2008 is drawing to a close, and I can't say I'm sorry to see it go. It's been a tough year for everyone, including me, and I'm looking forward to having it behind us. I know the problems that plague us won't be cured on Jan. 1, or even on Jan. 20, but at last, I think this country is ready to take a different route to solving them. Much was made of Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, but I think much more in terms of the necessity of hope. We haven't had much hope in the last decade, but that's, finally, changing. And it is way overdue. Here's hoping we don't squander it.
I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas. I know the retailers are bemoaning the poor retail sales figures, but that, to me, isn't a signal that Christmas was somehow poorer for it. An interesting sidenote to all the financial doom and gloom was the fact that craft stores were experiencing a large increase in sales this holiday season. People seemed to be taking the plunge into handcrafted items, or in making their own handcrafted items. I think that's wonderful! And while I know that many of the folks plunging into hand crafts this season will drift away once the holiday is over, at least some of them will discover the joy and satisfaction of making things with their own hands and their own creativity. To me, that's a good thing.
Having said that, I have to admit that I didn't make a single thing for Christmas this year. (go ahead, gasp). I did, however, buy some handmade craft items for several people at our annual Harvest Festival. (does that count?). But for my brother, who is VERY difficult to buy for, I opted to give him something he would like, but his wife would never buy for him. (She's German, and frugal (thank God)). So he got an authentic NFL Tony Romo jersey, which he can wear while slavishly watching every Dallas Cowboy game ever played. (Or he can hang on the wall and admire during the offseason.) He's been a Cowboy's fan since he was 8 or so, and now he's 44, so he was due. Thank goodness I was able to find one on discount, though. That shirt retails for $229 -$249 on the official NFL site, and most other retailers. I was appalled that something machine made out of cheap material would cost that much, when handmade items from quality materials so often can't even bring $100 without people complaining. But, I guess you have to figure in the devotion of the NFL fans, which makes them willing to overpay for their toys.
It rained all day on Christmas here. It's the first time I can remember it raining on that day for years and years. I had to laugh, though, when I checked the forecast for the next week. It's cold and overcast, and often raining, until New Year's Day, when it's predicted to be sunny and in the 70s. Never fails, it seems. The one day millions of people will be tuning in to Pasadena, the weather is postcard perfect. All those millions trapped in snow and ice will hate us, just a little, because of that sunny January day. Ah, well. It's better for all those folks riding the floats, anyway.
So, I hope this holiday season finds all of you well and content, that you and your loved ones are safe and warm, and that in this tough time, you've all found the hope you need to carry on.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Fall is here, even if it is in the 80s!
Well, the calendar says fall is here, although our weather doesn't seem to agree. It's been warm most days, with an occasional very hot day thrown in. But, our nights are cooler, and there's even been fog once!
In my head, I must think I live in the East, because I've just been on an Elann shopping trip, and bought a bunch of new yarn. (Not that I don't already have wayyyy too much yarn!) But the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan in Summer Rose was calling my name, as was the Berroco Smart Mohair in Orchid and the Peruvian Highland Chunky in Hyacinth. I also picked up a Debbie Bliss book, Out of Town. It has a cute little cardigan just right for the Astrakhan.
I used to be all about pullovers in my knitting, but lately cardigans are appealing to me. I'm not even sure why. And I still have lots of pullovers in my waiting list, so I haven't given up on them. Maybe it's just that cardigans are more practical, but I'm not sure I believe that, either. So, who knows? Maybe I'll even, some day, get around to knitting socks! I have sock yarn, and sock needles already. Oh, and sock patterns too. It's just the will to knit socks that is missing.
I don't knit in the round(but I can), I don't like tiny needles(but I have used them), I don't knit just to try out some new technique. I knit sweaters I want to wear, or sweaters I want others to wear. And I don't have a lot of time during the school year to knit, so complicated stitching techniques just aren't for me. (When I do have a lot of time, it's in our blazing hot summer, and knitting slides down the list of things I want to do, living in my un-airconditioned apartment). It actually makes sense for me to knit socks during the summer, since they're small and won't make me feel hot with lots of partially complete sweater parts sitting in my lap. Maybe next summer will be my sock summer. Then again, maybe it won't.
I do knit lots of cabled sweaters. To me, that's uncomplicated knitting. I don't know why. The very first sweater I knitted was cabled, and I loved it. Large amounts of stockinette bore me to tears. Seed stitch I love, but large amounts of it put me off. (I'm a thrower). I guess I just don't need mindless knitting, because my free time isn't really free. Either I'm online, in graduate school, or I'm grading papers, or I'm reading for my graduate classes. I can't knit during any of that, so when I do knit, I'm not doing anything else at the same time. I envy people who can sit for long stretches and just knit. I wish I could. I'd be way more productive if I could devote real time to knitting. I keep telling myself that when I retire, I'll knit up a storm. (I keep telling myself that cause my stash keeps growing, and I already have enough stashed to keep me knitting for more years than I have left, most likely. Unless I live to 120 or so.)
But, like clockwork, when fall arrives, I start buying yarn, and planning what to make from it, and actually knitting. I may not knit anything from what I buy when I buy it, but eventually, it will all be used. I hope.
In my head, I must think I live in the East, because I've just been on an Elann shopping trip, and bought a bunch of new yarn. (Not that I don't already have wayyyy too much yarn!) But the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan in Summer Rose was calling my name, as was the Berroco Smart Mohair in Orchid and the Peruvian Highland Chunky in Hyacinth. I also picked up a Debbie Bliss book, Out of Town. It has a cute little cardigan just right for the Astrakhan.
I used to be all about pullovers in my knitting, but lately cardigans are appealing to me. I'm not even sure why. And I still have lots of pullovers in my waiting list, so I haven't given up on them. Maybe it's just that cardigans are more practical, but I'm not sure I believe that, either. So, who knows? Maybe I'll even, some day, get around to knitting socks! I have sock yarn, and sock needles already. Oh, and sock patterns too. It's just the will to knit socks that is missing.
I don't knit in the round(but I can), I don't like tiny needles(but I have used them), I don't knit just to try out some new technique. I knit sweaters I want to wear, or sweaters I want others to wear. And I don't have a lot of time during the school year to knit, so complicated stitching techniques just aren't for me. (When I do have a lot of time, it's in our blazing hot summer, and knitting slides down the list of things I want to do, living in my un-airconditioned apartment). It actually makes sense for me to knit socks during the summer, since they're small and won't make me feel hot with lots of partially complete sweater parts sitting in my lap. Maybe next summer will be my sock summer. Then again, maybe it won't.
I do knit lots of cabled sweaters. To me, that's uncomplicated knitting. I don't know why. The very first sweater I knitted was cabled, and I loved it. Large amounts of stockinette bore me to tears. Seed stitch I love, but large amounts of it put me off. (I'm a thrower). I guess I just don't need mindless knitting, because my free time isn't really free. Either I'm online, in graduate school, or I'm grading papers, or I'm reading for my graduate classes. I can't knit during any of that, so when I do knit, I'm not doing anything else at the same time. I envy people who can sit for long stretches and just knit. I wish I could. I'd be way more productive if I could devote real time to knitting. I keep telling myself that when I retire, I'll knit up a storm. (I keep telling myself that cause my stash keeps growing, and I already have enough stashed to keep me knitting for more years than I have left, most likely. Unless I live to 120 or so.)
But, like clockwork, when fall arrives, I start buying yarn, and planning what to make from it, and actually knitting. I may not knit anything from what I buy when I buy it, but eventually, it will all be used. I hope.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
No, I didn't die!
Okay, so it's been months since I posted anything. I've been busy! And not very knitting inspired. Between running a PTA, working on my MS in Reading and Literacy, and teaching 37 ten-year-olds, I just sort of stumbled through the rest of my overly full days. This summer I just stopped doing anything. No PTA, no teaching, no classes for my Masters. By the time I'd said goodbye to my students last June, I was exhausted. I was literally too exhausted to even read the first week I was off. (This from a woman so totally addicted to reading that she panics when she's down to the next-to-last new book on hand.) I slept, I watched TV (not much, since my attention span was competing with a gnat's for last place), and I did nothing. I don't mean I sat around in a lotus position mediating, but I didn't do anything that required a lot of energy or any brain involvement. It was lovely.
When I'd recovered sufficiently to at least read, I ordered up a lot of books on teaching reading, and teaching in general, (and a few good mysteries) and read those. That took up July, and a bit of August. Then, once August was here, I began thinking of how I was going to change my teaching this year, what I was going to continue doing, and began organizing lesson plans, activities, etc., for my soon-to-be new students. And then, of course, I got back into my classroom to begin getting it ready for those students. This involves some heavy labor, since in my district, they pretend to have really cleaned your room, and think they can fool us into believing it by moving all the filing cabinets, bookshelves, desks, chairs, and whatever else is in the room into the center of the room and leaving it all there. Naturally, there's no one to help move it all back to where it belongs except me. And full filing cabinets are not easy to move!
