Over-achiever

That's right. I've finished the first of my (hopefully) many Christmas offerings. I'm going to use my approach from last year: make as many items as possible in a variety of styles and colors, alternate male and female sizing/style, and lay them out at a party for people to take what they want.

Pattern: "Odessa," by the brilliant knit blogger Grumperina, available as a free pdf download on Ravelry
Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino - dk weight single ply with 51% silk/49% merino wool
Colorway: Matisse Blue


Plus: If you haven't tried a project with beading yet, don't be shy; it's a cinch. The hardest part is threading the beads on the yarn before you start, but one can find a great tutorial on Knitty. The pattern, to no great surprise, is clear, clever, and succinct. If you don't follow this girl's blog, you really ought to. It's one of the few that spends a great deal of time on process, knitting math, intimidating techniques, reviews, etc., because she's NOT trying to save up designs and ideas for a book.


Delta: My only big problem stemmed from the fact that I printed this pdf on my home printer, which was out of color ink. I knew the pictures would disappear, but who cares, right? Well, I was at my in-laws, chatting and knitting up the ribbed brim, when I pulled out the pattern to examine the next instructions. They made NO SENSE. I read, stared at my knitting, read, stared.....my Titi Dolly (a novice knitter) started making comments along the lines that patterns never make sense to her, either. Oh, hell no. I can read patterns! I had Jake pull up the pdf on his iPhone, and there was the answer. Half of the IMPORTANT words in the pattern were written in purple so as to grab my attention. In my colorless copy, of course, they were entirely absent. Woops!

Watts afghan square #29! 7 more...Lord help me. I need to start thinking about a border for this thing. I could go boring and just do basic i-cord. Or I could go high on effort and time with a mitered corner garter stitch. What say you, fabulous knitters?


So, I'm kind of in love with my job. Sure, there are some frustrating aspects. My students' computers still have not been hooked up to the network. I have no access to the building at night or on the weekends. The "teachers' lounge and workroom" is locked 24 hours a day, and we don't have keys. I've discovered 4 different varieties of spiders that consider my room home. Students cuss me out when they're in a bad mood. But....all those issues aside, I feel ALIVE with inspiration, purpose and challenge.

These kids, tenth and eleventh graders, are literate only in the most basic sense of the word. I'm regularly asked how to spell words like "read" and "coach," and I can assure you that these are not second language learners. On the first day of school, most told me that they "can't" or "don't" read. Their writing follows few grammatical conventions, and they don't seem to sense any distinction between their spoken dialects and formal written English. Getting them to make an inference, even an obvious one, about a piece of literature on their grade level is akin to torture. There is clearly a lot to do, and it is my professional opinion that the best thing for them is total immersion in, and a fierce, vital connection with, excellent literature.


I spend my days helping kids find books that let them know they are not alone in the world. I read 2-3 books a week in order to keep up with their demand to pick "another good book" for each of them. This rag-tag group of 31 non-readers have already finished about 9 books in 2 weeks, and every one of them seemed genuinely surprise to have loved the experience. The core of my class time goes to independent reading, with at least 100 minutes a week of required reading time. When I told the kids about that time commitment at the beginning of the year, they freaked, pleading with me to understand that they could NEVER read for that long. Lo and behold, most days they beg to read LONGER, and on Fridays, when they can choose from a long list of literacy related activities, every one of them settles down with their book to read for the entire hour.

Many teachers would see these struggling readers, read through the Virginia standardized test, and start digging through worksheets and canned reading drills to reinforce basic reading habits. But that's NOT how kids who pass the tests with ease got to that point! They breeze through those tests because they're readers. It's obvious to them what the text says or infers, how it's organized and what is it's intent. It's obvious, because they read so much, their brains have learned to detect and organize important distinctions and patterns like that. MY kids have not had that luxury. Their brains see very little in a written passage that is familiar, and with every passing year, they get MORE behind, for reasons that completely elude me. Well, not on my watch. I am honored by the immense responsibility and humbled by the chance to make a real difference in someone's life.


The only problem is that I want to spend every dollar I've got now on books, portable cd players (for books on cd), comfy rugs and pillows, etc. so I can turn my room into a well-stocked reading oasis!!!!

Home Sweet Home

Pattern: "Frock Camisole," by Katie Himmelberg, available free here
Yarn: Louisa Harding Cinnabar - worsted weight; 30% viscose, 25% cotton, 15% acrylic, 10% silk, 10% Linen, 5% Nylon, 5% Acetate (whew!)
Colorway: 6


Plus: This simple, cool-to-the-touch project was great to pull onto my lap during stressful moments as we were moving. Only the very top strap portion requires moderate attention to the pattern. I love the feel of this drapey, metallic, slightly slubby yarn against my skin. It's truly the perfect match for this cute tank. I love the cut of the top itself and find it universally flattering.

Delta: I feel like it looks outstanding from the front, okay from the back, and a little sloppy on the sides. I wonder how one would tidy that up without messing up the way the front lays. Decreases along the center back?

Okay, we need to talk about how skinny I look in these pictures. I've lost 40 freakin' pounds, people!!! If I can do it, then truly, anyone can. I jog/walked my first 5k on July 15, and I'm planning on jogging an entire one on September 12th with Jake. In addition to increasing my activity, I've been using Weight Watcher's clever POINTS system to make sure I'm eating the right amount for my needs each day. I still have tacos and ice cream and cheeseburgers, so it's more like a paradigm than a diet.

