they pulled from a comic book years ago. Buy the cheapest, nastiest beer you can, someone pitches and someone else hits it with a baseball bat and sees who can get the best explosion. Very good times, though I now know from experience that Schlitz isn't fun to get in your eyes. Monday was hang out time before our friend headed back home, and then resting and working on the vest. So, in all a great time, though I was tired tired tired yesterday.

Well, lunch break is nearly over and I've got to head back to work. Hopefully I'll have some picture when I post next. Either of knitting stuff or maybe my new drop spindle I just won from eBay or of the weekend. :D

Meme! Or something like that.

2005-06-01T13:33:00.000-05:00

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

In a perfect world I'd be a yarn snob, however on my current budget I pretty much have realized I can't be too picky. If Elann.com doesn't have it or a comparable substitute at a decent price then I start considering the nicer of the Lion Brand yarns. But my favorite yarn to work with will always be Brown Sheep.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I haven't crocheted an actual project in about eight or nine years and was just informed, when attempting to pick it up again at Christmas, that I crochet throwing the yarn like a knitter. But technically I do crochet and am attempting to pick it up again, though I definitely prefer knitting. As for spinning, I just won a drop spindle and burgundy roving on eBay, so we're about to see just how well I like it.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Cigarette smoke for the most part. Some perfumes give me a headache, but that's just some.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I started knitting when I was 7 or 8ish I think. All I know is that it was a long time ago when my Mom was the 4-H knitting leader, but I wasn't old enough by family standards to join up yet. But the 'big girls' would come over to knit and I wanted to also, so Mom set me up with a couple of needles and a skein of cheap yarn and I think I knit on the same 30 stitches or so until I started my first 4-H project.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Amazon.com - for books, music and such.
Wishlist.com - for yarn and whatnot that isn't available on Amazon.com

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
From Bath and Body Works - Pearberry, which is unfortunately discontinued but I'm really loving their Chocolate Fondue scent and their Black Raspberry Vanilla scent.

Pier 1 candles - Love love love their Ginger Peach candles. A long time ago they had bubble bath and bath salts as well, but I haven't been able to find those for a good three or four years.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes. Dark chocolate. Dark chocolate M&Ms are my crack (and nigh on impossible to find anymore). I prefer my chocolate sans nuts, but I won't turn up my nose if it has nuts. One of my favorite candy bars is the Love Notes Dark Chocolate with free-dried Raspberry bits. YUM.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Like I said above, I'm trying to relearn to crochet and I'm hoping to pick up spinning. Technically you could say I cross stitch, though I haven't picked up a project in ages. Otherwise the closest I come is cooking. Love to cook.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love most kinds of music, I'm not one to discount all in a genre of music just because there are a few songs/artists I don't like. Lately I've been on a jazz kick, listening to the Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald duets, but I'm just as likely to be jamming to the new Rob Thomas songs or Montgomery Gentry as I am to be listening to jazz. I am picky about rap, there are a few rappers out there that I don't mind, but for the most part that isn't my style.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Purple!

And red and blue. But it will always be purple or red to first catch my eye. Pink has been growing on me, enough that it has made it's way into my wardrobe. I like bright or deep colors, I'm not all about muted tones. I think that if there was one color I'd have to pick out and say I don't like it'd be olive green or orange or something.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm single, live alone with no pets. Though I've been told there may be fish in my future (I'd love to set up a salt water tank, so that may be summer project). Nearly everyone I know has been talking about their pets or getting new pets, though, so I'm currently experiencing major pet envy right now.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Librarian at an academic science library. Possibly as a Map Librarian.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Wool. My knitting repetoir is pretty much limited to wool, cotton and acrylic. And wool, especially some Merino I have, is pretty much my favorite.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I'm tempted to say cotton here, just because I'm using some cotton right now that's making my tendonitis flare up. But really it's probably just acrylic, though I am guilty of having some Caron Simply Soft in my stash.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Shrugs and short summery jackets. Not so much because they're the new fashion trend (I'm generally the least fashionable person in the world) but because we have dress codes where I work that say no backless shirts and wouldn't you know, my two favorite summer shirts are halter tops. So if I have something to cover my back while at work, I can wear those shirts the rest of the day. I'm currently working on two from the Summer VK, with yarn substitutions of course, because as much as I'd love to use Fiesta La Luz yarn, that's half a paycheck for me right now.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Anything cute? I've been enjoying making socks because there is no seaming to do, but I also love sweaters (especially if I can figure out alterations to do a three-needle bind off at the shoulders) in general. I have done more than my share of fuzzy scarves, so I'm ready to call it quits on those (and ignore the piles of eyelash still in my stash). What I've really been hankering to work on lately (and I completely blame working on that clover lace gauge swatch) is a lacy scarf, so I guess I haven't completely given up on scarves, but just the furry ones.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Right now?