There's something profoundly satisfying and hopeful about setting up my classroom. I don't really know who my students will be, since the list we get at the end of the year mysteriously changes over the summer. But I enjoy rearranging my classroom, trying out new arrangements, revisiting old ones. Clearing out my files. Reorganizing my library. Designing and putting up new bulletin boards, and planning for their replacements. Preparing the new lessons, revisiting old ones, bringing my vision of the new year to life.
And then there's the rush of the first few days of school, of meeting and getting to know the 35 students you'll spend the next 10 months with, teaching them and learning from them, as I hope they will do as well. September is my insanity month, when I get consumed by the tasks at hand. The assessments, the scheduling, the scheduling mix-ups, the idiocy that is our principal (scheduling 130 students for pictures in a 5 minute window? Oh, well, since it's taking longer, you teachers will just have to shorten your lunch period so I can do this.)
At any rate, school has started, I've survived the first 2+ weeks, and all's well. My own classes don't start for another two weeks, which is nice. I've been surprised, really, at how much of my Reading and Literacy degree involves classes that don't really have anything to do with reading or literacy, but it's been an interesting year, nonetheless. Now, if they would just alter their calendar a little bit, so that their ending dates didn't coincide exactly with the grading dates for my school!
I haven't even really kept up with my favorite blogs, which I've sort of made an inroad on this weekend. But I have been knitting, the last few weeks. A few UFOs were found and transformed into FOs. A few are still in the process of becoming FOs. I did make one new item, but it will never be an FO. A lovely little vest that worked up perfectly, except for the finishing band. No matter what I did, it just turned out ugly. Pick up exactly the number of stitches specified, it's too loose. Pick up a few less, it pulls. There was no happy medium. It's partially frogged as of now. At present, I'm working on finishing the sleeves and doing the button band/collar for a cardigan, and finally sewing up a cute vest I made with Rowan's Big Wool last year. It's been sitting in a transparent bag, in pieces, to reproach me, and I finally succumbed today.
So that's it. I am alive and well, just still, and always, busy.
When I'd recovered sufficiently to at least read, I ordered up a lot of books on teaching reading, and teaching in general, (and a few good mysteries) and read those. That took up July, and a bit of August. Then, once August was here, I began thinking of how I was going to change my teaching this year, what I was going to continue doing, and began organizing lesson plans, activities, etc., for my soon-to-be new students. And then, of course, I got back into my classroom to begin getting it ready for those students. This involves some heavy labor, since in my district, they pretend to have really cleaned your room, and think they can fool us into believing it by moving all the filing cabinets, bookshelves, desks, chairs, and whatever else is in the room into the center of the room and leaving it all there. Naturally, there's no one to help move it all back to where it belongs except me. And full filing cabinets are not easy to move!
There's something profoundly satisfying and hopeful about setting up my classroom. I don't really know who my students will be, since the list we get at the end of the year mysteriously changes over the summer. But I enjoy rearranging my classroom, trying out new arrangements, revisiting old ones. Clearing out my files. Reorganizing my library. Designing and putting up new bulletin boards, and planning for their replacements. Preparing the new lessons, revisiting old ones, bringing my vision of the new year to life.
And then there's the rush of the first few days of school, of meeting and getting to know the 35 students you'll spend the next 10 months with, teaching them and learning from them, as I hope they will do as well. September is my insanity month, when I get consumed by the tasks at hand. The assessments, the scheduling, the scheduling mix-ups, the idiocy that is our principal (scheduling 130 students for pictures in a 5 minute window? Oh, well, since it's taking longer, you teachers will just have to shorten your lunch period so I can do this.)
At any rate, school has started, I've survived the first 2+ weeks, and all's well. My own classes don't start for another two weeks, which is nice. I've been surprised, really, at how much of my Reading and Literacy degree involves classes that don't really have anything to do with reading or literacy, but it's been an interesting year, nonetheless. Now, if they would just alter their calendar a little bit, so that their ending dates didn't coincide exactly with the grading dates for my school!
