Startitis Strikes Again!

(In my head I hear the blog title said in a deep voice, followed by an evil laugh – mwahahaha!)

I’ve recently finished a lot of smaller/quick projects, as well as a couple more long-term projects.  I still have several projects on the needles that i’m kind of ambivalent about, but nothing that is calling out to me to come back to.  Sooooo…. lots of other things are calling my name. 

1. I’m signed up to test-knit a beautful cowl-neck tank top, and had to order some yarn.  I’d like to knit it in DK weight Jaggerspun wool-silk, but that yarn is a little out of my budget.  Instead, I went to knitpicks and decided to order some CotLin - I’ve been wanting to try it for a while, and I think the cotton/linen blend will be better for a florida tank top.  Of course, that yarn only cost $18, and if I order $45 I get free shipping!  So I also got….

2. More CotLin for Sizzle.  I’ve been drooling over this since it was released, and its time has finally come.

2a. In case I don’t like the CotLin for garments, I can make hand towels and washcloths.  Gotta have a backup plan!

3. Anemoi Mittens.  Beautiful colorwork in a small, portable (meaning I can knit it at work) package. 

4, 5, 6…. I went through Victorian Lace Today and copied charts for six different patterns that are now on my “to-do” list.  I’m sure after all this tank top and mitten knitting, I’m going to be itching for lace – and I have a ton of it in the stash.

Secret Squirrel Project: The designing itch is back as well.  Keri asked me a few months ago to make something for her based on a photo she found, and based on how it turns out I want to release a formal pattern.  No idea yet if it will be free, submitted somewhere, or just offered here and on ravelry, but I’m excited!  I tried for ages to find a pattern and I can’t find anything out there like this.  Yay!

I think my plate is full.  Working nights in dispatch has been good for me in many ways – after midnight, call volume drops off and it’s knitting time! 

Oh yeah – I have the next four days off while Adam’s dad visits, and tomorow is for yard/garden/housecleaning work.  Look for some updated pictures of the yard and house!

Test

Trying a new way to add pictures since my wordpress space is almost all used up…

Oooooh I think it worked! Sweet

48 Hours

In 48 hours, I made this:

Pattern: Monkeys

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill

Needles: US Size 2

This Cherry Tree Hill yarn has been knit and frogged at least three times, but once I found the right pattern it flew by.  The Monkey pattern is easy to  memorize, but it’s not very elastic and the sock came out a leeeetle big.  Next time I think I’ll try it on US 1 needles instead of US 2’s.

My first week of school is now over, and it went very well.  My online class (Intro to Psychology) looks like it’ll be interesting…maybe not fun, but it shouldn’t be too much of a pain.  I was really nervous about my Chemistry class after my instructor made a big deal about how difficult the class would be, but she gave an “assessment” test on the first day of class and I did okay.  I went back and figured out what I missed and what I need to study, so I should be OK.  It’ll mean some extra studying (especially early on), but I REALLY want (and need) to do well in this class so hopefully the extra motivation will help.  Lab sounds like fun, and I was really relieved to find out that we don’t have to write full lab reports.  I may have a little knitting time this semester after all!

The mystery is over

Mystery Stole 3

Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk, approx. 600 yards

Final Measurements: 16″ wide by 65″ long

The stole is growing on me.  I love the final knitted fabric – I will absolutely use this yarn again.  In fact, I have about another 600 yards left over that are calling out to be made into something lacy and yummy.  I still don’t know how I feel about the wing while the stole is flat, but when I’m wearing it the seam falls on my arm and I can’t see it.   The stole is just the right size to cover my shoulders in a cool restaurant (I tested it tonight) and I can fold it up and put it in my purse if I get warm.

All in all, a great experience.  I was really motivated to keep up with the clues, which meant I finished the stole in a reasonable amount of time instead of shoving it onto a back burner like I do with a lot of other projects.  Thanks Melanie for a great experience!

It’s done!

My Mystery Stole is finished and blocking!  I’m pretty pleased with how it looks while blocking, the join between the two sections is not as bad as I thought it would be.  I’ll have to wear it a bit to make a final decision.  Pictures tomorrow!

What to knit next?

