Snapshots

It's both hard to believe and a relief that summer break is soon to be over. Of course I'm enjoying the slower days, having time to inhale books (I read both the second and the third Stormlight Archive books by Brandon Sanderson in a month each--they are well over 1,000 pages of awesomeness!), to tackle fiddly project, and to start brewing my own kombucha, I'm also looking forward to being with my co-workers and students again. While I'm sure the fall will have lots of challenges and frustrations, it's about time to change gears a bit. So, here are the crafting snapshots from my summer-

My new summer top--I love it!

A beautifully cabled gnome for a friend's new house.

I made bias tape for the first time--why did it take me so long to try this?

The reason I tried my hand at bias tape, was so I could use it on this vinyl bag project, using a Chickenboots pattern from SewSewLive.

While at my grandmother's memorial earlier this month I bought this yarn which reminded me of her from her local yarn store, and made it into this cowl. I'm looking forward to the cold weather so I can start rocking it!

I'm going to be going on another trip next week, on which I will finally get to meet my niece, so I decided on a whim to make her this elephant toy that's been sitting in my Ravelry queue for years. It's all in one piece which is quite clever, but I think when I make it again I'm going to place the ears better.

I continue to work on my huge double weaving project. Here is what things look like currently on my loom-

And here is the finished first half of the ruana. I haven't washed the fabric yet; I'm hoping the super obvious tight spot down the fold line will relax out. The second half has been fighting me after a great start; best I can figure I did a bad job of packing the warp, so after some desperate intervention tonight hopefully things will go more smoothly until I get the weaving finished.

Parting shot--my super talented sister took this amazing picture of me using long exposure when we were together for the memorial. It's good to remember that there is more to life than the challenges of 2020!

Yarn makes most things better...making it, using it, or buying it!

Can you believe how beautiful this spring is? Brilliant sunshine, loads of rain, cool days, and the normal riot of blooms in this part of the world. Maybe I'm really noticing it because of the circumstances around me, but I am so, so thankful for God's majesty shown through the wonder of creation.

I've been pretty swamped with teaching stuff the last week, and the beginning of this week is shaping up to be similar. The problem with online teaching is that you are available *all the time*--blessing and a curse! And your students are sort of available all the time...if they check their emails and messages. Since Texas schools won't reopen this school year, there are a few more weeks of this stretch experience left. The nice parts? Bathroom breaks whenever! More flexibility. Getting to talk to my cat all day. Eating lunch in peace and quiet. Yet, I can't wait for life to go back to 'normal.'

My hand is slowly improving, and I was able to indulge in a lot more handwork this week than I have for the last month. One thing that has been giving me a great deal of pleasure is spinning. I love the rhythm of spinning—the hands and feet working together, the sound of the wheel, and the magic of watching your bobbin fill up. I had started spinning another chunk of this Easter colored pencil roving when Beth was visiting, and after some thought decided to Navajo ply it. I gave it quite a bit of twist, and I think it might be the best yarn I’ve made yet. At the very least, I think it’s the one that will knit up most like a commercial yarn. I plied it on my wheel, which I haven’t tried for quite some time, and was very pleasantly surprised by how it went. Maybe I’m just a better spinner!

Once I got that project finished, I returned to the big purple spin. A lovely friend gave me two bags of wool for my birthday last year, and I'm going to divide each bag into fourths, spin them up, and then ply one of each together. I love how this fiber spins, and I love that I'm getting better at this! I can't wait to see what the finished yarn looks like, and how much I end up with. No special plans for this yet, but it's sure fun to work on.

While I ave restarted my brioche cowl, I’m not quite ready to dive back into that just yet—the pain of FROGing (though needed) hasn’t quite faded enough yet.

I’ve been working on some gift socks that I had high hopes of finishing for Christmas (but didn't--Mother's Dayish?), and a new summer top, Vanora. I’m using Lion Brand Coboo—the same yarn I made my tank out of last year, but I’m going bold with the bright magenta colorway. This is essentially two rectangles seamed together, but I’m going to do mine in the round from the underarms down, and I’m planning on putting in just a little waist shaping while I’m at it. It’s a simple pattern, but I think I’ll really enjoy wearing it once it’s done. Plus, having more warm weather knits means I can enjoy my handiwork year round!

The other thing I worked on this week, was finishing up this brilliant little purse. I used some leftover Nomadic Yarn’s in the Ginny Weasley colorway, and was quite pleased with how it turned out. I love little bits of everyday wizardry like that—so clever! This is an excellent use of leftover sock yarn as it only took 9 grams, and it was fun to watch the magic take shape. I lined mine with some grosgrain ribbon I happened to have on hand, and have plans for at least one more.