Cropped Cardigan from Summer Vogue knitting, substituting Cascade 220 for the suggested cotton. Berry Bolero from the same mag, substituting Elann Sonata for the suggested silk yarn. Second in a pair of socks using the orange and pink striped Shepard's Sock yarn. A baby blanket that was supposed to be for my old neighbors, only they moved away soon after finding out they were pregnant so it's on hold until I either acquire another pregnant friend/neighbor/cousin. Vest out of Paton's Bella that just needs a shoulder seamed, neckband and finish seaming, a lace shawl I keep changing my mind on the pattern for and a Clapotis that keeps getting put aside for other projects.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
Have made two! One with a gorgeous Buotone from Handpaintedyarn.com in just plain stockinette and another in a dropped stitch pattern with Morehouse Merino in black. The black dropped stitch poncho is probably going to be frogged, though. It's beautiful, but it's huge and I'm clumsy. And nearly close-lined myself the first time I wore it, getting it caught on a fake plant just outside a public restroom. Oi.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I mostly prefer straights, though that may be because my circular needle collection is sadly lacking - I bought at least one of every size available when the So Fro (now JoAnn's I believe) in my town closed, so I have every size I need there. But circs have always been a 'buy when you need them' kinda deal and I have a hard time justify getting them when I have a perfectly viable straight needle set I can use instead. That said, I've been knitting more and more on the go, and I absolutely love the circs I have for that.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I'm so old-school it's scary. I was taught on aluminum (Boye to be exact, hated the Susan Bates aluminum) needles and do prefer them for most stuff. Though I love love love my Brittany Birch ~~toothpicks~~ sock needles (except for when they snap on me while on vacation) to death. And I have a Clover Bamboo circular needle that I've grown to absolutely love, once I got past the fact that the sizing system for Clover is just a bit off. But plastic, for the most part, is a big fat no (I have and really like my Denise set, but there's just something about metal needles that feel more 'right' than plastic - I end up using the Denise's a stitch holders more often than not).

21. Are you a sock knitter?
My third pair is in progress, mainly used to occupy my hands when I'm on the bus or otherwise traveling.

22. How did you learn to knit?
My mother taught me.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Ummm... Eight years? I started it as a freshman in college before I realized I had no time to knit. Haven't worked on it since and I'm really not sure if I still know where the pattern it, since it wasn't with the yarn and half knit back piece last I checked. After that I have a sweater back and sleeve that needs frogging I started two years ago, then decided I didn't like doing the mental math that goes with using a different gauge on a sweater. And a vest that has been finished except for sewing together and knitting the neckband for a year and a half (lost the pattern and only just found it a week or two ago).

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Carebears. Yes, I know. But the little ruler I keep in my traveling bag of knitting supplies is a Carebear ruler and I love it (and the t-shirts and pencils and folders I have) to death.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
I could be selfish and say Groundhogs Day (my b-day) but actually I think it'd be Christmas. Not just the traditional food (yum! lutefisk! pickled herring!) and church services (I miss our old Julotta services) but also I love to give gifts. And the past two years I've given knitted gifts to people, which has made it even better.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
You mean besides yarn and needles? And books? I sometimes pick up Boyd's Bears village figurines, I have a few of those that I've been adding to over the years. And I pick up Georgia O'Keefe and Van Gogh and Raul Dufy prints if I see ones I like. (Though I'm also a big believer in just sticking post cards or calendar pages in picture frames and it's a heck of a lot cheaper.)

I'm not sure if you'd call this a collecting kind of thing, but I love to go to Goodwill and get sweaters to frog for yarn. For one thing, you get a sweater's worth of yarn for just a few bucks. But also, ripping a sweater apart is great therapy when you're having chronic car problems or under a lot of stress for different reasons.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have a subscription to IK and am considering getting a subscription to Vogue. I grew up looking through Vogue knitting, but usually consider the patterns too edgy for my taste to actually want to knit (I want it to still be somewhat in style when I finish it). I considered IK to be more my taste, except there are two projects in the Summer VK I'm already working up and I'm rather meh about most of what's in the Summer IK.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Last Minute Knitted Gifts and A Gathering of Lace for knitting books.

