... cast on, cast off ...

... Here I am! ...

2007-12-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

Wow ... has it really been that long since I've updated??

The short story of where I've been:

* September -- was a rough month, lots of back-to-school business mixed in with extreme grieving over my friend Laura, who I remembered later did make it into my blog once. It seems really weird, even now, that life just kind of continued on without her in it. (Her birthday was September 27 of that month, I believe, and she would have been 37.) Oh, and then the Little Girl was diagnosed with food allergies (no, not just milk, as we suspected, but also eggs, chicken, beef, pork, cats and dogs). No knitting, believe it or not! I did, however, get out my sewing machine finally.

* October -- I became the den leader of my son's Cub Scouts -- what, because I wasn't busy enough, right? Then, just as I started to be able to cope with my friend's death without a glass of wine each night and chapped eyes, we found out about the details to her death. Her (ex) husband, the murderer, had been friends with the Big Sweetie for TWENTY FIVE years -- isn't that insane?! The details surrouding her death, suffice to say, were worthy of a horror movie, leading to more glasses of wine and more chapped eyes. This has been a profoundly life-changing event for me, in so many ways. I won't say any more about it now than that, except that all of this will probably re-surface in March when he is put on trial for first-degree murder, and I will most likely be called to testify. Moving on ...

* November -- Things moved on, and we started to return to some kind of normalcy. I picked up my knitting needles again, and I've continued my sewing obsessions. (Why has it taken me so long to discover Amy Butler?) We deduced after a lot of experimenting that the Little Girl really isn't allergic to chicken, beef, pork, cats or dogs. The dog part, at least, we're counting on because we made the decision to bring home the CUTEST DOG IN THE WORLD for Christmas this year (Sorry to those of you who already thought you had one):

Seriously, isn't she a cutie??? We love her so much already, and we won't even bring her home until next week (the Saturday before winter break, giving us 2 full weeks with her before we're thrown into our insanely crazy lives again). We're so happy to be getting this little Bernese Mtn Dog. Though this puppy has started life as a member of the Brady Bunch, we're naming her Callie, mainly because she looks like my calico cats Rini and Chloe, but also because I'm apparently obsessed with a certain TV show (my other top choices of dog names were Izzie and Lexie ... Meredith just didn't seem like a dog name). After the kind of rough year that 2007 has been for me, there's something about putting my energy into some little creature that will love us back that feels very right to me. I think 2008 is going to be great.

And because I already told my Boulder Knitting Guild group about my recent FO, let me give you a peek as well ...

... FO Report: Quant headband, from Winter 07 Knitty, made with Noro Kureyon unknown # using less than one skein, on size 8's, fun and quick and easy project, especially if you knit backwards like I like to when I do entrelac ...

And there's more where that came from ... but first I have to hook up our wireless connection to our computer upstairs (this is taking forever, as some projects do in our house), and then I promise I *will* be back with more Callie news and FO's. (Some day. Hang tight.)

... a wedding and three funerals ...

2007-08-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

So, this has turned out to be the summer-of-little-blogging. Sorry about that. Despite the title of this entry, it's been overall a pretty good summer. I've had a lot of family time, and not so much knitting time -- and I think that this is perhaps how my summer was meant to be. But I have been busy ... here is the catching up of my summer, via photos (a.k.a., the lazy blogger's way to update) ...

... the family photo of the summer while in Massachusetts -- here, on our way to a wedding. The wedding was a cousin of the Big Sweetie's, and we were excited to go to a happy family event. See that shawl? I'll blog about it next (it's one of very few FO's this summer) ...

... I did make a visit to the Black Sheep Yarn Shop in Needham, MA, where I (oops) I happened to accidentally acquire two skeins of Colinette Jitterbug. The shop was in the same town as an aunt of the Big Sweetie's that we visited while she was in hospice care. She did pass away while we were back there, so we went to her funeral as well. (A sad family affair, though I think the Big Sweetie was appreciative of the opportunity to pay his final respects. She was an amazing woman.) ...

... Back in Colorado, here is the view from my favorite mountain bike ride, from mostly our front door to the Flatirons in Boulder, a truly phenomenal ride that I'm happy I can do on a regular basis. (And yes, this means I've barely been running this summer.)...

Back in Colorado, I attended my second funeral of the summer -- the 22-year-old son of the secretary of my school was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident. It wouldn't be quite so sad if he didn't leave behind a new wife and baby daughter ... On the other hand, maybe it would have still be as sad ...

... the new WIP of the moment. It's Benjamin Moore 's Pearl Harbor and Durango Dust, or in other words, The Biggest House Project We've Ever Done and Will Ever Do Again. (My recommendations: don't, folks, paint your own house -- especially if you live in a bi-level like me, and are deathly afraid of heights.) ...

... and that leaves me with the third and (please!) last funeral of the summer. I had blogged (on our now defunct family blog) a loooong time ago (three years, almost) about our friends Mike and Laura. After that blog post, Mike and Laura split up and I helped her through her extremely awful, nasty and difficult divorce. When Mike and Laura reconciled last year, I drew back from their lives as I just could not go down that road again. (I also had other things on my mind last year, remember.) Despite all the other friends of ours saying that Mike and Laura were supposedly happily in love and happy to be together again, I learned of some horrible news this last Monday. I'm still in complete shock, and just trying to put one foot in front of the other and to remember to feed the kids. I will be attending whatever memorial service that she will be having this weekend (or maybe next week). That's really all I can say about that for now.

I did receive two great packages recently, but alas, no photos. I'll blog about them shortly as well as the (very few) FO's of the summer.

... sockapalooza! ...

2007-08-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

Before a catching-up-post, I have to share what came in the mail this week ...

... my sockapaloozas!

What a thoughtful package -- Katie O read about my adventures in crochet and send along a crochet hook along with an extra ball of sugar 'n cream. My favorite part about her thoughtfulness is her extraordinary handwriting. What a clever idea! I should try some of those cute scripts.

The socks are a perfect fit ...

... Katie wrote that they are the Groovy Socks by Sock Pixie, in Austermann Step (the aloe/jojoba yarn) -- I've been wondering what this yarn would be like for a while, and there's no doubt that they'll be really cute in my favorite shoes.

Thanks, Katie!

As for my package, I sent off a pair of socks as well to my partner ...

... I handyed the yarn, cast on 64 sts on size 3 (3.00 mm) needles, then chose a top-down 4-st pattern from my favorite sock pattern book, and looked through Stitchionary volume 1 for a funky stitch pattern. I found it in the "Herringbone Rib Pattern", which works like this in the round:

R 1: Knit
R2: *K2, YO, K1, YO, Slip first YO over K st and second YO*

For those of you on Ravelry, you'll recognize this pattern as the Charade -- an almost identical pattern, knit toe-up instead of top-down.

And speaking of Ravelry -- come visit me there! I'm Zenifer (thanks again to my favorite blogger for that baptism). If you're not on Ravelry yet, go get in line!! I know that I'm the seven-thousandth person to say this, but it really is pretty cool. (And, one more thing for me to do besides update my blog.)

But next -- the catching up, I promise!

... Harry!! Potter!! ...

2007-07-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT !!

Okay, I know that I've been gone for a while from the blog, and I know that I have a GAZILION things to catch up on (meeting Chris, going to Estes, visiting the Cod, visiting Mass-area yarn shops, making a shawl while I was there which I then wore to a wedding, coming home, doing plenty of non-knitting projects in the home, and taking a Yarn Tour of Northern Colorado with some knitting pals from grad school) ... Hey, does that do it? Okay, not yet -- I see that you need some photos. I'll try to do that in the next entry.

But for now, there's only one thing left to talk about today.

Harry Potter. #7. The Deathly Hallows.

Have you finished it? If not ... this is your last warning. Turn around!

If you have ... what did you think? Michaele posted a great entry on her blog about the book and I've been talking with her about it -- mainly because the Big Sweetie (unobsessed reader that he is) hasn't yet finished the book and I'm dying to talk about it.

To me, there was a lot of good, and some bad. Let's start with the good:

The tragedy -- it was more than I could handle at times. (This was good.) Mad-Eye and Hedwig, both killed at the beginning? George actually got hurt (a Weasley got hurt?) And then the other deaths -- Dobby, Fred (!!), Remus and Tonks (right after they had their baby!!) ... as some commenters on mugglenet.com said, RIP. And maybe I'm more gullible than most, but I honestly thought Harry was going to die and not come back -- I cried straight through that chapter when Harry walked with his parents to his death.

The action -- was more than I expected, as well, though I shouldn't have been surprised. It felt like there was one action-packed scene after the next. First, the seven Harry's flying through the air -- straight to robbing the locket off of Umbridge in the Ministry -- then the Christmas scene -- then stealing the cup from Gringott's -- straight to the final scenes at Hogwarts and in the Forest. Okay, there were some dull moments when it felt like the three protagonists were simply camping in one spot after another, with no clue what to do -- but I felt like it was extremely effective, because it raised my stress to feel like they were so clueless and hopeless. This book was definitely a page-turner for me.

The love interests -- I was glad that Harry still showed love for Ginny, and that Ron and Hermione still had their ups/downs.

The additional characterization -- though I really felt all along like Snape was a foe, I liked that chapter about his life, and it made sense to me that he was desperately in love with Lily, while he still despised Harry. And Dumbledore, after knowing more about his life, seems like more of a whole character now -- he did actually have flaws and wasn't always perfect.

The theme of life/death -- this, I felt, was the star of the book. I loved how JKR treated the scene of Harry marching off to his death -- how every last heartbeat mattered to him, and every last second. I loved how things became suddenly clear to him, as in what mattered in life. I thought it was so compelling. Then -- King's Cross -- that scene was just amazing. And Dumbledore saying at the end of it, "Of course this was all in your mind, Harry, but why should that not make it real?" (As an aside, I've been to two funerals and one wedding this summer, so this theme has really been on my mind lately.)

Now, the not-so-good (okay, I'll just call it the Bad):

Speaking of King's Cross -- who was that sniveling creature there?? Was that supposed to be Voldemort somehow? Ariana?

I think that Ginny should have emerged from the periphery at last -- but didn't, really, though she played a few big parts in trying to steal the Gryffindor sword and in fighting at the end.

The epilogue -- while I appreciate that JKR answered the question of What Next?, there is still a wide gap of knowledge that isn't answered. Who did Teddy grow up with? Who is doing what for a job (other than Neville)? Who are all the other kids? (Though you have to assume that Victoire is Fleur and Bill's daughter.)

In all, I think this is on the upper echelon of my favorite HP books -- perhaps even first, or second. I wasn't disappointed!

That does it for now. So, what did you think??

... even more Harry Potter! ...

2007-07-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

By the way -- if, like me, you can't get enough of Harry Potter, then you should really go sign up for HOGWARTS SOCK SWAP TWO!

Sign-ups are already underway. I am officially known as Phyllida Crookshanks now.

And here is, by the way, my questionnaire:

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

Second Years

What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?

RAVENCLAW!! (Go Ravenclaw!)

Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference?

Size 8.5/9 -- Euro 39 -- Foot length 9.5 " -- Circ 8.5"

List your three favorite sock yarns.

a. Koigu-esque type yarns (Louet Gems, Nature's Palette, etc.)

b. Merino/silk by Knitpicks

c. Lorna's Laces

Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand?

Sure! If you're up to it (and can get it) Fleece Artist Handmaiden seasilk. If not, any yummy and unique yarn.

Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn?

Prefer semi-solids and variegated, not so much striping yarns.

What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash?

Any!! (Though I mostly prefer browns, blacks, blues, purple/pinks ... )

What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle?

I gravitate toward ribbed mostly, though I do enjoy some lace socks.

Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.)

Nope.

Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them?

CATS.

Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?

Sure! (French or Spanish-speaking is great as I know those two languages.)

... Dear Petunia ...

2007-06-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Petunia,

I received your package via Owl Post!

The owl that delivered the package actually had the nerve to bite me ... I'm hoping he wasn't your owl. Anyhow, I opened the package to reveal a fabulous box inside ...

... a beautiful box, in its own right. Inside the box, however ...

... were the most amazing goodies. How did you know that my local yarn shoppes don't carry Inox needles? The size 0 were just the ones I needed. The yarn you included is beautiful ... I can't wait to hex my knitting needles and see the stripes "magickally" appear. When I do cast on for a pair of magically striping socks, I'll be sure to use your stitch markers.

And as it turns out, I will not be able to make it to Hogsmeade again soon ... so the yummies that you included are going to be much enjoyed over this holiday break. (Luckily I know which color are the "vomit" flavored beans.)

The socks, however, are the best part of the package ... they're marvelous.

I love the Horcrux sock pattern and I've been very tempted to cast on for a pair of my own ... now I won't need to! The fit is flawless:

And my toes will be toasty warm when going to the movies July 11 and when cuddling up with a good book July 21. They're perfect! The many reminders of my favorite quotes at the bottom of the package were such a sweet last delight:

Thanks again for the wonderful owl package ... you really made my day.

Your devoted Ravenclaw friend,
Jenifer

... learning another language ...

2007-06-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

So, guess what language I'm learning right now? The language of crochet. Really, this story started this last winter when I made that Debbie Bliss Scoop Neck Cardigan -- the one with the crochet edging. If you look closely at that cardigan, you'll see that the crochet edging that I did looks nothing like the one that DB intended. That's because I don't really understand crochet, nor crochet language. So, after making that cardigan, I decided to pick up a crochet hook and finally figure out what crochet is really all about.

(I have to mention that the parallel of first speaking French and then learning Spanish has been just like knowing how to knit and then learning how to crochet; I remember quite vividly how frustrating it was to learn similar -- but slightly different -- rules between French and Spanish, and how unfair it was that while being an expert at one thing I had to re-learn something else as a complete novice. This is exactly how I feel right now with crochet ... a complete novice.)

So, I snagged a copy of Debbie Stoller's Happy Hooker on sale, and armed with the witty descriptions of how to crochet, I undertook what I call "the washcloth project." The goal: make as many crochet washcloths as I could, each out of a different crochet stitch. The result:

Dishcloth #1: Single Crochet (sc)

Dishcloth #2: Half Double Crochet (hdc)

Dishcloth #3: Double Crochet (dc)

You can see by the trapezoidal shape of the third washcloth that this is where my experiment went awry ... and rather than try to stick it out, I simply put down the hook and took up the needles again for a while.