Other than that, quarantine life continues on. I'm still walking almost every morning in the gardens near my house, making a weekly pilgrimage to Wal-Mart, and getting some good reading in. I'm enjoying delicious Silver Grizzly coffee in the afternoons, and the luxury of not having to worry about whether my pants and shirt match. Little things, always important, are even more so these days! Oh--I have added these delightful yarns to my stash. The red is a beautiful merino-silk blend from Expression Fiber Arts--a Christmas gift card cashed in finally. And the purple is the April Knitcrate yarn. I think I'm going to order some more so I can make a layering cardigan--I use them all the time!

Parting shot: My 'co-worker' is hard at work napping; he has had a bit of a struggle to get it all in with me being home, but he does his best.

In which I sum up

Well, it’s been a hot minute! December and January were rather overwhelming months due to school, the holidays, dealing with my dad’s melanoma (which has been successfully removed—praise the Lord!), my beloved local yarn store closing (I'm not allowed to buy yarn for awhile now...), dealing with my credit union merging (which was a good thing as I now have a local bank again, but a big process), continuing to try to find a church home, joining Planet Fitness (a surprisingly large thing to incorporate into my life), and the arrival of my beautiful niece, Paisley (I’m finally an aunt!). Valentine’s day marked the end of the second trimester, so I have today off to sleep, finish marking the trimester tests, and get myself set up for the last third of the school year. During that time I’ve been knitting, spinning, and reading of course, so here are some highlights of the last three months of creative efforts.

I have had a blast making things for my niece, Paisley, and about a week before she was born I sent off two sweaters, two pairs of booties, and two hats. As Paisley is a dainty little lady I have a bit of time to wait before she can be wrapped in my knitted love, but it's well worth the wait! I have one more item, a little Jedi cardigan to finish for her,

but I got distracted from the million miles of brown garter stitch by...

tinny envelopes! Hunter Hammerson does it yet again, and created a fiddly little pattern I just had to knit. I've got a few ideas of what to do with these...

Another thing I've been working on is the Winterberry hood, something which has been in my queue for quite awhile. I'm using this delightful red from Lazy Cat Studio that I bought at the East Texas Fiber Fest, and I ended up having to rip the whole thing out due to a) a gauge issue and b) a dye lot issue. This picture is from where I blocked one end to confirm the awful truth I suspected--that it was going to be too small. I'm still sort of pondering if I would rather do a hood or a cowl neck, but as I need to finish a Jedi robe soon I have a bit of time to think it through.

Since last writing I also completed two stockings. This stocking is to complete a set I started over a decade ago as a shower gift for a friend's Christmas wedding. I have since made stockings for all three of her kids, so the family set is complete. It was a bit of a challenge to make this with my somewhat limited space and resources, but I thankfully took good pictures of the other stockings and had saved some of the trim, so I was able to make something that was unique but still fit with the other two siblings stockings.

I also knit myself a stocking to have at my place (I spent Christmas with my 'real' stocking at my parents), and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I used wool leftover from my Crazy Stripes sweater, and I love the traditional pattern. It was fun to knit, and I'm almost tempted to make Neko one for next year.

Lastly, for now, I also played around with these delightful tiny trees, also a Hunter Hammerson pattern. I'd like to make some this summer maybe to have on hand as gifts for next year, but we'll see. I'm still working on my summer dreams and plans...

I'm going to try and get back in the habit of blogging, and I'd like to do a post soon about my recipe challenge to myself, but for right now I need to get to bed--it's a school night!

Parting shot: My brother took this picture of Neko at Christmas, and I absolutely LOVE it! What a handsome ginger pants!

And so the next adventure begins!

As of today, I have officially launched my 10th year of teaching! I have learned so much, made so many mistakes, and while there is a part of me that feels terrible for the teacher I as the last three years, I'm also looking forward to this new chapter. A chapter where I will be supported and encouraged to grow as a teacher. A chapter where my educational philosophy lines up so much better with the school I'm working in. A chapter where I will have some margin space. A chapter where almost anything can happen!

In the week leading up to school, my main project was finishing up my Cityscape Tank. I ended up pulling out the whole upper back and half the upper front when I realized I was doing a decrease incorrectly. It doesn't show super well, but see that rather lumpy, messy line in the first picture, compared to the lovely smooth line in the second?

