back at it

Aphrodite right side, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

Well, if anyone out there is still reading, this blog is finally back in the swing of things, or at least so it seems.

Another languishing project, my aphrodite socks were started at the end of March, but I only got about 3/4 of the way down the first sock before they got cast aside. I picked the first one back up the other day and finished it off, and wasted no time in casting on the second. Otherwise, who knows when it would have happened?

These socks are made slightly differently for the right and left foot, so what we're looking at here is the right one:



The left will have the foot pattern going the opposite direction... and hopefully we'll see that one finished up real soon!

just point and shoot

neither see nor hear nor speak, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

After many too-warm-for-gloves months, I finally finished the 2nd of my knotty gloves.

I would have tried to get a better picture, but my camera died on me somewhere in Spain (which reminds me that there are still possibly some Spain pictures on the memory card...) and I was going to try it again with fresh batteries, but can't find any. So a bad mac-cam pic it is. There's no point in trying to improve on the first one as they'll all be equally bad, so here you are.

Maybe I'll ask for a new camera for Christmas, even if I can patch mine up for the time being. Any suggestions on the latest digitals? (Note: I'm mostly a point and shoot kinda gal, so don't bother with anything too fancy...)

surfacing

Handspun soothing, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

I've been less-than-productive lately, both knitting- and research-wise. And even less so in the blogosphere, which didn't seem possible. So this week I'm trying to re-surface and set some reachable goals for myself to try and get back into my knitting and work grooves.

And what better to get me back into knit-mode than handspun yarns? The green on the left (better pictured here) was sent to me by one of my wonderful moderator-helpers in the sock swap back in the first swap and the 2nd yarn was spun by the same person that taught me how to spin (see here for a better picture). Both make me happy and are lovely yarns.

Anyway, I'm hoping to have more time (and inclination) to knit and I have a few projects that are almost done (including a glove with only a finger and a half left to knit), so hopefully this space will be more busy over the next little while!

like so many loose ends

loose ends, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

Life has been pretty crazy chez gradschoolknitter, but in the next few weeks I should be wrapping up some projects and (fingers crossed) moving into a new phase in my career.

All of which means that there hasn't been a whole lot of time for my other loves of knitting and yoga. When I have had some "free" time (i.e. 2 train rides at 8 hours each last week...) I have been doing as much knitting as possible and I do have a finished (minus the ends, of course...) project. But the above is all you're going to get to see, at least until it gets to its final destination... But here's hoping I'll have some more knitting time in the near future!

La tricoteuse

La tricoteuse, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

On all my travels, you knew there would be at least one painting, in one museum that featured knitting, right?

This one was at the Petit Palais in Paris, and sadly I forgot to note the name of the artist. I've been knitting, a little, although I'm afraid I won't get much done over the next few days as I am staying with a cousin who has a very curious cat. Perhaps it's best, as I should really try to get some work done...

I can't believe it's been a month. The teaching went by so fast and now I miss it so much. Still hoping that something will pop up for the fall, if not though, I'm working on a book chapter and perhaps a few other things will get out.

Or maybe I'll just become a professional knitter? ;)

primary

primary, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

It's not that I don't have lots to tell, but time, and the desire to keep the details of what is above a little bit secret, I'll tell all later.

so much going on

IMG_0089, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

Sorry, I know I've been a bad blogger, but things are crazy busy. I'm in Spain, teaching a course for Canadian students. We left last Sunday (although it seems like so much longer already) and will be here for another 2 weeks. I'm having a great time (and I think all my students are too) but not much time for knitting or blogging. (Or yogaing for that matter!)

Anywho, above is the seed stitch baby jacket that I made for my soon-to-be niece/nephew. I made the 6-9 month size so that it will be useful around Christmas time/early Spring, hopefully. I used Universal Yarn Classic Worsted Tapestry (wool/acrylic blend... aka machine washable and dryable!). The buttons are super cute, but sadly hard to see in the picture. They're little sheep (if you couldn't tell). Fortunately I finished it last Saturday and was visiting my family so I could gift it to my brother and sister-in-law before I left. Not pictured was another meepcraft baby stuffy (this one, to be exact). I love their stuff and it supports some good friends of mine, so buy meep!craft!!