I haven't even really kept up with my favorite blogs, which I've sort of made an inroad on this weekend. But I have been knitting, the last few weeks. A few UFOs were found and transformed into FOs. A few are still in the process of becoming FOs. I did make one new item, but it will never be an FO. A lovely little vest that worked up perfectly, except for the finishing band. No matter what I did, it just turned out ugly. Pick up exactly the number of stitches specified, it's too loose. Pick up a few less, it pulls. There was no happy medium. It's partially frogged as of now. At present, I'm working on finishing the sleeves and doing the button band/collar for a cardigan, and finally sewing up a cute vest I made with Rowan's Big Wool last year. It's been sitting in a transparent bag, in pieces, to reproach me, and I finally succumbed today.
So that's it. I am alive and well, just still, and always, busy.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
I'm feeling better!
The antibiotics have done their job, and I'm officially over my bout with pneumonia. My doctor is still telling me to take it easy, but he and I both think the worst is over (finally!)
I got some good news at work this week ~ I was selected Teacher of the Year for my school! I am both honored and excited to be chosen (even if it does mean more work, writing essays, doing an interview, etc.) This is part of the National Teacher of the Year, but I'm not counting on that. I'm not even counting on becoming my own district's Teacher of the Year LOL
On the knitting front, well, there's nothing new. I have basically been going to work, coming home, and collapsing. I haven't had the energy to knit in weeks and weeks, and I don't even have the energy to choose a new project right now.
Both my graduate courses and report cards are due next Friday, so the coming week is going to be very hectic, as I write my final papers for my grad courses, and report cards for my students (now numbering 37, due to a new boy who arrived Thursday). I kind of doubt I'll find either the energy or the time to do any knitting until after all this. At least I get a couple of weeks off grad school after the 14th!
I got some good news at work this week ~ I was selected Teacher of the Year for my school! I am both honored and excited to be chosen (even if it does mean more work, writing essays, doing an interview, etc.) This is part of the National Teacher of the Year, but I'm not counting on that. I'm not even counting on becoming my own district's Teacher of the Year LOL
On the knitting front, well, there's nothing new. I have basically been going to work, coming home, and collapsing. I haven't had the energy to knit in weeks and weeks, and I don't even have the energy to choose a new project right now.
Both my graduate courses and report cards are due next Friday, so the coming week is going to be very hectic, as I write my final papers for my grad courses, and report cards for my students (now numbering 37, due to a new boy who arrived Thursday). I kind of doubt I'll find either the energy or the time to do any knitting until after all this. At least I get a couple of weeks off grad school after the 14th!
Friday, February 8, 2008
I'm alive, but not very well
I apologize to everyone for not posting for so long. I've been down with pneumonia, and I'm just now slowly recovering. I had to spend a couple of days in the hospital, and miss a week from work (and my school, too). I haven't gotten anything accomplished in ages.
To my swap buddy, I need to apologize for not getting your package in the mail on time. I've just been too ill to do anything about it. I'll try to finish the package this weekend, and mail it on Tuesday, but it really depends on how well I feel (which isn't wonderful, yet).
I obviously haven't been knitting at all, either. Between the illness and the meds to cure said illness, I've just been a zombie for the most part. So, apologies to all, and hopefully I'll be back to posting regularly soon.
To my swap buddy, I need to apologize for not getting your package in the mail on time. I've just been too ill to do anything about it. I'll try to finish the package this weekend, and mail it on Tuesday, but it really depends on how well I feel (which isn't wonderful, yet).
I obviously haven't been knitting at all, either. Between the illness and the meds to cure said illness, I've just been a zombie for the most part. So, apologies to all, and hopefully I'll be back to posting regularly soon.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
And the Winner is....
It's been a rough two weeks, and last night was the worst. The wind kicked up here, and first, ripped my bedroom window off its track, so it had to stay wide open all night (and all day today until I could get home to crawl up on my dresser, remove the screen, strong arm the window arm back onto/into its holder, and finally (Yes!) crank it closed). Next, the open window let enough of the gale force wind in to knock over a large container holding my jewelry, scattering it all over my bedroom. While I was on my hands and knees, gathering up the scattered jewelry (and fending off my cat, who was fascinated by all the small shiny objects), the power went off. And stayed off. All night. So there I sat, in the dark, in the cold (my one and only wall heater is in a boxed in hallway, with 4 rooms, 2 doorless, opening off it. Needless to say, it doesn't heat anything much), afraid to go to sleep for fear I'd oversleep, waiting for the power to come back on. It didn't. I got to put on my make-up in my car this morning, and couldn't do much more than brush my hair (which normally desperately needs blowdrying into shape.) Sleepless, frozen, wild hair and sketchy makeup, I made it to work on time, much the worse for wear.
