TeachU TeachMe

Waiting Room Time

Sadly I have had quite a bit of waiting room time lately, at the hospital and a variety of doc offices. I have been waiting with my husband who is facing a recurrence of cancer. In the end, it will be okay, but I will have about 15 more hours of "wait time." I am planning my knitting now. So far I have a new sock almost to the start of the heel.
      

The pattern is Carybdis by Glass of Fashion (2009). The fiber is ella rae Lace Merino (color 106 Lot 90003). I am loving it; just enough pattern to keep me interested, but not so much I have to give it all of my attention ~~ so I can listen to an audio book while waiting and knitting.

Meanwhile I also have been knitting on the scarf ~~ Seattle Bloom Time Scart by Jennifer Chase-Rappaport in Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders (page 104). I decided not to do the flowers in the corners. Too much fru-fru for my taste, but I love the seed stitch borders and the diagonal stitch. The fiber is Caper Sock (color Sherry; lot K867) from String Theory. 

I should be able to show some finished work soon.

Buddy seems unconcerned about unfinished knitting as he lost all his hair yesterday. He wants to run free in the backyard, so that is the price he pays ~~ He gets matted so badly that we can't get them out without lots of pain and crying; that's my pain and crying.

 

Forgetfull and then lazy

I forgot to post a photo of the entire Honey Badgers that i finished last week; then I got too lazy to find the camera and put socks back on the stretchers.  But finally, here they are in all their glory.

Since I was on spring break, I had some time to knit. So I have a new project. I am loving it. Not the casting on of 240 stitches, but how fast it is knitting up. It is Infinitude Scarf by Jeni Chase. I am using some very old Berroco Pure Merino, Nuance, in a verigated blue (found in my stash). The pattern calls for 300 yards of 6-ply cashmere, but I am going to use up all of my stash, just under 400 yards.

While I really, really love my job, I am sad that I am back to work today. . .But looking forward to topics I am teaching this week. We are talking about collaboration, co-teaching models, and project-based learning. Fun topics all. 

Buddy wishes all of you a "fun" week at whatever you are doing as he keeps the world safe from his perch. 

 

 

 

 

Finished Objects!!

Yes, at last photos of finished projects. Finished the Honey Badger socks. Very happy with the results ~~ fit like a perfectly made pair of socks!

note the lovely Sweet Tomato Heel wedges. Cat Bordhi is genius! I had to rip several times to get them perfect, but think the finished product was worth the work. See details on Ravelry.

I finished another baby sweater, another version of the Tulip Sweater found here. This one is for a precious Bambina Stellerine, yet to be born or named. Find the details on ravelry.

    

Buddy says that spending the day at the groomer's is not a reason for him to smile at the camera. 

 

I have sock!

At last, I finished the first of my "mix-it-up" sock.  The yarn is  Punta Yarns Merisock Hand Painted that I purchased at The Yarn Shop in Pineville, NC.  

I call it the "mix-it-up" because I used 3 patterns (more photos at the Ravelry link). First, I am back to Wendy Johnson's Basic sock pattern from Socks from the toe up. I followed the toe construction and worked to the point where I needed to start the heel.  At that point I use Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Sock Heel pattern of short rows. I used 2  1/2 short rows to fit my foot. It WAS sweet and gave me the best fitting heel I have ever knit. I have used other short row heel patterns~~but those did not fit so well. These socks are snug and cozy.  To make the socks and knitting them interesting, I used the pattern from Irishgirlieknits' Honey Badger. It hums along so that I can easily knit while in meetings, at the doc's office, or waiting in the pick-up line at Walgreen, etc. Here is a little photo of  toe and heel as I was knitting.

                                                              
In the future, I think I will be using that short row heel unless there is a compelling reason to use something else. My only concern is wear? How will it hold up? Anyone have a history with short row heels?

What? it is February already?

It has been a whirlwind of a month. The semester is off to a good start: good classes and interesting students. I am happy.

Went shopping mid-month at The Yarn Shop(LYS) in Pineville, NC. about 20 miles from here. Good thing it is that far as I went just a bit wild. I will share the stash slowly, so you have a good look at each.  The first is next in line for the needles; recycled blue jeans.  I am thinking a small shawl or scarf to wear with jeans. I have two skeins = 700 yds.

There's a close-up from my not-so-good digital camera. The fiber is soft and will get softer with washing so that is why I am headed for shawl --- no more 100% cotton sweaters for me; too much sag.

Reading has been limited to student papers and emails; not a thrill a moment. But for a few moments each night I am trying to read Grafton's latest: V is for violence. Not her fault I keep falling asleep.

Buddy is feeling somewhat camera shy tonight.

 

Saturday Stash

What happened? I was supposed to have two wonderful weeks between the end of summer school and the beginning of fall semester. I am sure that they occurred, but I am not sure why I don't feel as if I had a vacation. 

Since beginning the fall semester my knitting time had all but disappeared. Lots of meetings, but not of the type where I can knit w/o unwanted attention. So I have only one finished object and three works in progress, plus some new stash. 

First the stash. I need to make some Christmas gifts; I can't keep sending checks or gift certificates. So this year many will be receiving hand-mades. So the new stash is for gifts. I am such a fan of the Noro fiber (all of this was purchased on-line via Jimmy Bean), so I bought some Kureyon Sock (Color S221) and some Silk Garden Sock (color S273)

and some more Kureyon Sock (Color S102) that is a work in progress, a slouchy hat by bohoknits that I like to make. This is my meeting knitting for now.
Other works in progress include two baby sweaters ~~ some sweet folks I know are having "bebes" in the future. I am making the same sweater for each, but one in pinks and blues (Berroco Weekend) and another in darker tweeds of burgandy and blue (Berroco Remix). All purchased at The Yarn Shop in Pineville. I have the back done on each one. Fiber is washable cotton for both.