2005-05-28T13:52:00.000-05:00

I did meet my goal and finished the right front of my bolero last night. I would have cast on for the left front, however I was falling asleep on the sofa. Of course, the minute I laid down I was wide awake, but that's about par for the course for me lately. Hopefully getting up at 6AM now will help me get back to my proper sleep schedule. This morning instead of casting on for the left front, I worked on my swatch for Lucky. This is out of the yarn I bought last Friday at my LYS. They didn't have the required yarn and I didn't mind since I really couldn't afford the Rowan. Instead they had a beautiful grape colored cone yarn that is about the same weight. So I bought an ounce and swatched it up and took it in for an opinion on if it was a bit too thin.

Well I got an opinion (that it looked good, which made me happy because I love the color and didn't want to try a different yarn) and some yarn. I wasn't planning to buy right away (I've been wavering between imposing one of two different knitting rules this summer - either everything I knit is from the stash or for every two projects I finish I can buy yarn for one), but they only had two cones of it left and once it was gone it was gone. So we figured the amount I needed (1.5 lbs), which was more than one cone, so she wound some off of the other cone and I came away very happy that I went in today about said yarn. And the nice thing? Yarn for lucky with this cone yarn cost less than $15. And I got more than enough extra, which I'm going to use to extend my swatch into a summery scarf in the clover lace pattern.

So, the yarn:

This is a better picture for color than the next, though it isn't quite right. This is a very rich grape colored yarn and I love it to death.

All the loot:

Yarn for the Lucky cardigan from Stitch and Bitch Nation, a hank of sari silk yarn (I swear, I've fondled that hank of yarn every time I've been in the shop. I walked around carrying it today, couldn't put it down and figured I might as well get it. Every time I leave without it I risk someone else falling as much in love with it as I have and buying it before me.) and a pair of Addi Turbos in US size 3. My smallest circs go down to size 5 US and I'm thinking that for portability's sake I want to do this on circs.

And, just for fun, my latest yarn storage method:

I got this wine rack about two years ago? And it's only had more than two bottles on it once. Not to mention there really isn't any good place to store it in my kitchen. Now it's serving well as a holder for hanks and skeins of yarn, on the floor next to my 'landing pad', so it's one of the first things you see coming in the door. Not a bad way to welcome guests, if you ask me.

This morning actually started with a trip to the Farmers Market before heading to the LYS. It was hopping and I looked long and hard at the zucchini and fresh tomatoes before limiting my purchases to this:

Yes, a bouquet of peonies. It's a Memorial Day thing. My grandmother always puts homegrown peonies on the graves of family members on Memorial Day. And while KS is a bit far from here to take peonies to take peonies to Grandpa's grave, it does make me think of everyone back home to look at them. But peonies always make me think of afternoons at Grandma's house and Memorial Day Sunday Services at the cemetary and just of home in general. I think that when I get a place of my one that'll be one of the first things I plant. But for now I'll have to make do with this beautiful bouquet.

For now, though, it's off to make brownies for tomorrow. And maybe get that left front cast on.

I've hit it

2005-05-26T21:01:00.000-05:00

That mid-project itch where your eyes start straying to other things that would be more 'fun' to work on. I've started the right front of the bolero and am hoping to get to the point to start the raglan shaping before I turn in for the night. But pictures! And Y!M convo I must preserve for posterity:

Knitty Librarian: *gets conference invite but isn't at computer*
Evil Muse: you coming?
Knitty Librarian: sorry, was taking a picture of my sweater pieces. *is big dork*
Evil Muse:
Evil Muse: *agrees*
Knitty Librarian:

Bolero as of this evening. I've finished the back and started on the right front. The back is on a stitch holder to keep the stitches live, partially because I figure I can decide later if I want to go from live or pick up new for the finishing. And partially because when I was marking decreases down as I did them (except not, just trying to remember how many I did when on the bus and mark them down later - which obviously didn't work) I came up short when I got to the required 37 stitches. So I may have done the shoulder shaping wrong, but I want to wait and compare it to the pattern and the fronts before I decide to frog.

But, even with progress ahead shaping up quite well, I want to work on something else. And the fact that I have several projects on the needle isn't helping. Especially since what I really want to do is swatch up that clover lace without making mistakes and take it into the LYS on Saturday. I'm planning to make my usual Saturday morning Farmers Market run (am in such Focchia withdrawal it isn't funny) and the LYS is right there on the square. And I'm thinking that if it is too loopy with the yarn I currently have and want to use, maybe I could double strand it, so I'd need another ounce to see if that would work... (and if it doesn't all the more to make a cute summery scarf with !!!)

