The Labors of Heracles

This week has been one of the wildest of my time here at Sakeji, but this has also been the least stressful exam week that I have ever had. I MC’d special music assemblies every day this week, and organized and MC’d our Christmas Music Assembly. I performed with the Sakeji Trio and accompanied several numbers. I gave 7 exams and got them and the assignments marked in record time. I tried a new way of organizing my efforts on report cards, was a total social hermit, and I finished up the last card on Friday night—a new record for me! I still need to re-read over them and make sure that everything is coherent and fair, but I’m so tickled to be free of that burden!

We had a pie social on Tuesday night in early celebration of Thanksgiving--sorry, I forgot to take any pictures, but I made a beautiful pumpkin pie. My little mini Ninja blender is just about the best thing EVER. I got to talk to my family on Thursday which was such a blessing--I was feeling a little blue around the edges by that point. Thanksgiving should never be scheduled in exam week again!

Oddly enough, my crazy week has really cut into my knitting time. Pretty much all I’ve managed to turn out this week has been this pumpkin dishcloth,

and a handful of knit stars.

Today I’m going to have a big ‘blocking party’ in which I take care of a gift or two—pictures will follow. I played with the bead kits I’m going to use with my handcraft girls-

And I put up the first bit of Christmas to cheer me through my marking spree. I think the tree will go up this weekend as a reward for being done with my reports!

Parting shot-

The early morning sunlight caught this spider web and made into a crystal beaded net. So beautiful!

The Great Pumpkin Quest!

This week, for reasons unknown, I was seized by the urge to knit pumpkins. I must be getting preemptively homesick for Thanksgiving... I had a knit pumpkin pattern that I printed out years ago that I decided to test drive, and when I ran into trouble with that one I went on a Ravelry search to find some more ideas. Here then are the results of my great pumpkin quest--just in case you ever wanted to know this much about knit pumpkins!

First of all, I started on that pattern I had printed out several years ago and found out that this person a) couldn't always count, and b) left out a really critical batch of knit two together's on her pumpkin wedges. Eventually (with other pumpkins in between) I got it finished, though I kind of want to make another one that will look a little nicer. Right before the end I thought of a neater way to do something, so the last two wedges look nicer than the first two. *sigh* This was my last favorite of the pumpkins I knit this week.

The second pumpkin that I made was this one. Very simple, easily adaptable, and it produced my favorite of my three pumpkins. If I really wanted to I could add the yarn loops to pull it in more, but I like how this turned out. Truly mindless knitting, nice result!

The third pumpkin pattern I tried out this week is the spice pumpkin pattern. I liked how this one turn out, but I think I want to make another one where the loops aren't quite so tight. Very satisfactory.

Other than knitting pumpkins, is not much to report on this end. I was pretty sick yesterday--I suspect the worm pills. Either that or a kid slipped something into my water! This next week is the week of AOL--report card week, so either I'm going to be tempted to knit a sweater overnight, of I'm not going to get much done! I can't wait for term break...

Finishitis can be a very liberating thing...

I have quite a few finished or almost finished projects right now; we shall see how long this frenzy of finishing lasts! I think it has something to do with the awful weekend and half-term that I had...

First--A to be gifted dish towel that has been languishing in my basket for about a year.

I finished the purple baby sweater and I even sewed on the buttons!

I designed a Warehouse 13 inspired dishcloth: Snag & Bag It!

And I made my first towel topper! I must say that I like the knit look better than the crochet...

Oh-while I'm at it, just in case you were interested in the pattern for 221 b, here 'tis!

I can't wait till the holidays...

You are remembered

Remembrance Day

Remember now the dead, but think

As well of them that come

Back form the terrifying brink,

The men of nameless fame.

