tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50399189516717681572024-03-07T09:04:36.768-05:00Grad School KnitterKnitting my way to a PhD!
Find me on Ravelry: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/gradskoolknitter">Gradskoolknitter</a>!gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.comBlogger658125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-50115677744701842022014-01-17T10:41:00.001-05:002014-01-17T10:41:15.773-05:00what I did with my winter vacation<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11996167485/" title="Stripes, actually"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/11996167485_ce52e3c6b3.jpg" alt="Stripes, actually by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11996167485/">Stripes, actually</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Although school has been out for almost a month, I still cannot say that my knitting speed has picked up much. So really the only thing I have to show for my "time off" is this cowl.*<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11996457533/" title="Stripy stripes by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/11996457533_393f238474.jpg" width="480" height="482" alt="Stripy stripes"></a><br /><br />Pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/duotone-cowl">Duotone Cowl</a> on ravelry.<br />Yarn is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/malabrigo-yarn-silky-merino">Malabrigo Silky Merino</a> almost exactly one skein each of dill and purple mystery (I brought 2 of each and I really truly thought I was going to run out of the dill towards the end but it made it with just yards to spare!).<br />Mods: none, except for that <a href="http://gradschoolknitter.blogspot.ca/2013/12/extra-rows.html">pesky extra row</a> that showed up uninvited. Since it's only on one side of the tube it can be turned to the inside and never seen again!<br /><br />*OK, so I did do some academicky things, like go to a conference and interview for several jobs, work on proposals/papers for conferences, finalize syllabi for the new semester, etc etc... which on paper actually looks like a lot, but the knitting was scarce amongst those others.</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-51230207935625003052014-01-06T13:06:00.001-05:002014-01-06T13:06:56.377-05:00last 2013 knit<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11707625874/" title="garter shawl"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/11707625874_5ffee5e759.jpg" alt="garter shawl by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11707625874/">garter shawl</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>2013 (especially the second half) was not great for knitting production. New jobs, moves, etc all kept me away from the needles. Not that I'm complaining... a job is a good thing, even when it doesn't afford one much time to knit.<br /><br />My last finished knit of 2013 was a shawl for DH's grandmother. Just a simple garter triangle (start with 3 stitches, increase on one side until out of one ball of yarn then decrease on same side until out of stitches) made out of Patons North American Classic Worsted in Natural. I didn't get any other pictures, so unfortunately this one of her unwrapping other gifts will have to do.<br /><br />In 2014 I'm hoping I'll have a little more time for knitting. I'm only teaching 2 classes in the Spring instead of 3, and one is a repeat from last semester, which will also help. So I'm returning to my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-sock-swap">beloved sock swap</a>, moderating and swapping for the 12th swap. Sign ups are open from Jan 1 - 31 and swapping will take place from Feb 1 - April 30. There's also a special deal from <a href="http://www.yarnmountain.com/servlet/StoreFront">yarn mountain</a> for swappers, so be sure to sign up soon (offer is only good until Jan 15, I believe).<br /><br />Happy new year of knitting!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-43145601033841960522013-12-30T22:05:00.001-05:002013-12-30T22:05:54.030-05:00extra rows<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11659450184/" title="extra rows"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2843/11659450184_fce7141414.jpg" alt="extra rows by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11659450184/">extra rows</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>See that one line of purple in the midst of those 3 green rows there? That is not supposed to be there. Or maybe it's the first row of green that is out of place? Either way, I somehow picked this back up in the middle of a round and started over with one or the other when I was supposed to. The other side looks fine, you'd never know that there was a huge, honking error staring at you from behind. But there is.<br /><br />So, do I rip back a considerable amount? Or just wear that side on the inside of the cowl? I'm inclined not to rip it out, but maybe it'll look worse in the light of day...</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-63120504305241740002013-12-27T15:22:00.001-05:002013-12-27T15:22:31.516-05:00Last year's & new year's stashes<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11589652714/" title="Duo tone mal cowl"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/11589652714_13c4a6d610.jpg" alt="Duo tone mal cowl by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11589652714/">Duo tone mal cowl</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>From last Christmas' yarn acquisition, I'm finally making a cowl out of the two colours of malabrigo silky merino that DH gave me. He gave me similar yarn this year that might make a hat or mitts to match... sadly no pics of that yarn yet.