I'm alriiiiiiiiiiight!!!

2005-05-25T09:58:00.000-05:00

Props to JoDee Messina. The beautiful thing about this class and the homework is that I've spent mad crazy amounts of time watching music video. (Music video is grand when you're doing homework - music in the background for when you're working and great little mini!movies for when you need a short break. VH1 and CMT have been my friends.) Not to mention that Rob Thomas' little ass shake in his Lonely No More video can make anybody's day better. (I've got to get that music video!)

But, the joy of finishing my class is that I can now take stock of my knitting WIPs. And, ummm... let's just say this is only a few of them.

This is what's taking the most of my time right now. It's the Berry Bolero or something like that from Summer 05 VK. I've substituted Elann Sonata cotton for the Fiesta La Luz silk. (Because as much as I would LOVE to play with La Luz I just cannot justify it on my budget right now. Plus, if I did have some La Luz I'd rather make the camisole in Last Minute Knitted Gifts with it.) I'm loving it so far and hope to have the back finished today or tomorrow.

This is what I usually work on while on the bus. Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in Lucky Stripe. Looks like spun cotton candy in the hank. I'm basically using what is the toe-up pattern on Elann.com, only I'm making the men's size. Not because I have what I'd consider big feet, but because it's the same number of stitches on the same needle size as the other pairs of socks I've made. /:) I'm also doing a slip one, knit one pattern over the heel, which supposedly reinforces it. I'm hoping to get sock #2 finished soon, but the jacket really takes precidence right now as I don't wear socks much in the summer and I need the jacket to wear at work.

Vest out of Paton's Bella. Not sure when exactly I finished knitting it, but it was at least a year and a half ago (took it home Christmas before last for Mom to help with finishing only we never got around to it). Lost the pattern when I moved across the country, but found it again a few weeks ago. Hopefully I'll get around to seaming the one shoulder so I can do the neckband, but I'll admit that the biggest reason why I haven't gotten anywhere with this is because I'm crap at seaming.

Yes, I jumped on the bandwagon and started to make a Clapotis. I'm using some Boutone yarn from Handpaintedyarn.com I started it, then stopped to work on more interested projects that didn't require me to check the pattern every single row (I like a challenge, but not *that* much of a challenge. Though I think that is probably a sign I just wasn't interested in the pattern.) I figure I'll pick it up again later, though summery projects I can wear *now* will probably take precidence until closer to the fall.

I also have another cardigan I've been working on. And a flower washcloth from Weekend Knits. And the clover lace pattern to swatch up. And...

I think I'll just leave it at that.

yawn

2005-05-23T22:56:00.000-05:00

Quick recap before I crash into bed.

Saw Charmed this morning. Am I the only person who thinks evil bridesmaid looks scarily like Kelly Ripa? Yeah, thought so.

Got five rounds in on the travel sock today on the way to campus. It's only taken me how long to get back to knitting on it? Pictures tomorrow, hopefully, in an attempt to prod myself into being more productive on the socks (here's a pic of travel sock #1 for now). Didn't get any knitting done on either jacket/cardigan. Meh.

But, paper is mostly finished. It will be finished and emailed off to prof tomorrow by 3:30. Preferrably in his mailbox on campus as well, but I'm not going to be picky. At about noon I called it quits on writing, with it basically finished so I could set it aside for a while. Think I'll take an early bus in tomorrow to check to make sure I have my APA cites correct and print it off before work. Hopefully there will be more knitting on the cardigan/jackets tomorrow.

And pictures. Because being able to show progress will help motivate me. That and the fact that I'll just be working the next few weeks, not work and class.

Meh. Meh meh meh meh meh.

2005-05-22T23:24:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to announce that contortionism does help with the hiccups. Of course, you have to drink an entire glass of water with it practically going up your nose as you swallow, but the hiccups are gone.

Obviously, today has been rather meh. Paper is going nowhere (well, it's nearly half done, but it's the easy half that's done), haven't gotten any knitting on the jacket done (and attempts to use knitting as my carrot to motivate my paper writing haven't helped), realized my website disappeared as I didn't get it renewed and the email to renew went to the old school email that's no longer usable and the website won't let me renew, I missed Charmed, had the hiccups and not even dark chocolate M&Ms (which are usually my cure for all ills) aren't helping. So yes, rather meh here today. My goal, though, is to finish the last of this half of the paper before going to bed. Hopefully my brain will come online enough to do that.