Tomorrow morning the last Mystery Stole 3 clue will be released.  I’ve been pacing myself the last few clues so that they last me the whole week, but no need to pace myself this time – I’ll probably finish it at work over the weekend.  So what do I knit next?  I’m working on a second Wicked, and I have some projects that have been hibernating on the needles for a while…but I’m itching to start something new as well.  I have lots of lace yarn, so that’s the logical conclusion.  Hmmm…

Pictures

      
Wicked, made with Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton/Silk on size 7 needles.

Dream Swatch Head Wrap, made with leftover Colinette Giotto.  It’s blocking now, I’ll post a better picture later.

I start full time in Dispatch next week.  School also starts next week.  Big week

Knitting and BEADS!

Today I made a Bauble.  Check it out:

This was so much fun!  Stringing the beads was tedious, but watching it come together was so much fun.  I cast on two stitches instead of three, then knit until it was just shorter than the circumference of my wrist (to allow for some stretching).  It’s a little heavy, but I’m really pleased at how it came out.  I will definitely make more – maybe with smaller beads next time so it won’t be so heavy.

This is my last week of training in dispatch, then hopefully next week (or within a few weeks) I’ll be in there full time on my own.  I worked a shift on the ambulance last night and really enjoyed it – I needed the break.  Fall semester classes start next week, so this will be my last week of overtime for a little bit, so I can get used to my new (crazy) schedule and have a little me time again.

I’ve had finishitis tonight…I sewed in the ends on two calorimetries, a wicked, and my re-done clapotis.   So that leaves on the needles…a scarf, another Wicked, the Mystery Stole, a pair of socks, and several hibernating projects that I won’t mention here.  I had better get cracking!

You know it’s fall when…

…preseason football starts!  After all the complaining I did this morning, I’ve decided I need to get myself out of this funk and be happy for all the things I have to be happy and thankful for.  Tonight: Preseason football, Tampa Bay Bucs vs the New England Patriots.  Being able to watch the game while I’m at work makes it much more bearable. 

Thing 2: Beads.  I found the pattern for Bauble on Ravelry, and I’m in love.  The beads in the Mystery Stole have piqued my interest, and being able to try a beaded project and knit at the same time seems ideal.  Plus, Christmas is coming…I sense some (more) quick Christmas projects ahead. 

Speaking of the Mystery Stole, the theme was announced last Friday and I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.  The theme is Swan Lake, and the shawl is asymetrical with one end (the one I made already) a rectangle with a pointed end , and the other end a rounded feather pattern – the idea being that the completed stole will be a wing, with the feather end across the chest, the other end draped around the shoulders and back and tucked under the feathered section (and pinned).  I think I can see where this is going, and although I’m not convinced I’ll love it I’m very interested to see how it comes out.  I’m sure if I don’t like the end result I know someone who will.

Rat Race (whining ahead)

Remember how I just said I like work?  That’s still true, I like what I’m doing…but I am SO TIRED of working.  I have worked 60+ hours per week the last four weeks.  I see Adam for half an hour between when he gets home from work and when I leave for work.  I have to pay for my school bill from the paycheck I get today, which leaves…nothing.  I worked so many extra hours to pay for school, which will (hopefully) get me into MORE school, which will get me a better job…but I’m TIRED OF WORKING SO MUCH.

Sorry to vent, it’s my own fault.  I’m just getting tired of working so hard for one thing, just to have to turn around and be back at square one, working even harder to get to where I want to be next.  This would have been so much easier if I had just gone straight to grad school after graduation.  Then again, it would have been so much easier if I had known what I wanted to do when I got my bachelor’s, so I could have taken all the classes I needed for grad school.  Mom, I know I didn’t want to hear it back then, but you were on the right track way back when you suggested I take a semester off and decide what I wanted to do.  Although, it’s only by going through what I’ve been through that I learned what i wanted to do.  So I guess that wouldn’t have worked either.  Damn.

I’m happy with my life in general – I’m thankful for all the experiences I’ve had, but the cruise director/control freak in me is going a little nutty right now, with so much to figure out.  I need to take a big, deep breath, and remember that it’ll all be OK.  I’m healthy, I have a roof over my head and food on the table and a good job (even if I don’t always think so), and that things will work out.

But I’m still tired of working so much.