 

Finally, I am happy to report that I have finished the socks from the last post. Here they are

                                      

click on photos for larger image

That's it for the knitting report. I will be back on Monday with a report on the four-legged child, Buddy and his progress from being a Cujo to Good Dog.
      
 

 
  

 


 
 
  

Saturday Stash

I have not been able to get away to my LYS or to any store lately, except Lowes and Target for cleaning and fix-it supplies. So I have been busy shopping late at night. It generally works out for me, but then. . .

Several weeks ago I was reading knit blogs late at night. . .guess where this is going? I love PayPal, but they make it too easy to complete quick transactions on-line. So I joined a fiber club, but I was overly eager and did not read the fine print. Later in the month I received my fiber. Much to my surprise, it was roving. Roving is wool that is ready to be spun, but I am not a spinner; I am a knitter. 

I am confessing all of this so that I can praise the person who prepared and dyed the roving because she was generous in her treatment of my mistake and it WAS my mistake. As a result I have three hanks of beautiful hand-dyed, hand-spun fiber to share today. So if you are a knitter, please consider stopping by Cosy's blog (@ http://cosymakes.com) to see her beautiful new baby and the items for sale in her ESTY shop (@  http://www.etsy.com/shop/cosymakes). Here is what I got as part of my refund. 

               
Snapdragon Light Fingering in three swoony colors: yellow, bright green, and blue green (it is darker than pictured here, I was photographing in bright sunlight). Not sure what I am going to make with them ~~ but not socks as this is wool. I am thinking scarves and/or shawls, as there is 700 yards in each hank. Whatever I decide there is plenty to make whatever I want.

Buddy says "Where is this fiber? I need to taste it to be sure of quality control."

 

Cool Puppy

 
This morning we spent about a hour in the garden. I was listening to a book while knitting on a Christmas present. Buddy was terrorizing wild life; he just wants to be "friends." When we came in he went straight to the AC vent in the hall floor ~~ he is no fool.

 
Knitting:

~I am still working on the I Cord edging of Julie's sweater ~~ it is a long slough around the entire sweater. Want to finish that today.

~Working on a Christmas scarf for someone.

~Here is one of the summer's finished projects (FO). This is The Ericka Scarf by Gina House found in Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders . This is a great little book of patterns and I have several on my list of must make.



 

Good Grief!

Back in January i thought that I would be able to keep this blog on a daily basis., but then life happened. So here is the first day of a new month, so I can start again --- new starts. I do have some knittery things to show. Hats for Sailorsare ready to go into a box this week and off to the depotistory for hats waiting for shipment.  Here are photos of three of the four --- #4 is red but no sun on the deck since I finished it. All of the caps were made with Cascade 220 Superwash.  First is Top Down Cap, middle is Waffle and last is Sailor Watchcap. All are free patterns on the Hats for Sailors Ravelry page and details can be found on my Ravelry page.

                                   

I have two projects on needles right now. A new pair of socks using Blue Moon Sock Candy and a scarf with Noro Silk Garden. I tried to take photos a few minutes ago, but it is too dark for my little camera. So as soon as we have some sunshine you will get photos.

Meanwhile, Buster just wants me to quit with the flash.  

First share of the new year

Officially the university reopened today. However, the heat has been down to 50 degrees since December 24, 2010. My office is a corner with two sets of windows, therefore it takes time to warm up and will be cold most of the day. By cold I mean it will not get much over 60-65 degrees today. This is the price we pay for working in a very beautiful Nationally Historic Building. I love the building and would not want to be in any other office --- third floor view looks into a tree where birds nest and sing. However today I am taking the professorial privilege of working at home. Got those syllabii and class schedules to prepare and want to develop some new activities on the first day. Also a few minor activities: review an article and read a application for acceptance into the College of Ed.

Still don't have knits to share, but there is a chance of sunshine today. Fingers crossed. Last night I struggled with the third repeat of the pattern scarf/shawl, September Circle. Somewhere I got made an error and so had a mess at the spot where new rows begin. Let me be clear, the pattern is clear as day and one that is easy to follow if you knit it correctly; the mistake was mine entirely. However, it just got worse and worse each round but, of course, I persisted until the beginning of the third repeat. I am so stubborn then it was clearly evident that I needed to give it up and frog. So I ripped out a full afternoon's work (two entire movies). Lesson learned, sit quietly until you have the pattern correctly established and when you make a mistake in lace, rip back or entirely, fixes that work in other knits will not work in lace!! I will begin again when the professor quits working.

I follow the blog of TurtleGirl who knits and designs knits. This morning she made me wish that I had reason to wear mittens. I am thinking these may go to a person I know who lives north of here.  sigh, so many knits, so little time (or money).

The two movies I watched while I worked on the September Circle are SALT and The American. I wasn't sure that I would like either so was surprised when I liked both for very different reasons. I will not give away the stories, but both were dark and had enough twists to keep me interested. I blame the need to read subtitles for my knitting mistake, note to self: never knit lace if I need to read subtitles in an action film!

Buster wasn't much help with the knitting, but he kept me company from his favorite corner of the study.