Enter The Uberknitter's crochet hat from the most recent Interweave Crochet ... and I decided to pick up the hook again. That hat was just too cute to pass up! So, I picked up my copy of the magazine ... but instead of starting the hat, I instead fell in lust with that granny square tote bag, Larger Than Life*. As it turns out, there's a knitalong going on (excuse me, would that be a crochetalong?). A long time ago, long before I even had my alternate life as a blogger, I tried granny squares ... and crashed and burned. However, armed with my dishcloth experience, I went to my stash and found this bag:

These were a bunch of Kool-Aid Lion Fisherman's Wool that I had dyed before I started dyeing with WashFast Acid Dyes ... and as we all know, Kool-Aid is the gateway dye. So, once I started getting real color results, I cast aside all of this yarn (they were originally intended for a fair isle project for the Little Girl):

So, I picked them up, started hooking away, and look at the results:

This is side #1 ... where I ran out of the orange yarn.

Granny squares! I've even put some of them together for one complete side of the bag:

This is side #2, already done!

Very exciting. I ran out of the orange yarn, so I picked up a few more packets of orange Kool-Aid. Once I dye up that yarn, I'll finish these squares, crochet the edging, and sew in the lining. And I've resolved myself to actually getting out the sewing machine as soon as school is out (this Friday!! Woo hoo!!).

yarn for edging + fabric for lining = one purple-ish and bright bag

But while I was waiting to get more orange kool-aid ... check out what I made in the meanwhile:

FO: Fun in the Sun Hat; Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton DK in beige and white; Pattern: Spring 07 IWCrochet; Hook: 6

Yes, it's the crochet hat from the current magazine. I think that the edge is a little too floppy, however ...

... so I've started another hat, this one smaller to fit the Little Girl. (Pink and green ... her choice.)

Wish me luck!

Up next ... the most amazing swap package I've ever ever received!! Seriously!! (Good thing I haven't sent mine out yet, so I can try to match the quality of the package I received!)

*And can I say that the worst part about the Larger Than Life bag is that everytime I read the title, I can't get this song out of my mind?

... those pesky photos ...

2007-06-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

They're finally up! These are, of course, the Bolder Boulder photos. These are for Judith ... and Syd ... and anyone else who just might be interested. :)

... we interrupt this knitting blog ...

2007-05-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

... to talk briefly about my running of late. Yes, running!

To tell this story properly, you have to know that I ran my very first race a year ago this May(a 9K race for Mother's Day), and then my second race last August (the Irongirl 5 mile race with another knitbloggista), and then my third race last September (the Crossroads Half Marathon with yet another knitbloggista, and the non-knitbloggista Judith[who really needs to go and get a blog already]).

When we last left off, that half marathon left me in pretty poor shape -- my knees were really hurting me, and I had deduced, by my internet research, that I was suffering from IT Band Syndrome (ITBS); I was left needing to figure out more ways to stretch my IT Band so it wouldn't be so stiff.

Well, guess what? I started running again this winter (after a nice little break from the running shoes), and I even visited a physical therapist. You'll never believe what she told me ... she told me that my problem was not so much that I wasn't flexible enough -- my problem was that I was WAY TOO flexible -- in a way that only a "double-jointed" person can be (that's the term I grew up calling myself). I'm so flexible that I can touch my thumb to my arm ... my fingers bend back more than 90 degrees ... and my elbow joint goes about 3" past where most people's joint would stop. So, the issue was that because I was so flexible and my joints so loose, when I'd reach the point in running where my muscles really couldn't support my joints very well any more, my muscles would become stressed and my tendons would be stretched by my joints popping all over the place. Because my tendon was still being affected, it mimicked ITBS, but it was in fact the opposite problem.

So, this spring as I've embarked on another season of running, I've upped the ante in my lower body strength training, and I've added a series of core strength and hip/thigh strength exercises to my regimen. (Debbie Siebers of beachbody.com has been of particular help to me.)

I had planned to run the Mother's Day Title 9K again this year, with hopes of perhaps setting a new Personal Record, but by the time this procrastinating blogger got around to it -- it had closed!! So, I went ahead and registered for the big Boulder race that everyone around here talks about ...

The Bolder Boulder. Go ahead and stop over there for the photos ... this year's event hosted more than 50,000 runners, including myself and my friend (the non-blogging) Judith.

[this is where I'd insert the photo of Judith and I if only the sponsors who took the photo actually made the photo available...grrr]

The short version of my story is that the race was an amazing experience -- and I finished it, and I ran the whole thing. My time (69 mins.) was a little slower than last year's Title 9K, but hey -- I finished it, and that's what matters.

The long version of my story are all of these random thoughts ...
* The costumes were amazing ... including Santas, princesses, even two "nude guys" (wearing beige briefs) ... and it was my first race experience of running with so many goofy runners. Very interesting!
* Because it was such a crowded event (i.e., envision running in a mosh pit), I think that really affected my time -- dodging all the walkers, you can just imagine -- but the experience of the race is really what made the whole thing worthwhile.
* To all of the people on the sidelines that turned on their sprinklers, or that sprayed us with their hoses -- thank you!!

And that's that ... up next: the crochet madness that's affected me lately. (Yes, you heard it: crochet.)

... socks, socks, socks ...

2007-05-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

That's the knitting update around here lately.

FO Report: Slytherin Socks; Pattern Source: 5-st bottom-up socks (but I knit them over 48 sts, not 50); Pattern: Sensational Knitted Socks (loooove that book!);Yarn: Hand-dyed Bollicine Dolly hand-dyed by myself; Needles: Size US 3; Magic-loop method; Recipient: my secret swap partner. :)

Yay! They're all done!

These are the extra Slytherin goodies going into her bag ... stitch markers, Hogsmeade yummies (do NOT, I say, go anywhere near the vomit-flavored beans), a theory on what will happen in Book 7 (I thoroughly enjoyed it, I will add), and a bookmark for the highly anticipated Book 7.

I enjoyed these socks, start to finish. I hand-dyed the stripes by winding the yarn around my kitchen table and dyeing two small 35" pieces so that there would be little stripes, like in the Hogwarts Scarves.

They knit up pretty well, although I had some issues on the short-row toe (see the gray on the bottom?), and I generally got the green heels I was trying for.

I'm glad I tried them on ... as it turns out, my cast off was a little too inelastic, so I'll probably go back and redo the last several rows. In the end, however, I'm going to have a hard time sending these away ... they were a fun knit. (It means that I'll have to make myself a pair!)

Next up ...

FO Report: Pink-ish Socks; Pattern Source: 4-st top-down socks; Pattern: Sensational Knitted Socks ;Yarn: Hand-dyed KP Merino; Needles: Size US 2; Magic-loop method

I don't know what to say ... I've never been a huge sock knitter. I don't know why it's taken me so long, either, but I'm suddenly in love with sock knitting ... and I'm able to actually finish the second pair! The size 2 needles, once terrifying to me, are now no big deal ... it's true, you really do get used to the tiny size.