Of course, the minute I lay down I'll be wide awake and won't get to sleep until close to 1:00 or 2:00. But if I get this paper finished I'll reward myself with signing up for SP5. And working on the jacket back. And swatching the clover lace pattern for SnBN.

ded from the hiking

2005-05-21T20:02:00.000-05:00

Today started with a hike in the morning. Darn near missed it, though, because at about ten til realized that I needed to leave. Oops! Of course, once we got there things got interesting. Note, never plan to take a 'lake' trail two days after torrential rains. Not to mention that the map was awful. Impossible to read, so we think we may have added an extra mile or so to the trek. Then, we ended up having to leave the trail altogether since there was a spot where there was a stream crossing that was actually a raging river crossing thanks to the rain. If two horses cann't get across, then a bunch of people on foot aren't going to get across either. So we followed the road back after that, for the last 3/4 mile or so.

Any plans to do stuff after the hike was shot to hell though, as we were all exhausted. My legs *hurt* when I got home, so it was a long hot bath for me, followed by a nap. After which I ended up knitting and watching the first half of Empire because my brain was too fried to start working on the paper. I'm nearly caught up to where I started frogging on Wednesday (just beginning my raglan sleeve shaping), so hopefully I'll be able to finish the back this week and start on one of the fronts. Of course, I also have some sleeves to the other cardigan to finish as well.

2005-05-20T22:34:00.000-05:00

Class again. Very short this time, just a quick discussion of the reading, discussion of the class and he let us go if we'd finished the project. While I could have stuck around to work on paper of doom, ended up getting a ride home from a classmate, getting home exactly two hours before class should have ended. Go me!

Having no motivation to start on paper at home, I ran some errands, namely going to my LYS. Before the whole internet break started (well, back when I was eyeing all of that stuff I couldn't afford) I decided I *could* afford spending $15 on a drop spindle and roving to see if spinning was a new hobby I was interested in (even a better idea/concern right now when the cotton I'm knitting up is just tearing up my arms and I need something to keep my hands busy at times – I'm spending so much time reading or on the computer for class/work that I need something to do that isn't reading or on the computer - gah I haven't had tendonitis trouble in years). My LYS sells roving, which I remembered from earlier trips, so I went in to see if they had any suggestions. Ended up with a book on beginner drop spindle instructions, last summer's VK and two ounces of yarn. One is a fingering weight in a gorgeous grape color that I’m hoping to knit up Lucky in – but we're worried it might be too thin so I got an ounce to swatch with. I knit up a swatch in the clover lace pattern, and was one stitch off over 4 inches without blocking (though it was a bit loopier than the picture in the pattern book – so I want to take it in to get other opinions). And with a mistake at the very beginning. So I frogged and have cast on again to try again. Am thinking that I can make it work with is awesome as this yarn is only $.63 an ounce. And when you roughly need 550 grams, which is rounded up to 20 ounces, this only $13 for a cardigan. As opposed to the $44 plus shipping that it'd be with the required yarn. Granted calculations are rough, we didn't figure up the yardage per ounce which would be a better determination of how much I need. There is another yarn that is a little heavier (and about $.90 an ounce I think) that I could use, but it isn't in that awesome purple that I want, though there may be other colors to try that I didn't notice (I sorta zeroed in on the purple :">). :D

The other yarn I got an ounce of is a cotton/rayon blend that is about aran weight that I've loved since I first walked into the shop. Like the other, it's a cone yarn and I've always been a bit wary of cone yarns. This one is only $1.63 an ounce and softer than you'd believe, I just need to find a project for it so I don't buy without something in mind (something I'm trying to stop doing with yarn as the stash is over takingme). So I got an ounce to swatch, and I think I've found a project for it. Just need to finish the two jackets I'm working on first. And maybe a sock. Not to mention a few other projects, though if I finish the two jackets and the sock I will have finished a new yarn project and a stash yarn project and a bus travel project. Now that I've found my hidden patterns, I also have a vest to sew together. Not to mention a few other things to do project wise. So yeah, I may have found yarn for some projects I want to do but no buying for a while. :D

Proof this is the most boring blog ever.

