"Is it done yet, Mom?"

"Is it under here?"



"It's so cold, and my old sweater is all stretched out! Just look at the neck!"



Poor Frisky, he has been at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to FOs. Fortunately, I'm almost done with his cabled turtleneck:



I'm enjoying this pattern. Hopefully I will finish in time for him to get some use out of it. It's been pretty raw in these parts!

The new router works, and all laptops are now free to roam our home, hooray! Writing and teaching have been keeping me very busy, but lots is getting done, and I feel really grateful to have so many bright and motivated students this semester. (For some strange reason I feel the need to spellcheck "grateful" when I see it in print. Does anyone else ever do that with certain words? It's weird.)

Anyway, in other knitting news, Colinette Jitterbug finally OTN:



So, what are you working on these days?

Why can't we all just get along??

Sadly for me DH has had compatibility issues between his work computer and our wireless router. Attempts to correct the problem have resulted in compatibility issues between MY computer and our wireless router. *Sigh*... Why can't we all just get along?

What this means is: I have to use our dinosaur desktop to go online. Unfortunately, all of my work and banking stuff is on the other 'puter, the good one, the new (well, new-ish) one. The one that's mine. The one that has that nice, accessible USB port for my camera doo-hickey. And other stuff.

Oh well, this too shall pass. In the meantime you'll just have to take my word for it that Frisky's sweater is close to halfway done, and that I have cast on for the little guy's tiger stripe socks.

Way Cool ipod Case

Feast your eyes on ds's Way Cool new ipod nano case:



It took just a wee bit of sock yarn. I got the pattern here. Way to go, Kristi! The design is pretty groovy with the i-cord attached along the sides, yes? Ds likes the whole thing but finds the i-cord especially appealing. (I-cord, ipod, get it? heh heh) I think the whole design is pretty ingenious, including the ribbing on the inside to help keep the ipod from slipping out.

Definitely a quick, fun knit with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock on size 1s. Here's one more shot:

Two Snaps Up...

...and a swirl! The magnetic snaps are in:



At first I wasn't crazy about the plastic outer ring that you sew through, but it does give the thing a lower profile and it has some flexibility. The magnets are very strong. Other than my own amateurish stitching-on, I am very pleased with them. If anyone else is looking for this kind of closure, I got them here. Now I need to start sewing them into some other bags, including my mom's - she left it here for me while she is off basking in the sun, lucky her :)

Finished product:



This one turned out better than I expected! It just needs a little brushing and off to the post office it goes. A little late for Christmas, but I'm very glad it's done.

Productive, I am

Project Update: SIL's Bag has FINALLY been knit, boiled, agitated (repeat) and now it's resting comfortably on a stack of Kashi cracker and rice boxes to dry. As the before picture indicates, it came out a bit squatty:



Interesting shape, especially with the wide striping, love the colors. Hopefully its short stature won't compromise its function; e.g. all SILs s*it falls out of it whenever she leans right or left. I'm looking forward to attaching the straps and seeing how that all shakes out. I finally bought some magnetic snap closures online, we'll see how those work out.

Hmm...what else? Took the family to the Museum of Science in Boston this weekend. Amazing how 6 hours can fly by, and everyone is still not ready to leave. We lifted 500 lbs with ease, controlled our own school of fish, fooled our eyes with optical illusions, and compared the planets in our own galaxy to the planets of Star Wars. We barely finished a corner of the building. I think this will be the year that we REALLY get our money's worth out of that membership; the kids are already mapping out our next visit.

Speaking of Star Wars, the kidlets have finally become interested...so Star Wars marathon we have had, as Yoda might say. Episodes 1-2-3 we have seen. Enjoy Episode 4, I will.

My small one has been complaining of the bitter cold. He even mentioned the phrase "ski mask," poor lil guy. Since my memory of these items involves having my head trapped in a damp, ice-encrusted mass of wool (especially around the edges of those openings in the face, ouch) I decided to whip up a little neck warmer that could be pulled up over his mouth and nose.

Version 1: Made from leftover hat stash. Too wide, too short, too thin. Child enjoys running around with it pulled up over his eyes, yelling "I can see through it!" Note the "design feature" in the center:



Version 2: Finished that evening in front of the tv. Much better fit, though it could be a few rows longer. It is also warmer as I knit it with two strands held together. Extremely fast to knit with the stockinette in the center, though a cable (or even just rib) would look even nicer. Child is pleased, and warm. My work here is done:



Next: Frisky's sweater and the big guy's ipod case!

Sock Tension...

Exhibit A: Type A knitting:



Just look at the warp on those needles! A little tense? Yes, maybe. But here's the outcome:



They are a perfect fit and I can't wait to start another pair. But maybe it's time for some metal dps?

A Whole Lotta Sock Talk

Socks! The perfect project: fits in your purse, short-term commitment, and - truly - one thing that almost everyone will wear. These feel SO. GOOD. (And they're actually for me for once - yippee!)



And I never seem to get over the thrill of watching a whole freakin' sock, shaped and complete, miraculously emerging from a network of pointy needles. AMAZING!!



Even more so with the short row heel because you don't have to stop - ever - and pick up anything, you get to justkeepknitting! Whee!

Speaking of short rows, since I'm one of those people who tends to end up with a bit of short-row holey-ness, I tried following misocrafty's tutorial for short rows without holes. If you haven't seen it, this technique requires you to pick up the wrap(s), knit the now-unwrapped stitch, and then pass the wrap(s)over that stitch rather than "knitting the stitch together with its wrap(s)."

Here's what I found:

(a) One side of my heel (knit pickups) is much nicer-looking than the other (purl pickups),
(b) the wrap pickups are indeed a little tighter, but in exchange I seem to have ended up with three tiny holes up at the top join (ie where you first start knitting around the whole foot after the heel turn) instead of the single, slightly larger hole I usually get, and
(c) I'm quite sure that both (a)and (b)are totally my fault :)

I will definitely try this technique again as the knit side really does look fantastic. I just have to work out the purl problem - I have a feeling it has to do with the angle of approach when I pick up that wrap. Anyway, it's a great tutorial, and have I mentioned that I LOVE my socks?

The heat is on now, as the family has begun to pressure me to decide whose socks come next. As we all know, in the kids' minds this is interpreted as concrete, legally binding evidence of "who you like best." *sigh* Maybe I'll get two sets of dps going, each with one sock for one kid! LOL - And maybe a third for dh?

There's also the belated felted bag, which has been cast aside as I selfishly (HA!) finish my socks, plus the heavenly Malabrigo IHS which could actually be worn now that winter has finally arrived, and Frisky really does need a new sweater. And somewhere, a lonely dissertation proposal lies gathering dust...

What Kind of Yarn are You?

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.
Take this quiz!








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Chihuahua Identity Crisis

Late last night as I was working in my office, Frisky the chihuahua wandered in looking very sheepish and wearing my black brassiere...

I kid you not:





Should I be concerned?

Only a little knitting has been done so far today. I was lucky enough to get to chaperone the school field trip to the State House. Can I tell you that both our state senator and our governor totally rock? They put quite a bit of time into our visit and really met the kids on their level. I was also very proud of our students as they were extremely well-behaved and asked some excellent questions - due in large part to their fabulous teachers. Today was one big goosebump for me.

I am soooo looking forward to knitting with the girls this weekend. It has been way too long. I would love to be kitchenering the toes on my socks, and casting on the next pair, but we'll see.

Tulips in 30-degree Weather

Whatever was that white coating on my lawn this morning? Could it be (gasp!) frost?? Hard to believe, but this will be one of the very few days of constant 30-degree temps we've had so far this winter. I'm tempted to complain, but the weirdness of warm (and what it implies) is making me grateful for the cold. Anyway, it will be back up to the high 50's on Friday. Hmmm...

