Even if things get heavy we'll all float on

I got tagged by Helena for seven things about me, but I've actually already done that one. No worries, I've decided to change it to 7 Exciting Things That Make Me Smile. As things continue to go well over here at Chéz Griffin, I don't think this will be all that hard. Let's see:

1. Yesterday I got my invite to Ravelry , and I just can't stop playing around with it. I think I'm going to end up with carpal tunnel syndrome from all of the computer time I'm logging these days. I hope I don't have to take a knitting break due to sore wrists. Today I realized I have a message box over there and inside it was a hello from Eleanor ! She's now my first Ravelry friend - yay!

2. There are less than 20 days of school left. While I'll miss my school, I'm so happy to be moving on. These last few weeks will be really tough, knowing the excitement of what's coming next!

3. I have had some yucky dentist issues of late, and after three Wednesdays in a row of getting all novacained-up and having work done, I am now dentist free for the next six months! Yay!

4. I'm still in the midst of packing up my entire apartment. So far I have 13 full boxes, 2 extra thick trash bags, and 1 very large suitcase all set to go. In addition, I have 4 1/2 bags of clothing/shoes to donate to charity, 2 bags of books that are ready to move on (used bookstores and library donations), 1 bag of books to go back to school, and approximately 6 bags of apartment trash. It's coming along, but there's a lot left to do. The thing that makes me smile about it is the fact that I finally have a good reason to get rid of stuff. I've been in this apartment for 3 years now, and that's a new record for me. I've accumulated quite a bit of crap in that time, and it's time to say goodbye to a lot of it.

5. Hehe, Socks that Rock yarn is abundant in my stash. After starting in on cataloguing my stash for Ravelry, I've realized that I have nine unused skeins of the stuff. Yum! Much of that is due to the recent acquisition seen below:



Then of course there is the April sock club yarn:




6. I'm going to Harvard!

7. I'm going to Harvard!

Ok, I cheated at the end there, but that was a lot of things, don't you think? I think I did pretty good. Plus, Harvard counts for AT LEAST two, if not three or four, on a list of things that make me happy.



Previous Title: Dave Matthews Band, "Monkey Man"

The lucky one's going to get it all

I'm glad you all liked the baby bear sweater as much as I do! Baby Griffin will definately be getting one of those. In addition, I've been frogging some old items and have consequently added to my stash. I have about 6 skeins of this yummy Sirdar Snuggly Domino.



It's clearly designated for Baby G, but what will it become? I have this pattern for it, but I'm not sure how I'll like it in this colorway. Still thinking on that one . . .

There's also some pink cotton yarn that I think is Classic Elite Premiere and some light blue cotton (maybe Tahki Cotton Classic?) for when the baby is actually born. Although both may become sweaters for my friends' twins.

Talk about planning ahead on projects! Sheesh! I better speed up on my current projects. The Dollar and a Half cardi is about 70¢ along, and my bandwagon scarf (can you guess which one?) is about halfway there. Pics of both coming soon.


Previous title: The Beatles, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

With a couple of kids running in the yard . . .

News! I have news! My brother and his wife are going to have a baby! Courtney's due in November. They've decided to wait it out and let the sex of the baby be a surprise, which is great for them, but kind of sucky for an anxious and over-excited knitter. Still, I think the idea of letting it be a surprise is kinda cool too. So, who's got suggestions on their favorite gender-less baby patterns? I'm thinking this is the perfect excuse for the Debbie Bliss teddy bear cardigan that I have always loved.



Also, I have a collection of rainbow colored leftovers of Tahki Cotton Classic - maybe a cute baby item? All ideas are much appreciated.

Before I say goodbye for today I also want to thank both Johanna and Helena for their really sweet words of encouragement and support. I'm still working on staying cheery, but lately things are good.