2005-05-19T19:33:00.000-05:00

Class went. Fried brain again. English major in group pretty much completely rewrote my section of the paper. Oi. Hadn't realized how bad my grammar had gotten since my last English class. But we pretty much finished up project #2 there, so it was worth the fried braincells.

Walked to work in torrential rains, noting the two firetrucks and an ambulance across the street. Was then, when 20 ft from the door to the building I work in, sprayed by the ambulance driving by. Granted, not spraying pedestrians with gutter water isn't the most important thing on their minds when they're driving away with lights flashing, but still. I ended up drenched. Shoes filled with water, skirt soaked up above my knees. So I'm sitting there wearing an oversized smock/shirt we keep for working in the dusty stuff to keep clean, barefoot and skirt hanging in the office to try to dry. And a patron comes in. And needs help. As in I'm helping him for a good 30-45 minutes. And running around in here in a smock and barefoot. *facepalm* But I got to talk soil with him and set him up with information about the person to talk to at my undergrad school about getting a hold of retired Pedology profs. Very cool. But couldn't help him find info about a journal citation for a journal that as far as I can tell doesn't exist. Not to mention the journal citation is from the 50's and none of the online databases that I could search through index that far back. Ended up telling him to come back when the librarian boss was around.

Today...

2005-05-18T18:31:00.000-05:00

Class, work, the usual. Worked on project stuff in our groups, fried brain trying to wrap it around some concepts that just weren't working on the project report. Was picked up by J from work for the movie. Had to stop by my place first (where I told him to pretend he didn't see a drying rack filled with articles of clothing in the middle of my living room) to take the potato soup out of the crockpot. Then went to the nearby Chinese buffet, Borders (yay!music!) and left to get into line for the movie at about 9:40ish. Arrived at the theater, where he asked about the queueing instructions for the evening. After getting a 'bzuh?' from the monkey in charge, we were told we could go right on in. Go us! Got good seats and everything, spreading out the pink behemoth and his jacket to save enough for everyone we were meeting. Move of brilliancy by person two rows in front of us involved using tape to mark off seats as saved. May be borrowing that particular idea in the future.

However, sitting in the theater for 2 or so hours gave me plenty of time to think, which I know is dangerous, and in this case I measured the width of the back of the cardi I'm making. And realized that not only was I making a large (and I soooo don't need 43 in around the bust, even with added ease) but that it was wider across than an XL because I loosened up my knitting. O_o So, guess who ended up frogging 8 in of knitting. Go me.

Saw movie. Liked movie a rather awful lot. Will probably have to see in theater again. Really don't have much to say that others haven't already said and I'll save potential spoilers for another post where I can put a spoiler warning.

2005-05-18T14:20:00.000-05:00

Despite my complaining about my class, I do like it. I just think it's a lot to be crammed into two weeks. Still, it is very well geared for my learning style - we're actually doing evaluation projects as opposed to having Dr. N. lecture to us about them. It's just that two collection evaluation projects (even if we're given the checklists to use) and a paper evaluating different evaluation methods are a bit much for 9 days of class.

Still, have been taking study breaks - did the shoulder seams of cropped cardigan last night when I needed to give my eyes a rest from the computer for about 20 minutes (yay for s00per fast three needle bind off). And put potato soup in the crockpot this morning. Will be going to Star Wars tonight and am contemplating the idea of not going to bed after (because, face it, I'll be to jazzed up to sleep), but just working straight through until class tomorrow. (I was pulling 48 hour days (40 working, 8 sleeping) while doing the thesis, I can do it now). That would enable me to go on a hike Sat morning (yay! exercise!). Depending on how much work I get done if I do pull an all nighter.

Knitting is keeping me sane with little snatches of time like on the bus, but not enough time to go into it too much. Quickly, though, despite doing gauge swatch and switching to smaller needles, my gauge on the bolero jacket back is at 20 st/4 in instead of the 23 st/4 in it should be (damn me for knitting loosely) or that I realized I'm doing the jacket in a large and am not sure I need 43 in at the bust even with the needed space for ease. Or that I've figured out a short row way of doing shoulder shaping for the cropped cardigan in Vogue Summer 2005 if anyone wants it so you can do three needle bind off. Or that I'm going to do long sleeves afterall, which may end up with me sending a check to the evil muse and making a puppy dog face so she can go and get me a fifth skein of yarn. Yarg.

