The beginnings of Asana...the very slow beginnings 

Lots of WIPs

Despite all the knitting I've gotten done on the bus, I don't have any completed projects to throw up here :) I'm in a sock phase right now, working on some leaf-patterned socks from Interweave Knits for myself and then a pair of green cotton socks as a belated birthday present for a friend. After that I'm hoping to join the Claptois and Asana craze. Knowing me, I'll just start on them anyways before I finish all my other projects :)

Work has been good for the most part - I've got a research presentation to do for next week that I really should be doing more on. The only bad thing is my advisor hasn't gotten back to me about summer funding....with medical bills and car insurance to pay and not much left in the bank (grr, should have made a budget) being on a grad student's pay is getting really rough. Sigh. Crossing my fingers!

By the side of the road

Today is tutoring day, which means I still haven't started riding the bus, as I have to leave straight from campus to get to Hancock Park (I may be mixing up neighborhood names here) in time to review multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and other things of a matherly nature. Matherly. Will rethink that one.

However, as I was driving up Wilshire today, I noticed a fire truck. By the side of the road. With lights flashing.

Hmm, I thought. Wonder if there was a car accident.

I continued to drive, letting people merge over. As I glanced toward the sidewalk, I noticed this:
1. A crowd of people
2. A car stopped mid turn
3. A shaken girl, standing next to a man with his arm around her
4. Paramedics
5. A man lying in the street, blood coming from his mouth.

Wow. People joke about traffic and bad drivers in LA. Until you see someone not moving in the street. Then it really hits you - these car things? They're for real. This isn't the 6 o'clock news, this is 3 blocks from where you live.

I read Blink, not too long ago. One of the stories that really stuck with me is how sometimes you can catch alot from a glance. And how sometimes you can miss way too much. Maybe the guy didn't get hit. Maybe he was going to be ok. But still, very shaken.

So I'm going to Stitch and Bitch tonight, to hang out with people and get this off my mind. And to work on my new socks.

And the fuzzy blue socks! After so many socks made, this is the first pair I've made for myself. And they're fuzzy. And blue. Did I mention they're incredibly fuzzy? Hehe :) 

My favorite part - the buttons. Because they match so darn well 

Finally done - the Red Riding Hood Scarf from one of the Hollywood Knits books (I could get up and figure out which one, but eh. I'm lazy) 

Fabulous blog

I ran across Threadbared a few days ago and have to share - it's hilarious. Esp. the Barbie crochet patterns.

Brought a whole slew of knitting with me to work today. Today is reaction day. For those of you who don't know what that is, it basically means I get in freakishly early, spend 2 hours setting up a reaction, another 2 waiting for it to finish, and the rest of my life removing solvent. Hence all the knitting. Along with a few DVDs, I'm set to be entertained. Very very close to finishing my fuzzy blue socks (woohoo!), also finally done with Red Riding Hood scarf (will post pictures soon. As soon as I can figure out who to con into modeling it)

Sadly, all these early mornings have gotten me into the habit of drinking coffee. I know what you're saying - A grad student not addicted to coffee? I'm working on it :) Just need to learn how to not make it taste awful. Apparently those years of tea drinking have not made me a master coffee brewer....

I gave in to temptation and walked down to Wildfiber last night (since Wednesday is their open late day) to browse the yarn. Although my self-imposed budget does not allow for any more yarn until I clear out alot of it (ie, until I can fit all the yarn in bags, on the floor, and on the shelves into those 4 drawer systems I have for yarn), I vaguely remember Wildfiber having a good sale room. Not any more. I know it's hard for yarn stores to make a profit (though I suspect this is slightly easier in LA than smaller cities) and yarns are inherently expensive. But their sale room has gone from 50 to 40 to now 30% off. Not really much of a discount anymore. Sigh. They are a great place for the hand-dyed and specialty yarns though!

Looking forward to SnB

Here it is, only Monday morning, and I'd rather be knitting. After a long drive this morning, I'm exhausted. And I'm only at work until 2 today, at which time I leave to start my tutoring rounds. A PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, tutoring a 3rd and 5th grader in math. As my ex said, "I'm not sure you're qualified"

The thing is, I'm so over qualified I have a hard time remember what I learned in elementary school. Don't ask how long it took me to remember how to multiply fractions. I found myself wishing for my trusty Casio graphing calculator with menu that only 5 other people in the world (one of them my younger brother) can use. Haha, take that TI!

No major knitting news to speak of. Picked up the blue and fuzzy socks to finish up. Thinking about jumping on the bandwagon and making the Claptois from Knitty with my new personally dyed yarn. Trying to talk my friend into coming to SnB with me tomorrow. Though she doesn't knit, I told her she could wind some of my yarn. Aren't I a good friend :)

In non knitting news, I impulsively decided to chop my hair short again. Still getting used to it! But it'll be nice for summer (though I use that term loosely - LA doesn't seem to have real seasons. At least not near the coast!)

My yarn, all wound up! 

My yarn from the yarn dying class at Stitch Cafe, right after I finished dying it. 