Previous title: Our Lady Peace, "Innocent"

I remember feeling low

Hello there. It's been a long while. Since the last post, so much has happened in my life - almost all of it has been good news. But the thing is, I've been in a bit of a slump lately. I don't know why or what it's all been about, but I just haven't been able to shake the feeling. It feels stupid and selfish given all that's been going right for me lately and yet I can't seem to get over myself and just be happy. I think maybe I'm not used to feeling like things are going my way and that idea kinda scares the shit out of me. It's not like things have ever been particularly difficult in comparison to what most people's lives are like, and it's certianly not like I have any right to compain. But for a long time now, that's just the way I've been feeling. Maybe I'm waiting for the bottom to fall out (is that even the right metaphor?). I've certainly been having my share of nightmares of things going wrong. There was one about finding out that my apartment didn't go through because they wanted a $30,000 security deposit that I wasn't willing to give. Sure, it could happen. Even more believable is the one about the tadpoles that we were caring for in my classroom. I walked in and they had sprouted wings and were flying around the room. Clearly possible. My personal favorite and most recent is a dream about showing up at Harvard and finding out that they never got my response to accept the offer of admission. I swear no drugs have been involved in creating this dreams.

At any rate, and perhaps most importantly, today things have been different. It was a beautiful sunny day, not too hot and not too cold. The sky was one of those Magritte paintings with the white fluffly clouds against a soft blue background - I love when the clouds do that. I left school happy today. I went to Whole Foods for some groceries - still happy, and I HATE going grocery shopping. I got home and finally did some packing. I can't tell you how long I've been trying to make some progress in packing my apartment, but today I feel like I finally did. I made a solid effort in the bedroom (that sounds so dirty) and packed up a good portion of the closets as well as a bureau. I even got rid of four trash bags of unused stuff (three for donations and one real trash). Pretty good, no?

For the life of me, I'm still not 100% sure of what's been up with me lately but I'm glad things seem to be turning around. I'll try to keep on looking for that silver lining.


Previous title: Death Cab for Cutie, "Soul Meets Body"

A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere

I'm off to Paris on Friday for April vacation (a perk of being a Massachusetts teacher), so this will likely be my last post until I get back. I was puzzling over what to leave you with while I was driving home from work today and listening to my new iPod playlist when BAM it hit me. How about my new iPod playlist? In anticipation of an 8 hour flight, I figured some new tunes were in order. Here's what I'm listening to these days:

1. Hurricane - Bob Dylan
No real reason. I downloaded this one a while ago and never listen to it because it's not on any of my other playlists, so I stuck it first in line.

2. Memory (Acoustic) - Sugar Cult

3. Soul Meets Body - Death Cab for Cutie

4. Better Than - John Butler Trio
I just love this song. It makes me smiley and happy.

5. Sell the Lie - The Damnwells

6. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
I thought I had outgrown Snow Patrol, but this song gets better each time I listen to it.

7. Suddnely I See - KT Tunstall

8. Face Down - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

9. Juicy - Better Than Ezra
Now that I've realized this song is in the latest Chili's commercial (I think it's Chili's anyway), it's a bit less appealing. Not quite ready to take it off the list yet, however.

10. It Don't Matter - Donovan Frankenreiter

11. Three More Days - Ray LaMontagne

12. Draive Away - Matt Perrone

13. She's Gonna Rise - Citizen Cope & Santana
This song is me in so many ways that I just can't even begin to explain here. It just seems to fit in my life in so many ways lately, particularly the chorus.

14. Hang Me Up to Dry - Cold War Kids

15. The Way We Get By - Spoon

16. Moment - Gran Bel Fisher

17. The Guy That Says Goodbye to You - Griffin House
An inkling of country, which I generally can't listen to, but this song is fabulous.

18. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
I was done with this one for a while, but now that it's not so overplayed I kinda like it again.

19. The Dark of the Matinee - Franz Ferdinand

20. Let Me Go - Sonya Kitchell

21. Work It Out - Jurassic 5 featuring Dave Matthews Band
So very un-DMB that I just really dig it.

22. Nothing Left to Lose - Matt Kearney

23. I Know I'm Not Alone - Michael Franti & Spearhead

24. Smile - Lily Allen

25. For Us - Pete Yorn

26. Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
Another warm fuzzy song for me.

