Stitching my way through college...

One advantage to attending school online is that I can knit during the lecture and no one knows. Better yet, I can attend the lecture via recorded session and pause and back up if I missed taking a note because my hands were busy with yarn and needles. The disadvantage is that I must post 12 times a week to discussion threads (3 times per week per thread x 2 threads per class x 2 classes in a full time load = 12) and, unfortunately, "HI, I'm working on a pair of socks for myself made of Tofutsies 2 at a time on size 4 circ" does not count as a quality post. Go figure. Somehow I must find a way to express knitting and crocheting in ways that apply to statistical probability equations or programming logic pseudocode in order to get points for the post. Let's see - the probability that I will finish the socks before I complete the degree taking into consideration that I spend 15x more minutes studying and completing assignments than stitching is _____. That would be 1/10E5, I think. The probability that I will drop stitches due to trying to type and knit at the same time is ______. 99/100 is my guess. And so on. The pseudocode might be easier:

start
define variables
num needleSize
char yarnBrand
num castOn
num knitStitch
num purlStitch
....

on and on. I could finish the socks before I finish the code at this rate. I've knit to the instep (toe-up) and I refuse to let the fact that I only got this far because hurricane Ike hit and knocked the power out for 3 days. No power = no school. The make-up for those 3 days has been a pinch, though. Kids in the area missed 7 days of school (some still aren't back on campus) and DD thought that was a hoot until I explained to her that by law she must attend x days of school each year and those 7 days would come out of in service days, summer and other holidays. Talk about a burst bubble!

Okay, quick list and then I must study more:
crochet dishcloth (ugh! that sounds so boring) worked while electricity was out last week
knit homeless hat, navy , top down - the only way I knit hats now - finished Monday
toe-up Tofutsies socks for ME - at the instep, not expected to complete by Christmas
Charity Log Cabin Blanket (K) "Victoria" - in the mail
Charity Log Cabin Blanket (K) "Pat" - in progress
Embroidery (machine) emblems on polo shirts for Guatemalan school - in progress
Pocketbook slippers for Mom - not started, but the yarn is wound for doubling.

That's about all I can stand to look at right now. Of course there are many more projects lying about, patiently awaiting my degree, but I just cannot stand to look at all of them right now.

Pardon me, but somehow knitting was dropped from my degree plan!

I finished a most unusual pair of socks this week! Early in my knitting experience, before I had actually made any socks, I purchased sock yarn at the request of my young lady, who has a distinct sense of fashion. Think Punky Brewster. I only recently got to start knitting with that yarn - Lorna's Laces, Shepherd's Lace, Funky Stripe - and realized quickly that I only had enough for one sock. I happened to have also purchased too little of a mulberry to pink variegated yarn online around the same time. So I mixed the two using a rough Fibonacci Sequence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number) in a pattern from Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks called Alternating Triangles and finished off with a lettuce edge cuff. She loves them and I love that I got to make them for her. The next pair will be for me and after that, a very uninteresting but serviceable black, no stitch pattern pair for the new soldier. He has said I could put grey in the toe and heel if I must. Two completely different personalities!

Wow! Going to school again is a wild trip. Going to school now involves wi-fi, and discussion threads, and electronically submitted homework and quizzes, and Vista (don't ask me what I think unless you REALLY want to know, and pack a lunch!), and Office 2007 (see comment on Vista!) and coordinating with my husband's MBA program and my daughter's social life. It is week 3 of back to school at 41 and I've knit 5 rows. This is turning out to be a serious cramp in my stitching style. Oh, I know it will be worth it in the end, but where else can I vent??

Meanwhile, my oldest is off to Basic Training in a week. I look at pictures of the curly blond blue-eyed baby of 16 years ago and can't seem to make the connection. I'm not an empty-nester yet, still have the Fashionista to survive for a few more years, but she doesn't much resemble the baby pics either.