I think that some of this has to do with the pooling action on these socks. I've never been able to understand pooling sock yarn, or the people who love them ... but now I get it. Each inch of progress led to a little movement to the side of the pooling colors, and it was entrancing. I loved it. Keep your eyes peeled -- I'm going to be doing more of this.

The yarn was a sister skein for some yarn that I sent to the Knitty Professor, and thus this colorway is called "The Knitty Professor". I have to admit ... those are some great colors there.

This last photo was just because I really just can't get enough of these socks.

This means that I'm also an official member of the Denver Knits 5280 challenge. (Which my Slytherin socks above won me a prize, too, by the way!)

I have two more half-finished pairs to tell you about, as well ... the sockapalooza progress:

And another toe-up pattern in baby cashmerino:

Look at me ... a sock knitter!

Take a peek at the other current object of my obsession:

This is one of my daughter's favorite friends -- Eagle-y. I love how he's "landed" on the project.

I'll tell you all about it next.

... bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day ...

2007-05-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

(You've probably already seen this, but here I go, too ...)

I thought I'd organize it by category ...

DONE:
Afghan/Blanket (baby)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Mittens: Cuff-up
Hat
Knitting with silk
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Continental Knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Scarf
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living (sort of!)
Knitting with cotton
Dying yarn
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
EntrelacKnitting and purling backwards
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

INTEND TO DO:
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Tip-down
Twisted stitch patterns
Norwegian knitting
Knitting smocking
Steeks
Knitting art
Pillows
Rug
Knitting with dog/cat hair

NOT PLANNING ON DOING:
Moebius band knitting
Two end knitting
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Publishing a knitting book
Machine knitting
Freeform knitting
Knitting on a loom

Wow ... that's one list.

And I have some good news: I found my camera! Photo-filled blog entries to follow ...

... so much knitting, still no camera ...

2007-05-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm doing so many fun projects right now -- and just as I was getting my groove on again with my blogging, I just had to go and lose my camera. GRRRR.

But because I'm dying to share, let me summarize the many things I've been working on, sans appareil-photo ...

(You know what that means ... lots of linkage instead.)

BABY STUFF
* A cute baby shrug from the Simple Knits book by Debbie Bliss, knit with ONE SKEIN of Cotton-Ease. (The old soft pink color - love it!)
* A cute baby hoodie from the Baby Knits book by Debbie Bliss, knit also with Cotton-Ease (the new blue color).
* A cute Baby Yoda sweater, pattern here, also in Cotton-Ease (the new gray color).

ME STUFF
* I finished an Evie t-shirt, also by Debbie Bliss, and also in Cotton-Ease (the new Terra Cotta color) ... see a pattern?

MOM STUFF
* I've *almost* finished a Melon-Stitch Shawl, from Victorian Lace Today (in looove with this book!), for my mom, for mother's day. I just need to finish the knitted-on lace edging. (NOT in Cotton-Ease, but in KP Merino/Silk fingering weight yarn.)

SOCKS STUFF
* I've finished my Harry Potter socks in my own self-striping Slytherin colorway. They turned out okay ... more details later.
* I've started my sockapalooza socks, also in my own hand-painted colors. They're, um, nteresting ...
* AND I've started ANOTHER pair of socks -- for ME! -- in my own handpainted colorway. (The "Michaele" colorway, Michaele. :)

All this stuff ... and no camera. Looks like I'll be buying a new camera soon -- any suggestions for point-and-click digital cameras?? Thanks for the info if you have any to share.

... favorite one-skein projects ...

2007-05-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

As you know from the various books that have focused on one-skein knitting, there are countless projects that use up that one little ball of yarn in your stash. Here are some of my favorite online patterns (most for free!), along with your suggestions from my contest:

Hats:
Lake Park hat, Marigold, Haley's Comet Hat, Attack of the Killer Pom-Pom, all by Marnie MacLean;
the Santa Cruz, Amber, Fake Isle, from MagKnits;
Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap (220 yds worsted yarn)
Adults Only Devil Hat, Lace Edged Hat, from Head Huggers
3AM Cable Hat;
Knotty Hat;
Kureyon Skull Cap;
Last-Minute Purled Beret;
London Beanie;
Noro Kureyon Wavy Gravy;
Odessa;
Official Kitty62 Hat;
R2D2 hat (scraps of blue/gray);
2-Hr Santa Hat

Headbands --
Calorimetry from Knitty;
the Panta at Crafster;
Kitty Ears headband

Fingerless Mitts and Wristwarmers --
Fetching and Dashing from Knitty;
Lake Park Gloves, the Knitty Gritty Wristlets, Del Mar, Nearly Gloves, Handspun Cuffs and the Executive Cuffs, all from Marnie MacLean;
Morehouse Wristwarmers (140 yds of worsted yarn);
Wristers (1 oz sock yarn);
Vino Arm Warmers (1 sk cascade 220)

Shrugs --
One Skein Wonder from GlampyreKnits;
Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet

Scarves --
Ruffles and Ridges Scarf by Misti Alpaca (pdf);

Baskets and Bags --
Easy felted bowl;
Felted Mosaic Bag;
Kureyon-Chan

Have fun using up your stash ...

(and don't forget to look at knittingpatterncentral.com for more freebies!)

... come on down! ...

2007-05-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well -- first, to excuse my absence, I have to tell you that I've been doing some supermommy-ing around here lately. We've had some first-grade music programs ... preschool music programs ... five days of soccer a week ... a successful science fair completed ... continued chess club sponsorship ... continued Cub Scouting adventures ... and that's in the midst of my job getting really wacky right now. (Sorry ... I can't really divulge details in full ... but trust me, I've been spending some serious psychic energy trying to keep my sanity.)

And -- you may not know this about me -- but the clutter in my house reflects my state of mind, and the first thing that usually goes missing for some reason is my camera. Yes -- I've lost it yet again. And this, more than the supermommyhood, is my reason for the blogger absence. Who wants to read a boring post with no photos? Well -- sorry -- you're about to.

So -- without any more further adieu (is that possible at this point?) -- I have the winners from that contest that I held (ahem) a month ago. Please insert cute photos when so directed. (I actually did take the photos, too! And they really are cute!)

Using the technologically advanced machinery for selecting random numbers ....

[insert photo of knitter's two children holding
a felted Noro bag with numbers in them]

... we have two winners! (Partially because I happened to ask both technical tools to pick a winner) Commenters #24 and #18, come on down!

[insert photo of knitter's two children's hands
holding scraps of paper with #24 and #18]

Elspeth!! Come on down and grab your prize! Elspeth's favorite projects are socks or fingerless gloves, so you can keep an eye out for a little package to come your way ...

[insert photo of yummy Lush and fingerless mitt pattern to match]

Debi!! Come on down and grab your prize! Debi's favorite projects are small things like felted baskets ...

[insert photo of feltable yarn for making baskets, and pattern to go with]

Thanks for playing! (And waiting for the answer ...)