27. Face Down (Acoustic) - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
After making this mix, I realized this song is on it twice. Oops! I really like both versions and can't decide which to get rid of, so I figured that there is room enough for both. I mean, really, the playlist is almost two hours long, so I can deal with hearing a song more than once.

28. Fidelity - Regina Spektor

29. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
I wonder when I last made a mix that DIDN'T have a Jack White song on it.

30. Mad World - Michael Andrews & Gary Jules
Bonus points if you know who did the original. Googling is totally cheating.

Those who really pay attention will find today's post title in one of the above.

So know that you know all of my recent musical purchases, I'm wondering what you are listening to these days. Care to share? I'm always looking for something new.


Previous Title: Dave Matthews Band, "What Would You Say?"

Mom, it's my birthday

Well, it's my blogiversary anyway. My birthday was last weekend. So, a year later. I guess things are very different now than they were a year ago. I'm leaving my job and going back to school. Moving to the other side of the river. Hmm. That's all I can think of that's different. Big things though, don't you think?

At any rate, I've been quiet here for a while, so I have quite a few things to show you. How about a few pairs of socks to celebrate the occasion?

First, up, a finally finished pair of Jaywalkers. The first sock predates this blog, maybe by as much as a year.



Specs: Jaywalker Socks from Magknits - is a link really necessary at this point?
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in Jeans colorway
Pattern Notes: Seriously folks? They're Jaywalkers. I don't think I need to expand on that. I would like to mention, however, that if you decide to knit one sock and then wait a year and a half to knit the second, take copious notes people. Really it's the needle size I'm talking about. I guess there is a huge difference in gauge between knitting with dpns and knitting with two circular needles. I restarted the second sock three times before I got the right gauge. Maybe that's not so much of a "taking notes" problem as it is a "don't be a dumbass" problem. Probably should have realized what was going on much quicker than I did. At any rate, stick a fork in these bad boys, because they are FINALLY done.

Up next, my Mad Cow socks from Sock Madness. It really didn't take me this long to complete them, I just fell off the edge of the Earth for a little while, like say the past month. I finished them a few days after the masses did. Considering how late I started this race, I'd say that's pretty good.



Specs: Mad Cow socks from Sock Madness
Needles: US 1 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Koigu KPM in brown (number anyone?) and KPPM in pinkish (P30857)
Pattern Notes: A fun pattern, but I'm not sure what went on with the heels. I ended up with these horrible little holes by the heel gussets. Not sure if it's a pattern flaw or my own knitting problem. At any rate, a little extra sewing up and they have been fixed. No one will ever know. Unless they read this.


I'm so sure there's another pair of finished socks you haven't seen, but until I can figure out what they are, you'll just have to wait on those ones. In the meantme, here's the latest project:



Yes, it's the Dollar and a Half Cardigan (all 31¢ that I've done so far) from the Spring 2007 Interweave. Maybe if it stops snowing in Boston I will one day get to wear it. Don't feel to badly for us up here braving the cold. It hasn't snowed since yesterday.

To sum up this post: Yay blogiversary! Yay finished Jaywalkers and Mad Cows! Boo snow!


Previous title: Weezer, "Buddy Holly"

What's a matter babe, are you feelin' sick?

Ick. I've been pretending not to be sick since about Friday, but it finally caught up with me on Monday afternoon. I've been out sick for two days now and, let me tell you, daytime tv is highly overrated. On the plus side, this sore throat/general ickiness has allowed me some knitting time.

Well, Johanna asked for it, so you can blame her when you are suddenly overwhelmed by the number of active projects I've got going right now.



Here you see a few items resued from the UFO list. At the top, we have the Union Square Market Pullover from Interweave Knits Fall 2005. And that's about when I started it and almost finished it. It popped out of the drawer a few weeks ago to FINALLY get sewn up, when I realized that one of the sleeves had a problem, so now I'm reknitting the shoulder part of the left sleeve. One day it will be done. Oh yes, it will be done. (Channeling Mike Myers there - quick, what movie was that from?)

