To Knit or Read about Knitting? THAT is my question!

So my friend and fellow knitter, Margaret, gave me The Friday Night Knitting Club last week. This book has seriously cut into my knitting time. LOL

I am so drawn into the story that I have put some knitting projects on the back burner. Now I've cast on my 2nd sock for my Bob Marley's Grandma's Socks. I love them! I love having funky socks, but let's face it. It is already in the upper 90s in Houston. Big wool socks are down right comical here. So I'm using some of my Knit Picks Felici in Atmosphere to create these awesome socks. The yarn makes me think of faded blue jeans and Texas skies.

Another upside to ankle socks is that I can get a pair out of one 50 gram ball of yarn. Now what to do with all of those pieces of balls of sock yarn. I think some seriously funky socks may be in my future. :)

I guess to many people, knitting socks on dpns looks like spinning a spider web. They look at my project and ask, "What are you making?" I guess that I thought about double points that way before I actually tried them. If you knit tightly, then it's no problem. I guess the best secret is to cast on in a way that makes it easy to get started. I use the long tail cast-on with pretty much all of my socks so that the first row is already knit during the cast-on process. It doesn't mess up my ribbing or what ever patter. Just look! Can you tell? (Really, if you can, I don't want to hear about it. My glasses are not that good I tell you!)

I did learn something about myself today that kind of cracks me up. I'm an "East" personality. I was in a workshop today for work, and we were describing what kind of leader we are. Well I'm a big picture kind of girl. (Ahem. See note above about details! LOL) Stereotypically, one might be tempted to peg me as a details oriented person b/c after all, I am a physicist. However, this must be why I like theoretical physics best as compared to computational physics. I see the big picture. Actually I see many big pictures all at the same time. How confusing is that? Sometimes I let the details slide by, but if they're important enough, I'll get back to them. Back to what I learned... I really am annoyed by people who are too quick to act (although they can be my mindless minions any day!), and I am also annoyed by those who get their feelings hurt too easily. The detail oriented people are who I like to delegate my tasks to if I can stand to do it. See, I really do have a hard time delegating because I'm... well... My name is KnittingNerd, and I'm a perfectionist. There! I said it! Are you happy now?

It's not that I'm stuck on myself... I just usually put a lot of thought and effort into what I do, so it's usually a pretty good thing. I'm accustomed to winning intellectual challenges, and I am very competitive. So, forgive me. It's who I am. :) However, I do make a conscientious effort to be open to others' suggestions and ideas. Also, I can admit when I am wrong. The whole "what kinds of leader are you" thing today just made me more aware of the dynamics of such a group of diverse people. I think I'll do the same activity with my department when the new academic year begins. But for now, it's back to knitting... or reading about knitting... or knitting...

ARGHHHHH!!!

Mars, the Phoenix, and knitting grocery bags

It is so hot already in Houston. Even now, at 9:35 p.m. it's still 81 degrees F and humid! Last night the thermostat upstairs didn't get switched to night mode, and I woke up hot and cranky at 2 am this morning. After getting a cold drink and lowering the thermostat, I came back to bed and began looking for something to lull me back to sleep. I saw that the Science Channel had a live special on the Mars Phoenix Lander, so I tuned in. Now I knew that I wouldn't be going back to sleep for a while. Oh well. It's a holiday today. :)

I knew landing time was approaching, but I'd forgotten about the day that it was happening so my luck was good in catching it. I got my latest project from the bag beside the bed and started knitting. The thought occurred to me that it was suiting that I was watching humans endeavor to look for life on a "dead" planet while doing something environmentally conscious to protect my home planet. Cool, huh? I'm using a large cone of cotton yarn to knit market bags. The grocery stores are selling bags, but mine will be pretty and functional... not to mention cheaper! I could feel the excitement of the scientists and engineers as they waited for confirmation of parachute deployment, heat shield jettison, and descent rocket firing. I shared their cheers of excitement as they received confirmation of a successful landing. I'm very optimistic about the mission finding some proof of microbial life once on Mars. If there's any place to find it, the Martian arctic is it.

I have received confirmation of my registration for World Wide Knitting in Public day. Houston knitters are gathering at NorthWest Mall on June 14, 2008. I plan on being there. I'll have my Ravelry name on my project bag, so that others who know me by "physicschick" will know that it's me. I've been toying with the idea of starting a summer knitting circle. I don't know if I could find enough people who are interested in the area. I'll see and post on progress.