<br /><br />What I do have, however, are pictures of two (yes two) knit picks samplers gifted to me by my in-laws. They were very generous and got me the <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/kits/Autumn_Stroll_Sampler__D41222.html">Autumn Stroll Sampler</a> and the Monochrome Sampler (which appears to have been discontinued/is no longer on the website). <br /><br />My own pics of the yarns can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/sets/72157639090115214/">here for the autumn set</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/sets/72157639085789356/">here for the monochrome</a>.<br /><br />I hope everyone had a happy holiday and got all the yarn their heart desired!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-39251412775960258282013-12-25T12:15:00.001-05:002013-12-25T12:15:31.788-05:00Cabled <3<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11547670653/" title="Cabled "><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/11547670653_b18e16c32b.jpg" alt="Cabled by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11547670653/">Cabled </a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>An (almost finished) Christmas hat for my niece. All that is missing is the pom-pom and a couple of i-cords to tie it under her chin. We won't seen them until after New Years, so fortunately I think I have more than enough time to finish it off!<br /><br />Pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/i-heart-cables">I heart cables</a> and yarn is Drops Alpaca held double. Did the toddler size, since niece is 1.5 years and already wearing 2T clothes.<br /><br />Haven't knit much this year (teaching and researching is time-consuming!) but I did get a lot of knitting-related stuff for Christmas! Will try to show it off soon, including the awesome light-box/tripod set-up DH got me! (Didn't bring it along with us, so a background of monkey-knitting-pjs will have to suffice for now.)</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-23120739822243435182013-11-29T10:25:00.001-05:002013-11-29T10:25:58.839-05:00biased, garter, baby blanket<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11117682575/" title="biased garter blanket"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/11117682575_d267f5bef9.jpg" alt="biased garter blanket by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11117682575/">biased garter blanket</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I do love me some garter stitch on the bias. Not to mention using up all those little, soft, leftovers of sock yarn held together... perfection!<br /><br />This is going to be the much-overdue present for a babe who joined my circle of friends and family this past year. If I'm this behind on baby things I'm not sure how I'm going to get to any of the holiday things I planned to make... but I'm going to try anyway! 26 days until Christmas.... although I do get an extra 10 before we actually head home to see my side of the family!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-46421195878076988772013-11-23T13:01:00.001-05:002013-11-23T13:01:51.459-05:00swedish stripes yellow toes<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11013228846/" title="swedish stripes yellow toes"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/11013228846_ecfc300478.jpg" alt="swedish stripes yellow toes by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/11013228846/">swedish stripes yellow toes</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>DH lived in Sweden, once upon a time, and very much likes all things Swedish. Ikea, meatballs, and the combination of yellow and blue. (Yes, I know, there are lots more things about Sweden, and he likes most of them too... especially fish paste in a tube—<a href="http://www.dlc.fi/~marianna/gourmet/kalles.htm">no, really, it's a thing</a>.)<br /><br />Anyway, I got some yellow and blue sock yarn in my most recent <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-sock-swap">international sock swap package</a> and I thought it would be the perfect combo for him. <br /><br />No pattern, just cast on 64, knit 10 rows of twisted 1x1 rib, and then 2 rounds of yellow, 4 rounds of blue. Jogless joins for the colour changes.* Short row heels and yellow toes (per his request).<br /><br />*To work stripes so that the jog isn't quite so noticeable, do the following: Knit one round with your new colour. When you return to the beginning of the round, lift the first stitch in the previous colour onto your lefthand needle and knit it together with the first stitch of the second round of your new colour. You'll still be able to see a bit of a change if you look carefully, but it won't be so glaringly obvious...