Meanwhile -- check out what came to my house this week:

[insert photo of red 6 balls of Lane Borgosesia Clasico,
a cotton/wool/silk blend yarn]

I won a contest at Wanda's blog!! Thanks for the awesome prize, Wanda. How did you know that I've been obsessing over summer tops lately?? 852 yards total ... what should I make it into? ... Thanks again, Wanda!

Next up ... a list of my favorite one-skein projects. (I'm not so sure how long I can handle blogging without a camera ... it sort of takes all the fun away.)

... Cast Off! -- The One-Skein Project ...

2007-04-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Without further adieu ... Here is that one-skein project I made in one night, that so many of you guessed correctly:

FO Report: Calorimetry; Pattern Source: Knitty Pattern here;
Yarn: Hand-dyed Lion Fisherman's Wool, under 100 yards; Needles: Size US 7

I know, these have been popping up all over blogland, but remember ... I sort of checked out of blogland this last year or so, so it wasn't until I saw Emily's version of it that I decided that I had to have one. This is very similar to the Panta that I made last year, but I have to admit -- that thing is getting pretty ragged (I blame it on my early morning running ... yes, not a pretty image). So, I made this and I must admit ...

I like it more than the Panta. I mean, I really love it. I haven't taken it off since I made it, except perhaps to go to sleep. (Okay -- I'll tell you -- I even slept in it. Can I help it when this is such a warm and cozy thing on my head?)

I love it enough to say that this is perhaps my all-time favorite one-skein project. (At least, this week it is.)

Modifications -- very few, except that I used a size 7 rather than a size 8 as many of you mentioned how this is somewhat of a large fit. (Knowing how that Panta has stretched, too, made me want this smaller.)

But hey -- good guesses by all of you on the pattern! (I actually put the st markers on just to give an extra hint, but I didn't really need them on the pattern.)

What about the contest, by the way? I'm still accepting comments about your favorite one-skein projects to the contest entry -- I'll take all comments and choose a random winner out of them this weekend! Go comment, if you haven't yet!

And the prize? I'll pick out something from my stash that will be suitable for the favorite one-skein project you suggested, and mail it off with a few other goodies as well. Sound good? Go comment.

... cast on, what else? (PS, there's a contest, too!) ...

2007-04-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

I know, I know ... I promised some entrelac action here on the blog ... and believe me, it's happening here at my house (just wait until you hear the witty entry title I've just come up with) -- but I've put that blog entry on hold for a quick update here.

Update, why? Because it's come to my attention that I have a tendency to comment in to other blogs to let people know what's been happening here at my house, rather than just simply blogging for the pleasure of blogging. No more! Time to let you in on all the casting-on ...

For example, there's a certain pattern that I've had in mind for some months now ... and it's a perfect one-skein project ... and I happened to have this skein in my stash of hand-dyed yarns ...

okay, if you must know, it's just Lion Fisherman's Wool, an experimental colorway that I am quite enamored of, about 2 oz., or 110 yards (or so)

And so I cast on for that certain one-skein pattern ...

hmmm ... what do you think it could be?

But you know what else has occurred to me recently? I don't know if you've caught on to the extreme lack of contests here on this so-called blog, but I've decided to put an end to that as well. No more! Time to start holding some monthly contests ...

So ... here's THE CONTEST. Please leave a comment to this entry answering two questions:
1) Can you guess what one-skein project this is that I just cast on for?
2) Tell me what your all-time, very favorite one-skein project is. (Please don't mention anything in the one-skein books.)
Please submit the entry by next Saturday night, midnight central time. Winners will be chosen by a very technologically advanced random method. (My kids will choose the number out of a basket.)

I'm going to compile a bit list of favorite one-skein projects ... just for times like tonight, when I just had to cast on for something new, but I don't have two weeks to wait for the cast off ... and I guess that I can't wait to hear what your favorite one-skeiner has been.

Oh, yeah ... the prize? I'll announce that with the FO soon ... but I promise, it'll be cool.

... harry potter, what else? ...

2007-04-06T08:50:00.001-07:00

I'm a Ravenclaw!

Now that I'm renewing my blogland existence, I couldn't help but to join the Hogwart's sock exchange.

I'M SO EXCITED! :) (Can you sense my enthusiasm?) I did get sorted 2 out of 3 times into Ravenclaw, so I'm embracing blue and bronze as my team colors. (I wonder if I can take artistic license, like the films did, and call it blue and silver??)

I know ... I know ... I'm not the only person semi-obsessed with Harry Potter, and I'm not the only person who's re-read the series in the last year. (I've actually read all of them ... ahem, three times now ... but it has to do with that knitting-while-reading thing, plus reading the whole series to the Little Boy, who is now as obsessed as we are.) Because I don't think I ever shared a photo of my own little Harry Potter here at my house last Halloween ...

(Doesn't he look different without his red hair??)

EDITED TO ADD THE QUESTIONNAIRE BELOW...

In other news, the Harlot was here in Denver last night, but I didn't make it ... late soccer practice from 6-7 (isn't that late?!), plus the Little Girl having a fever, conspired to keep me home. (That last little bit is the reason why I'm blogging today, however ...) Go visit other Denver blogs to read all about it!

And come back soon and I'll show you all of the entrelac goodies I've been making lately ...

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Ravenclaw!

Shoe size? Size 8.5 - 9

Foot Length? 9 inches

Foot Circumference? 8 inches

List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.

a. size 3 (any bamboo dpns)

b. size 2 (any bamboo dpns)

c. size 1 (any bamboo dpns)

Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length? I'd love to try size 1 2 or 3 long circs by knitpicks, for the magic loop method (my favorite)

If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? Film ... love blue and silver

Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? Yep!

... Cast off! ... -- Chevron Scarf

2007-03-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a good quick project to make me feel like I'm not only a competent knitter, but also a focused knitter. (Being on spring break helps, of course.) Look at what I cast off (barely 48 hours after starting it!) --

(click on all images to enlarge -- )

FO Report: Chevron Scarf; Pattern Source: Last-Minute Knitted Gifts book;
Yarn: Koigu P110 and P126; Needles: Size US 5

I'll admit it ... a few movies, a few hours of my new favorite reality show, mixed with a few re-run episodes of Season 2 Grey's Anatomy (thank you to both the new DVR and Lifetime channel for those), and I managed to finish this little puppy up.

Despite the need to do every goofy pose that appears in the modeled shots of my knitting books, I think this is indeed a versatile scarf. (Though I am in doubt about where I will wear the scarf in this fashion ...)

I especially love the wavy colors as they alternate between the two skeins. Though this is essentially the same feather-and-fan pattern as used in the misty garden scarf I made last year, it has a very different feel. I think that the next time I make this pattern, I'll make it on size 6's rather than size 5's.

I made no modifications at all to the design -- though my scarf came in shorter than the 78" finished length listed in the pattern. Still -- I love it.

(And I now officially enable you to start one, too!)

... monkey see, monkey do ...

2007-03-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

You may not have know this about me, but one of the reasons I've a hard time reading knitting blogs lately is that I have No Self Control. None. Zip. So, now that I'm coming out of that long dark period, and that the homicide my student committed is no longer making front page news headlines, I'm starting to read blogs again. That's good, because maybe I'll get a chance to come say hello to you! That's also bad, however, because I have No Self Control.

Case in point ...