I didn't get to put all the names into a bowl until today, but I did finally get that done. (I'm behind on several other things, too, thanks to last night.) And so, congratulations go to Grace! She's the winner of all 5 skeins of Araucania Atacama alpaca yarn, and given how many wonderful shawls she has knit, I'm sure she'll put this to beautiful use, too. So, Grace, send me your address, and I'll get this off to you as soon as I can.
I didn't get to put all the names into a bowl until today, but I did finally get that done. (I'm behind on several other things, too, thanks to last night.) And so, congratulations go to Grace! She's the winner of all 5 skeins of Araucania Atacama alpaca yarn, and given how many wonderful shawls she has knit, I'm sure she'll put this to beautiful use, too. So, Grace, send me your address, and I'll get this off to you as soon as I can.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Picture for the Atacama
Okay, I cheated. Kmkat left a comment that reminded me that Ravelry is a great resource, so I jumped over there and found this picture of Araucania Atacama #514, which is what I have 5 skeins of. It's still gloomy here, so this is a godsend. (and bad me, I don't remember whose picture this is, so my apologies to the photographer.)
So, just imagine these plus two more skeins of this beautiful, soft yarn and that's the prize for my Blogiversy contest. It's not too late to enter!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
No pics today ~ can we say "gloom'?
It's pouring again today, and it's as dark as all get out, here. I don't even want to get dressed up to go out shopping, which I need to do. Instead, I'm sitting here figuring out ways I can avoid that. I don't need to drink coffee, right? Eating? Well, maybe tomorrow. It's just that yucky out.
I ordered Sweater Wizard v3 a few days ago, and it arrived yesterday. It isn't everything I wanted, but I'm still exploring it, so that may not be true. I'll need to play around with it a lot more. Lion Brand is also advertising their new knitting software (even though it's out of stock, presently), and there's a thread on Elann about it, asking if anyone knows anything about it. It's a lot cheaper than Sweater Wizard, even without the 30% discount. And it may have more bells and whistles, but it's hard to tell without buying it and trying it. Does anyone really need two knitting programs?
KnitDad uses SW a lot, so I'm thinking I'll be asking him how to get it to do what I want it to if I can't figure it out myself. For the basics, it really is simple. Plug in a gauge, tell it what needles you're using, tell it the basic shape you want, and presto! There's your pattern, with all the math worked out for you. I like that part. I just want to tweak it, of course.
Tomorrow is my "return to reality", and I have to admit I'm not looking forward to it. I mean, I love my kids, but I have also loved being off work and off graduate school for the past two weeks. Even with the holidays, it's been a relaxing break from the frenetic pace my life is. I didn't get done with everything I wanted, but that's okay. I gave myself permission to not set any absolute goals for myself during this time. I have too many of those all the rest of the time.
I've been accepted for Grace's MiniSwap, for those of us who didn't make it into the original CocoaSwap. I don't know who my partner is yet, but I'm excited about participating in this. It's my first swap, ever! And it's chocolate! (That's a food group, right?) I'll let you know how it goes. It's only a one-month swap, one package, so I think that's manageable, even for me.
Don't forget, there's still plenty of time to enter my Blogiversary Contest. It doesn't close until 1/15, so leave me a comment about your favorite knit, and why, and you'll be in the running for some deliciously soft alpaca.
I ordered Sweater Wizard v3 a few days ago, and it arrived yesterday. It isn't everything I wanted, but I'm still exploring it, so that may not be true. I'll need to play around with it a lot more. Lion Brand is also advertising their new knitting software (even though it's out of stock, presently), and there's a thread on Elann about it, asking if anyone knows anything about it. It's a lot cheaper than Sweater Wizard, even without the 30% discount. And it may have more bells and whistles, but it's hard to tell without buying it and trying it. Does anyone really need two knitting programs?
KnitDad uses SW a lot, so I'm thinking I'll be asking him how to get it to do what I want it to if I can't figure it out myself. For the basics, it really is simple. Plug in a gauge, tell it what needles you're using, tell it the basic shape you want, and presto! There's your pattern, with all the math worked out for you. I like that part. I just want to tweak it, of course.
