Eleven down, one to go...hats that is. I've knit 11 stocking caps in the last month or so...that's a lot of hats. It started when I taught a class on simple caps at the shop. I didn't want to violate anyone's copyright, so I made up my own. That took two hats...one for figuring and one for counting. I gave one of those to a son, who loved it and asked for a warmer one, and thus it began. I finished the 11th on Friday and finished a pair of socks for my oldest last night. He's got size 15 feet, so they were in Dream in Color classy, which is a worsted weight.

I am also making a pair of socks for my mom and a wrap/jacket thing for my aunt. Knitty Couture is having two knitalongs that I am taking part in.

I'll apparently finish my Must Have Cardigan some time in 2009.

The boy has rhythm. Must come from dad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lveQoJ5oVOE

Yesterday, I gave a talk as part of a "Last Lecture" series. I was one of eight professors chosen by students to present a talk that could be about anything we wanted. I talked about what I've learned from students. It was quite an honor, but what meant the most was that both my kids and my husband were there. My oldest had a two o'clock flight, so the noon time was good; my youngest had been up till 4am writing a paper that he e-mailed the teacher--thus missing class.

Anyway, I've been knitting socks and caps. My son (of the size 15 feet) wants a pair of socks, which I'm finally making for him. And the caps are in preparation for a class I'm teaching at the shop tomorrow evening. Should been interesting.

Thankful
for a houseful of boys--mine and one of my brothers.
for a husband who still thinks I'm cute--or pretends to.
for our good health.
for a job I like.
for a part time job that's lots of fun.
for friends and family.

My son took my digital camera to school, but since it is actually his high school graduation gift, I guess I shouldn't complain.

In any event, no pictures. I did finish the burgundy Cascade 220 pullover. I'm delighted with it. Cascade is such a terrific workhorse yarn. I'm working on the Must Have Cardigan from Paton's Street Smart pamphlet and enjoying it.

Did a bit of part time work this weekend in a new LYS called Knitty Couture. It was terrific--a great addition to the city and a yarn store that's actually pretty close to me. I hope they use me again because I enjoyed being there.

It's getting to be that point in the semester when students realize they may be behind in their work and emotions are kind of close to the surface. Ah, these kiddos.

I'm working on a pullover from the Cascade 220 website.



It's mostly stockinette, but it has a fantastic woven rib pattern at the bottom. The sleeves and yoke will be in this stitch as well, and are knit in one piece.

I love that woven pattern.

I went to a knitting group yesterday and enjoyed it. I went to another one a few months back. Both were made up of very nice women.

I am very proud of this. Where can I wear it? Oh, who cares---it's pretty. Must do more lace!


An ice cream truck playing Clare de Lune just went by. I feel so cultured.

I thought I was so smart getting a blocking board, but it wasn't big enough for blocking this shawl. I'll be straightening it out for the rest of the day.



Forest Canopy Shawl
Pomfret (discontinued Brunswick yarn from who knows when)
Size 6 needles

I can spot a few mistakes, but for my first real lace project, I'm happy. I know understand the appeal of lace. It's so lovely when it's stretched out. I feel like starting another shawl immediately.

I haven't written here since June and I think that's because I now lurk on Ravelry way too much. I still haven't done much with my profile there, either.

Summer was good--my trip up east was very relaxing and my class in London went quite well. I had a great group of students who all got along, showed up for everything and did all their work so far---they still have a final paper due, but I am confident in them.

London was busy and crowded. I spent two months there in 1999 doing some administrative work for the university during my sabbatical, but it seems busier to me now. Probably a combination of being 8 years older and going in August rather than in March.

In any event, I have been knitting. I've completed a pair of Monkey socks in Tofutsi---a yarn that was okay, but I would not buy again.



And a pair of Not Cable Socks by Sockbug, a free pattern online. I made these in Lorna Laces, which I would buy again.





I also completed a turtleneck from Erika Knight's Classic Knits. This is done is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted. I may frog this.



I did frog a sweater I made a few years ago and reknit it into a shawl collar cardigan I found online.



It's kind of 80s, but I know I'll wear it a lot. I hear the 80s are back, anyway.

I'm currently working on a Forest Canopy Shawl in a sportweight yarn called Pomfret. I found it at a yard sale.

Still no pictures. The camera I use is actually my son's, and since he is home, it has retreated into the chaos of his room.

Tomorrow I will drive my older son back to Philadelphia, where he will take a second session summer class. After I drop him off, I'll drive to my sister's in Charlottesville, Virginia. We're going to Virginia Beach for a few days. Then I head back here for a few weeks until the beginning of August, when I'm off to London to teach a two week class. It will be busy from here on out, but up till now I've been a total slug. We did paint all three bedrooms, and I've been knitting, but that's about all.

I finished the Classic Turtleneck, but have yet to put it together. Maybe I'll do that today instead of packing.

I got an invitation to Ravelry. I can't spend all day on it. I think I'll use it as a reward for getting my actual work done.
Did anyone knit in public on Saturday? That was me at Northwest Coffee working on the turtleneck from Classic Knits.