Changing Gears

It has been quite a beginning for the Summer. Things will be a bit different this year. This year, our oldest is off for basic training in the National Guard. This year, our youngest is attending her last participating Vacation Bible Study, as next year she will assist. This year, my husband and I are both in school. This year, I am more interested in knitting socks than anything else. This year, I will teach a member of the next generation to sew. There are many changes and new experiences. The only constant in our lives is our faith. It is, however, a doozy! We will continue to pray for others, and ask for forgiveness when we fall short. We will continue to teach the gospel in the world and as Francis of Assisi said, "use words if necessary". We will continue to be the best we can be in the moment.

Peppermint and Ginger Tea

April 26 and it isn't over yet...
This month is so big it began in the last week of March and won't end until the first week of May. Seriously, so much has been happening I feel I've missed the whole month in a blur. The only thing saving my sanity this month has been a constant supply of free downloaded audio books from the public libraries. I have to say that the Susan Cooper series The Dark is Rising was the most excellent remedy for the sour taste the recent movie, The Seeker (supposedly based on at least one of those books), left behind.
Now I need to convince a reading-reluctant child that the Harry Potter movies are not the end-all, be-all of the experience. While those movies are decent representatives of the stories, in my opinion, no one could possibly fit everything into the movie that is in the book. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings are other excellent examples of how much more the omnipresent narrator can tell you than a camera can. I will step off that soapbox for now. Said child does not read the blog so I'm scoring no points here.

2fer1: Make that May 26 and it isn't over yet!
I won't even try to pick up where I left off. I'm having a hard enough time picking up where I am. The title of this post is so appropriate because of the business and stress of the days I don't have time to write or just don't know where to start. The Peppermint and Ginger Tea is very soothing. I live in an area where the water definitely has a flavor I do not like so I look for ways I can stay hydrated and enjoy the drink. Peppermint tea is perfect for this purpose. I purchase bulk tea herbs from Starwest Botanicals and have been pleased with their service and their product. I steep peppermint and stevia (a non-caloric herbal sweetener) and it makes my water tolerable to my palate. The fresh ginger is especially nice when my stomach is upset for any reason. It has replaced remedies from Tums to Immodium for me.

On to the crafting front. I recently finished a program from Penn Foster Career College in Dressmaking and Design. I thought it was a good program. I have been sewing for many years and still learned some new tricks.
I have been working with a new-to-me charity group who make knit and crochet blankets in a log cabin style. I was intrigued by the idea of using yarn to mimic a traditionally quilted design. It is a round robin group so each person does a part of the blanket and they come out patchwork as a result. I liked the idea so much that I started to put together some blocks for one of our Stitch Ministry blankets that is so many odd blocks. They won't match each other unless the whole thing is made patchwork. The double strand horseshoe and trinity blanket isn't finished yet either. My hands tire quickly when working with large needles. I finished a pair of socks just in time for a graduation [Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock, Master Grey]. To my dismay, changing to a slightly larger needle for the leg made more than a slight difference in the gauge (duh!) and they didn't stay up through the ceremony. Live and learn. Finished a pair of Mock Smock Socks - say that 5 times fast - [Plymouth Sockotta, Colorway 6669] with much better results and started a pair of Cross-Hatch Lace socks [Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Funky Stripe]. When I learn to count, the latest pair will be much more enjoyable to work on.

March's crochet projects were minimized considerably: I made 1 babushka [Patons Grace, 60903 Lavender]and started PH612 Tank Top by Oat Couture [RY Luxury Cotton DK]. For some reason, mulberry isn't shown, but my LYS had it. It has a bit of silk in it and a nice feel to it.

I am off now to get in some knitting or crocheting or goofing off on Ravelry.com
I hope to write again before 2 months have passed.

I'm Hooked!

March is National Crochet Month





It is also my birthday month. So the reasonable thing to do is crochet something lovely for myself. I have chosen Shell of Shells from Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet. I am working it in Bernat Soy. I have discovered that I'm not sure how to check gauge in crochet pattern stitch. I will have to depend on the measurements provided in the pattern to ensure a fit.


I was a little intimidated by the very first step, chain 110. 110 stitches in any project looks like a major commitment. When the 110 stitches represents only half the project, the back in this case, it looks like a life sentence. Experience tells me that the simple, repetitive stitch pattern will go fast and work well with audiobooks and laundry breaks. I'm sure it will be finished in no time.