I re-knit the backs and fronts, joined the shoulders, then completed the edgings in time to wash and block in Friday so I could wear it on Saturday. I LOVE this top--I was afraid it wouldn't fit right or would be too narrow in the straps, but I won the gauge gamble! If I do make it again (sorely tempted), I will probably chance the straps just a bit to make them a tad wider, but this is an exciting new addition to my summer wardrobe!

Also, that finish meant that I not only made my 3k goal for Stash Dash, but I exceeded it and reached 5k for the first time ever! Of course that was in large part due to the spinning I did, but STILL! I'm pretty pleased with what I accomplished.

There were a few trunk shows at my delightful LYS Yarnia last week, so I popped in after inservice on Wednesday and Friday to be tempted. I've got serious plans to save up for a project's worth of Round Table Yarns delightful kettle dyed fingering. And yes, the fact that I'm a medieval lit nerd totally adds to the appeal! The dyer I meet on Friday, Chicken Coop Dyeworks was also delightful, and we found out that we had time in Africa in common. Much to my surprise I was gifted a set of her lovely Leghorn yarn so I could make the shawl pattern, Birds of a Feather, that I had discovered and decided I needed to make with my deep stash Kidsilk Haze.

I'm trying to remember how long I've had that Kidsilk Haze; it must be either pre-Zambia or an early trip home as I'm pretty sure I got it when the yarn store in Tyler downsized... This weekend I cast on, and guys, this is such a beautiful, soft, fluffy thing I can hardly wait for it to be finished so I can wrap myself up in it! And, the yarns go together *perfectly*.

Yesterday I started a necessary thing; a crochet bowl cozy. Since I now have a microwave, it makes sense to have one rather than the rather haphazard use of pot holders I have been practicing so far. I found a knit pattern for the same thing, but this is one of those occasions when I think crochet is much better. Also, I was in the mood for something a little different. So here is the double thick base and the first row of the sides done; hopefully it will be a quick job from there. I might need to get some more cotton...

Today was the first day of school, and while it was a half-day, I had some work to do before leaving. Once I got out to my car I found that my battery had died, so a co-worker jump started me and sent me to the Ford dealership where it just so happens one of my student's father's works. I was taken care of quickly, and was so grateful for an easily resolved issue. It was also nice to make a connection with one of our families. So, while it was a frustrating extra expense, everything is taken care of and I'm all set to go. And, since it was the Starbucks first day of fall, I indulged in my first pumpkin spice latte of the season--even though it was over 100 today. Come quickly fall!

Well, I have a bit more to do before turning into a bed, so I'll leave you with this rare picture of Neko on my lap. Notice that he is curled up on my dark Cityscape tank--that seems to be the only way he'll sit with me for a few minutes. Good thing I bought a lint roller... My black trousers have already fallen prey to him!

Meetings, more blue knitting, and a trip.

Last week was pretty dull--if you aren't me. Lots of reading, three meetings to start hammering out science--I'm teaching 7th and 8th grade now, Omnibus, and discuss overlap between my government class and Omnibus III. Lots of reading, the beginnings of my 'battle plans,' continuing to make good use of my Prime trial by enjoying Endeavour in the evenings. I love a good mystery show with a complex protagonist... Some cooking, some recreational reading, errands here and there...pretty boring to write about. This weekend I hit the dividing point--the point where it was time to divide and work the front and back of my Cityscape separately. I'm getting close to finishing the back, and as usual Neko had to come inspect the knitting on the floor.

I got (and used!) my new cast iron skillet in the mail-boy have I missed having one. I made do with the frying pan from my set, but it sure helps to have something larger than 9"!

On Friday I drove 6 hours north to Oklahoma City to meet up with some friends for lunch, and as usual forgot to take any pictures. I spent the night with my sister in Plano, then had a busy Saturday in which I visited Half-Price Book, IKEA where I found this lovely thing (among others),

a yarn store where I picked up this delicious gradient to practice full brioche stitch with,

and visited the kitchen outlet in Terrell as there were some things Wal-mart just doesn't have. I suspected when I saw it that I needed a mini cutting board in my life, and it was a good call-love that thing!

This is my last week before a week of teacher training, so I'm trying to get as far ahead as I can with planning and reading, as I'm not sure how involved next week will be. I'm kind of hoping that I can get my tank top finished up this week so I can start knitting for my new niece or nephew, but we'll have to see how it goes. Having a very much wanted baby in the family makes me want to throw everything to the wind and spend all my money and time in creating baby things so that the Little Bean will be in no doubt as to how loved they are by their crazy aunt. However, I'm doing my best to temper my enthusiasm as expressed through wool, and have been having a lot of fun planning what I will make. Grow safe and strong dear one--you are already so, so loved.