The pretty purple number seen above is the Frieda sweater, which I don't think ever literally made it onto the UFO list, but which has spent a few months in the drawer of knitting death. I did the body and neck, then got scared to mess up the sleeves. The original pattern continues with the cable along the sleeves, but it makes for poofy shoulders, and I'm just not into that. Plain jane stockinette for this knitter! I have finally started the first sleeve. It's about half way done at this point. Hopefully it will be a success, because I'm not sure this sweater will survive another trip to the drawer of death.

Finally, you may have spotted a pair of Jaywalkers in the pile up there. These are Lorna's Laces in Denim. I love them, but I think I just got tired of the pattern. Now, a year (or maybe 2) later and my gauge is totally different so the striping looks different. I've ripped and reknit the beginning of the second sock three times in the past month. Now that I've finally gotten as close as I'm going to get on matching the gauge of the first sock, I'm no longer interested. Probably because it requires DPNs and I've long outgrown that phase of my sock-knitting career. Eventually I'll finish them, but the race is on as to which of the three knitted items in the photo above will be finished first. It's anybody's guess at this point. Care to make a wager on it?

What's that? Three WIPs not quite enough for you? Here's one more:




I've started Crumpets for my "niece." Well, she's not really my niece, but I'm her Auntie Rachel, so she gets to be called by niece, at least for now. I love the look of it, but a baby dress on size 1 needles is no picnic and I can't work that long on it before my wrists protest. I've changed up the pattern a bit, which is causing the problem. I love the look of the dress, but I hate that it calls for a thick yarn. It's just not right for a summer dress for a baby. So I've substituted Dalegarn's Stork for Lion Brand Cotton Ease. I'm following the pattern for the biggest size in order to actually get a size for a 6 month old. It's really an adorable dress!

And yes, there is actually a fifth item on my needles. I couldn't help it and I knit the toe of my first Rockin' Sock Club sock, but now I need new needles for the rest. It calls for size 0s for the foot part, and given the way I manhandled my needles to do the toe on size 1s, I just don't think I want to subject my wooden size 0s to that kind of abuse. They would never survive that beating. No pics of this one since it's just not far enough along for a photoshoot.

I'm also a part of Sock Madness (details coming soon). The first round of this March Madness knit-athon starts this weekend, so I guess that'll make a sixth item on my needles. Of course, I'm away for a wedding this weekend, so I'll be starting about 48 hours behind the other knitters. Wish me luck in surviving this one!



Previous title: Say Anything, "Wow, I Can Be Sexual Too"

Know that you'll be my downfall

I've been stalking the mailbox again. Lurking around the corner, just waiting for that package to arrive . . .

Okay, so I do have more of a life than literally standing at the mailbox, waiting. But I have been just DYING for this package to come. Well all I can say is, it was worth it! My Rockin' Sock Club kit finally arrived. I hate to spoil the fun for anyone wanting to be surprised, so if you want to see the kit, just click here. I know, I know, I'm making you work for it today.

Let me just tell you that I am totally in love with Socks that Rock yarn and it is so hard not to go online and order some more right this second with my new 10% off coupon (thank goodness for silly bank errors). It's also so hard to continue with all of the other projects that I have on the needles. I just want to rip into my new skein of sock yarn and get going (no worries, I will rip gently into it). I really swore that I was going to finish at least one project before starting this new one, but I can't stop myself. Socks that Rock is clearly my downfall.

Oh yeah, and thanks for all of the sweet words about Harvard. It still hasn't really sunk in yet, but it's getting there. I'm planning to move to Harvard Square over the summer, and I'm just beginning to think about that change, so clearly I'm not yet quite able to wrap my head around being a student again and doing it at this school in particular.



Previous title: Counting Crows, "Hangin' Around"

I been bummin' around this old town too long

Apparently someone else thinks so too, because guess where I'm going in September! I am so beside myself right now I can't even handle it. I don't think I'll sleep for a week from all the excitement!

Can you believe it?

HARVARD!

More knitting content when my hands stop shaking.