I headed over to Wanda's to say a quick hello ... and I saw her cast on for this scarf that I had seen years ago when I first bought the book ... but upon seeing Wanda's casting on, I had to reconsider this scarf. Then, when I was over at Maryse's, I got caught up in her ripple-mania. When I ended up at Julie's place and saw her finished scarf, I knew that it was destiny that I cast on for something ripple-y and chevron-y.

I dug through my stash and came up with two skeins of Koigu originally intended for a Mom's Version of Charlotte's Web, but these two skeicontain pink and purple -- very non-Mom colors ...

Koigu colors P621 and P110, for future googlers.

They were perfect for the Chevron Scarf. So I quickly wound them and started the scarf ...

I show you this because of the beautiful Koigu-on-the-needle yumminess.
I just love that rainbow effect.

More closeup of the Koigu yumminess ...

Between watching an Oscar nomination (after almost everyone else had seen it) and hanging out with another knitting mom while my children tried to rip her house apart, this is how much I've got ...

Almost halfway there!

So, thanks for the enabling behavior, you blogging pals, you! If all goes well, my attention will stay focused long enough for me to finish up this puppy.

(I love having time off during spring break.)

... of spinning and sock knitting ...

2007-03-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

I know ... I said that I'd show you next those gazillions of sweaters that I've cast on, but haven't yet cast off, but I just don't seem to have the energy to dig them all up and perform a proper photoshoot. (And what's a blog entry without photos to show off, right?) So, instead I'll tell you what I do have energy for ... the spinning and sock knitting that's been going on around here. I'll present everything in order chronologically (because I'm anal like that).

Fist up ... the (lame) present I made for my mom. Lame, not because it is actually a lame present (who can complain about handknit socks?), but lame because it's not the present she really still wants. (And, for the umpteenth time, I'm going to try to resurrect that project during my upcoming spring break this week.)

A wonderful, wonderful pattern (Spindle Socks) by Amelia Raitte (Anna) in Mountain Colors Bearfoot Yarn (Color Ruby River, I believe) on size 3 needles, completed in December 06. I loved this pattern, and I love this yarn. Can't wait to get my hands on more of it ...

Next ... as soon as I knit those socks, I realized how wonderful size 3 needles are for sock knitting. They go so fast! So, when I came across a super-dooper easy pattern, I had to try it:

The "Sell Your Sole" Socks, by Heather at Lectio, in some wondrous Cherry Tree Hill supersock yarn, size 3 needles, completed December 06. Who would've known that sock knitting could be a read-Susan E. Phillips-and-knit activity? Or, a listen-to-Carla-Bruni-and-sing-along-in-French-while-knitting activity? Now I get the whole sock-knitting thing. Must. Make. More.

I did however put a rest to the sock knitting after I saw Debbie Bliss and started/finished all those sweaters in the last post, but once I got my spinning wheel I just had to try to spin some sock yarn. This is what I came up with:

I don't know what it is about this, but I'm in serious love with the barber-pole striped, multi-colored, yummy sock yarn thing. (You can imagine how the Crown Mountain Farms rovings and sock yarns are now torturing me on a daily basis.) My first serious effort to spin sock yarn, this came out a little thick ... but, if I do say so myself, turned into a nice pair of socks:

My first pair of handspun handknit socks (who would've ever thought that I'd say that??), in a k3p2 pattern by Charlene Schurch in Sensational Socks (the 5-st repeat), knit from the toe-up (first time for that, too!), on size 3 needles. Serious love. They just happen to go nicely with the new Danskos ...

And, since I'm in love with socks knit on size 3 needles, I quickly made yet one more pair ...

Socks with Cables from Simple Living by Debbie Bliss, using 2 balls of Baby Cashmerino, size 3's. This pattern was so easy, and I love the cable detail. (Small modification -- I made the heel as directed in the Sensational Socks book and not as DB directed, as the original directions created eyelets versus a firm seam on the heel.) Machine Washable ... luxuriously knit socks ... I'm destined to make at least 3 pairs of these. Once again, these socks are perfectly at home in the new Danskos ...

I think that's proper documentation of the sock knitting going on around here ... for now, at least. Happy Spring (Break) to you!

... back so soon ... (otherwise entitled, the Big Post of FO's)

2007-03-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the kind words ... yes, life has been a little bit less fun than more fun lately ... although as a partial relief in that horrible story, though the daughter is (was) my student, at least her best friend (still in the class) was not one of the other people arrested. So while I'm not looking forward to facing the class on Monday (Friday this week was a professional day, so no students), I'm sure we'll get through it by putting one foot in front of the other. (Thanks, too, to Cynthia for some warm and counselory kind of words. :)

But you know what has really been helping me deal with stress lately? I mean, aside from a few fun purchases ...

... a new pair of black suede danskos ...

... and a new pair of brown danskos
(these I blame on Amy for wearing a cute pair herself recently) ...

I've started knitting boring stockinette stitch while reading books. I've been plowing through some fun books, and I have several sweaters worth of boring st st to show for it. So, without further adieu, here they are ...

FO Report: Agnes
Designer: Jane Ellison
Pattern Source: Simply Noro
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden in colorway #39
Needle Size: 8
Date Completed: Nov 06

I know, I'm terribly lax to be posting about this months after it's been completed .... but here it is. I started this a loooong time ago ... I was even blogging then, but still. I'm not terribly impressed at my ability to seam up reverse st st, which I sort of thought I'd fix .... but I should have known better. Anyhow -- I love the (long ago retired) colorway -- and I like the fit of the sweater more or less. The garter stitch edgings sort of turn up, and for some reason (either my own fault or the pattern's) the fronts are significantly longer than the back. I am however weraing it, which is more than I can say of some sweaters I've made.

Moving on ...

FO Report: Lara
Designer: Debbie Bliss
Pattern Source: Alpaca Silk Booklet
Yarn: Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran in #101 (Venetian)
Needle Size: 8
Date Completed: Feb 06

I quickly made this up after the DB lovefest that I went to recently. This was, overall, a pretty easy pattern, and really interesting to make -- from one sleeve over to the next in one piece. I of course managed to screw something up ... the ribbing is a little bunched up where I sewed it on to the back, but I have to admit that I don't think I'll be fixing it anytime soon. This is, for once, a sweater that is not at all too large -- and I think I made the second size, the 36" size if I recall correctly. I might even make this pattern again, next time larger.

And the yarn? Perfectly matches those new Danskos above. I'm in serious love ... good thing I still have a little bit more of that Jo Sharp left from that killer score I got two years ago.

Moving on once again ...

FO Report: Scoop Neck Cardigan
Designer: Debbie Bliss
Pattern Source: Debbie Bliss Noro #1
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden in colorway #73 (?)
Needle Size: 8
Date Completed: Feb 06

And the second DB-inspired pattern that I've made recently ... I just looove this cardigan. Though I had a few issues with the crochet edging, and the sweater is just barely too large (it's the second size again, and next time I'd make the first size), I love wearing this and I definitely see a second one in my future. Once again, this was a fun and simple st st knit with a really interesting and different shape. Loved it! (Let me know if you like this pattern but don't have it ... wink,wink.)

Okay, that's it for now. Next up ... the unfinished projects, just so you don't think I'm some sort of finishing queen or anything.

... the good and the bad ...

2007-03-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons that I haven't been blogging so much lately is that I've found that my blog has become a stomping ground for my personal gripes ... and while there's still many things to be thankful for in my life, I find that this blog is sort of a nice place to air out some of my frustrations. So, having said that, I'm starting with the good, and ending with the bad today. Please watch for the [****] so you can stop with just the good, if you don't want me to ruin your day. :) It won't hurt my feelings at all!

So, here's the beginning of the good ...

* I sent out some fun stuff for my secret pal, spun on my CD drop spindle ...

... my version of "poor woman's Manos",
hand-dyed after it was spun ...

... two overspun singles, plied into a "poor woman's Biggy Print" ...

* I got an amazing package from my Handspun SP -- an amazing couple of handspun skeins ...

... I'm leaning toward mittens for these. What do you think? ...

In addition, she sent a huge 8 oz hank of Crown Mountain Farms superwash merino roving in "Let's Hang On."

This is the softest merino I've ever felt ... it sort of reminds me of handpaintedyarns or malabrigo, I guess. And now that I've started googling what this yarn looks like spun up, I'm obsessed with buying more of this stuff. If you have time check out this ... and this ... and this ... and this ... you get the idea. Obsessed. More on this later. Thanks, Kelly!

(Oh, and P.S., there were also chocolate goodies tucked into the package which I, as always, extracted and hid before my kids could find it.)

* I just did our taxes, and our tax rebate is going to really help us out of a few jams we've had lately. (More on that later.)

* And, because there's a little extra, look at what is peeking out from behind my chair that I brought home last weekend:

Yes, my very own spinning wheel! I was starting to sound a little whiny to the Big Sweetie, I think, because he finally said to me, "Yes, Little Sweetie, you have been very good lately ... go ahead and get one!" (The tax refund helped.) Purchased from Maggie Casey at my sorta-LYS, this little thing couldn't make me any happier. So, what shall I name it? Any ideas?

I've already spun up this ...

... singles plied with crochet cotton -- I have 4 skeins for about 250 yards total ...

and this ...

... yet more "poor woman's Biggy Print" --
which was way faster to ply than on the drop spindle! ...

and because I'm obsessed with that crack, I mean, CMF roving that Kelly sent me, I spun up this:

... now I get the whole "spinning-your-own-sock-yarn-thing" ...

I'm going to work on some baby bootees out of this tonight.

See what I mean about obsessed???

***

Okay, so here's the grumblings. You know that I have barely been around to blog recently ... as it's been, my husband has had a really difficult last couple of months. This is on top of a tough period that he had last spring, so it's just sort of all piled up together. For those of you who have small children, you can sympathize -- you just never get a break from those little wonderful inquiring minds, from the time they wake up, to the time they go to sleep. Add in to the mix a recent master's degree acquired, the debt from said master's degree needing to be paid off (but without an increase in pay salary), stress of not being able to support a family (read into that, more significant debt undertaken), a job interviewed for but not gotten (is that the correct tense of that word?), teaching an extra courseload to help make those ends meet, adding an ESL master's degree to the mix to help jazz up a resume, and you get the Big Sweetie just feeling and making himself very sick. In the last 12 months, we've had emergency room visits, specialists visited, MRI's visited, more specialists visited ... and in the end, all that we know is that he has had pertussis (caught it at school), has some sort of an ulcer somewhere which will only take time to heal, and he's a candidate for a hearing aid -- this last bit of information came from a ear-n-throat specialist that he saw because of the constant ringing in his ears that he's had for several months.

So, as you can imagine, life hasn't been so much fun as it's been survival around here. Whatever ... we make the choices we make, and we live with the consequences, right? Forget the fact that we can barely afford to pay for the appliances that we've been having to repair lately (furnace=$800, refrigerator=$350, washing machine=$200, dryer=$150), or the daycare that we have to pay now that I'm working (doesn't $635 for part-time care seem like an insane amount of money to pay? At least I love my daughter's school, because it means that I'm actually earning less per month than I'm paying for in childcare), and oh, the cost of all those medical debts (am I insane, or does $1400 seem like an unreasonable amount to pay for a person who does have health insurance, for an MRI that a doctor orders?). Still, forget all the money woes ... I see us at the end of the long dark financial tunnel, and there's a light at the end of it that's getting brighter all the time. We're going to be okay, after all, so I'm really not too terribly worried.

But then there's my job. I haven't publicly talked about my job much because of the whole Dooce thing, and other similar stories. Plus, because I'm a teacher, there's a real confidentiality that I have with my students that I can't really breach. But you may know that I'm teaching at an alternative high school in my district ... and I've just got to share a few things. This is the alternative school that is kind of a "last chance" effort to get kids graduated in my district. And as you can imagine, I deal with all kinds of kids here. Most of them are really nice ... and some of them are both nice and smart and have very few issues to deal with ... they just don't like the overpopulated big high schools. But really, most of my students are so disadvantaged that it makes me want to go home and cry ... I have students who can barely read, students who can barely write, students who have alcoholic and abusive parents, students who have alcoholic and abusive siblings, students who are themselves alcoholic/drug users and/or who are abusive to others, students who live in group homes, students who are about to be sent to group homes ... then, I have students who move from apartment to apartment, students who are so jealous of the "rich kids" that live here in Boulder, students whose only real meals are the free or reduced meals they get out of the school cafeteria (if you can call those real meals) ... really, this job takes so much more psychic energy than just a usual job where I show up from 9:00 - 2:00 (my official job hours, more or less). It's been so hard to go from that job, to the job of taking care of my over-stressed husband and wonderful (but needy) kids at home, that I just haven't had a whole lot of extra time for anything else.

(Even my cats have suffered.)

So, you can imagine my grief over learning about one of my students today through our local paper. Go ahead, and read the story (also, here) ... that's one of my students. I highly suspect that one of the other students being detained (her best friend) is in my class as well, but of course there's no confirmation from anybody right now ... I just happened to have matched up my student's address to the address in the paper. Seriously ... I can't help but saying to myself over and over, "Wow, this is the first day that I've ever found out that one of my students has murdered her mother ... this will never happen again ..." It's even freakier to think that she came to class last week -- last week! -- and asked me how she could get her make up work from the two previous weeks that she missed. I keep thinking that on those days, I wonder if her mother was already dead. I feel kind of how I felt after the Columbine deal (and I was teaching in that same school district at the time, pregnant with the Little Boy), although that incident, in so many ways, was really worse than this ... that is, if you can rate flat-out desensitized murder on a scale. I'm just filled with absolute disbelief and grief that I'm this close to life-changing and life-ending tragedy, and worry over my other students and how this is going to affect them. Life can be so tough sometimes for some people. (See how all of this makes my money-griping up above seem so absolutely trivial? At least I'm able to provide a home and love for my kids.)

Big sigh ... wow ... that was really a downer to write! I just thought I'd share some of the issues I've been facing ... and let you know that I'm hoping to jump back on the blogging horse one of these days and leave those gripes in the dust.

