How I’m spending my Winter Vacation…

…I’m knitting! Finally! Of course, I had to wrap a partially finished sock and yarn for Evan, and a bag of yarn for Ethan with with promise of new socks by Jan. 3, but so far, I’m making good on my Christmas promise:

These are Evan’s new slipper socks, hot off the needles.   I used Elizabeth Zimmerman’s pattern “Woodsman’s Thick Socks” with double-stranded Plymouth Encore worsted weight yarn from my stash.  I had made a pair for Ethan several years ago, which Evan has been wearing; needless to say, they are now too small (I came to this conclusion when I saw the boy’s feet in them, complete with the heels in the middle of his arches.  I thought it was probably time to give the kid his own pair that actually fits.) So…these are just fine.  Better yet: They. Are. Done.

Coming soon…a pair for the older boy. (Note: I’m on a deadline–he goes back to school on Sunday.)

Question: What is both yarn-crazy and reinventing itself…again??

Answer: This blog!!!!  ”Bossygirl” has been so patient, waiting all summer and fall for me to get my blogging act together.  All four of my past readers know well that I tend to go dark once school starts, and this fall was no exception.  The good news is that Phoenix Middle School is rounding the corner toward the middle of our third (!) year; the better news is that the Phoenix Knitters are off and knitting like crazy.  We meet every Monday afternoon in the library…currently, we’re working on an afghan to donate.  We also have had two sessions with Kim Johnson, a professional spinner, who is trying to teach us how to spin with a drop spindle.   Oy. (More on that later).

So…after talking about it for 2 years, I’ve finally gotten a blog up and running for my Global Cultures students (click here to visit).  However, it has quickly become obvious that I need a forum for our Phoenix Knitters as well. Enter “Bossygirl.”  I’ll find out tomorrow at school whether we can access WordPress from our district server (fingers crossed.)  If not, we’ll have to access it outside of the school day.

For Phoenix Knitters: what kind of  knitting information would you like to find, discuss, learn about through this blog?

For the other four readers (if you’re still out there):  Who taught you how to knit? How long have you been knitting?

Nice to be back.

Ballband Dishcloth Redux.

The orange wasn’t doing it for me, so (surprise, surprise), I frogged it and had a do-over.  So here’s the new and improved Ballband Dishcloth (details on Ravelry under “Bossygirl”). The yarn is Lily Sugar ‘n Cream in “Cornflower” and “Over The Rainbow”.  Hey, I’m just glad that I had it on and off the needles quickly–I can tell I’m in Summer Knitting Mode.

Isn’t it amazing what a little color on string can do?

Love this knitting thing.

A Little Summer Diversion

I  must have the concentration of a gnat.  I am happy to say that Kaffe Fasset sock #1 is done…yay.  However, instead of picking up and casting on #2, I trotted upstairs to my stash and bookshelves and pulled out yarn and directions for another Maxon-Dixon Ballband Dishcloth.  It just seemed to be calling me, like a moth to a flame, like peanut butter to chocolate, like …I don’t know–yarn to needles.  Pretty, sherbet-colored yarn to cool, smooth, bamboo needles.

(Really?)

Oh well…it makes me a happy little gnat, regardless.

Speaking of happiness…here’s another shot from the Rome trip.  Let me summarize it by saying that I did love the landscapes, the art, the history, the people; but give me cheese, please.

*sigh*

Ciao!

School was out June 12…and off we flew to Italy and Greece for 1o days.  (When I say “we”, I mean me, two teachers, 18 freshmen, some parents, and my family (DH, 2 teenage boys) and my mom. )  It was truly the trip of a lifetime–and hard to put into words.  We got home about a week ago, and all I can think about is where we can go next…

Mom and me in front of the Trevi fountain in Rome, fresh off the plane on the morning of Day 1.  Note the gelato (had some every day.  When in Rome…)

Florence, from the Ponte Vecchio.

From our hotel room in Delphi, Greece.  Wow.

Some of the gang in front of the Parthenon.  My two are in the hats.

The guys in Greece.  Love ‘em.

On the trip, I started a pair of socks as well- Regia this time, a Kaffe Fasset colorway.

I’m using a pattern by Jessica of Zarzuela Knits and Crochets…I love it.  I’ve had it for a year or two, but I think there may be an updated version on Ravelry.  It’s got two of my favorite characteristics: toe-up and done on a circular needle.  I probably could’ve done a reinforced heel as well, but didn’t have instructions for that abroad.