And now, for your viewing pleasure and mine, tulips!



Considerable sock progress has been made, not so much on the felted bag. (Guess the socks are just easier to haul around with me, but the bag could be finished off with one good, non-subtitle movie night, maybe this weekend.) I've added a "sock-of-the-moment" bar on the Progress-O-Meter as I have a (ahem) few pairs in the queue.

One more project: Check out the 1/06/07 post about helmet liners on this blog, and help if you can. I'm going to give it a shot.

Stay warm, at least for today! Can't wait to get my work finished so I can curl up in front of the fire with my knitting, a book, or both :)

Small but Satisfying

While cranking away on the felted bag I ran out of the camel shade with a mere 2 rounds to go. I debated skimping but...it would have been way too noticeable. So I stopped by LYS to grab another skein.

I took little DS with me, a move which inevitably leads to ISE (Involuntary Stash Enhancement). Just look at the sock yarn he chose:



The Colinette on the left is for himself - ! Apparently tiger is in this season. (BTW the new shades of Colinette were gorgeous - I think I will have to go back for some "Popsicle" for myself.) The Cherry Tree Hill is for his more subdued older brother.

I'm thrilled with both of his choices, though something a little thicker would knit up a WHOLE lot faster...so, small but lovely purchases were made.

And for me, a totally out of character color choice that I've been waiting months to knit up:



Can't WAIT to wear these!!! I got a lot done while watching the Patriots game with dh at a friend's house. (Actually, I could care less about football. I taught this friend to knit last summer and today I finally succeeded at bullying her into learning to purl. Hey, you can only get so far with garter stitch, though this girl has cranked out a record number of scarves and even a purse for her daughter. It was just time, you know? I predict there will be ribbing in her future.)

Also out of character, I found and finished up an old crochet project, of all things:



I know, I know, it's a doily, but a pretty bitchin' doily, yes? I ended up skipping the final picot round because I was pretty sure I would come up short on yardage (see pattern picture below) but I think it suits me better this way. I had to bleach out some tiny mystery stains (what is it about white things left in closets???) and I ended up just patting it into shape to dry after getting really angry at a bunch of T-pins that were only trying to help. I won't be making another anytime soon but I must admit - I am proud of this project.



Maybe this will inspire me to get going on that Crochet Squares afghan...

And here is the bag progress:



This week it's back to school for a department meeting and some workshops - time to buff up my syllabi and get back into the teaching (also dissertation!!) groove. Luckily, there's always time for knitting - at the kids' basketball games, at the bus stop...

Over Here, Mom...

Felted bag I'm working on for SIL...

A New Day, and Other Random Stuff

I am a total sucker for ceremony. I cry at church, graduations, weddings, etc and I cried today while watching C-SPAN coverage of the opening of Congress. (With a mouthful of 100-calorie Oreo Thin Crisps. Not pretty.)

This, however, is pretty, and will soon be very pretty:



Tulips!! They are growing at a rate of about 1/2" per day. I absolutely cannot wait until they bloom.

I've been reading (actually re-reading) No Idle Hands: A Social History of American Knitting by Anne Macdonald and Good Wives by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. (NOTE: How silly is it that one can never find these kinds of books in the history section of a bookstore???) Is it too late to change my major? I love living in New England.

I have been meaning to take the kids down to Salem for a hands-on history lesson but now I think I will go by myself first. I haven't been in ages and I really want to enjoy the Peabody Essex Museum and the Witch Museum all by myself, in peace. I also hope this happens soon - maybe now with the 110th there is a chance?

(I wonder what's with all the italics today. Perhaps I am trying to give my random thoughts greater significance...)

On to the knitting...here is Calorimetry 2. Looks a lot like Calorimetry 1, I know, but smaller and less babushka-like. Not that I have anything against babushkas...



The SIL felted bag is smokin' - I love love love the colors. Pics later.

Go Nancy...go, go, go Nancy.

