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. 

 

 

 

 

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

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.



 

What happened to the last month??

Buddy happened. He has kept us busy from 6:00 a.m. to whenever two or more of us drop from exhaustion. But we are so happy to have the "little man" as one friend calls him. Here is a recent photo.

 
How can you resist that face? I do have some knitting to share. This summer in between cleaning out my house, teaching classes at the university, and attending a variety of meetings, I have managed to knit several shawls, a scarf, a baby sweater, and half of a second sock. These can be seen on Ravelry   But here is my persoanl favorite: Perseverance by Lauren Weinhold knit with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight in Brick colorway. Truly a lovely color that makes me wish for cooler weather (As if we needed a reason to wish for that!).

 

 

More knitting tomorrow. There are several gifts in the mix and need to gift them before I give away the secret. 

What is your hot weather knit?
 

$400 shorts!?!?!?

It is too early in the morning to be so outraged, but really people, why? And is it just my age or are they really unattractive? Does this seem like a "let them eat cake" lifestyle?? Decide for yourself. . . @ J Crew.  But best of all, check out the red  statement beside the photo --- they are sold out. 

Buster is somewhat perplexed  by the idea: not sure if it is the cost or the thought of his mom wearing shorts.

 

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.  

Foggy New Year's Day in Rock Hill

 
We woke up this morning to dense fog, not so good for taking photos of recently finished knits. So I will share a "Buster Brown Christmas Story". 

First: his primary Christmas (actually his only) present was purchased by his dad at PetSmart. 

 

Second, Buster so loved this "friend" that he carried him everywhere.

 
and he cuddled him as often as possible,

 
HOWEVER. . . (isn't there always a however?). Just one day after getting this stuffed animal, Buster began to cough and cough all day long. He began making noises like an old man with flem. He occasionally spit up, something he never does, and had another response best not discussed .

So after much discussion about possible causes for Buster's behavior, we took his friend away and put the innocent looking toy in a closet. Within a few hours Buster stopped coughing and spitting, as well as not doing the other thing.

Now I know this is not science --- but I think there is some evidence of a strong relationship.  If "made in China" toys are potentially dangerous to our children, those items may be potentially dangerous to our pets. Just sayin', and  so you know PetSmart had absolutely no response when we told them what happened. Got a shoulder shrug.

Buster is fine now.  

**you have to do that double click thing on the photos to make them bigger. Sorry.