2005-05-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

Class was class. Went long on the lecture this time, add to that confusing instructions on the assignment and group members that were all not quite on the same page and no, it wasn't a good time. Talked with a certain person on the bus in, who noted that I 'wasn't home' yesterday when he was picking up and dropping off a friend of ours who lives in the same complex for church. Not sure if I should be worried he was looking for my car or impressed he was looking for my car (granted, where I park it is easily seen from the general entrance, especially with kids gone for the summer).

Completely had ADD-like fun in class. Could not for the life of me concentrate on anything longer than five minutes. At one point, when I set down my pencil and said outloud that I'd left my supper at home (which I had just realized) one of my group members actually said something to that affect. Kept going fifteen different directions while we were trying to discuss the surveys we were looking at, which I hate because I know that it impedes the groups and I hate it when other people do it but I just could not for the life of me stay on topic.

Work was boring, no one in here, no one been in here since full time person left. Worked on group project stuff a bit and should be working on my final paper but I'm really just all blah and can't bring myself to do so. I even got my knitting out and have just sat and looked at it.

I think the depression that literally everyone else I know is going through has finally caught up to me. Hopefully taking a night off away from things will keep me from doing something stupid like buying that bistro patio set that's only $50 and is cute and I really do need something to sit on on my patio. Or that Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed that I keep eyeing for the Isis Wrap in IK Summer. Or the Ella and Louis duets CDs I keep wanting. Not to mention that plant stands I like, but really don't need. I need to stop that bad habit of comfort shopping when I'm depressed or have the blahs.

Happiness is...

2005-05-15T23:29:00.000-05:00

Is not trying to block out a sweater and realizing it is stretching to 20 inches larger than it should be because you substituted wool for cotton. Nor is it having to do the math to get it blocked to the correct shape because the designer didn't give you all the dimensions s/he should have.

Is, however, realizing the fuschia cotton you've had for two years is perfect for the other cardigan you want to do.

And that the blue cotton you've had for just as long *could* be used for the bolero jacket you want to make as well, even if there'd be acres left over.

Why no, I don't have this itching need to get something on the needles while I wait for the cardigan body to finish blocking. (Yes, for some reason I want to wait until the body has blocked before starting on the sleeves. I want to do the edging around the body before I do the sleeves to decide if I want to do full or short sleeves.)

Drive by posting from work

2005-05-14T18:56:00.000-05:00

Most boring day of work EVAH.

However, have finished back and left side of cardigan. Hopefully will finish right side after movie tonight. And haven't had to change yarn skeins yet! This is a good thing! Now just cross your fingers there is enough to finish right front, two short sleeves and do the edging. :D

But!! Work over soon. Then back to vacuum, do dishes, sweep kitchen floor and hopefully have a dry bra to wear. *facepalm* Oh. And remove all the drying bras from the bathroom into another place. *facepalm again*

allergies and creative knitting, oh my!

2005-05-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

Yarg on allergies that crop up at odd times. I was wandering around in a forest this morning and it's *now* that I get so congested I can't think. Yarg I say.

Cardigan has reached shoulder shaping on the back. However, I'm venturing from the pattern here which is going to take more brainpower than currently available. I'm planning to alter the 'decrease x st at each end' to short rows so I can do a three needle bind off. Definitely will save that for tomorrow. Have figured out number of stitches to cast on if I do sleeves separate, though I kinda wanna try picking up stitches and knitting them in, learning how to alter patterns in that way as well. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Best case scenario though, I get to wear my new cardi next week sometime. :D

Now, off to either fold clothes on bed or relocate them to the floor. Am thinking the latter is going to win out. ;))

Oh that was SMRT

2005-05-14T12:51:00.000-05:00

I started doing laundry last night. A good thing, no? No. I officially have no dirty laundry left in my apartment. My last load went in just now and I have two laundry baskets to fold, one load in the dryer and another in the washer. Good, right? Wrong.

Every single bra I own is hanging to dry. And I work today.

*facepalm* *repeat*

epic, project, class, knitting, this means war, hiking, oh my!

2005-05-13T23:55:00.000-05:00

Class and project is kicking my ass. My one consolation is that a week from today it will all be over (except for the final project due a week from Monday, but we'll ignore that for now). Have not managed to do readings for class for last two days, so there will be catch up readings to do tomorrow. Yarg.

The epic has unfortunately stalled, though not for lack of ideas. Well, okay, so not as many ideas pounding on me at once as before, but mainly class/work/RP responsibilities have hindered me from my previous 2,000+ words a day of before. *sigh* Hopefully after the class is over.