Once that is finished, if March is still March, I'll try to finish the Diamond Trellis afghan I started a year ago and put on hold. It is in papaya Caron Simply Soft.





On the hook/needles:


Kennita Tully's Garter Stitch Stripes sweater [Interweave Knits Winter 2003], also for the fashionista,
a double strand, on size 15, afghan for an ICU unit that will go home with a patient [Leisure Arts Little Books #75003],
The Scary Legacy Project,
Top Down Baby Hat







Off the hook/needles:


Two SEARCH hats
and a Top Down sweater for a stuffed mouse. I used the project to learn Barbara G. Walker's Knitting from the Top techniques.

Frogged:

TinyTube socks for preemies from WhimsyKnits - who can put tube socks on a baby??

The Fashionista's socks - she has agreed to allow me to make a less complicated pair.

Hats

Death by Chapeau - Hat Attack 2008 is fun. The knitting part is done so far as I know since my assassin (in Oklahoma) mailed my death the same time I mailed my missile to my target (in New Jersey). Still, one is not dead until the instrument of death arrives. My experience with the postal service has been that my hat will reach New Jersey quicker than my assassin's hat will arrive from Oklahoma. It just seems to work that way. The pattern was 'geek-inspired' and the arrangement of cables represented binary code settings for 0-15. It made for an interesting arrangement since each cable column was unique and the beginning cable - 15- was 4 cables and the ending cable -0- was 0 cables. Any more than that will just send you into mindmush if you've never heard of binary, so I shall stop there.

I am on a hat a day diet right now. I have finally taken the time to experiment with the Classic Cap from Knitting from the Top by Barbara G. Walker. I may never cast on at the bottom again! I like the increasing at the top and knitting until it is long enough better than knitting to a certain length and then wondering if the decreases will make the hat functionally long enough. I, along with some other dedicated crocheters and knitters are working to cover the heads of Houston's homeless. Our temps have been low on some recent nights.



My List:
On the hook/needles:

• a pair of socks for the fashionista - I hate it as much as I hated the swatch but she insists,
• Kennita Tully's Garter Stitch Stripes sweater [Interweave Knits Winter 2003], also for the fashionista,
• a double strand, on size 15, afghan for an ICU unit that will go home with a patient [Leisure Arts Little Books #75003],
• TinyTube socks for preemies from WhimsyKnits, because I'm on a hat kick and have had to tink them back a couple of times. They are SO tiny.
  
• The Scary Legacy Project,
• One more hat for a homeless person.

Off the hook/needles:

• Hatzilla the killer binary cable hat
  
• a 4"x4" block for the Ravelry founders' father/father-in-law,
• Two more hats for SEARCH.

I've had another fellow knit-blogger sign up for Pay It Forward. I have lovely gifts planned for both of my "angels.

The pc is once again obedient and subservient. Just don't tell it I said so ;^)

Not so much sanity, but the scarf is fabUlous!

Ooh the loveliness of cables and cables and miles of cables. It is done! The scarf fits. The scarf is warm. In a tight fix we can sit really close together and share the scarfy goodness. And now I am primed for Hat Attack as it will involve slaying a target with a cabled hat. As the designer has pegged the pattern 'advanced beginner,' I doubt there will be all the Twist Front and Twist Back business that I learned for the scarf.

The only drawback is that I am now wanting to cast on compulsively. Any naked needle, every yard of stash is luring, calling, cajoling me. I must resist. I have things already in the works and the hat coming up.

I blame this restlessness on the pc that wouldn't be repaired. My power supply arrived and brought some improvement. At least the ON button caused the fan to turn and the hard drive light to flicker. Nothing else, though. So the next step is to replace the motherboard since the power supply may have sent a last jolt surge that caused the board to shut down (read fry). So I'm still on the laptop.

Husband will graduate in a few weeks!! We pray the job made just for him is ready and waiting for his graduation.

Thanks to my one Pay It Forward angel who has signed up so far. I have a lovely gift in mind.

Off to see if I can redirect my compulsive urge toward finishing things instead of starting new and needlessly. At least I've finished one thing other than the scarf! Find Leo the Lion on Lion Brand Yarn's website.