Tomorrow is my "return to reality", and I have to admit I'm not looking forward to it. I mean, I love my kids, but I have also loved being off work and off graduate school for the past two weeks. Even with the holidays, it's been a relaxing break from the frenetic pace my life is. I didn't get done with everything I wanted, but that's okay. I gave myself permission to not set any absolute goals for myself during this time. I have too many of those all the rest of the time.
I've been accepted for Grace's MiniSwap, for those of us who didn't make it into the original CocoaSwap. I don't know who my partner is yet, but I'm excited about participating in this. It's my first swap, ever! And it's chocolate! (That's a food group, right?) I'll let you know how it goes. It's only a one-month swap, one package, so I think that's manageable, even for me.
Don't forget, there's still plenty of time to enter my Blogiversary Contest. It doesn't close until 1/15, so leave me a comment about your favorite knit, and why, and you'll be in the running for some deliciously soft alpaca.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
An Anniversary, and a Contest!
It just occurred to me that my one year blog anniversary is coming up soon. I had to go look to be sure, but my first post was on Jan. 15, 2007. I can't believe I've been posting that long, to be honest. And I haven't posted that often. I mean, 40 posts? Heh. So, it's a good thing I've sort of promised myself to post more often. I won't be joining the Blog365 group, because there's just no way I could find enough time or content to do that, but I will try posting at least once a week.
So, in honor of my 1st anniversary, and in the interests of reducing my stash some way, I've decided to have a contest, with yarny goodness as a prize. I have 5 skeins of Araucania's Atacama Alpaca yarn, in a turqoise/blue/black/brown colorway (514) that, while I love, I will probably never knit up, so it's going to go to a good home. It's 110 yards/50g, and knits at 18 sts to 4 inches on 7s. Enough for a vest, maybe? I'll take a picture of it as soon as I buy new batteries for my camera, tomorrow or Monday, and post it then. In the meantime, to enter, simply leave me a comment between now and midnight on the15th, telling me what your favorite knit has been, and why. I'll put all the names into a hat (well, something) and draw the winner on the 17th. Easy, right? And it really is beautiful yarn. For some reason, Blogger won't let me start a new line (enter doesn't seem to work), so maybe it's time to end this post. I can read the writing on the keyboard LOL
So, in honor of my 1st anniversary, and in the interests of reducing my stash some way, I've decided to have a contest, with yarny goodness as a prize. I have 5 skeins of Araucania's Atacama Alpaca yarn, in a turqoise/blue/black/brown colorway (514) that, while I love, I will probably never knit up, so it's going to go to a good home. It's 110 yards/50g, and knits at 18 sts to 4 inches on 7s. Enough for a vest, maybe? I'll take a picture of it as soon as I buy new batteries for my camera, tomorrow or Monday, and post it then. In the meantime, to enter, simply leave me a comment between now and midnight on the15th, telling me what your favorite knit has been, and why. I'll put all the names into a hat (well, something) and draw the winner on the 17th. Easy, right? And it really is beautiful yarn. For some reason, Blogger won't let me start a new line (enter doesn't seem to work), so maybe it's time to end this post. I can read the writing on the keyboard LOL
Friday, January 4, 2008
No Progress to Report
One other aspiration I would like to pursue in 2008 is to post more regularly, and to (finally) post pictures of my WIPs and FOs. Of course, I'd have to actually have those to post pictures of them, right? And right now, I don't. I still haven't decided on what I want to knit now. I've cast on and frogged several yarns and patterns, but none of them have been IT, so I'm still searching.
I go back to work on Monday, and my Master's classes begin the same day. I didn't have access to those until today, so I printed out the syllabi today, and began the reading required. I only have about half the books required, since my order hasn't arrived yet from the college bookstore. (My Amazon order for the other half got here in two days. Yay, Amazon!). This program is supposed to be for working teachers, but the way they assign the reading and the assignments, you'd never know it. I know it's valuable, and I am learning something from it, but keeping up with it all is an extreme challenge. I'm taking 7 units per quarter, 2 classes, because I don't want to spend years doing this, but I may have to reconsider, if the pace doesn't let up a bit.
I'm about this -------- much closer to knitting a sock. I have the yarn (more than one choice, even) and the needles (well, if I don't have to use 1s or 0s, I do), so all I lack is sufficient motivation to cast on. I think I'm just in yet another funk. Nothing seems to be what I want to knit, not just socks. And I think I even feel a bit of pressure, knowing that my free time is about to take a nose dive again, beginning Monday, and not letting up until the end of March (and then only for a week or so, given that conferences and report cards happen right after my Master's classes end.)