Made gauge on 'cropped cardigan' pattern after all. That teaches me for checking it in bad light. Of course, there is the question of if I'll have enough yarn, but I'm planning on short sleeves instead of long (an possibly doing those top down by picking up around the sleeve opening and doing them circular, though not sure if I'm that saavy). Also discovered that Elann.com credit is $50! More than enough for bolero jacket yarn. Just need to decide on rest of the $$. Was looking at yarn for boobholder, only am having hard justifying 5 skeins at $5/skein on good stuff with I've seen perfectly lovely boobholders made with Lion Brand and Caron yarn. But it's such a pretty shade of purple!!! *saves order for tomorrow*

There is a chipmunk living under my air conditioner. I really wouldn't mind, only I saw the little bugger sniffing at my plants and hell no. Yes, war was declared. Found a little sand bagger type thing in the yard next to my patio and kicked it over to cover his hole. He moved it out and I moved it back. He moved it again and I moved it back again and it's still there. We'll see in the morning as to who's winning. *rolls up sleeves*

Colored my hair this week. Am undecided on if I like the color, as I didn't use my usual color (Clairol Natural Instincts 13A Gingerbread Light Bronze Brown). Said usual color is very nearly my natural color (13B Spiced Cider Light Warm Brown), however I wanted to keep the red highlights and go lighter, so I went for a lighter reddish color. Well, my hair has more red, but it isn't much lighter (not that I was surprised since it is a washout dye and doesn't use peroxide). But I do kinda like it, I just need to be careful about the shades of red I wear with it. :))

Went hiking today with other grad students in the department. As I informed my partner on the class project when she asked yesterday where we were going 'Mc-something Creek State Park'. Complete with a cave that we went crawling through (and yes I banged my head once) and a waterfall that we ate our lunch by (complete with a water snake sighting that had several of us jumping up). Was a little pressed for time, however, as I got home at 12:10 and the bus left at 12:30. And I was covered in sunscreen, bug spray and dirt. Quickest shower in history of me and I ran to the bus with my hair still wet. Not that it mattered as while it was gorgeous out (though a tad humid) when I got on the bus, we were in the middle of a torrential downpour when I got off. The one day this week (as my class partner pointed out) that I didn't have my umbrella. Or a jacket. And was in a little sundress. *facepalm*

Also, I have a papercut on my cuticle. And the evil muse say she isn't going to be my roommate when we end up in the loony bin. *pouts*

Yarg. Yarg I say!!!

2005-05-12T23:59:00.000-05:00

Yarg. Unfortunately, the yarn I bought while visiting the evil muse isn't knitting up to gauge on test swatches, even when I go down a needle size. ~~Methinks it'll be used for the other pattern I liked in the mag.~~ (Nevermind, can't get gauge for that either, plus I'd be cutting it close on yarn amount. Yarg. Back to the drawing board.) Fortunately, I've found a yarn on Elann.com that I think I can sub for it and it'll be under $30 and I think I still have voucher $$ I can use there. But that'll have to wait until next month probably. Will be perusing the knit mags for a potential pattern for the yarn I do have. (Wah! Not even my shrug patterns are the right gauge! :(( Must find shrug/cardi/wrap type thinger for this yarn!)

2005-05-05T15:11:00.000-05:00

Things I need to do:
*Pack to visit ebil muse
*Clean/dishes/laundry type things
*Reply to email from IN!guy
*Print off stuff on campus
*Find crockpot recipe for 6 lb ham (was on sale for $.98/lb Wheee!!!) and possibly also pineapple
*Talk with prof about independent study

Things I have done:
*Pack - mostly
*Finish not frozen potato soup leftovers for lunch. YUM.
*Frogged Birds Eye Shawl in Handpainted Lace Wool (similar, less burgundy and more orange/gold/green)
*Restarted above yarn to make a Meadow Flowers Shawl. Hopefully this is not going to be too intricate to be overwhelmed by the multi-colored yarn like the Birds Eye was. *crosses fingers*
*Decided to wait to talk to prof Tuesday before class.
*Ummm... thought about cleaning/dishes/laundry?

checks time

2005-05-02T11:59:00.000-05:00

O_o

Dear body-

Next time I lay down at 8:30 for a nap, let's not sleep through to 8:30 the next morning.

me

ETA: Apparently needed the sleep however, as I slept through three pings from the evil muse and a phone call from Mom (and yes, my ringer was on, even turned up to volume 2 as opposed to 'one beep'). *facepalm*