</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-45954451608443423852013-11-17T09:52:00.001-05:002013-11-17T09:52:53.625-05:00mini prof<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/10905213655/" title="profe vest"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/10905213655_42d5bac61f.jpg" alt="profe vest by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/10905213655/">profe vest</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>As a distraction from the <a href="http://gradschoolknitter.blogspot.com/2013/10/so-far-so-sleeveless.html">sweater that may never end</a> (although it has gotten sleeves since last seen, so that's something... but it doesn't take away from the fact that I'm going to have to do some major surgery in order to add more length to the body), I cast on one of the several baby gifts that I've been meaning/needing to make for the many babies that have recently come into the lives of my friends... <br /><br />Thus the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-professor-vest">baby professor vest</a> for the baby of a friend who is also in academia. I'm hoping it will fit him around Christmas time, and they happen to live in a part of the world where they won't necessarily need much more than this, even in their so-called winter. <br /><br />Yarn is knit picks swish worsted, less than 1.5 skeins.<br />Needles: US 7<br />Mods: None</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-273307955340362032013-10-06T16:03:00.001-04:002013-10-06T16:03:43.822-04:00so far, so sleeveless<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/10123911273/" title="sleeveless"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3740/10123911273_3b96bc12d4.jpg" alt="sleeveless by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/10123911273/">sleeveless</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I've been knitting away on my colourblock sweater in all my spare time (aka none), but I've finally bound off the shoulders and started the sleeves. <br /><br />I'm trying to decide if I'll need to add any length to the sweater, but I might wait to see if it grows with blocking. The sleeves will be purple, and I might also use that for the collar but I also have enough grey (if I don't add length to the body).<br /><br />Not very interesting, I know, but stockinette is about all I can handle right now!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-67582435981403583852013-09-23T19:20:00.001-04:002013-09-23T19:23:39.185-04:00thank gord for forgotten packages on a long Monday<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9905540013/" title="Forgotten packages"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/9905540013_7a8f82fb3c.jpg" alt="Forgotten packages by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9905540013/">Forgotten packages</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Today felt long. Longer than long. I don't really know why except that maybe it had something to do with my students not doing as well as I hoped on an assignment (yes, those things bum out profs almost as much as they bum out the students receiving the marked-up papers...) or perhaps because of the lunch meeting that was not really as stimulating as one might hope (although there was free food...)<br /><br />In any case, whatever the reason, today felt extra long, and it was, of course, a Monday. But I did return home to find a package that I had almost forgotten about! I bought some yarn that a friend of a friend was destashing on Ravelry last week and it showed up today! Two skeins of blue moon fiber arts "socks that rock" (one lightweight, on the lower right and one mediumweight, upper/left) in mill ends colours. I don't know what I'm going to do with them yet, but the lightweight screams Christmas to me, so I hope that by December I'll have had the chance to make myself some Christmas-y socks, perhaps?<br /><br />I had almost thrown out the packaging before I felt a little bump in the bottom, and when I felt around inside, I found these:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9905528073/" title="Forgotten packages by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/9905528073_4f54ceb244.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Forgotten packages"></a><br /><br />Adorable earrings shaped like balls of yarn with needles stuck in them!! I'm so glad they didn't get thrown out! The destashing raveler in question apparently makes them, so I'll try to get the name/url of her shop so that I can pass it along to anyone who is interested. ETA: her shop is <a href="http://doubledeedesigns.storenvy.com/">Double Dee Designs!</a><br /><br />Now to find some food and then to collapse... at least Tuesdays are generally short around here!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-85904709985950259192013-09-19T15:31:00.001-04:002013-09-19T15:31:13.723-04:00progress<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9803544666/" title="Another terrible office shot"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/9803544666_cf3a924077.jpg" alt="Another terrible office shot by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9803544666/">Another terrible office shot</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>It might be boring, but it's progress all the same! <br /><br />I've come to the end of the teal (that bit at the top is all that is left) and I've started on a ball of grey. I'm going to knit about 2.5 inches of grey and then split for the sleeves. I was hoping to get a teeeeeeny bit more out of the teal, but the skein ends where the skein ends, you know? <br /><br />Next time you see this, it'll be so much more exciting, what with the whole other colour of grey on top! Right?!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-80648970246550238572013-09-18T11:36:00.004-04:002013-09-18T11:37:14.109-04:00Autumn To-Knit ListWhat, so it's still summer-like weather where you are, too? So what?! This weekend is the official start of FALL, my favorite season (and a good colour palette for me) and I want to get into it already!