Sanity via UPS and the endless scarf

The delivery of a not-so-small piece of my sanity in the form of a new power supply for my pc has just arrived thus lifting my spirits. My 'puter decided it was time for a break just about the time my mind decided it was time for a breakdown. Not a good combination.

If you know the story of the Three Bears, you can identify with my current dilemma.

1. My daughter's computer chair is too small and her desk is too... let me think of the right term... girly. Yeah, that's it, girly! Pink and purple glitzy bling-bling furry Tink and Webkinz and Barbie - and, well, you get the point. And the chair was an IKEA find that was not made for adults.
2. My husband's computer chair is too hard - wood, actually - and his desk is where the stressful things like bills reside. His monitor is on the right which is wrong, his keyboard is not ergonomic and he uses a mouse.
3. The laptop is the one I have depended on for now. However, it has its drawbacks as well. There's the ergonomic thing again and the touch pad I hate, but at least the screen is in front of me where I like it. I must admit I cannot complain about the seating since I am currently on my tush in the bed **wonder if I could somehow work that arrangement in with my pc once it is up and running again?**.

And now, on to the endless scarf. Let's face it, there is no graceful segue, is there? The scarf pattern is called Rosy Cables, I've said that before. I am not knitting it in pink because secure as my husband is in his masculinity, pink is just not his color. It doesn't match his kilt! I love the cables, I love the yarn, I love the man I am making it for but I feel it will never end. The scarf is now as long as I am tall - 66" - and is still not long enough to go from front around to front again. My husband has a 18" neck. Somehow that math just doesn't make sense to me. It seems it should be long enough. However, when I try to demonstrate that he could just pull it a smidgen tighter to make it long enough in front he makes strange choking sounds and turns purple. go figure!

On the hook/needles (besides the scarf that will never end):

Preemie Tube Socks

Garter Stitch Stripes

Feather and Fan Afghan

that sock swatch I still don't like

Off the hook/needles:

A hat I frogged

Stairs for Barbie and Lists

I spent all day yesterday drawing out a set of stairs for Barbie dolls. I used up nearly half a white pencil, every active brain cell I possess (twice), and 1/2 oz of eraser crumbs. Now, risers and treads are drawn out of black foam board along with a wardrobe that fit in the space left over. I spent some time making foam board furniture for dolls a couple of years ago. Each piece included coordinated "upholstery" in purple calico, lace edging, matching pillows - use your imagination and you will realize Barbie has more stylish furnishings than I. The result? 6 naked dolls strewn hither and thither across a bedroom stuffed to the ceiling with a variety of other entertainments. Recently, a dollhouse joined the mix. Not a plastic Barbie mansion. Not a particle board painted and shingled miniature Victorian for which an entire market depends on the sale of furnishings and fixtures. This dollhouse is unique. This one was built by THE GIRL. It is a 30" high 24"x 24" frame constructed of 1/4" plywood, 1x2's and real nails. It was a project which offered bonding between granddaughter and grandfather - and to her it is better than anything Mattel has on the market! Now we are adding a second floor. It will be constructed of foam board and covered with a marble print contact paper. The black stairs will be constructed by mom and dad and decorated (of course the stairs have to be decorated) by THE GIRL. Why? Because naked and occasionally headless Barbies have to have somewhere to hang out together. Coming later, the pool on the roof - that may have to be purchased, we'll see.

My List:
On the needles:

• The fourth and final skein of Patons chunky tweed for the scarf for hubby [Rosy Cables Scarf, Joanne Turcotte for Plymouth Yarn, Creative Knitting Jan. 2007]
• a gauge swatch for a pair of socks for the fashionista - so far I hate it,
• Kennita Tully's Garter Stitch Stripes sweater [Interweave Knits Winter 2003], also for the fashionista,
• a double strand, on size 15, afghan for an ICU unit that will go home with a patient [Leisure Arts Little Books #75003],
• The Scary Legacy Project. More about that later,
• One more hat for a homeless person.

Off the needles:

• Pocketbook slippers for me,
• A Debbie Mumm counted cross stitch Stacked Cups,
• One more hat for a homeless person.

Will the list of Off the needles ever be longer than the list of On the needles?? Doubtless : /