Calorimetry 2

Second try at Calorimetry is done - still wider and a bit looser than I'd like it to be, but much better than my first attempt (see below). I wish I had read up on this pattern a bit before starting as apparently I'm not the only one who's had to make some modifications...anyway, it's on my head now and it's actually pretty cute. Pics tomorrow, maybe.

I think dr. girlfriend got it exactly right: size 6 needles, cast on 110 st, omit a few rows. Also check these Calorimetry photos (gorgeous handspun!!)

I may try again in the purple Filatura colorway!!

Also, I have gotten most of my buttons fixed in Blogger beta. If anyone out there is looking for help with beta, try this website: (thanks, deborah!!)
http://knit1blogtoo.blogspot.com/

Blogger Beta

So far, so good with the beta. If I can just hook my buttons back up I'll be all set...

Think Big!!

Holiday Wrap-Up

Best gifts, Christmas 2006:
1. Kids socks and hats - they are loving 'em :)

2. Gift certificate to LYS - for me!

3. DDR Supernova, at least until dh or I break a hip.

Here are the hats. I didn't finish them in time, so I wrapped them OTN and stuck them in with the socks. The kids thought this was pretty funny. I used Cascade 220 superwash but found I had to go waaaaayyyy down to a size 6 to get a decent looking stitch. And to think I'm the girl who used to knit so tight I needed to go up a needle size, or even 2!! Apparently I've become quite loose in my old age (see also Calorimetry, below.) Anyway, the colors match the coats and the hats fit the heads, so all is well:



I have to admit, I'm very tired of "boy" colors and boring beanies. I'm itching to make them long striped stocking caps or something fun. Instead, I picked up a quickie project for myself: Calorimetry.

In my mind, this is the perfect transition project - one skein, done in a day, interesting construction. I used the Filatura di Crosa 127 and size 8 needles called for in the pattern. I even checked my gauge.

Lookin' good:



Found the perfect button:



Doh!!



Don't I look sad in my ill-fitting headband :-( Aww...If only I had a ginormous head, everything would be fine.

I guess when a pattern says things like "gauge = x when stretched slightly" and "width = ???" one should do a bit of common sense gauging along the way. So, I frogged it out and started over again on size 6's. So far, so good. I'll be more careful this time.

In other knitting news, the Malabrigo IHS still languishes on the needles, as does my niece's felted bag and a felted bag for her mom. I did give dh the original, brown IHS for Christmas. Einstein isn't even swatched, and the Vogue shawl is waiting patiently in its ziploc. So there you have it - the 2007 lineup. At least until I get distracted by some new project.

Happy New Year!!

More Socks!

DS socks done!



Now both kids will have a pair under the Christmas tree. Now, do I still have time to make 2 hats...?

When Chihuahuas Attack...

...it's because he imagines that people on the other side of the room are fixing to steal his gross, spitty old chewbone. Silly pup.



But doesn't he look handsome in the new sherpa coat his uncle gave him for Christmas?

Crazy, crazy, crazy...

Great weekend:
1. dh's work Holiday party on Friday night. Bonus: night in hotel room sans kids. Downside: sore from too much "80's dancing" (don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.)

2. a totally chill-out Saturday with the kids, reading lots of Harry Potter and doing this cool thing, which I highly, highly recommend as a fun and challenging family project. No errands, no work.

3. get-together with family. My brother and his brood (4 kids!) came in later than expected, so we didn't have much time (we had an evening thing at church.) My niece told my mom that "Aunt Jenny's house is my favorite place in the world." Much giggling was done by all children, including mine - cousin giggling is always music to my ears. They are all such great pals. (The only downside here was missing cookies with Lynne and the girls - I miss you guys!!)

4. ds's were each asked to do a reading at the Lessons and Carols candlelight service at our church. So earnest and beautiful, they made me cry. Bonus: spaghetti supper at long tables with friends.