No pictures, but there is knitting. Still working on the blue cotton cardigan, and I also started a turtleneck with some Brown Sheep Worsted. It may be too itchy, but I'm trying it.

School is out and I'm enjoying some quiet. My youngest got home almost a week ago. He's sleeping late and "looking" for a job. I'll give him till after Monday. My oldest will be home on Sunday. He got out of school in early May and has been on a trip to Israel. He'll only be home for a month, but I still need to clear out his room, which has become my computer/sewing/yarn storage room. I have no idea where to put all this stuff.

The daughter of a colleague had twin girls, so I made them teddy bears from stash---look at the difference in gauge. It's amazing.


I felt kind of bad at first, but they're both cute. So it goes, as Kurt would say.

I've been taking a spinning class at Myers house. I'm not very good, but it has been interesting. The teacher keeps telling me to do things in slow motion, which actually helps quite a bit. I do always seem to want to barrel through things.

Graduation is next weekend, thank goodness. And, for the first time in years, I'm not teaching this summer.

An interview, courtesy of Deborah at ephemeralchaos.blogspot.com

1. What do you teach & how long have you been teaching?

I teach Broadcast Journalism and have been teaching for 17 (yikes) years. Four were at another school, 13 at my current (and preferred) university. Previously, I worked in radio and tv news as a writer, producer and executive producer for about 14 years. Only one of my degrees is in journalism, however. The others are in English lit and American Studies.

2. What was your worst job ever?

That's a good question. I've worked at some lousy places, but pretty much enjoyed most of my jobs. I guess the worst was working at a summer camp that was supposed to be intellectually stimulating for kids, but really just kept them inactive inside of classrooms all day. They ended up paying me less than promised.

3. I notice you like David Sedaris. He's one of my favorites too. What do you like about his writing?

He's so funny. Few writers make me laugh out loud. Sedaris is insightful and biting, without being mean. Plus he zeros in on the idiocy of things we just sort of accept in our culture.
At the suggestion of my 21-year-old son, I'm currently reading "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" by Chuck Klostermann. The essay on soccer alone is worth the price of the book.

4. What are your blogging pet peeves?

I'm wary when people start promoting themselves too much. I'm not sure it rises to the level of a pet peeve, though.

5. And, of course, when did you start knitting?

My European grandmother was a great knitter, but kind of high strung and not much of a teacher. When I was about 12, I decided I wanted to learn to knit. My mother decided it would be a really bad idea for my granny to teach me, so she sent me to another knitter who was a bit more patient. I guess mom figured if I tried with my grandma, I'd never stick with it. I will note that my mom never knit, so she must have been acting from experience.
Anyway, this lady was terrific and I was a bit of a knitter for awhile---scarfs mostly. I then dropped it for about 15 years, picked it up again for long enough to make my first sweater. I stopped again for almost 20 years and picked it up again about 5 or 6 years ago so I would have something to do during high school football games.

Now it’s your turn to play if you wish:

Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” I will respond by asking you five questions in the comments here on this post so check back here. I get to pick the questions. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.


I finished another pair of jaywalkers last night. I love the color of these.

In class today two sirens went by and all my students visibly stiffened. So sad.

I REASON, earth is short,
And anguish absolute.
And many hurt;
But what of that?

I reason, we could die:
The best vitality
Cannot excel decay;
But what of that?

I reason that in heaven
Somehow, it will be even,
Some new equation given;
But what of that?

--Emily Dickinson

I've been grading, advising, teaching and knitting.

First a basic pair of stockinette socks:

Currently working on a cardigan from Debbie Bliss' "Cotton Knits for All Seasons" in Knitpicks Shine, Hydrangea color. This is not quite halfway on the back. It's going to take awhile.


It's spring here. Everything is in bloom and baseball season is about to begin...which probably means it will get chilly again.

Now back to grading.

Finally finished the second Jaywalker. The first had been languishing in solitude for months. Got a lot done at yesterday's Knitter's Guild meeting. Everytime I finish a pair of socks, I want to immediately cast on for another pair. However, casting on that second sock is not usually so enticing.

I must say, it sure looks a lot better on him than on the chair. Quite the cutie.

Another baby sweater. This was supposed to be for the older brother, but this one and the green one look about the same size.


I'm still not ready to go back to the husband sweater. Perhaps a pair of socks.....

I was compelled to put my husband's sweater aside for a bit, after I realized I had made a mistake with the armhole decreases on the already completed back. The fix involves ripping out at least 25 or 30 rows, and I just couldn't face it.

In the meantime, I made this for a new baby in the family:

Cute, isn't it? I think the buttons make it work. It's based on a free online pattern from Bernat. I've also started a Wallaby for the new baby's older brother. When it's done, I'll try to return to my big sweater project.

Yesterday we went to the Soulard Farmer's Market, figuring it would be quiet on a rainy day. I love going there---and thinking of all the people who've traded there since it began in 1779.