Previous Title: Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams"

Sweet dreams are made of these

I've been stalking the mailbox lately, and today it came to much success! My Dirty Knitter Swap package arrived, and man did I make out well! Linda really spoiled me rotten. Check out what I saw when I opened the box:



And look at all the packages inside:



Unwrapped:



Up above you can see two yummy drink recipes, one for a Chocolate Mint Martini and one for a Chocolate-Covered Cherry Martini (off to the liquor store I go!). In the middle row you can see a Molten Chocolate Lava Cake mix, chocolate rimming sugar, and a heart-shaped zipsack (a little bag with a tote bag inside). In the bottom row are some chocolate swizzle sticks. Oh yeah, and the yarn! Cherry Tree Hill (my fave) supersock in Earth and Lang Silkdream in color 22 (yummy chocolate brown).

I love everything! Thanks again Linda, you are by far the best.



Previous title: Turin Brakes, "Painkiller"

Batten up the hatches, here comes the cold

Hurray for snow days! And what better way to spend a snow day than knitting mittens?



Specs:
Pattern: my own
Needles: US 4
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Irving Park colorway; Classic Elite Lush in color 4413 (black)
Pattern Notes: I may have found two new favorite yarns. They're both SO soft. The black mittens are for a friend at work. I've already given them to her, but I have some separation anxiety. There may be a Lush pair in my future. In the meantime, I'll have to settle for the Lorna's pair. This yarn would make a great sweater, if only I could find a pattern I like for it. Any ideas?

I've also been working on my Anemoi mittens, because one can never have too many pairs of mittens, right? New pics coming soon!



Previous Title: Cyndi Lauper, "True Colors"

I see your true colors shining through

If you see a bandwagon speed by, look closely and you'll see me on it. Here are my Anemoi Mittens, which are a part of my efforts for Project Spectrum February/March.



Gotta love the blue and brown combo! I have a few complaints about the yarns, but that's my own fault I guess. Mainly I'm annoyed because they aren't the same gauge exactly and the blue is a little thinner. While the blue is supposed to be background, the brown really jumps out and the pattern's a bit obscured as a result. I knew I shouldn't have believed that yarn store owner (store not to be mentioned here) who told me it wouldn't matter.

Ah, well, as my first foray into fair isle (not including a poorly chosen project a few years ago that remains unfinished), I'm still really happy with these. This picture was taken yesterday afternoon. After a few more hours of work, I now have one almost completed mitten and I'm still going strong. Bonus: These mittens are also my effort for Fair Isle February. I'm loving reading the posts over there and seeing what everyone is up to!

In addition to these mittens, I've got another blue project. Check out these guys:



Specs:
Pattern: Toe Up Generic Socks from Knitty
Needles: US 2
Yarn: Socks that Rock in Chapman Springs, medium-weight (STASH YARN ALERT!)
Pattern Notes: Don't think I have any. I do plan on using this again to create some more exciting socks, but for this yarn, plain-old-stockinette was just right.

Upcoming Project Spectrum ideas include a pair of socks in Colinette's Jitterbug yarn in a funky charcoal and a pair of black mittens in the softest angora wool I've ever felt. Ever. Maybe I'll also finish up some old Jaywalkers in Lorna's Laces Jeans colorway.



Previous Title: The Killers, "Read My Mind"

Can you read my mind?

I know, I suck about posting lately. Conversation over. Moving on to the good stuff.

Last week (yes, it has really been that long) I came home to find this waiting for me.



I gave it the Squeeze and Shake test, as per usual, and pleasently found that the package was quite squishy. Squishy = yarn. Squishy = good.

And lookee what was inside the squishy package:




It's like my secret pal was inside my brain, I swear. The last time I went to my LYS, I was checking out that yarn you see on the right, Lanna Grossa Meilenweit in just that color. I also love the one on the left, nice and subdued. It's Austermann Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil. Yes, Apparently Now Every Word Gets Capitalized For No Real Reason. Moving on . . . please don't ask me the colorways, because they are all numbers and I just can't handle that right now. Believe me when I tell you that the pictures are pretty true to the colors, and let's leave it at that.

But wait!!!! What's that hiding inside the yarn?