In other knitting news, I got my Sock Swap Package mere days before I left for Spain! I got an amazing package, as you can see for yourself:


(Not pictured: delicious, delicious baked goods...)

I love everything about them and the socks fit perfectly:



The pattern for the socks is apparently grace from Knitty Winter 2011. So lovely!

If you are interested in swapping, the sign ups are open (see the link above) for the next swap until June 1. I won't be participating this time because of all my travel, etc... but I know that I'll miss it!

Coming along

Coming along, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

It might not look like much, but this baby sweater is really flying off the needles. One front and the back are complete, and the second front piece is about 1/2 done.

I'm posting this from my newest "toy".... er, "productivity tool".... My new iPad!! I've already downloaded goodreader on the advice of the yarn harlot, which is a great PDF reader, that should be useful for making annotations on knitting patterns and academic articles alike.

If anyone has any suggestions as to other apps that might be useful, I'd be happy to hear about them!!!

lavender and plum

swap socks 2012 #1, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

Finally! My swap socks for the first swap of 2012 are finished! I started these Feb 20, but other, bigger projects (aka the dissertation and defense) took precedence and so the second sock, especially, hit the back burner for a while. Coupled with my forgetfulness (I was nervous and didn't pack ANY knitting for the defense trip!), these poor socks languished on the needles longer than necessary.

But no more! They're done and I'm quite happy with the way they turned out.

Pattern is Feather and Fan Socks (Rav link; also available online and free w/o rav login).
Yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in Deep Waters and Blue Violet. (Approx. .5 of a skein each.)
Needles are US 1.5 dpns.
Mods: Decreased to 68 sts over foot... 72 just seemed like too much. Decreased to 16 before grafting toe.
My pair raveled here.

Hope my partner enjoys her new socks!!

ETA: The next swap is fast approaching. Sign-ups will begin in early May. If you want to take part, check out the International Sock Swap Group on ravelry!

coming up for air

Red Thread Front, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

My apologies for the long, unannounced break... it wasn't planned, but a mixture of unseasonably warm weather (and therefore a lack of desire to knit) and then a flurry in work-related crazy (more about that shortly), meant that I was really without much to post about in the past few weeks!

This past week and a half I was back visiting friends and colleagues at my home-institution. I had a phone interview (fingers crossed) and, more importantly, I defended my thesis! Successfully, even! So it's been a whirlwind, with little time to knit. In fact... I was so nervous, packing to go to my defense that I forgot to pack any knitting! I didn't even realize until I was on my way to the airport!!

So, what's that up there, you ask? Well, I got to visit my favorite LYS while I was there and I picked up a few things to keep my mind occupied as I counted down the days... above is the front side of aphrodite in Neighborhood Fibre Co's Studio Sock. And here's the back:



I also picked up something for another special baby about to come into my life:



I'm not going to say which special baby it is, or what it is, since there are a couple and I think that some of the mommas read along.

Speaking of special babies and mommas, we had a baby shower for one of our other soon-to-bes. I made sure that baby got some hand-made love (although his momma is also an excellent knitter!):



Super Easy Baby Blanket in rainbow colours of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal.

and:



A super cute baby friend from Meep!Craft.

Ok, sorry for the super long post, but I need to make up for such a long period of absence! I promise it won't be such a long time before I post again!

the effects of global warming

celtic knot glove, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

I finished up the first of the knotty gloves a while ago, but couldn't find batteries for my camera (not that I was looking super hard...). Anyway, the batteries showed up last night, so I took this picture this morning.

However, it was 79 degrees out when I took the picture, so there was no way that I was keeping it on! In fact, it's too hot to even knit right now, especially since I can't fathom putting in the airconditioner in March. It's just wrong!

It's supposed to cool down this weekend, so maybe I'll cast on the second one then...

Raveled here.

very knotty

knotty gloves, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

you know, because the pattern is called knotty gloves...

So I decided to throw caution to the wind and start something new! A pair of gloves for me, my first gloves for me, surprisingly enough... although I am more of a mitten kind of gal. But gloves have their purposes and I have some of the conductive thread left over so I can sew some in to the fingers and use my phone without freezing my hands!