Project update: The malabrigo IHS that I was making for my brother wasn't quite finished, and rather than blow a gasket - as is usually my way - I (surprisingly) opted, calmly, to give him the silk cashmere scarf instead. I didn't cry or obsess or anything. Now, the IHS will go to dh, who loves it.

So, the house is clean, I turned in all my students' grades this morning, and I have close to a week free to finish socks for ds, scarf for dh, and hats for both sons. Let the race begin!

Tried Blogger Beta?

I just upgraded to the new version of Blogger, but haven't tried the new custom features...apparently by doing so you lose all your current settings. I will probably try it after Christmas (heck, it took me forever just to put up my few lame-o decorations, I'd hate to lose them now LOL) but I'm wondering if anyone out there has tried it. Any opinions/suggestions/advice?

Scary Memories

O. M. G. What were we thinking back in the 80s?? Hearts, geese, AND bows all in one pattern??



This pair of lovelies was wrought by me in celebration of my first Christmas with DH, circa 1990. Clearly, the influence of '80s country was still upon me. At least they aren't pink and blue!

I don't use them, not for the obvious reason (fugliness) but because they are way too small. Otherwise I would probably put up with their kitschy-ness for old times' sake. I have the one my Grammy knitted me 40-some years ago, and I knitted a massive one for dh last year (I should remind him that it can be felted if he doesn't behave!!)

Sadly, this was one of my last real colorwork projects. Since then the most adventuresome I've gotten has been stripes, and adventuresome, that ain't. 

Seeing is Believing

Here is the Malabrigo in the first pattern:



Same Malabrigo in the IHS:



The lighting is different - incandescent for the first photo, natural for the second, but you can still see how the green moves to the center in the first photo. Amazing! The IHS definitely makes the most of this yarn's color variations. 

A Little Holiday Decorating...

Finally getting the tree and decorations up! Refusing to stress over what doesn't get decorated!

Tree - check
Outside lights - check
Garlands and swags - check
Blog - check
Everything else - not so much

On the knitting front: my brother and his family have chosen to celebrate Christmas with us next weekend. After shuffling mine and dh's plans, I realized that this also means gifts will have to be ready by next weekend. ook!

The My So-Called Scarf that has been languishing on my Progress-O-Meter was intended for my bro...it hasn't gotten done because the pattern, though beautiful, was just not holding my interest. (I don't want to talk anyone out of it though, it's an amazing pattern! Go on and have a look for yourself!) Yesterday I ripped it out and started another Irish Hiking Scarf instead.

I wasn't sure how cables would look in Malabrigo. It's so soft and airy, I was totally skeptical about stitch definition, which of course is crucial for cables. Glad I tried it, though, because YOWZA is it gorgeous. The subtle color variations of the Malabrigo that pooled in an unappealing way on the MSCS are playing out beautifully on the IHS. What a difference a pattern makes. And the cables, as g-girl puts it, are "pop-o-licious". Yeah, baby!!

Pictures later...

KUO Hats Done!

I finally finished hat #5 from the KUO project. Now I just need to wash them (damn dog hair - it's everywhere)and bring them downtown.

Christmas knitting:
-afghan for my parents (actually this is crochet. I'm using dk! What was I thinking,listening to that pattern!! It will take forever...)
-socks for DS #1
-hats for both DSs
-scarf for my brother

Note that the afghan is the only item from my Project-O-Meter. That other stuff is waaay off the radar right now! I'm not even sure about my niece's bag - I've gotten her some American Girl Doll stuff so I don't really need the bag for Christmas. Maybe Valentine's Day...or just surprise her with it on some non-holiday.

Is holiday knitting stress just a fact of life? It seems no matter how early I start, I find things getting down to the wire come December. I think the problem is that instead of enjoying the fact of being done early, I simply add more projects hence undoing the benefits of starting early. I should really stop doing this...

I really should also stop thinking I need to knit things for the kids' teachers...and my neighbors...

