No blogging, but there has been knitting. Two Clover cardigans---one for a class(Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton) and one for Elyse (Eco Wool).



I also completed the Capri from Rowan 43 out of Calmer. It's actually closed with the snaps called for, but I used the buttons for show. Got them last year at the Victoria & Albert Museum and love them.



Currently working on the Deep V sweater from Erika Knight's Classic Knits in some Knitpicks Sport Shine I've had for years. Planning to do the Neaty sweater from Rowan 42 for the Knitting Olympics.

First monkey sock for Alicia, made from Cherry Blossom Supersock yarn from Cherry Tree Hill.

Finished my first Baby Surprise Jacket. It's part of the Knitty Couture knitalong. It will be donated to Knits for Newborns, a partnership through the shop. I used Lorna's Laces superwash, along with bits and pieces of other yarns from my collection of leftovers.

It's a remarkable pattern that requires a real leap of faith. I can't wait to make another!

I'm pretty proud of this:




I finished my Pi Shawl. It's in Interlacements Toasty Toes, color Southwest.

I must stop kvelling.

It's spring break, and while many are off to Jamaica, Cancun and Florida, I went to Worden Illinois yesterday to visit an Alpaca farm. No tan, but a fabulous trip! Thanks Lida Murphy, for your incredible hospitality.

After a very sad week, Lolly has inspired me to be positive.

So this week, I will try to finish my Pi shawl, grade 30 internships assignments, continue to take my mother for short walks as the weather permits and remember to appreciate all the good things in my life.

Thanks, Lolly.

Third Annual Bloggers Poetry Reading

A lesson in humility worth remembering--

Ozymandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which still survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing else remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

... Percy Bysshe Shelley

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.