Acres of blue knitting and lots of ancient Greece

Last week I finished reading Herodotus's The Histories; while it was a lot to get through in a short time, I really enjoyed it. He had some hilarious theories about things, and was a wide eyed wonderer in a world where few people traveled. I'm working on Oresteia at the moment for those who are interested in tracking my progress through the Omnibus I curriculum! Agamemnon and Cassandra are dead; I'm waiting to meet the titular character in "The Libation Bearers."

Most of my knitting has been on the Cityscape tank, or the never ending project. You guessed it--I've reached the stage where I want the product! This past week there was the interesting development of the shaping that shrinks the twisted rib section. Despite the perfectly straightforward manner of this shaping, I managed to have to do a quick 'fix' job to get everything back to where it was supposed to be. Hopefully I'll be done next week! Not like I'm going to run out of summer to wear it in, I just want to feel like I can cast something else on.

I finished and blocked my Star Trek vertebrae; it's so cute! I'm glad I was fussy with the ribbing--I think it adds a nice touch. I can't wait to see the baby it was knit for wearing it!

I finished, wove in the ends, and finally put the pom-pom on the hat out of Roundhouse Alpaca Farm fiber. Neko decided while I was photographing it that it was HIS. He is mistaken; seeing as how I made the hat from scratch (except for the pom-pom!), it is definitely MINE. He's adorable though, isn't he?

Neko isn't used to being a knitter's cat, but I also realize that cats are just honor bound to be involved in any blocking process they can reach. Behold my sophisticated efforts to protect the vertebrae from cat hair-

This Sunday I took a rest day, and sat down to try out the corner-to-corner crochet technique I saw in a class at Yarnia. It was an interesting challenge, but I don't like the texture of the surface enough to probably mess with it again. I keep thinking of this brilliant thing called double knitting... What you can't see is the shag carpet of ends on the backside where I was not great at planning ahead with color carrying. Another reason to go with double knitting!

On the cooking front I had the brain wave to make mini meatloafs- future supers + shorter cooking times. I used the keto recipe I found earlier because I liked it, and I also had all the stuff on hand. Bacon and cheese of course don't hurt the taste either!

Well, I have my third school meeting early tomorrow morning, so I'd better sign off. As a parting shot, I've been enjoying this delightful window display downtown; I'm not sure if I want the octopus or the diving helmet more...

Warmest hat and steady progress

It got cold here in Texas, and I have twice found myself very glad for the amazing warmth provided by my Tronda hat. Despite it's shocking inside (look at how beautifully that lining whip stitched to the ribbing!),

you totally can't see it through the colorworked alpaca. It's hard to take a picture of a hat on your head, but I tried-

Over the last two weeks a few more stripes were put on the blanket for baby Grace, who is due at the end of February. Have to keep on it!

Not pictured because it's not terribly exciting and I'm to lazy to take the picture I forgot to is the second half of the back collar is well underway with my Ink cardigan, and I worked some more on on the Vinovia sock. Still haven't got the heel, but then again I haven't spent too much time on it as it's just complex enough with that traveling cable that I can't do it as theater knitting. I want to make a better sized 'throw in purse' sock bag, as well as one big enough to hold a sweater. The fabric is washed; maybe I'll cut them out tomorrow.

Speaking of theater knitting, I went to go see John Crist a week ago, and while I was laughing to the point of tears I got some work done on the second DVD Christmas sock.

I then took the sock to watch Aquaman--oh the eye candy!--and got a lot more done.

I finally assembled and tried to use my ball winder that I've been saving for my return to the States, but it wasn't working right. A quick Google search, some help from R2D2, and I had it all sorted.

Which meant, I could wind this yarn for a project I'm going to cast on soon as I get this posted! Huzzah for self rescuing princesses!

A final new adventure has been knitting with my own handspun. I've wanted to do the Color Dipped Hat for ages, and this seemed like a forgiving enough pattern. I just reached the part where it will be only the cream from here on out; I love the squish of fisherman's rib, but it does get a little old. Plus, I knit my sister's hat in Fisherman's rib twice over Christmas because of epic gauge error, so it might be a tad soon. That being said, this hat is the softest thing ever, and I'm LOVING it. I can't wait till I'm a bit better of a spinner though...