And, I ended up going down a needles size (I have small hands and the pattern suggests a smaller gauge to compensate) so my 1.5 dpns are still free to make socks should I feel some pangs of guilt.

(Requisite apologies for the mac-cam photo... my camera batteries died this morning and while I know we have more somewhere around here, I couldn't find them and wanted some instant-photo-gratification...)

one down, oooooooh shiny....

lavender and plum times one, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

I finished up the first of my sock swap socks this morning... and decided that instead of casting on the second, I'd really rather get going on my March SIAC project. I know I should finish up these first... but I really want to make something different right now. The worst part is that they both require the same set of DPNs (which, of course, is the only set I have in 1.5US, shockingly enough), so I have a really quandary on my hands.

What would you do? Finish up the socks first, or throw caution to the wind and cast on something else? The socks don't have to be mailed until the end of April, so time is not really a factor...

moonwalking on eggshells

moonwalking on eggshells, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

What a lovely surprise! I just ran out to get some things from the grocery, and upon my return what should be sitting on top of my mailbox but my much anticipated final (sniffle!) package from SpaceCadet Creations!

The colourway is called "Eggshells" (hence the blog title... space[cadet] + eggshells... welcome to my brain), and is dyed onto her "Celeste" finger weight base. (490 yards of 100% Superwash Merino!)

Sitting underneath the yarn is a project bag made out of exclusive SpaceCadet fabric! I love the look of the little space dude, so this bag will get lots of use, I'm sure!

I think I might love this package most of all, which is going to make it super hard to not sign up again... but given my looming (potential... fingers crossed that something will come around for September) unemployment, it's probably best to abstain for a round or two... but if you're interested, I happen to know that sign-ups will be open for the second half of march and can be found over at SpaceCadet Headquarters.

As for me... I have plans for this yarn already brewing in my head... we'll just have to see which one wins out!

etsy goodness!

I'm not going to post what I bought, because I want it to be a surprise for the future mamas, but I just bought some adorable baby stuff from my good friends at MeepCraft! Everything is organic or upcycled, or organic AND upcycled. It arrived today and it's cute. SO CUTE.

Thanks ladies!

What I'm Working on, Weekend Edition

googly eyes, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

Remember the Argo Sweater I started a few weeks ago? I've been slowly plucking away at it, although I had some issues with the contiguous sleeve instructions. I finally worked it all out (I think) and and now working on the sleeve increases. It's slow, but I think it'll be a great sweater when it's done.

What I've really been working on the last week or so, is a pair of socks for the international sock swap:



I hope my partner likes them!

mojo times two

mojo times two, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

Almost the same, but not quite. Mojo #1 is on the left foot, #2 on the right. #1 has the inside out toe and heel.

Pattern is mojo, on size 1.5 US dpns and using some lovely Socks that Rock lightweight in "My Wild Irish Girlie".

These are pretty crazy socks, with the pooling and the slightly mis-mashed/reversed ribbing, but I like 'em. I like 'em a lot.

mojo number 1

mojo number 1, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

These socks are so crazy. But comfy! The yarn is pooling strangely, I think in part because the changing ribbings makes things move around a bit differently (if that makes sense... I can't really find the right words to explain it, except that purling takes up a little more yarn than knitting so depending on what part of the sock you're on you'll get different amounts of yardage used).

I worked the afterthought heel with the sock inside out for this sock so that it would mirror the inside-out toe. Since the two socks are not identical, I'm excited to see how the second one will work up. Could be similar, could be totally different...

Wild Weekend WIPs

wild irish sockies, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

I've made mojos before, for the first sock swap and I loved them so much I swore I'd make myself a pair, eventually.

So, here we are, a pair of mojo socks for me, in Socks That Rock Lightweight, colourway "My Wild Irish Girlie". Love the colours in this sock and it's too wild to be in a sock with intricate lace or cable patterns, so I think mojo suits it just fine.

The rest of my wips (argo and dh's crazy mittens) haven't changed at all in the last week... maybe I'll have more to report in a week's time (especially since I'm almost done with my intro to the thesis and will have a lot of free time on my hands!).

rainbows and babies!

rainbows and babies!, a photo by gradschoolknitter on Flickr.

Need I say more?

Raveled here.