Unlike the dead, they do at last grow old,

Those comrades of a half-forgotten fold.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Do not go down dismayed, old men,

Do not go down dismayed,

For you possessed the strength of ten

Against the hordes arrayed

To seize your island fortress and enslave

A nation that no longer ruled the wave.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Though bearded boys, who never knew,

May now presume to mock,

It was yourselves, the ageing few,

Who then withstood the shock

And held it high and cast it back again

As once your fathers cast back France and Spain.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Therefore, do not go down, old men,

Dismayed, for in your day

You dared the Devil in his den

And slew him where he lay;

And nothing that these feckless times may do

Shall smirch the honour which belongs to you.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

-J.H.B. Peel

Designing is addictive...

I’ve had so much fun the last week and a half playing with my Erebor hat, that I haven’t knit much on anything else. I managed to ‘creatively interpret’ the instructions for the purple baby surprise jacket; I think it’s all sorted out now… This afternoon I finished off a dishcloth design I had started quite a bit ago—behold, the 221 b B Baker Street Dishcloth!

Maybe I should do one that says, “Elementary!”… I still have plans for some sort of Dwarvish fingerless gloves, but I think those will take quite a bit more time to work out. I noticed when I was watching The Hobbit last weekend that there are quite a few lovely hand-knit things—I approve! I might have to check out some of those other patterns on Ravelry now…

Other than getting my pattern ready to publish and a bit of reading, this past week hasn’t been that exciting. Rehearsals of the “Sakeji Trio” are underway; the arrangement I made of the Sans Day Carol seems to be working pretty well. Huzzah! It’s so good to sing in parts again…

So, to close off, here is a cute kid story.

On Tuesday in music class I was explaining (in very simplified terms) 12 tone music to the grade 2 students. I had some cards with the 12 tones on them, and they were ‘helping’ me put them back in order. As I grabbed the “C” card, I asked them what came next. “C shark!” came the happy response! The whole way through the chromatic scale they enthusiastically ‘sharked’ each sharp. While I tried to keep a straight face, I explained that there couldn’t be any sharks in music class—too much water. The joys of working with children; sometimes they make me laugh so much!

Also, while playing the Fantasia version of Rite of Spring for the older kids, I had some serious flashbacks to my childhood and the phase when we may have watched “Land Before Time.” A lot. In our defense, a) we were young, and b) it was the first one! Now I feel old…

Erebor Hat

Size: This hat is fits a 23.5 inch head (mine) snuggly, but it would be quite easy to scale up or down by changing needle size or adding or subtracting stitches from the reverse stockinet panels.

Materials: A heavier worsted weight; I used some no-band yarn I found kicking around, and then a ball of Patons Décor. Size 7 needs—dpns or circulars depending on your favorite method of working in the round. A cable needle

Gauge: 24 sts over 5 inches in Framed Cross Cable pattern, or 24 sts over 5.25 inches in stockinet.

Abbreviations:

K-Knit
P-Purl
k2tog- Knit two together
p2tog- Purl two together
FCC—Frame Cross Cable
CB4B—(Cable 4 Back) Slip the first two stitches onto a cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 2 stitches from left-hand needle, then knit stitches from cable needle.
CB4F—(Cable 4 Front) Slip the first two stitches onto a cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 2 stitches from left-hand needle, then knit stitches from cable needle.
T3B—(Twist 3 Back) Slip next stitch onto a cable needles and hold at back of work, knit next 2 stitches from left-hand needle, then purl stitches from cable needle.
T3F—(Twist 3 Front) Slip next two stitches onto a cable needles and hold at front of work, purl next stitch from left-hand needle, then knit stitches from cable needle.

Framed Cross Cable From the Cable and arans Harmony Guide.

*Row 1: K2, p4, CB4B, p4, k2
Row 2 and all even rows—Knit the knits and purl the purls
Row 3: K2, p3, T3B, T3F, p3, k2
Row 5: K2, p2, T3B, p2, T3F, p2, k2
Row 7: K2, p1, T3B, p4, T3F, p1, k2
Row 9: K2, T3B, p6, T3F, k2
*Row 11: CB4F, p8, CB4B
Row 13: K2, T3F, p6, T3B, K2
Row 15: K2, p1, T3F, p4, T3B, p1, k2
Row 17: K2, p2, T3F, p2, T3B, p2, k2
Row 19: K2, p3, T3F, T3B, p3, k2.\
Row 20: Knit the knits and purl the purls

Instructions: Cast on 96 stitches.