<br></br>
Things I *neeeeeed* to knit this fall:
<br></br>
1. Three... no, four baby things. 3 for babies already here, 1 for one soon to show up on the scene. I promised the summer mom's that they'd have something for their babes once the weather got cool... so maybe I should be thanking the warm weather for sticking around a little longer and giving me more time!
<br></br>
2. Holiday gifts? I'm not sure how many there will be this year, but I'm hoping to do something crafty for at least a couple of the people on my regular gift list!
<br></br>
That's probably it for things that are absolutely necessary... but of course there is always *want*:
<br></br>
1. My fingering weight st st sweater, which is actually coming along surprisingly quickly (update photos to follow shortly)!
<br></br>
2. Socks. Of course! We (meaning DH and I) can always use more socks. And I always seem to have more sock yarn...
<br></br>
3. Replacement gloves and/or mitts for me: I lost <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/arteconsobras/knotty-gloves">one of these</a> last winter and they never did get reunited... and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/arteconsobras/cindy-lou-who-cabled-mittens">these mitts</a> are finally starting to unravel/fall apart... they were the first projects I made when I got back in to knitting in 2007, they're super warm, and I'm sort of sad/in denial. I'll probably keep them around for another season or two, but they need backup.
<br></br>
I think that's it for me... what are you knitting this fall?gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-12022206751003582422013-09-17T10:30:00.001-04:002013-09-17T10:30:41.466-04:00Sock swap 10 received!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9784587165/" title="Sock swap 10"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/9784587165_94eabb6cae.jpg" alt="Sock swap 10 by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9784587165/">Sock swap 10</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I just got my swap package from this past swap and even though I took part in the "frugal" group my knitter was way overly generous. Interestingly enough, the partner I sent to downstream was also my upstream partner! (We don't usually plan it that way but sometimes it just works out.) So, if you remember what my <a href="http://gradschoolknitter.blogspot.com/2013/09/faster-than-speed-of-light.html">swap package looked like</a> you will notice that we basically just traded green socks! hehe! <br /><br />And a close up of the fantabulous socks, so you can see how well they fit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9784418131/" title="Sock swap 10 by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/9784418131_4311bc715d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Sock swap 10"></a><br /><br />Unfortunately my camera seems to have gone missing (I know it's around, I've seen it, but that's the way with moving... everything finds a new home and then I can't find it again), so I had to rely on my iPhone for these pics... hopefully it'll show up again soon so I can show off the slow, somewhat boring progress of my fingering weight stockinette stitch sweater!<br /><br />There's still time to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-sock-swap">sign up for the next swap</a>! Sign ups are open until Sept 30 and swapping/knitting will take place between Oct 1 and Dec 31!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-80519447910211159812013-09-14T16:43:00.001-04:002013-09-14T16:43:40.894-04:00Christmas not Christmas<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9741403111/" title="Christmas not Christmas"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/9741403111_0863e6fa8b.jpg" alt="Christmas not Christmas by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9741403111/">Christmas not Christmas</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I saw these at a garage sale this morning and had an idea... the 5 in packages are new and were 0.10$ a piece. The three in the gold frames were a set for $1.00 and I actually want them just for the frames... and the kits mostly for the thread. I have an idea, and it might become a Christmas present, but I don't think it will be Christmas themed....<br /><br />Cryptic, I know, but sometimes surprises are more fun when they are actually surprises!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-58946379852119681182013-09-07T08:38:00.001-04:002013-09-07T08:40:44.531-04:00faster than the speed of light<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9684068953/" title="iss12_003_medium"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/9684068953_e04a19ef9b.jpg" alt="iss12_003_medium by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9684068953/">iss12_003_medium</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>It's a bird, it's a plane.... no, it's my swappee's package!*<br /><br />I sent it last Friday and she received it (in Europe, no less) on Tuesday!! She took much better pictures than I, so I'm posting them here to show you how well they fit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9687309264/" title="iss12_006_medium by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3673/9687309264_0f8a0b1e41.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="iss12_006_medium"></a><br /><br />I think the "will they fit" worry is even worse than the "will it get lost in transit" one... so hurray on both points!!<br /><br />In other knitting news, I'm trying to make myself a colour-block style sweater... and by "trying to make" I mean "making it up as I go along". So we'll see how that works out. So far, it hasn't gotten a lot of attention:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9674402832/" title="Color block 1 by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/9674402832_21ea2afa30.