A bright spot for me, though, has been my winning two (yes, two!) contests on other blogs. Well, I won one, Sharon's "Name My Dummy" contest, and on the other, I came closest but was over by 1, so Sandra decided to reward me, too! I can't wait to get my goodies, and I promise I'll post pictures of both of them as I get them. Promise! (Even if the light around here sucks, especially right now, given the deluge (rain) we're having).
I'm also considering joining a swap that another Elannite mentioned. I read about it on Grace's blog, and it sounds doable. It also means I would have to blog regularly, since that's a requirement for it. Maybe that's a good idea? I'll have to decide soon, but I'm leaning that way. It would be my first swap, if I get accepted. Any thoughts?
I go back to work on Monday, and my Master's classes begin the same day. I didn't have access to those until today, so I printed out the syllabi today, and began the reading required. I only have about half the books required, since my order hasn't arrived yet from the college bookstore. (My Amazon order for the other half got here in two days. Yay, Amazon!). This program is supposed to be for working teachers, but the way they assign the reading and the assignments, you'd never know it. I know it's valuable, and I am learning something from it, but keeping up with it all is an extreme challenge. I'm taking 7 units per quarter, 2 classes, because I don't want to spend years doing this, but I may have to reconsider, if the pace doesn't let up a bit.
I'm about this -------- much closer to knitting a sock. I have the yarn (more than one choice, even) and the needles (well, if I don't have to use 1s or 0s, I do), so all I lack is sufficient motivation to cast on. I think I'm just in yet another funk. Nothing seems to be what I want to knit, not just socks. And I think I even feel a bit of pressure, knowing that my free time is about to take a nose dive again, beginning Monday, and not letting up until the end of March (and then only for a week or so, given that conferences and report cards happen right after my Master's classes end.)
A bright spot for me, though, has been my winning two (yes, two!) contests on other blogs. Well, I won one, Sharon's "Name My Dummy" contest, and on the other, I came closest but was over by 1, so Sandra decided to reward me, too! I can't wait to get my goodies, and I promise I'll post pictures of both of them as I get them. Promise! (Even if the light around here sucks, especially right now, given the deluge (rain) we're having).
I'm also considering joining a swap that another Elannite mentioned. I read about it on Grace's blog, and it sounds doable. It also means I would have to blog regularly, since that's a requirement for it. Maybe that's a good idea? I'll have to decide soon, but I'm leaning that way. It would be my first swap, if I get accepted. Any thoughts?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
What to Knit
I literally have no idea what I want to knit. I know I do want to knit, but not what I want to knit. I haven't gotten the yarns I ordered from Webs, yet (I know, I know, I just ordered it last week), so I can't start the girl's dress. I haven't found a pattern I like for my Lang Venezia, either. So, I have the entire world of my stash to consider, and I think I'm on overload. My stash has way too many possibilities in it for me. I can't decide if I want to do something challenging, or something simple and quick to knit.
My new classes for my Master's start the same day I go back to work teaching, which is next Monday. Once that happens, I won't have much free time, between lesson planning, grading papers, reading course materials, writing the assignments, etc. Oh, and PTA work, since I'm still the president of that. What little free time I will have has to be divided between reading (not professional books) and knitting.
So, perhaps something quick, now, before I lose most of my knitting time. If I can find a pattern I like. In yarn I like (and have). Or maybe I'll just pick a yarn I like, pick up my BW, and make a pair of (modified) rectangles using a new lace stitch or cable pattern. Just seam up the sides, do a quick neckline of some kind, and voila, something to wear over a plain blouse. Something that will keep me a bit warmer in my almost Arctic classroom. Decisions, decisions.
My new classes for my Master's start the same day I go back to work teaching, which is next Monday. Once that happens, I won't have much free time, between lesson planning, grading papers, reading course materials, writing the assignments, etc. Oh, and PTA work, since I'm still the president of that. What little free time I will have has to be divided between reading (not professional books) and knitting.
So, perhaps something quick, now, before I lose most of my knitting time. If I can find a pattern I like. In yarn I like (and have). Or maybe I'll just pick a yarn I like, pick up my BW, and make a pair of (modified) rectangles using a new lace stitch or cable pattern. Just seam up the sides, do a quick neckline of some kind, and voila, something to wear over a plain blouse. Something that will keep me a bit warmer in my almost Arctic classroom. Decisions, decisions.
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