It's lip gloss. What's fun is that each color kinda goes with the yarn it was hiding inside. There's also a lip plumper, just for fun. Haven't tried it yet, but one day I will. Thank you Secret Pal! Now quick, everybody go over to Monkeys Love Yarn and tell Chee-uh how much she rules. Please please please do it for me because I feel so badly that it took me this long to post about the package.

And while you're out visiting others in blogline, go say hi to the Knit Mongrel, who I've had the pleasure of spoiling for the last few months.



Previous title: Train, "I Am"

I'm here for my sanity, sanity I am here for you

Somewhere along the way I seem to have lost sight of myself. I think lately I've just let all of the hassles of everyday life get me down without stopping to enjoy the good things. I've been stressed out over writing report cards, having teacher conferences, driving through traffic, dealing with lines at the grocery store, etcetera etcetera etcetera. There are a lot of little stresses that we all deal with each day and we let ourselves get hung up on them. Don't pretend you don't; you know it's true.

I think today I have begun the journey back to who I really am. Why am I waxing poetic all of a sudden, you ask? Well, I finally got roped into going back to yoga. And I hemmed and hawed and dug in my heels and tried to avoid it. But guess what? It was really what I needed to get back on track. Yoga is apparently my little window of sanity in an insane world.

But let's not go overboard with the healthy lifestyle thing. I'm still going to crack open a bottle of wine tonight.



Previous Title: Barenaked Ladies, "If I Had a Million Dollars

You always wanted a monkey

I'm not really this quick of a knitter, but I have another pair of socks to show you.



Specs:
Pattern: Monkey from Knitty
Needles: US 2
Yarn: Socks that Rock in Puck's Mishief, medium-weight
Pattern Notes: Like all of Cookie's patterns that I've had the pleasure of knitting, this one is well-written and easy to follow. I found that I was able to memorize the chart after only a few repeats. I did make some modification though to allow for a heavier weight of yarn than the pattern calls for. I turned it into a 14 stitch repeat and I eliminated rounds 8 and 9 of the pattern to make this work. I don't think the design looks all that different, but the socks are just my size. I have narrow feet, so this solution may make them too skinny for anyone else's feet. And check it out - the socks actually match! No dye lot issues! Hooray for one big skein (instead of two little ones)!


Previous Title: Our Lady Peace, "Made of Steel"

Hold your head high, don't look down

I finished these bad boys a while ago, but haven't gotten around to posting them - shocker, I know! At any rate, may I present the "Don't Look Down" socks.



Specs:
Pattern: Giotto by Amelia Raitte
Needles: US 1
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Baltic Sea colorway
Pattern Notes: There was a time while knitting these socks that I would have sworn they were going to be my favorites. The yarn color is beautiful and the pattern is stunning, but apparently I have no made a huge mistake - AGAIN! I guess I forgot to check the dye lot on these guys, because they're so different they almost look like two different colorways. I can't believe I did this once, let alone twice!

In efforts to avoid this problem in the near future, I've more recently been working with Socks that Rock from the stash since it's all from the same skein. I'll still wear my Giotto socks, but I'm disappointed that they don't really match. Maybe I'll have an actual MATCHING pair of socks to show off later this week.



Previous Title: The Killers, "Indie Rock & Roll"

Man I'll freak you out

I've officially been tagged by my Dirty Knitter partner-in-crime, Craft Junkie. So, without further ado, I give you 6 weird things about me:

1. I can reach all the way around my head and touch my ear. That is, using my right hand I can reach around my head and touch my right ear. Using my left hand, I can reach around and touch my left ear. Go ahead, try it. Can't do it, can you? Aren't you just a little jealous now?

2. My big toe is the same length as my pinkie finger. I can't explain why I find this intriguing, I just do.

3. I tell my mother everything, but then I get mad at her when she meddles. It seems counter-intuitive, I know, and every time she gets too involved I try to stop telling her everything, but I can't help myself.

4. I am an aggressive driver. I like to honk and I get pissed off easily while driving. I especially get annoyed when people honk at me, which again seems a little unfair given that I enjoy honking at others.