Wearing the shawl before I part with it :) 

So many WIPs...

Finally finished the Red Riding Hood Scarf, in the process of blocking it. I'm not sure what made me think knitting a scarf in May in LA would be practical. I'm pretty sure that thought never crossed my mind, come to think of it. Also picked up the needles for my second blue and blue sock (though I still need to put the heel in the first sock!) Going out to Knit Cafe to pick up my yarn from the yarn dying class last weekend - very excited! I'll put up some pictures as soon as I figure out where I put my camera....maybe it's in lab....hmm.

If only I could knit in my car...

I love my new car. Mostly because it hasn't broken down on me yet. Unlike the Jetta...well, the Jetta never completely broke down...it just had a multitude of issues. As I drove into school today, I realized how little knitting I was doing these days, now that I wasn't riding the bus. It started off as a "I just had knee surgery, I can't possibly walk 5 blocks and 2 flights of stairs to work" But it's been 7 weeks....I think I'm just drunk on the power of the handicapped permit.

I took a yarn dying class this weekend and am completely hooked. Sigh. Where in my small studio apartment could I dye yarn...hmm....As if I really need more yarn right now :) Mom got the shawl and loves it (hehe, she called me an experienced knitter. Cracks me up!) and has put in an order for another! Now if only I could finish all these other projects....

I'm enjoying this whole knitting ring surfing thing. I added Stat Counter to my other blog and found out that someone in Santa Monica has been Googling me....sometimes it is possible to know too much!

And all pinned out. The pattern looks alot clearer with the flash than it does in real life. I'll have to tell my mom to have strobe lights around her when she wears it. 

And a close up 

Finally done - the shawl for Mother's Day. Pre-blocking! 

Finding a better calendar

Or just actually looking at mine. I started the Flower Basket Shawl from Interweave Knits, thinking I would have plenty of time to finish it before Mother's Day. Think again. While I've made great progress in the week I've been working on it, it still won't be done in time to ship up to Napa. Sigh.

I'm sure this also has nothing to do with me starting another new project (a scarf with a hood) for the flight up to Napa last weekend. I'm sure that hasn't been preventing me from working on the shawl at all!

Hope to have some more stuff done soon to post more pics!

Woohoo! Knitted tank from recycled silk :) Even looks ok on me :) 

From Sex and The Knitty (on knitty.com's archives - I can't make this stuff up people) comes a tantilizing sleep aid. Has not yet passed FDA approval. 

IT'S FINALLY DONE!!!! After over a year of off and on knitting, the blanket is finally done. Not as long as I would have liked, but who cares. It's done :) 

Oh the pain!

The term "Cosby sweaters" has a special meaning to us knitters. This man however has collected the most amazing number of hideous sweaters. Check it out.

For Kami and other Nor-Cal knitters

Debbie Stoller is starting up her Stitch 'n' Ride program again - designated Amtrak cars along the Capitol Corridor route. She'll actually be on the train on March 22nd, 5:30 train from Oakland to Sacramento.

Refinished first sweater (shades of grape) again. Decided it needed a collar. Reminds me of a mail shirt now. Hmm. Where's my jousting stick?

Dying of laughter

Last week (or so) there was a big scandal in the fiber world - Martha Stewart wore a crocheted/knitted poncho upon her release from prison. Now, I don't have all the details right, this poncho was apparently made by her fellow inmates as a going away gift.

Only Martha would get a handmade poncho as a "getting out of jail" gift.

Of course, the fiber manipulators on the board had a field day. Half (of the active posters) were desperate to find this pattern, analyze the image, and determine what yarn to use. The other half were appalled. Either that it was Martha or a poncho (I'm not sure which)

I love being the quiet one watching these debates. Makes me laugh.

But this other blog was the best. The No-Poncho Pledge. I post it here for your reading pleasure. Now excuse me, I need to finish my grey poncho.

Kami's scarf! 

The burro puppet - so far the best I've made. Must....make...more... 

She's crafty

Rabid crafters, start your glue guns. This link, courtesy of Michelle, is all about a new reality/competition show for crafters, on the Style network. Sigh. If only I didn't have to go to work....

Fire in the hole!

Today's hilarious thing to knit: a hand grenade They suggest green and gunmetal grey, but I think pink might be nice.

Marie really liked Mom's shawl... 

Another finger puppet picture - Karen's bull 

After felting. They seem to have developed teeth and eyes in the washing machine. Still gets me no closer to understanding where all those lost socks are... 

Before felting 

And the finally finished Christmas sweater. 

Red socks 

Green socks 

Other uses for needles

I've finished millions of things lately, but have not yet downloaded the pictures to my computer. So you guys will have to use your imaginations for the time being.

There's a discussion going on on the SnB list about knitting needles. A woman bought a pair of needles that turned out to be $20. For the uninitiated, that's alot of money for two wooden sticks, finely shaped to a particular diameter. She posted, and many suggested she return them. Turns out most stores don't allow needles to be returned. A store owner posted that it was CA code not to accept needles as returns. Her analogy was hair combs - if stores took back combs, would you ever want to buy them again?

Which started a whole hailstorm of questions - what part of your body that needles touch is so gross they can't be returned? Why can you return bras and not needles? What are people using their needles for that they are deemed unreturnable (ie abortions)?

Why am I telling you all this? Because I think it's unecessary. After many hours of research on one woman's part, we all found out there is no part of the code that forbids a store accepting used knitting needles (big suprise). But really, it all comes down to the individual store. I've seen many places with signs clearly indicating they won't accept needles and other accessories for return. The owner had been told that it was against code to accept them and so passed the information on. No reason to jump down her throat (as one woman did) So much for "the new yoga."

Knitters - chill out!

Obscene knitting

So I've been doing an obscene amount of knitting lately as I frantically try to finish Christmas gifts (failed. It's back to scarves for this year!) Last night's SnB conversation was all over the place, with the anal sex conversation getting the "Best way to get a group's attention" award. Was even posted in a local blog :).

Today's list sent out a link to a site of interesting projects. Funniest? The tampon socks :)

Time to get back to inventory before I sneak out early. Almost done with the sweater, and I'm using my last "day off" to finish it before classes start!

The wheels on the bus go click click click

My theory has been shattered. Last week, as I diligently worked on my sock, a woman boarded the bus and sat down next to me. When I paused to rearrange my stitches, she struck up a conversation - the gist of it was that she tried to knit once, and was impressed with my sock - handknit socks are apparently very expensive in Germany. Turns out she is from southern Germany, looking for a position at UCLA. And housing - she asked many questions about where the professors might live near the campus. Which I of course have no idea about...

The next day, a man tapped the seat next to me and told me, "I play with the needles myself - but I've never seen that many used together. Is that different?" Turned into a conversation of the uses of double pointed needles and his wife's speed-knitting skills.

Yesterday a woman kept turning in her seat to look at me, and finally said she'd done some scarves before, but (again) had never seen the 4 needle approach to knitting.

I'm shocked (well, not that people haven't seen sock knitting). People are actually being friendly and talkative on a bus. What's this world coming to??

Still haven't gotten my book....getting impatient for my free copy! Though I can't really complain...it is free...

Bitching calmed by stitching

Haven't had alot to post in this blog lately. Been working on actually finishing projects before starting new ones and NOT buying any more yarn. Took my nerdiness to a whole new level by creating a workbook in Excel detailing what I've finished and what I have planned (including columns for item type, location of pattern, and which yarn I've queued for it) Whew.

Tried learning a new way of purling that leaves the yarn behind the needle. Called Norwegian purling. And while it does keep you from having to move the yarn over the needle, it incorporates alot of wrist movement and significantly increases your gauge. Which is good if you're on a deadline....but overall, not really impressed.

Still conducting my bus study. If I knit, will the empty seat next to me be the last one to be filled? If I read and switch to knitting, will the person next to me get up? You know, I personally would choose the knitter over the scary big guy, but hey. To each is own.

Tree, who's been faithfully attending SnB with me all these months, is leaving :( I'm bummed we won't be able to hang out anymore! But she's coming back for a week in December (while you're here Kami) so we'll get to see eachother again before she leaves for France.

Stitch n Bitch Nation

Debbie's new book is out, and my tip is in it! And she's mailing a copy to me next week! I can't stop talking in !'s !

Met some new people last night, trying to get together with them later this week. Very satisfied with progress in expansion of friends network.

Woohoo! I finally finished it! 

Obsession

When Nate and I went to see the Bourne Supremacy, I was very interested in Julia Stiles' scarf. (A sign of how obsessed I am with knitting) Yesterday, in a fit of boredom, I googled it and found out I wasn't the only other person who wanted to copy her scarf. A whole board had devoted 5 pages of posts to try to determine what yarn it was (Berroco Medley) and what the pattern was (the jury's still out on that). Knitters Review. Amazing.

And before I forget - the lone sock. Who will forever be doomed to a life of spinsterhood because I chose the wrong type of yarn. Sigh. 

Here - my first attempt at lace. And using fingering weight yarn. Results? A little scarflet and a resolution to not knit for a few days... 

A shift in focus

After a long conversation with Kami Sunday, I think this blog is going to get a new title. This weekend, I made good progress on sewing my Halloween costume, finished knitting the back of my sweater, and baked a pie. Combined with the curtains I altered (to cover my cabinets) and the redecorating I did last week, I am, in Kami's words, filling in Martha Stewart's void. I'm becoming far too domestic. Must go out more!

Though I am pretty happy with my new sweater :) I say that now.....who knows if it'll actually fit.

Fluency

They say that if you have a dream in a foreign language you've become fluent. When I ordered a quarter pound of ground beef at the meat market on a class trip to Germany, I felt I was at least on my way.

However, when I started to stare at the cuffs of my sweater in an attempt to discern the knitting pattern, I knew it had gone too far. Though I hold to the idea that a few well-placed yarn overs in the knitted rows of stockinette would make for a nice design. Sigh.

And you are?

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.

What kind of yarn are you?
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