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Color block 1"></a><br /><br />but it is simple enough that I can work on it while I'm reading, etc, in my office (also pictured above).<br /><br />*The sock swap is open again for sign-ups!! If you are interested or want more information, please <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-sock-swap">come check us out on ravelry</a>!!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-79225863213096042612013-08-30T07:52:00.001-04:002013-08-30T07:54:06.377-04:00monkeying around (again)<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9619523253/" title="monkeys again"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/9619523253_636651c043.jpg" alt="monkeys again by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9619523253/">monkeys again</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I'm baaaaaaaack. In the interim I've moved, started a new job, cracked/lost a filling and (therefore) gone to the dentist... twice. (I have a phobia of dentists, so that's huge for me. That's right, I'm anti-dentite.)<br /><br />I also, somehow, finally finished knitting my socks for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-sock-swap">sock swap</a>. I'll be packing them up and sending them this morning!<br /><br />Pattern is the irreplaceable <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTmonkey.html">monkeys by Cookie A</a>, yarn is cascade heritage, and needles are US 1 DPNs. No mods, except that I did a partrige heel (I think that's right... where you slip one knit one on the right side?).</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-43597663535205635332013-07-29T10:28:00.001-04:002013-07-29T10:28:25.577-04:00'cause it's just not finished without buttons<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9393951936/" title="Mom's bday sweater"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/9393951936_bab5ef619e.jpg" alt="Mom's bday sweater by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9393951936/">Mom's bday sweater</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Although I finished knitting this sweater almost a month ago... and my mom's birthday was exactly a month ago.... I didn't get around to sewing the buttons on until today. In my defence, the sweater took an exorbitant amount of time to dry when blocking, and then I had to leave the country for a couple of weeks to help my DH finish packing up our old apartment... but still, it seems a little ridiculous.<br /><br />In any case, the sweater is now *officially* finished! And, if you can't tell, it's definitely in a colour she likes (the bracelets and necklace were already on before I gave her the sweater to try on). And in good/bad news, it is currently cold enough to wear a alpaca/wool sweater. Apparently the weather/mother nature didn't realize that it is still the middle of summer.<br /><br />In other knitting news, I also finished a baby hat a couple of weeks ago:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9314107717/" title="cubba commished by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/9314107717_2ef960f653.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="cubba commished"></a><br /><br />This one will go to my niece's soon to be cousin (to be born almost a year to the day that my niece was!). <br /><br />Not a whole lot more knitting has been happening, since, as I mentioned, we've been packing up and preparing to move. Our stuff, in fact, has already been delivered to our new home and we will be on our way tomorrow. We're visiting family for a few days and gave our niece some early bday presents. I'm a little sad to miss her actual birthday next month, but I'm also excited (and a little terrified) to have a "real job"... hence the move. <br /><br />Maybe I'll get a little knitting time in when I'm on the off-shift of driving? One can only hope!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-44262583579322508482013-06-18T12:19:00.001-04:002013-06-18T12:19:52.244-04:00blocking is magic<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9078136284/" title="blocking the back"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9078136284_da064da7c8.jpg" alt="blocking the back by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9078136284/">blocking the back</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Although it's a crappy picture (lighting is terrible today, plus the spot I usually block in is not really the best for photo ops), you can probably get a much better picture of how the vest I showed you the other day is turning out. <br /><br />Moral of the story: block your knits, kids.</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-3562103039370160322013-06-14T18:57:00.001-04:002013-06-14T18:57:24.849-04:00a brief and true report of the back of a vest<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9043279911/" title="back o' vest"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/9043279911_067e3b3c83.jpg" alt="back o' vest by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/9043279911/">back o' vest</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>It's been a long time, I know. Insert usual excuses here + lots of travel/new job/moving related ones too. <br /><br />Above you will (hopefully) see a picture of the back of a vest that I have been working on for far too long. I started it almost one month ago and this is as far as I've gotten. I haven't even made it to the arm-hole shaping yet. Again, I blame travel/new job/moving type things for my knit-inertia. Knitnertia?<br /><br />One thing I did finish in this last month, however, is this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8853954582/" title="graduate! by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/8853954582_ec2a67ee3e.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="graduate!"