5. I have enormous feet. I wear a size 11 narrow. It's very hard to find shoes that fit comfortably, but this is actually a good thing. I think that if it was easy to find shoes in my size, I might need a second apartment just to hold all of the shoes. I am slightly in love with buying shoes.

6. I find it impossible to buy gifts until the very last minute. It's an annoying habit that I've tried so hard to break but I just can't do it. I might start looking for a Chrismukkah gift (yes, I did in fact google that to check the spelling) in November, but I am absolutely incapable of purchasing anything until December 20th at the earliest. I think I have this paranoia that I'll find something better if I wait just a little longer. Despite this problem, I've been told that I'm an excellent gift-giver. I have no idea how I manage to pull this off.

So there you have it folks, six weird things about me.

Also, I have a little eye candy for you. I finished a project!



Specs:
Pattern: Backyard Leaves scarf by Annie Modesitt, from IK Holiday 2006
Needles: US 7
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Avocado, 3 skeins
Pattern Notes: This was an entertaining knit. I found it easy to follow the pattern, but it does take a lot of concentration. Every so often I got lost in the chart, but it was fairly simple to find my way back. I found it helpful to highlight every other row to make it easier to keep my place. Also, I blocked it by ironing with the wool setting. It was pretty amazing to watch it grow and flatten out. Blocking it might have been my favorite part! This is a gift for my secret pal, but I really like it and wouldn't mind having one for myself. I guess that's the sign of a really great gift!



Previous title: ACDC, "Back in Black"

I've been too long, I'm glad to be back

I was looking back in my archives for December and I realized that I only got in three posts over the whole month. I'm going to try to be more consistent in January. But when January comes to an end, please don't remind me that I said that.

You would think that with all of this non-blogging time, I'd have lots of knitting projects to show you. Not quite. It seems that I have been forgetting to take pictures of FOs. Well, here's what I do have to show you:



Those are two pairs of gift socks. Both have been gifted and were well-received. Score!

Specs - socks on the left:
Pattern: Baudelaire from Knitty
Needles: US 1
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM in color P451
Pattern Notes: I can't get enough of this pattern. Cookie is the best!

Specs - socks on the right:
Pattern: Elfine Socks from Amelia Raitte (click on "Fashion for Free")
Needles: US 1
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM in color P538
Pattern Notes: Elfine is another great pattern. Fun to knit AND well-written. One small problem though - it's not your imagination. The sock on the right is indeed more blue while the sock on the left is more yellow. Apparently I forgot to check the dye lot when I bought this yarn. Ah, well, that's the beauty of a hand-knit gift I guess. I'm sure the recipient of these socks won't be too bothered by it.

I also have a second SP9 gift to show off. Look what I found in my mailbox yesterday:



Thanks for the chocolate goodies and the Chibi. I'm always losing my needles, so this will be very handy.

And finally, for any non-knitters still hanging out around these parts, take a look at this little guy:



That's my favorite nephew. Well, my favorite non-human nephew. Also, he's not really my nephew, but somehow I became "Auntie Rachel" when this guy showed up, so I'll just call him my nephew. It's only fair. Please disregard the chest hair peeking out from his jacket. He is apparently going through a John Travolta/Saturday Night Fever phase. Happy Thursday - and happy ALMOST FINALLY Friday!



Previous title: Michael Buble, "Feeling Good"

It's a new dawn, it's a new day . . . and I'm feeling good

Okay, so a little editing out was needed to keep the title short on this one. Happy 2007 everyone! I'm still here, just been crazy busy as always. I've been finishing up my Harvard application (sent!), my holiday knitting (complete and mostly gifted already!), and visiting friends and family. It's nice to be back home, but I REALLY don't want to go back to work tomorrow. I'm sure that's what everyone's thinking right about now, so I'll try to keep my whining to a minimum. I have some fun FOs to share, but I'm going to save that for later this week. Until then, enjoy playing with all of your new gifts and eating all of those leftover chocolates and cookies and other treats, because you know you're going to, no matter what your New Year's Resolution was about. Happy Holidays!



Previous title: Queen, "Killer Queen"