Not knitting related, but certainly blog related---my dean sent me this link today and I thought it was worth sharing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

I imagine teaching communications always involves desperately trying to keep up. That's what's fun about it.

Diligently working on the sweater for my husband. I've finished the back, and I'm about a third of the way on the front. It's not exactly hard to knit, it's just that it takes a lot of attention. You can't just knit without thinking on this one. My next project is going to be mindless, I'll tell you that.

A student of mine asked me about knitting for something he is writing. I said that I think it is interesting how women (and men, but let's face it, mostly women) are returning to the domestic arts. Perhaps they never left them, but I think the increase in younger knitters can be read as a victory for women. We feel able to express ourselves through traditional crafts because we are no longer limited to them. Does that make sense?

Today is the second Bloggers ( Silent) Poetry Reading. This has always been one of my favorites.


SOUP

I saw a famous man eating soup.
I say he was lifting a fat broth
Into his mouth with a spoon.
His name was in the newspapers that day
Spelled out in tall black headlines
And thousands of people were talking about him.

When I saw him,
He sat bending his head over a plate
Putting soup in his mouth with a spoon.

--Carl Sandburg

((This is a corrected attribution---as Seymour pointed out. Thank you, baby boy.)

It's not knitting, but I am proud of this apron I made for my sister. It will match her lime green kitchen.

I haven't really sewn much since junior high, when I was crying so hard over putting a zipper in an a-line skirt that my grandma finally just did it for me. I don't think I will be tacking zippers anytime soon, but look--pleats!!!

We just put in new windows, and I'd like to make some tab top curtains. I think I can do it.
I've also been working on my husband's sweater. It's not an easy knit and last night I ripped out twelve rows because of a mistake. That broke my heart. I think it is looking pretty good.


I've also been doing a little hand spinning. Now that is relaxing.

I finally changed to the new Blogger. So far so good.

I saw this and I liked it.

The Page 123 Meme
1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123, look down to the 5th sentence.
3. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.
4. Include the title and the author's name.

"I was in Chicago. I was broke. I was sitting at the window of my hotel room on North Clark Street and the most delicious smell rose to my nostrils from the bakery downstairs."

It's from On The Road by Jack Kerouac. Though I haven't read it in a million years, I keep my computer in my son's room. If I were in my room, it would have been Abraham Lincoln, The Prairie Years by Carl Sandburg.

As far as knitting goes, I made a simple ribbed cap for one of my boys out of leftovers from the vest I made for the other. I finished one Jaywalker sock and cast on for another, and I've been working on my husband's sweater, which is a lot of work. It's a pattern which changes almost every row and I'm not used to that. I told him it will take awhile.

We did lose power during the recent ice storm, but only for a day and a half this time. School is back in session so I've been busy and stressed with kids changing classes, adding classes, changing majors and generally freaking out. I do enjoy them and their drama. No sarcasm there---I really do like them.

I don't have any pictures because we had new windows installed yesterday and my husband took lots of pictures. I don't know where he stashed the camera.

About 400 picked up stitches later, here it is.



I hope he likes it. After it dries, I'll send it off to my baby boy, along with half his wardrobe, left behind when he went back to college.

BTW, I've been reading about this STR bank snafu and I just can't believe it. It makes me want to join the sock club but it's just a bit too costly for me.

I hate picking up stitches.

Estate sale find.

They saw it as a shoe storage system.



I saw it as a yarn storage system. It was 50 cents, and Trixie likes it too.

I've had a couple of busy, yarn infused days.

I took my youngest back to school in Indiana yesterday for winter term. After dropping him off, I went over to YTC Wool and Ewe in nearby Cloverdale, where a lovely woman named Yvonne--and her adorable daughter Adie, helped me out. YTC is a local yarn producer, with handspun and roving galore. I got some handspun, and invested in my first drop spindle and handful of roving. Yvonne made it look easy, but I don't know. I drove to Terre Haute and checked into a hotel and messed with the roving a bit, but I didn't know what I was doing. I'll get it eventually.

I stayed over even though it is just a 3-hour drive, because I had plans for today. First I went to RiverWools in Terre Haute, which is a nice little store. I bought a skein of bamboo yarn because I just want to try it. Now I can't find it. ( It was under my other stuff---it's Southwest Trading Company Bamboo in the Butter colorway. I think it will be a spring/summer scarf)

At the urging of my husband, who was back in St. Louis, I went to Champaign, Illinois. He wanted to stock up on Papa Del's Pizza, which is the best pizza anywhere. I did that, but not until I had visted Needleworks, a fantastic yarn shop just down the street. It's really something. I bought Shannon Okey's book, Spin to Knit, and a few odds and ends.

Then, instead of coming home, I went to Springfield, where I went to the new Abraham Lincoln Museum & Library. I'm a big fan of Abe's and a big fan of Presidential sites in general and this one is well-done. It made me wish my kids were younger, because it employed a lot of special effects that kids would really enjoy, like holograms and explosions with actual reverberations and smoke. I didn't even get to the Library, since it was after 5.

Quite a day. Lots of fun.