pieces of string too small to save

I knit? Yes I do! A few months ago (January), I made a little square monster for Johanna’s birthday gift. Wednesday she asked if I would make two more so she could give them to friends in need. So, yesterday I dug around in my odds ‘n ends and pulled out a couple yarns to work with. I knit these two little Meeps last night in no time at all. The eyes took considerably longer. One will be going to Bulgaria.

These photos were taken in the office. The light in there is super and the color looks fantastic. I wish I could bring in all my stuff and photograph them there. Plus the bookshelf in the back makes a good background.

This morning, since I had NO SCHOOL OBLIGATIONS, I enjoyed the empty house and worked on a few things that I’d been missing. I dyed the remaining ounces of a pound of Falklands. Those are still drying, so photos will come later. Two of them turned out really dull and muddy, so I think I’ll spin them together and make one really big skein of bland boredom. I also finally got to my laundry, but that’s not interesting. 

I took a bunch of pictures of Phoebe the other evening because she was lying in the middle of the floor and being adorable. Yawning, sticking her tongue out, being fluffy. Her hair is finally starting to grow back! She doesn’t look quite so mangy anymore.

Monday night I saw Iron Man. Luckily, the best housewares Goodwill is in the same plaza as the theater, so I took a look around before going to the movie. They had loads of Pyrex stuff, but mostly ugly ones. Ugly Pyrex? How dare I say such a thing! Ever see Early American? Blerg. I’m all about the Verde, obviously, and there just happen to be two pieces there that night. One was a round dish missing its lid and one was a small dish missing its lid. The small one was marked as having a lid, but it was no where to be found. I bought it anyway because it completes the 3-piece Bake, Serve & Store set that I had two pieces for already. 

I also picked up to green mugs that go along with the other three mugs that I seem to be collecting. The middle one, which looks quite different from the others, was the very first. The two on the left I swapped with Cosy for; I gave her three matching ones that didn’t go with mine. The two on the right are the newest additions. 

Since you’ve all been so supportive of me the last few weeks, I ought to let you know…

I AM DONE WITH SCHOOL! 

This morning at 8 am I did my very last presentation for my capstone. No more finals, no more papers to turn in.  Now on to some exciting summer projects!

May 12 I am planning for an etsy shop update. The following two yarns will be part of those that will be added. There will be several other yarns too and some dyed fiber. Over the course of the summer I plan to continue adding to the shop. I’m thinking that if I spinning fiber does not sell before the listing expires I will take it down and spin it myself.

 
Bubbly Pie. Falklands. Looks better in person.

Zesty Tangy Tart. Falklands. So super squishy!

Another summer project is, of course, garage sale, thrift store, and flea market scouring. I’m still looking for Pyrex, but I’ve decided to open my search to include textiles (towels, linens, etc.) and other kitchen utensils. I finally got pictures of these new additions, although now they aren’t the newest.  The Goodwill in Hermitage ROCKS! It is definitely the best spot for finding loads of loot. 

Juice carafe, Brownie pan, Tea kettle, Glass pitcher

I joined something! Weeee. All semester I’ve wanted to join a knit-along, but time contraints prevented it. However, I have a meager THREE DAYS left of the semester and then I am FREE from the shackles of education. So, I read about the Summer of Socks ‘08  via Zhenya’s blog and decided to hop on board.  I thought of you, Christabel, when I saw this!

Can you believe all the green that’s coming out on the trees! After such a wacky winter, it makes me feel so alive! But, as you know, regardless of leaves, I have a desperate love of green - the color, that is. And, as is evident from all the rest of my housewares, I tend to collect it.

This green glass dish I found for $1.00 at an incredibly scurvy flea market today. Even the bag he gave me was filthy. Beggars can’t be choosers. It didn’t come with its lid, but I thought it’d be fun for putting things in none the less.

And some green fiber to round things out. It started out as white Romney locks that I dyed with Koolaid in the crockpot. Love the smell!! Before spinning I teased out the ends and then just went for it. I left it on the bobbin for a long time before skeining. I haven’t named it yet, so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

All those beautiful flowers and bright sunshine have been making their way into my soul all week. I couldn’t resist the temptation to dye any longer! I wanted to dye one that was green and pink like the leaves and blossoms, but it didn’t quite work. I’ll try again next time.

The Sun Came Back. Falklands, 3 ounces.

Leaves Alive. Falklands, 3 ounces.

Unnamed! Corriedale, 4 ounces.

I’m terribly pleased with the progress of this cardigan. Who know it could be so easy? Well, I’m sure someone had told me, but I tend to come to things in my own time, regardless of what anyone else says. It’s been a very soothing project to have whilst finishing my degree. I like just being able to pick it up and not have to wonder where I left off. It’s just knitting. Plus the colorwork element is a bit fun. When it’s cold again and I need a cardigan, I’ll look at these bright greens and think of spring and life.

This morning I put it on to see how far I had to go. Apparently not far. That’s one bonus to being extremely short-waisted! Sweaters don’t have to be very long. I’m thinking 3/4 length sleeves and a ribbed button band. I’ve never done a button band, but it can’t be that bad, right?

The crumpled mess below is the top part of a raglan cardigan I couldn’t help but start knitting on Friday. The sweater explosion that has been sweeping through my blogroll [Cosy, Cheryl, Christabel] has made me desperate to knit one of my own… so I did. I referred to the Anthropologie-inspired capelet’s percentages just to get an idea of where you split fronts/sleeves/back. Otherwise, I just went for it.

Grey yarn = recycled Express sweater
Green yarns = my handspun
Needles = size 9
Pattern = no prior thought raglan

Something knitting-related?? What!? Yes, indeedy-do. Modeled by my Father, these socks were made using Knit Picks Felici, colorway Clay. Knit on size 2 circulars (2-circs method).  Ribbing on top, stockinette foot.  The stripes don’t match and I don’t care. In fact, it would have been an impossibility because halfway through there was a knot and the striping reversed!  If I had actually been making the stripes match, I would have been mad.

I had to beg him to put them on so I could take pictures. He said modeling was quite exhausting. He just sat there with his feet up on my spinning stool. Sheesh. I asked if he would wear them to work and tell all his pals I made them. He said, “oh, I guess I could do that.” How long have you been asking me to knit for you???? I’ll just chalk it up to non-emotional men.

I’m so jealous of people with free time! Watching everyone else’s progress… arrrr… I want to knit a sweater! I want to dye huge batches of wool!

i want to be done with school…

The main problem is not that I don’t have things to share. It’s that I don’t have time to photograph them! I spun some of the new Corriedale and it was really nice. I got 120 yards out of 4 ounces, which is a lot for me. There was a conscious effort to spin finer. It seemed to work.