Knitting Lite

This week there wasn't a whole lot of knitting that got done, because there was this little thing called exam week that happened, and my life was a little insane. So, to counter the insanity, I indulged in tiny stockings. Almost instant gratification, a nerd twist, and not too big of a strain on my arm and shoulder. Everybody wins! So, I finished two Hufflepuff, one for me one for a friend,

Gryffindor and Slytherin. I have to wait to do Ravenclaw till I get home; I think I have something in my 'home' stash that will work nicely.

I need to swatch for my travel socks, as well as several other school things to finish off before I leave. I'm looking up directions to Loop in London, and my bags are mostly packed! Just have to figure out the best way to use those last 1.4 kg... Next time I blog I'll be home!

Java had a very stressful week; she hard core napped beside me while I wrote my reports and marked exams. You can see that it really took it out of her!

Instant Gratification is a wonderful thing

Due to having to be super careful to not stress my shoulder, arm, and hand, things have been pretty quiet on the knitting front. I did finish my Monkey socks--yay! And, I finished two sock luggage tags to go with them. One sock, two sock, pink sock, blue sock!

Said luggage tags are parts of sets for some special short termers--the pink,

and the blue set. Yes, I'm trying to use up the Monkey yarn!

I am also totally indulging in lots of mini stockings--great way to use up ends of sock yarn, and very therapeutic.

And, since I am currently on a Harry Potter kick in part because there is someone here right now to talk about it with, and in part because I am so excited about the new movie because the main actor is adorable, I've embarked on some House stockings. Here is a Hufflepuff, sans duplicate stitch. I think I have close enough colors to do all four... Yay--more for the nerd tree!

The Squircle socks suffered a crippling setback when I realized that they will fit me...not the intended recipient, so I am going to have to re-start them. That might have to wait for awhile... I'm having too much fun with my mini stockings!

The Name of the Doctor

The big news of this week--the epic double knit scarf is DONE!

10 massive charts, 2 colors of laceweight silk and wool, and thousands of stitches. Dramatic stitch rescues, and then the final crochet edging that finished it off in such a professional way. I'm in love.

I also got some good work done on my Squircle socks. These aren't quite as high priority as they were, but the charms of learning anew join and how to 'un-jog' my stripes has lent them fire. I think next time I'll do slightly wider stripes. I also hope the bottom of the foot isn't too annoying as that is where the joins are. Stripes are so compelling!

I am getting close to finished on the last pair of furlough socks and a gift, and I think I've finally settled on a plan for my travel sock. I was going to do one pattern, but I fear the yarn will be a smidge too loud for that pattern, so I'll do the same one I knit in Kenya.

I'm packing my bags y'all--there are only 17 more days before I start my journey home!

Small projects, socks, and Star Wars

This last week did not exactly lend itself to knitting, but where there’s a will there’s a way, so knitting happened! I reached the half-way point in the last chart on my Doctor Who scarf, I finished two gift coffee cozies,

and I finished this, Aviatrix for my cousin’s little boy, Anton. I just need to give it a bath, weave in the ends, and find a suitably cute button to go with it. *squee!*

While it’s not that exciting to look at yet, my knit-resistant sister asked for socks because she is likely going to be spending two years in a rather cold place, so I was able to with glee cast on the Squircle sock that I have been itching to try ever since I heard about it on the Knitmore girls podcast. I'm using yarn that I bought because a) it was on sale, b) it was a nice name brand and c) there were wool fumes a few years ago; while they are not my colors at all, I think my sister can rock them. So, double points! Loving the construction.

Something I have been slowly working through over these last few weeks is an audio book of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, Verily A New Hope.

When I first came across this, I knew I had to give it a listen, and I was not disappointed. Dude, listening to C3-PO whine in Shakespearean English is pretty bearable, and they did a great job of incorporating sound effects and casting great actors. I will say that there were some points where I felt they overplayed the ‘stuff Shakespeare quotes into Star Wars’ card, and there were lots of inner dialogues that hinted at material from the other movies, but overall it was a lot of fun to listen to, and I might get some of the other ones one day. So, if you want enjoy mixing your nerd fandoms, this is an enjoyable listen.

I decided to make some of my favorite molasses spice cookies this weekend, and while they turned out quite well, I sadly burned a whole pan of them into oblivion. *sigh* At least I have a tray and a half of edible ones!

Also this weekend, I finally took the plunge from head packing to real packing by starting to pack some breakables and make lists of my wardrobe for travel. I have a place to stay in Lusaka now, so there is just a detail or two of my exciting the country to work out. Just over three more weeks till I start on my journey home! And yes, I have my travel knitting planned!

Why yes, that is the yarn name. 'Cuase ain't I just.

I did not get a lot of knitting done this week; after some bonefire lit knitting on my Monkey socks I mainly worked on quick, instant gratification in the form of cup cuddlers. So, I re-knit my pumpkin cabled one; I still need to tweak the pattern, but I like this version much better.

I used some yarn from the lovely Annie to make this loud broken rib cuddler,

and some leftover yarn in a lovely bluey-heather to make one of my favorites, the cabled one.

Oh, I did manage to finish the ninth chart on my Names of the Doctor scarf! Only one more to go! Remember, the goal on this is to be able to wear it in London.

Today, Halloween/Reformation Day was a bad day of epic proportions, so I decided that looking at Desert Vista Dyeworks would help make up for the mighty vacuum debacle of 2016 (don’t ask). Oh boy did it ever! Meet my October pick, just under the wire. “Big Damn Heroes” six color self stripping. You can’t take the sky from me!

My sister who is hopefully heading to a very cold place next year dropped a sock request…so I might need to tackle my first ever pair of stranded colorwork socks. Why yes, this IS what love looks like!

There are only 30 more days until freedom y’all…

Parting shot: