Almost There

I don't have much time right now. I just wanted to give you guys a quick update. I'm very excited because in less than a week I graduate from university. I just finished one take home exam and now I have to continue the second one that is due tomorrow. I'm trying to see if I can finish it today because if I turn it in today at 5 pm, I get 10 extra bonus points towards my test. We'll have to see if I can actually do that. The great thing though is that after that test, I'm ABSOLUTELY DONE with school, and all I have to do is clean my apartment, cook a shitload of food for my family, get my hair done for the grad (I have to look professional now), and run some other errands. This week is really going to fly by.

Knitting

Between studying, I have been procrastinating, I mean knitting on my Pomatomus socks. Sorry there are no pics but I turned the heel on it this past Saturday. I don't think I'll have it done for my friend on time for this week, but I'm sure she's not leaving right after graduation. (Side note: Remember last time I told you guys I was hanging out with my Argentina crew? Well that has been postponded to this Tuesday or Wednesday)

That's all for now. Next week I'll have pics of the grad for you all!

Just for Kicks

As of late it appears that I have only been posting once a week. That is because I have less than 2 weeks before I walk down that aisle to a college diploma and freedom from papers, exams, quizzes, and other projects. Today I have my first final, an oral exam in my Senior Seminar class for history. After that torture session ends, my next final is on Wednesday, History of Photography. This class was really a filler class, something I needed so that I would not loose my student loans (I only needed 9 credits, but you need at least 12 credits to keep your loans). I also got to read a whole book and write a two page paper by Wednesday. After all that, the rest of my time will be dedicated to two take home exams, both essay, both requiring at least 16 typed pages. So as for these next couple weeks, I will be looking like this all day:




Knitting

This is a blog about knitting though. Between studying for exams (i.e. falling asleep in my books, procrastinating a bit with Food Network, Vh1, and Style Network) I have managed to finish one sock of Pomotomus and even start it's sibling.





The friend I'm making this for I saw this past Friday night at a Vespers program at my school. I told her the progress on the sock and she was very excited. That may mean that I placed some pressure on myself to have it done by this weekend, when me, her, and a couple of our other friends that we went to Argentina with meet for the last time to hang out before we all graduate and move on. It should be a bitter sweet evening, filled with junk food, movies, jokes, hopes, and maybe even tears. I'm looking foward to that.

Primavera

Thanks for the response to Primavera. I would love to know if any of you guys are planning on knitting this thing. Again it is my first pattern so it won't be perfect. Nonetheless, if you come up to a mistake or problem or something, let me know. This pattern won't be my last. It was a lot of fun doing it.

And with that, I leave you all. Have a good day! Happy Knitting!

I Did It!

Last Friday I went to Purdue University Calumet to present my research. Don't I look professional? It was fun! I got to miss work for a day and even hung out with one of my favorite professors. He told me on the way back to Michigan that he and the other teachers believe that I have what it takes to go to graduate school and do a Masters, even a PhD! But we'll have to see about that. I have to admit though, doing research and teaching college students history does sound appealing.

The Debut

I present to you all Primavera:






(Click on images for larger, more detailed pictures)

This is the first pattern I've ever written, let alone published. Needless to say that I am very proud of it. Thanks Valerie for your suggestion in last post's comments. Your words inspired me to name this pattern Primavera. For those of you who do not know, "Primavera" is Spanish for "Spring." The reason why I called this pattern Primavera is because the yarn is green, which made me think of spring time for the whole time I knitted it. Plus, the lace pattern is called Foliage Lace from the Vogue Stitchionary, Vol. 2 and Spring is all about growth and vegetation. Lastly, the material of the yarn is cotton, which is perfect for warmer weather garments.

Now, seeing that this is my first published pattern, there may be mistakes. That's why this pattern is free (I'd be a complete narcissitic ass if I, a novice, charged you guys for this). Here's a link to the pattern and you can also access a free copy on my sidebar. Have fun with it!

Back From Hiatus

And it's still not over yet! Apparently when you're a senior in college, they like to pile one tons of projects, homework assignments, and papers on you. And professors always make sure to tell you, "We know it's overwhelming, but remember to keep up with your assignments." Man, I've been so busy this past week trying to get my school work in check. I had to actually take a day off of work to keep up! I was kind of sad because I thought about how meager my check will look next week loosing 1 whole day of work. After careful consideration, however, it did not bother me because 20 years from now, I'm not going to wake up in the middle of the night, sweating from a nightmare about this past week and say, "Man, I should have worked that Monday I took off when I was 22 years old and trying to get out of college. Then I'd be $60 richer today." Yeah right.

New Knitting Magazine

I was reading Gaby's blog last week and I found out that there is a new website that showcases patterns written by bloggers who speak Spanish. It is called Tejemanejes (I think translated its "HandKnits" or "HandKnitting"). The patterns are all written in Spanish and it seems to have some pretty cool stuff, like these socks and this hat.

So for those of you who speak spanish or just would like to stretch your foreign language comprehension skills, this magazine seems promising.

Knitting

So because I've been swamped with homework, there has not been much knitting. However, there has been some pattern writting. Last night I just finished writing up the pattern for the Spring Green Vest. So now I have to go back in there and edit it (make sure it makes sense) do a photoshoot (i.e. get my boyfriend's brother to take pictures of me in it) and then figure out how to publish it on this blog. I'm not making any promises on a release date (given my schedule) but I shall say that it will be soon.

Though I have named this thing the "Spring Green Vest" I thought maybe I could get some input from you guys on a better name for this pattern. I realize that what's in vogue in online knitting patterns are one-word names like "Clapotis" or "Jaywalker". Anyway, you guys have seeen the whole process of my first pattern writing experience, so you already know that the garment is green, made from cotton, and has a lace pattern. Any ideas for names would be greatly considered by me.

Just so that things are not boring, here is an interesting picture I found last week on Google:



Happy Knitting!

Weekend Wrap Up

So I finally finished the Spring Green Vest. I just have some ends to weave in and I'm done with the knitting of it. As for the pattern writing, that will come later, but I won't reveal anything till I have the pattern written up for you guys (and of course a photoshoot with my boyfriend's brother). I haven't even touched the Pomatomus Sock because I was so focused on the vest. Which is why I woke up very early this morning to get some homework done (my mom should of named me "Procrastination" instead of Kelly).

Yarn Diet Issues

This past Saturday, I wanted so bad to go to my LYS and buy some yarn. I didn't have a project in mind, I already have tons of stash, I just wanted to go to a nice quiet place, look and touch some new yarn, and buy something nice. However, I knew my boyfriend would be disappointed in me, plus I'd be more disappointed in me, and that's really bad when you're disappointed in yourself for failing, worse than if someone else were, in my opinion. I overcame my urge, though, and did not go. Truthfully, though, I think I was able to overcome because I had lost my debit card last week and all I had was my credit card but I was not going to buy yarn I did not need on credit. I did need groceries, though, so I bought food (which I do need) on credit yesterday. The life of a poor person is about deny and compromise!

Repairs and Storage

Though the weather man is saying that by Thursday it's going to be below zero again (see now why I want to leave this place?), yesterday I did my laundry and washed my handknits (and some store bought knits that are made out of natural fibers) for storage for the summer. I used Eucalan Woolwash, which has lavender in it. I heard that lavender keeps moths away during the summer months in storage. Is this true? If so, in addition to the lavender wash, I'm thinking of buying some lavender flowers to throw into my storage unit when it's time to put them away (living in Michigan, that could be the end of June).

I also darned some socks. I don't think I did a good job, which made me think, it's so f-ing expensive to buy sock yarn for socks that will end up with holes on the bottom. Maybe my mindset is wrong, but I like my clothes to last longer than a season or two of wear. I find that good sturdy sock yarn is not cheap nor expensive, but in the middle range ($12-$15 for 100 gram ball). Superwash is a must because I find that the normal wool felt around the toe and heel (my feet sweat, I'm sure yours do to in wool socks at times). Seeing that I now know the life expectancy of a sock is two seasons, I think in August when I go to this festival, I'll have to pick up a couple hanks of sock yarn.

That's all for now. I'm actually procrastinating by writing this post. Maybe you're procrastinating at your job reading this. I only said that so I wouldn't feel like the only person that procrastinated in this world.