></a><br /><br />So that's something, I guess?! <br /><br />Expect more vest pics soon. I want to have it done in the next 2 weeks AND I have tons of babies to knit for. At least 3 that I know of will be born in the next month...</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-5622327125470169392013-05-18T07:51:00.001-04:002013-05-18T07:51:56.321-04:003 day shawl<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8746786809/" title="ishbel"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8746786809_5df1994006.jpg" alt="ishbel by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8746786809/">ishbel</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Started this on a Thursday, bound off on a Saturday... world record for fastest shawl?! Of course, I made the smaller size, and currently have nothing better to do... so at least I get something out of all my tv watching time!<br /><br />Pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel">Ishbel</a>.<br />Yarn is Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in logwood.<br />Needles: US 5<br />Mods: none, except that I blocked it wrong... there shouldn't be a point at the bottom, but rather two points on either side of the center, which seems counterintuitive to me. But for now I'm going to leave it as is.</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-50826644344525306752013-05-15T07:46:00.001-04:002013-05-15T07:46:51.560-04:00So many things...<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8741278980/" title="OppAtt #1"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/8741278980_63c5a8e3c2.jpg" alt="OppAtt #1 by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8741278980/">OppAtt #1</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>It's been a busy week and the needles have been flying! I finished the first of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oppatt">OppAtt Socks</a> a few days ago and I am thrilled that they fit me. I was a bit concerned since the pattern really puckers in when not on, and makes the sock look really small. But it fits really really well, which makes me really really happy!<br /><br />Here's another angle, for better pattern viewing: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8741278700/" title="OppAtt #1 by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8741278700_277f69c34f.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="OppAtt #1"></a><br /><br />Also on (and then rapidly off) the needles this week were a couple of baby hats:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8736795750/" title="elfish by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/8736795750_7b70a43be9.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="elfish"></a><br />The first was of my own design, a little elfish-style number, that may go to my niece's soon-to-be cousin (no, not ME... my SIL's brother's wife is due in August).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8737614093/" title="scrappy hat by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/8737614093_bdfdbe15e8.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="scrappy hat"></a><br />And a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-scrappy-gnome-hat">scrappy gnome hat</a>, which is going to a friend who has an up-and-coming photography business and wanted some props. There might be a few more of these in the future... there are lots of babies being born in my circle of family and friends and this was an awesome stash buster for all those bits and bobs of leftovers that I would never get around to using otherwise.</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-75031646163968708532013-05-13T08:33:00.001-04:002013-05-13T08:33:27.935-04:00just in time... for summer?<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8733894694/" title="hoodie front"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/8733894694_be96bff2a1.jpg" alt="hoodie front by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8733894694/">hoodie front</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p><i>yes, it did cool off here this weekend. no, it did not cool off <b>that much</b>!</i><br /><br />I've been holding off on posting about this sweater for some time. I was hoping when I knit it (late Jan/early Feb, which probably makes more sense for the pictures, yes?) that I would find the time to write up the pattern and send it in somewhere for potential publication. Well, it's almost summer now, so I don't think that's going to happen. And since there has been a serious dearth of knitting around here lately, I figured it was as good a time as any to share it.<br /><br />DH was extremely patient and a very good knit model, so I took a number of pictures from various angles:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8732778649/" title="hoodie side by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8732778649_cccba0a1d7.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="hoodie side"></a><br />the side...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8733895538/" title="hoodie by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8733895538_23ef9f7371.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="hoodie"></a><br />the back... <br /><br />And the quintessential knitwear model pose:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8732778943/" title="knit wear modeling by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/8732778943_9ba8b37554.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="knit wear modeling"></a><br /><br />The pattern was my own, based on/adapted from a picture we saw online, from diesel I believe. The yarn was some dorset sheep's wool that I got last September at the WNY Fiber Festival, approximately 1155 yards. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/arteconsobras/sweater-boy">Raveled here.