Work 6 rows of rib as follows: *K4, P2, K2, P4, K4, P4, K2, P2* four times across the hat.

Now it’s time to begin working the cable rows!

Row 1: *CB4B, p2, work Framed Cross Cable, p2* four times across the hat.

Row 2: K4, p2, FCC, p2, K4.

Row 3: K4, p2, FCC, p2, K4.

See what you’re doing? You have four 4 stitch cables alternating with the four framed cross cables, all separated by 2 purl stitches between the cables.

Work 2 full repeats of the FCC cable; in rows 1 and 11 CB4B on the four stitch cable (as marked by the *’s in the instructions). This way it will match the CB4 crossings of the main cable. Work Rows 1 and 2 one more time before starting the decreases.

Decreases:

The idea here is to preserve the cable by getting rid of all the purl stitches first, then decreasing the knit stitches in traditional manner.

Row 1: *Work the established pattern (knit the knits and purl the purls) for 8 stitches, p2tog, pattern for 8, p2tog, pattern for 2, p2tog* repeat three times across the row.

Row 2 and all even rows: Work in established pattern; knit the knits and purl the purls.

Row 3: Work the established pattern for 4 stitches, *p2tog, pattern for 2, p2tog, pattern for 6, P2tog, pattern for 7* four times; the last repeat will end with 3 pattern stitches instead of 7.

Row 5: Work the established pattern for 3 stitches, k2tog, *pattern for 2, p2tog, pattern for 4, p2tog, pattern for 2°, k2tog, pattern for 2, k2tog* three times. Work pattern for 2, p2tog, pattern for 4, p2tog, pattern for 2, k2tog (you will be using the last stitch of this round and the first stitch in next).

Row 7: Knit 5, *K2tog, k3, k2tog, k7* four times; the last repeat will end with k2 stitches instead of 7. You now have 48 stitches.

Row 9. Now all the purls are gone, and you will begin your knit decreases. K4, k2tog across the hat. You now have 40 stitches.

Row 11: K3, k2tog across the hat. You now have 32 stitches.

Row 13: K2, k2tog across the hat. You now have 24 stitches.

Row 15: K1, k2tog across the hat. You now have 16 stitches.

Row 17: K2tog across the hat. You now have 8 stitches left.

Cut the yarn and draw through the remaining 8 stitches. I like to do this quite loosely the first time, go through the stitches a second time, and then tighten it off. Weave in the ends, then set forth to slay the dragon!

Dwarven cables or how I cope with stress

Various things have 'bumped into my happy' this week, and for some reason that I can't fully understand my brain has responded by going crazy with knitting ideas. It all started with these:

I had stared these before going home, and it occurred to me that they would make someone (not telling who!) a nice Christmas present, so I started cabling. The pattern is called Arwen fingerless gloves, and as I succumed to the magic of knitting stitches out of order, I began to ponder dwarven cables. Pretty soon I was designing this:

An Erebor hat! I have plans for dwarven fingerless gloves, but I'm making myself wait till this weekend (I'm off) to start playing with those. I liked the Arwen cable so much that I decided to add it to the sleeves of the shrug I'm working on.

Finally, as my 'mindless knitting,' I'm making another Baby Surprise Jacket in some of my favorite discontinued yarn.

Other than knitting there isn't much other news around here. Life continues on--I'm pretty busy with my classroom and students, and the end of term is beginning to loom. I've been trying to get all the music stuff finished up, and I guess I need to start writing the program for the Christmas music assembly. A teacher's work never stops!

Oh--I'm reading Frankenstein right now, and it is not at all what I was expecting. No electrodes, and lots of philosophy. Make me want to study the development of the Frankenstein monster now... Rather like Van Helsing, how did something that unexciting become what we think of today? I did my favorite covert dressing up trick--I wore a white rose and my locket to be a Jacobite. Happy Reformation Day!