So ... here's to spinning up some more of that CMF roving tonight with a glass of merlot in my hand ... and I promise, promise, promise that I'll be back to share photos of the sweaters, both incomplete and complete.

... the other blogger and me ...

2007-02-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

I feel like I go through my day, stumbling across a sweater that I want to make, picking up my needles for a new project, or even casting off on an old project, and I say to myself, "Don't forget to write that blog entry about this ... " I imagine all sorts of witty stories that I'll tell the knit blogging world -- or at least the 12 of you that read my blog still :) -- and I file them away in that "to-be-blogged-about" place in my mind. However, there's this other blogger that lives inside of me, and she says, "Yeah, right ... as soon as I get the laundry done/ house picked up/ kids fed/ work finished." She's not very good at that stuff, even, because most of it goes undone for the most part -- which proves my point that she really should just sit down at the computer and write that blasted entry after all, right?

If I could talk her into writing an entry, it would include things like:

*... the amazing handspun yarn and delicious roving that her handspun secret pal sent her ...

*... the yarn she spun up and sent off to her own pal ...

*... the still-unfinished blanket that is sitting in her living room, half-done, cursing her every time she passes it ...

*... the, ahem, almost three sweaters she's finished since she's last blogged (she blames it on that whole meeting Debbie Bliss thing that happened to her, but I know better ... she just loves to finish things up without sharing with the rest of us, right?) ...

*... the most exciting purchase that has been made in her recent memory (and no, not the two recent pairs of Danskos that she's picked up on super-dooper-clearance, but not like she's told us anything about those, either, right?) ...

See what I mean? It's not like she's logging in saying, "Look, I've made two--now, three -- now, four inches on my sleeve." She's got some serious fun stuff going on over here. I'm going to sit her down, have a talk with her about her blogging habits (remember that "20-minute-blogger" stuff she tried to pull last summer?) and I'm going to whip her into shape. This is a knitting blog, after all, isn't it?

Not to mention her absolute lack of appearances on other people's blogs ... I've tried to explain that she can't pretend to read everyone's blogs listed over there on the right if she's not even reading them. She promised me she'll try to do better ... but, still ... we'll see about that.

She tells me that she just needs some photos ... Hopefully you'll see her back later this week with some serious updates.

(And it's only as I re-read this entry that I see some parallels to that favorite author of hers ... and so I must add here at the end: I'm not quite sure which one of us is writing this entry.)

... so close ...

2007-01-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

I take it back. I don't think I'll have my Lizard Ridge finished this weekend. If all goes well and if I can really haul patootie, I just *might* have the squares finished by Monday. I'm at the point where I'm arranging the squares, wondering how all the colors will go together, and re-arranging all the squares.

In knitter's shorthand:
*knit a square, arrange on floor, re-arrange* rep until 24 squares are done.

I hope it will work out by the end.

Happy knitting weekend to you!

... just can't wait to share ...

2007-01-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

So ... there's no other way to start this post.

Guess who I met today?

Debbie Bliss.

Debbie Bliss, author of the first knitting book I ever bought fame. Debbie Bliss of the many other published books fame. Debbie Bliss of the incredible line of yarns fame. I could, of course, go on and on linking here and there, but you already know all of this.

I first found out that Ms Bliss was going to be visiting several local yarn shops in Denver this week, and I initially thought that my last-week-of-the-semester-schedule meant that I wouldn't be able to catch her. I was bitterly disappointed that my job was going to keep me from meeting the woman who, in so many ways, inspired so much of what I do in my knitting. So, you can imagine my extreme joy when I figured out that I teach until 1:05PM -- and that I could maybe, just maybe, make the date at an LYS about 25 miles away at 2:00PM today. I was afraid to mention it on my blog, or to too many people, for fear that I would somehow jinx this opportunity.

[EDITED to add ... Jenn (blog?) left me a comment saying that an LYS near her was asking $200 to come to a similar event. (!) The Recycled Lamb only asked for $25.00, which would go towards a charity, and they said at the end of the event that $1,000 was raised. Go, Recycled Lamb!]

You can next imagine how very exciting it was to walk into one of my favorite LYSs and come face to face with Debbie Bliss, who immediately exclaimed, "You're wearing Grace!" Yes, that Grace that I made almost two years ago now (where does the time fly, I ask you??). And yes, that Grace which I made in the cotton-yarn-which-shall-not-be-named (at least, not in Ms. Bliss' presence). But when she complimented me on the cardigan, I made sure to let her know that at that time it was one of my first big DB projects and one that I made while staying home with my kids (to me, a perfect excuse for yarn substitution). Anyhow ... I'm getting ahead of myself.

So, Ms. Bliss started by talking about her history in the industry ... about how she's always been mostly a book publisher, though for a short time a yarn shop owner, and now a yarn producer. She talked about her inspiration of designs, her inspiration of colors, and how importantly she takes the photography and overall feel of her books. She talked about how she comes up with designs, and then with collections, and how the yarn affects the designs, and how her designs affect the yarns. It was fascinating.

She led us through her most recent published books (Simply Baby, Pure Silk, Pure Cashmere, Cashmerino DK, Donegal Tweed, Out of Town) and introduced us to her yet-to-be-published books (Family Knits, Rialto, Summer Essentials, Pure Cotton/Stella), again discussing the overall feel of each collection.

She pulled out about 50 sweaters from her trunk (yes, that's right -- 50 of the original sweaters, all the ones modeled in all the books and pattern booklets), and she told us about the sweaters and their construction in great detail. She pulled random people up from the audience, had us all try on the 34" model sizes -- and the sweaters looked great on everyone (dispelling the myth that we need to knit larger sizes!).

Then ... she let us try them on. All of them.

Darn this photo for being lousy. This just means I'll have to make the sweater now ...

If I were a more witty and eloquent blogger, I'd tell you all about how she made the crowd of us (25 obsessed knitters like me) laugh with her jokes, how she was incredibly down-to-earth given the weight of her fame (she's Debbie Bliss, for heaven's sakes!), and how meeting her in person makes me more and more happy that I took the plunge to open that KFI account. I seriously think that I could knit only DB things for the rest of my life and be happy. (Okay, with a lot of Noro and perhaps a few easy Yarn Girls projects thrown in there as well.) I'll forever read her introductions of garments with a British accent (imagine her saying "intarsia" without the sh, but just the s, and imagine "craft" as "crauft").

At the end of the session, I had her sign the books I brought with me (only about seven of them). I even managed to control my hyperventilation long enough to have a whole conversation with her. I mean, an actual (okay, small, but still ...) conversation. We spoke about my kids (she heard me mention that I had two kids, and gave me an offhanded compliment about how sane I looked for having two young children, or something like that, I couldn't quite respond because of the ringing in my ears), we spoke about traveling in Europe, and our favorite parts of France and Spain (which we of course had in common -- S. of Spain, N. of France), and in a moment of extreme weakness, I even told her that I designed a pattern for Knitty in Cotton Angora.

Look at what she wrote in one of my books:

Seriously ...

Can 2007 get any better than this??

(Oh, and I also found the last 2 skeins of Kureyon #164 -- which means that I'll maybe have my Lizard Ridge finished by this weekend. How did I get so lucky?)