In the meantime, a knitting update:  Just finished a lime green Lamar scarf (pattern on Ravelry).  Love the pattern and the yarn (Berrocco “Comfort”, in this case chosen for a gal that demands 100% itch-free fiber).

Hobbes was happy to help me by modeling the newly- FO.

And, as is my summer tradition…It’s Wimbledon time.  Knitting and good tennis on summer vacation? *sigh*

Back to school

I do love my job, but getting back into the routine this week was tough.  There were grades to enter, lesson plans to make, places to go in the evening…but at the end of the week, the cold, rainy weather dried up, and spring decided to make a little comeback.  Good thing, too–prom was Friday night.  Here are a couple of shots of Evan and his date, Sara:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (Awwwww.)

Some knitting actually happened, too.  Pictures coming soon.

Finally: an official FO…

(…as in “Finished Object”, Jane, Ann, and Mari.) It seems I have many projects started and almost done, but apparently I’m having closure issues with them.  At last, one has crossed the finish line.

This is called a “Fidget”.  I was led to the pattern and yarn this summer at A Tangled Tale over in Powell.  (Really great LYS).  The pattern is by Robin Dodge, and can be found on Ravelry.  I really love the Misti Alpaca Hand Paint  Chunky yarn–ok, I love alpaca anything.  I liked the interesting stitch pattern, which was easy to pick up, but varied enough to hold off the running fits, as my mom would say. This worked up quickly, but I only just finished it today when I–finally–found the buttons for it. True to form, I had bought them in July, but had promptly hid them from myself in my workroom, (which just got straightened up today as my annual first day of spring break ritual).  So… FO!

This is the best shot of the actual color way. Habanero, I think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How it looks on a real person:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All stretched out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awesome buttons:  Tagua Nut, from On The Surface.

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, in the interest of equal time…Lucy in a pensive moment.

I (hope I) can see clearly now.

Can you see them?  Look closely! See, there they are…new contacts in those eyes.  I’m trying them (yet) again. Call me crazy.  Happily, I can still knit with them in (pro).  Of course, the wrinkles around my eyes can’t hide behind my glasses anymore (con)–how about that cropping job, huh?  We’ll see…no pun intended.

Meanwhile, the left mitt is done.  I do like the pattern, and the colorway is nice…I’m not sure I’m crazy with the bolder striping on the fingers, but that’s just how the yarn works out.  

Finally, here’s a shot of Queen Izzy up on the ledge in the foyer.  It’s a cat’s life.

Knitting Club ‘09

In the craziness that was last year–our first year of our new school–I was never able to get a knitting club off the ground.  This year, however, is a different tale… 

 We meet every Monday at 3:45 ( we have to compete with Anime club every other week.  I find the fact that there is a scheduling conflict there with kids who want to be in both places fascinating. )  

Here’s the group in the library today, busily knitting away…my wonderful, talented volunteer mom / knitter extraordinaire is in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie was the first to try a “real pattern”.  She’s making a drawstring knapsack and is VERY proud of herself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leah and Mary are into learning new stitches and playing with texture. Leah’s a meticulous knittier…as in perfect gauge!–and Mary will attempt any new stitch that comes her way.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our parent volunteer taught Mary how to use a cable needle today…can you see the cables just above her basketweave pattern?  Awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth is still plugging away at casting on.  It took awhile (and a fair bit of help) to get this far.  We’ll tackle it again next time.  What a trooper! (She’s still smiling, which I take as a good sign.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marcos showed up today for the first time at the urging of a couple of other boys who have joined the group.  He’s a bit of a technician, so he picked up casting on and knitting pretty quickly.  When I started snapping pictures at the beginning of the meeting, he said he would refuse to be photographed…I would say he changed his tune, huh?  Amazing what a little success does for one. Look at that grin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the most wonderful time…of the week.

Spring Forward.

Spring Break’s just around the corner.  Daffodils are starting to bloom (even though I keep warning them that cold weather in Ohio is never done by the end of March. They just don’t listen.)  March Madness is upon us:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got the requisite spring pedicure last Saturday:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And…I’m making good progress on the Fingerless Mitts:

(Did I mention that springtime is also Girl Scout Cookie season????)

Life. Is. Fine.