</a></p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-59400863926562666372013-05-11T14:03:00.001-04:002013-05-11T14:03:48.580-04:00return of the mojo<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8728383911/" title="ishbel unblocked"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/8728383911_057b11b074.jpg" alt="ishbel unblocked by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8728383911/">ishbel unblocked</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I did a lot of traveling in April (more on that in the not-so-distant, but not today, future), which one would think would give me plenty of airport knitting time... which it did. But aside from airports, I really didn't knit much. Nor did I knit the above shawl. That happened over the course of the past 3 days. After more than a months hiatus (or at least semi-hiatus, but airport time never counts for anything, does it?) I knit a shawl in less than 3 days. Started Thursday AM and bound off just a short time ago. Obviously it will need some major blocking, but that's the easy part.<br /><br />So what about those lost airport hours? Well, they yielded this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8728384291/" title="oppatt #1 by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/8728384291_c501cd082a.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="oppatt #1"></a><br /><br />And not even all of that. I meant to cast on for the shawl Wednesday night, but forgot to bring the pattern (which is Ysolda Teague's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel">Ishbel</a> by the way) with me to knit night. Instead, I kept plugging away at this sock that won't seem to ever end, the first of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oppatt">OppAtt</a> socks. I'm a little concerned (ok, a lot concerned) that the pattern is going to make for a tight fit... in which case these will be put away for someone's birthday or holiday gift, someone with skinnier ankles than I.</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-15581537998145798422013-05-09T12:41:00.001-04:002013-05-09T12:41:29.865-04:00swap package!!!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8722503281/" title="kai mei socks"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/8722503281_51f1bc0a26.jpg" alt="kai mei socks by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8722503281/">kai mei socks</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Squeeee! Just got my swap package from the 9th <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-sock-swap">international sock swap</a>! These socks flew to me all the way from New Zealand, and just in time! The pattern is the memorable Kai-Mei from Cookie A's first sock book. I had knit a pair of these for myself several years ago and <i>just</i> (as in less than a week ago) threw them out because a giant hole had formed in one of the toes and unraveled a large section of the underside of the foot. Irreparable. And somehow, my swap partner had the foresight to replace them for me!<br /><br />The rest of the package was awesome too, as you will see:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8722503641/" title="jewel yarn by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7346/8722503641_30f55ac9d1.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="jewel yarn"></a><br />100% NZ merino! And the colour! Swoon!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8722503839/" title="project bag by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/8722503839_3fd324f212.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="project bag"></a><br />A project bag...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8723624672/" title="goodies by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/8723624672_f841f61c80.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="goodies"></a><br />... filled with goodies!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8722504363/" title="drawstring bag by gradschoolknitter, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/8722504363_547850017d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="drawstring bag"></a><br />And another, bigger bag, with a drawstring and a NZ pin!<br /><br />Big thanks to my swap buddy! I love everything!<br /><br />Want your OWN swap partner and goodies from anywhere in the world?! We are currently holding sign-ups for our next swaps, until May 31! You can check us out <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-sock-swap">on ravelry</a>!!</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5039918951671768157.post-75944895542754856952013-04-16T07:33:00.001-04:002013-04-16T07:33:46.732-04:00pugiversary!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8655126016/" title="pugiversary!"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8655126016_2ee07aa9d9.jpg" alt="pugiversary! by gradschoolknitter" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/8655126016/">pugiversary!</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gradschoolknitter/">gradschoolknitter</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p><i>“We are all a little weird and life is a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." ~ Dr Seuss. </i><br /><br />I am so lucky to have found someone who is compatibly weird with me. So much so that I knew he would enjoy getting a knit pug for our 2nd year anniversary, which everyone knows is the pug year. Since we can't have pets in our apt, I made him one out of cotton instead... <br /><br />Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pug-with-anorak">Pug with Anorak</a><br />Yarn: Knitpicks Cotlin<br />Needles: US 5<br />Mods: Smaller yarn and needles than called for. Didn't make the jacket due to a lack of time and the wrong sorts of materials. Gave him a scarf instead (in part because his head was a little wobbly).</p>gradschoolknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835176150164480201noreply@blogger.com0