Furbaby

I have one miserable little chihuahua on my hands:

 

He has a terrible, honking, body-racking cough that ends in a gag and it's making us all miserable. He and I have been to the animal emergency room and ($345 later - ook!) they think it's a virus. Of course I knitted in the waiting room. Amazing how it always helps, somehow.

The cough could also be a sign of a collapsing trachea, a condition that is not uncommon among chihuahuas but one that can be tricky to treat. We're keeping our fingers crossed. He has some medicine to take and we'll be keeping his collar off for a bit.

I love this little guy. I think a new sweater will make him feel better; he does love to be warm. I found a cute aran pattern that I hope to get started on soon.

Not sure why I'm posting this, exactly, just needed to process, I guess.... 

Knit Unto Others

Okay, here it is:

  

Not nearly as much as I wanted to complete, but considering how busy the last two weeks have been in non-knitting respects, I'm satisfied. Yes, the grey one at the end is still OTN. I'm hoping to finish it tonight and then I'll bring them to the Soup Kitchen. Perfect timing now that it has fnally decided to get cold around here.

I loved this project. It has indeed helped me put my holiday (and general life) stress in perspective, and while knitting I have found myself thinking about the people who might need one of these hats. I feel grateful for my blessings and happy to be able to help someone else. To be able is a beautiful thing, and I think we all forget that sometimes. Count me in for next year!

Happy Crafty

What a week!!! I submitted the first draft of my dissertation proposal, wrapped up the lecture portion of both of my classes, and made this:

 

For tomorrow is the long-anticipated social event of the season –drumroll please- the elementary school Holiday Fair. This year’s extravaganza was coordinated by yours truly, not because I wanted to, but because I foolishly gave a rousing pep talk to the other beleaguered PTO moms when it looked like the fair wasn’t going to happen this year.

The climate in PTO this year has been one in which merely making eye contact with another person is taken as a sign of long-term commitment. So I should have known what I was getting into. It’s not anyone’s fault; most of us have been around for a few years and are (1) older, (2) busier, and (3) just plain tired-er than we used to be.

Fortunately, all I really had to do was send out a lot of emails and put like-minded people in touch with one another. These ladies are conditioned by years of hard labor selling cookies and assembling raffle baskets. They've frosted a cupcake or two – if you know what I mean. They know their stuff. I am proud to work alongside them.

This will be my third year handling the kids make it and take it crafts room. The first year, a friend and I proposed the activity as an alternative to the “holiday store” where kids bought junky things for their parents. With the craft room, kids make junky things for their parents. See the difference?

Anyway, the craft room has been a hit. The picture above is the board showing some of the items that are available to make. Kids are busy and happy and lovely crafty times are had by all. About half of the items are Oriental Trading-type kits (yes, lots of the dreaded foam) but about half are kits designed and assembled by a few of us moms – pop-up cards, wood frames, felt ornaments, etc.

One year a woman thanked me because her husband had recently lost his job and she was thrilled to be able to have the kids make gifts for their teachers and grandparents for just a dollar apiece. And I get a real thrill being part of a community event – especially one that involves craftiness and happy people. And my kids think I am the greatest mom ever because they get to hang out after school and run wild with the other kids whose moms are there setting up - at every event, same moms, same kids.

I left work at 3 pm today and helped set up the school gym until 7 pm. I will work the whole fair (3 hours) and clean up afterward. By this time tomorrow it will be all over and everything will be packed away in the PTO closet until next year. With any luck, I will have won a big raffle basket (I’m putting all my tickets in for the knitting basket I donated – go figure) and will be relaxing with a video and some knitting.

Speaking of knitting – I had a KUO setback. The top half of hat #4 has been ripped out and reknit THREE times!!! I am very frustrated. I have this idea that I will finish this hat tonight and then knit a fifth tomorrow, but...maybe I need to drink a fifth of something instead.

Random woman’s health update: had my first mammogram at 7 am today and....surprisingly, it wasn’t nearly as awful as I expected :) And I think this is my longest post EVER!!