3 more days of school!! Yippeeee! I look forward to summers, but I also look forward to the beginning of a new year. I DO need the break now. Got a lot to catch up on. :)

Oh, the therapy of knitting...

Yarn is my yoga. Knitting, my meditation. So finishing a project in the middle of a much needed therapy session is a bit of sweet sorrow. As I searched for another way to continue my meditation, I contemplate the unspeakable ways that I use knitting to calm and focus myself.

Everyone needs a way to get away. The rhythmic clicking of the needles... the luscious softness of the yarn... the beautiful colors... they all melt away the tension that daily stress brings. I find myself sticking to simple patterns when my stress level is low, but when I really can't stop thinking about work or family issues, I choose something that challenges me. Cables... lace... anything that forces me to focus on the task at hand.

We fool ourselves into thinking that we can multi-task. Actually brain research shows that humans cannot "multi-task," but we really just switch back and forth rapidly. This is definitely not a good idea when learning to cable or knit lace. ha ha!

Now, I finished tonight a baby blanket that turned out really well. It is simple. stockinette all the way. I used the random stripe generator to come up w/ the pattern:

I used the random stripe generator until I got a pattern that appealed to me. Here is the 100 line pattern. I actually did all 100 and repeated the skinny stripes again.

With larger (size 8) needles, CO 100 in 1st color.

In stockinette, here are the row repeats:
3 of maroon
3 of gray
3 of maroon
3 of white
3 of gray
1 of maroon
8 of white
3 of gray
1 of maroon
8 of white
2 of maroon
13 of white
5 of gray
5 of white
5 of maroon
21 of gray
8 of white
21 of maroon

Change to smaller needle (size 7) and maroon yarn. knit along top edge, K1FB at corner. Pick up and knit stitches along side. K1FB at corner. Pick up and knit along bottom edge. K1FB at corner. Pick up and knit stitches along side. K1FB at corner and join. Work 5 rounds in garter stitch, increasing as before on each knit row at corners. Bind off.

note: in case you noticed, yes the number repeats on the rows are Fibonacci numbers. Ok, so I really am a nerd. LOL

A Summer "Tomato"

Well, I cast-on (or is it casted-on?) in September '07 and finished in April '08. I'm not THAT slow! LOL It just hibernated for a while. I guess I figured that if it's a summer sweater, I could wait until warmer weather to finish it up. This is my first knitted garment for myself that I've done in cotton. I have done a couple of other things for myself in wool because that seemed to be "the thing" to do. In hindsight... how the heck did I forget that I live in Houston??? OMG The humidity! What was I thinking with the wool sweaters? There are maybe 3 days out of the whole year that I could stand to wear something that warm here. So, alas, live and learn.

Speaking of learning, let me tell you what I learned from knitting the Tomato Sweater. Use waste yarn to park your stitches for arms, etc. That way when you knit from the top down, you can actually try the thing on before you get too far along. I never considered myself to have narrow shoulders, but with this pattern, I needed to make the neck a bit narrower and about 2 inches (maybe 3) higher. Another lesson... even if you have to waste a bit of yarn, start new skeins/hanks at the side or another inconspicuous place. I tend to be pretty good at weaving in my ends, but I did have a couple of strands of cotton peaking through at me. I do love the sweater, though. It has a cool pattern and is really comfy.

I made the sleeves longer to suit me. I also made the waist longer to suit me. Aside from that, it went just according to pattern. I think I'll be looking for more things to knit in cotton/linen for summer. That means it will be great year-round for me. :) I'm just glad to be knitting again. I've been so busy that I haven't done much lately. I am working on a random-stripe baby blanket for a co-worker's baby today at a birthday party for my son's friend. Many people commented and asked questions. I like to share what I'm doing and that knitting is not as hard as it looks. I was wearing the tomato sweater, and one mom asked in disbelieve "Did you make your sweater?" Cool. :)

Back in the Saddle Again...

I never thought it would happen... I haven't been in the mood to knit. There has been a lot of stress in my life lately. Work has been crazy, home is always busy, and my grandmother's passing have all just had me in a bit of a funk. Usually I knit to relieve stress, but I guess I've been a bit depressed and not in the mood.

Well I'm glad to say that I am back in the saddle again! Spring Break is here and I have a baby shower coming up for a friend who is having a baby girl. With all of the boys in my family, I rarely get to knit for a baby girl. Muahahahaha! My first project was a darling baby halter top. Baby Hannah will join us in May, so I wanted something summery for her. I chose maroon because her mom is an Aggie, and now she'll be ready for tailgating in style when football season arrives.




Next I am working on a favorite pattern of mine from One Skein: Petal Bibs. I also found a pattern for a sweet little baby hat that looks like a flower bud with petals around baby's face. I might do that too if time permits. Of course there will be matching booties... Can I get it all done in time? We'll see!

I think it has helped get me back into the knitting groove to do baby projects (instant gratification) and something that I rarely get to do (be "froo-froo" for a little girl). So I'm off to knit. If you see me knitting at the doctor's office or the bus stop, say "Hi" and tell me your knitting stories. :) It's good for the heart.

A Perfectly Wonderful Geeky project!

Now some might find it a strange combination that a physics nerd loves to knit, but then I was always a Renaissance soul. When I came across the Chromosome Cap pattern on Ravelry, I thought... "I have got to make that for someone!" Who better than my friend Anne? She loves biology and has a little guy to torture... uh who could wear this perfectly cute cap. LOL Now that it is complete, I am casting on one for mom, too!

The pattern was quick and easy. It was my first "cable" project. That in itself is kind of weird. Many knitters that I've talked to say that they are more scared of socks than cables. I jumped into doing socks a while ago, but just never did anything cabled. It's fun, and it is not at all too challenging to do. I am looking forward to the adult version of the chromo cap.

Knitting is my yoga. When I'm too tired to knit, I blog about knitting. LOL Do you see a pattern here? Tonight is definitely a "too tired" night, so I get to post pics of my latest conquest and go to bed. Good night and happy knitting to all!

My Personal Mission Statement

I visited the Mission Statement Builder on the FranklinCovey site today. I have been feeling a bit like I've been drifting aimlessly here lately and I wanted to get some focus. I highly recommend the "Jumpstart" version of the builder. You get 10 seconds to answer a series of questions. This ensures that it is your first response from the heart. Then you get to expand on these ideas. I am blogging my results so that I can hold myself accountable and redirect myself when I wander.

Knitting Nerd's Personal Mission Statement

I will support the education of others and continue to enrich my education.
I will support and nurture my child's intellectual, creative, physical, and emotional needs.
I will find ways to express my love and appreciation for the ways that my family and friends have supported me.
I will express my love for others frequently in verbal and non-verbal ways.
I will seek out loving relationships that are healthy and fulfilling.
I will seek out God in all aspects of my life and strive to build a closer relationship with Him.
I will support the freedom of myself and others by voting, being politically involved, and being active in issues such as education and climate.
I will encourage compassion by being compassionate in my actions toward others.
I will encourage intellectualism in home, school, and society by praising the intellectual risks that people take.
I will live my life as if no one is watching. I will pursue my passions without worrying about what other people might think.
I will continue to learn and enrich others lives as well.
I will be kind to others even if they are not kind to me. I will perform random acts of kindness for strangers.
I will clean up after myself in my home, work, and environmental existence by recycling more and conserving resources.
I will continue to pursue what is important to me even when facing obstacles.

Tag!! You're it!

So I learned about Knitta a couple of years ago when "Knittas" tagging around Montrose made the news. I thought, "What a cool idea!" I'd just started knitting, so I didn't have much of a yarn stash at that time. Years wiser and stash developed, here I am. I am known for my love of knitting at school by students and teachers alike, so I've decided to strike! LOL Here lies my first knit "tagging" piece.

I have not decided who the lucky recipient will be, but I will definitely be secretive about it. I am usually there way after most people leave. (I'm not a morning person... I work better late!) I'll follow up with a post of the pic when I tag. I think this will be a "sweater" for the reflector/lens arm of an overhead projector. (*giggling like a school girl*)

Lara's Herringbone Lace Sock Pattern

I love knitting socks! They are a small, portable project that you can take anywhere. Dpns are not nearly as scary as they look! What I love about socks is that they are the perfect place to try something new (stitch or technique) and you get (almost) instant gratification. Oh, and don't forget the warm cozy sock, too!)

Here is the first pattern that I've ever really made up myself. I tried to follow good form according to other patterns that I've used, but please let me know if you see a goof that I missed. I beg your tolerance and understanding. I knit with an audience of one impatient 5 year old boy and two spastic dogs. Oh and a hungry husband who keeps asking, "What's for dinner?" LOL

p.s. Feel free to use this pattern and share it with fellow knitting fiends. Just don't do anything to make money from it without asking me first. Thanks!!

Size 3 dpn (set of 4)

Knitpicks sock yarn (2 skeins)

Cuff:

cast on 64 (16-32-16)

K2p2 rib for 1.5 inches

Leg:

k2p2 rib on needles 1 and 3;

3 repeats of Herringbone lace pattern on needle 2

Lace pattern: repeats are in parenthesis

1. K

2. (SSK, K2, yo, K2) k2

3. K

4. (SSK, K2, yo, K2) k2

5. K

6. (SSK, K2, yo, K2) k2

7. k

8. k1 (K2, yo, K2, K2tog) k1

9. k

10. k1 (K2, yo, K2, K2tog) k1

11. k

12. k1 (K2, yo, K2, K2tog) k1

Heel flap:

Work 32 heel sts back and forth in rows as follows:

Row 1: *Sl 1 pwise with yarn in back, k1; rep from *.

Row 2: Sl 1 pwise with yarn in front, purl to end.

Rep Rows 1 and 2 until a total of 28 rows have been worked —14 chain sts (slipped sts) along each edge.

Turn heel:

Work short rows as follows:

Row 1: Sl1, k19, ssk, k1, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, p9, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1 pwise, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1 pwise, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Rep Rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts have been worked, ending last repeat of Row 3 with the ssk, and last repeat of Row 4 with the p2tog.

Heel Gussets:

Rnd 1: With needle 1, knit across heel sts, then with same needle, pick up and knit 14 sts along left edge of heel flap; with needle 2, work 32 instep sts in herringbone lace pattern as established; with needle 3, pick up and knit 14 sts along right edge of heel flap, then knit first half of heel sts again. Rnd begins at center of heel.

Rnd 2: On needle 1, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on needle 2, work instep sts as established; on needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end—2 sts decreased.

Rnd 3: Knit all sts on needle 1; work sts as established on needle 2; knit all sts on needle 3.

Rep Rnds 2 and 3 until 56 sts rem—12 sts each on needles 1 and 3, 32 sts on needle 2.

Foot:

Cont even as established (knit all sts on needles 1 and 3; cont in pattern on needle 2) until piece measures about 21⁄2" (6.5 cm) less than desired total length. (*I ended up doing 4 complete repeats of the lace pattern for the top of the foot. I wear a size 8.5 US shoe and it is perfect.)

Toe:

1^st Decrease Round: *K6, k2tog: repeat from *

Knit 4 rounds even.

2^nd Decrease Round: *K5, k2tog: repeat from *

Knit 4 rounds even.

3^rd Decrease Round: *K4, k2tog: repeat from *

Knit 4 rounds even.

4^th Decrease Round: *K3, k2tog: repeat from *

Knit 3 rounds even.

5^th Decrease Round: *K2, k2tog: repeat from *

Knit 2 rounds even.

6^th Decrease Round: *K1, k2tog: repeat from *

Knit 1 round even.

7^th Decrease Round: *k2tog: repeat from *

Break yarn (8” tail). Thread tail through remaining stitches, pull snug, and fasten off. Weave in all ends. Block

I Got my Ravelry Invitation!!

Wahooo! I've been on the signup list for 2 months, and I finally got my invitation on New Year's Day! I'm so excited by all of the cool stuff on the site. I did have to create a flikr account to post project pics, but I got to see what a cool service that is as well. I got my Christmas gifts finished and all were received with enthusiasm. :) One always worries, but my family that I knit for appreciates the effort and time that goes into hand-made gifts. All of the chicks got flower washcloths and olive oil and honey soap. I love cotton knitted washcloths. They feel SO good! Like a little mini-massage. :D

I am reassigning a project. I'd knitted a square in seed stitch in an awesome hand-painted yarn in purple and light blue wool (got it at Yarntopia in Katy) for a "carpet bag" styled project bag. However, I have an additional hank of it and I really need a laptop case, so... I am adding on to it. When it gets big enough, I'll felt it to size for my larger-than-usual laptop. It is just a tiny bit too large for the zippered cases that came with my backpack and girly organizer bag that both accommodate a laptop. I'll post pics when I finish.

If you're on Ravelry, check me out! My screen name is "physicschick" because knittingnerd was already used. :p If you're not on Ravelry, sign up for the waiting list! It's awesome and I've only been a member for 3 days! LOL

Since the weather has turned cooler, I have been using my favorite scarf. I thought I'd post pics. I actually made it in 2006, but it is still my favorite. The patten is called "Column of Leaves" and it's online. I used Noro Kureyon (2 skeins) so it is nice and soft and warm! Maybe you'll be inspired to knit your own! :D