Jake and I are all settled in our new little townhouse, with which we are ENTIRELY in love. Since we rented it sight unseen, we were preparing for the worst, but this place is AWESOME. Hardwood floors, beautiful molding, huge garden bathtub, tons of storage, lovely tile on back-splash and bathrooms, two bedrooms so Jake can have an office, and two-and-a-half baths so Gracie's litter box can sit somewhere I never, ever have to go. There are a ton of law students living in this development, particularly a lot of people in Jake's class, which has helped us make some connections in town quickly. There's even a couple a few doors down, in which the wife is a drama major who knits. (!!!)

My new teaching job is incredible and life-altering, but I will speak more of that next posting. For now, enjoy the newest Watts afghan square, #28/36

Friendly Yarns

Pattern: "Parallelograms" by Lynne Barr, available in Knitting New Scarves
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy - worsted weight, 100% superwash merino
Colorways: Happy Forest and Tea Party
Mods: I carried the non-working yarn up the sides of the stockinette sections, wrapping around the working yarn. I'm not into weaving in when I don't have to!

Plus: I heart Lynne Barr. Her designs rock, and her instincts for texture and geometry always thrill me. Even though the pattern is somewhat hypnotizing to stare at, it was simple, instantly memorized, and lightning fast! Jake requested that I make a cool, masculine scarf for one of the high school students he worked with last year at Berkner. There were a few months when Jake was on the lookout for the perfect satchel for law school, and he noticed this kid's bag. Upon complimenting its style and inquiring where he could get one, Jake was startled as the kid emptied the bag of its contents and handed it to him! The student insisted that he was finished with it and was about to switch to a new bag anyway, but Jake was so touched by this generosity that he insisted I make him a fabulous thank you gift. (p.s. The kid is gay and always raves about Jake's handknit sweaters and accessories. Too cute.)



Delta: I think that it would look better even wider. I actually did not use a needle size as big as called for, because the fabric was too floppy at that gauge, so maybe it's meant to be wider. If I knit this again, I would work with at least 25 stitches, instead of 20.



Pattern: "Owl Coffee Cup Cozy," by Sabrina Thompson, available free here
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Mods: I only added safety eyes to one owl cable instead of all 5. I skipped the beak embroidery because the more I tried, the harder it sucked.

Plus: My dear friend Sonya requested this one after seeing a previously finished coffee cozy. I've been meaning to try out one of the zillions of owl cable projects out there, and this was a perfect use for a 1/4 of a skein of cashmerino.

Delta: I think these are kind of dumb. Unless it's a felted version, these simply stretch and slip too much to be useful. I've now created one with the cable running vertically and one with a horizontally situated cable; doesn't matter--they stretch and slip. For the last one, I ended up weaving in tons of elastic thread along the inside and cinching it tight, a pain in the rear which led to negligible improvement. For this one, I ran out of time and left it as it, but I suggested to Sonya that she could a) use fabric glue to attach it to a regular cardboard sleeve or b) use the elastic thread method or c) wash and dry it regularly. We'll see. I won't make another.

Some Babies Have All the Luck

Pattern: "Rose Leaf Blanket, Bonnet, and Booties" by Kristan Spurkland, available in Blankets, Hats, and Booties to Knit and Crochet
Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh dk - 100% superwash merino wool
Colorway: Coral
Mods: On booties, when binding off the five stitches, I left the first (slipped) stitch intact. This created an eyelit pattern rather than the creepy, elven-looking triangles. I think it fits the style of the set much better.

Plus: This leaf motif is so delicate and classic, if not for the hip, hand-dyed yarn, people might think these were antique heirlooms. Once blocked out, the effect is truly breath-taking. I'm so happy to have this book that coordinates layette sets like this. It saves me the hassle of finding three different patterns for the same yarn or trying to rewrite patterns so the stitch motifs are aligned.

This set certainly garnered a great deal of lust. My knitting buddy Shelley did all but promise me the deed to her house in exchange for this yarn (her signature color, which she did not find quite right in subsequent dye lots). Another knitting buddy Hannah implored me to think of anyone who deserved these items more than she; promises of instant tears and constant use NEARLY won me over. When I finally presented the woolly darlings to my pregnant friend Danielle, her sister's eyes widened, and she suggested that since I'll surely be bored in Virginia, I can spend all my time knitting sweaters and blankets for her. It's good to feel wanted.


Delta: Once I started the lace border, this project went pretty slowly. It's not a difficult lace--I could tell immediately if something went awry--but I never quite memorized the chart. Additionally, I would suggest to any future knitters of this blanket that they use a provisional cast-on (rather than cabled) when beginning the lace border to avoid an ugly seam there when finished. I was kind of annoyed with myself for not thinking of that at the time, but I have never done a blanket construction like this before, and I was mystified as to what in the world was happening. Additionally, I found the booties pattern pretty confusing and sometimes, outright wrong-headed. If you're familiar with top-down/heel-flap sock construction, feel free to read ahead and rewrite to your tastes.

My favorite part of the WHOLE project was the "beaded bind-off" across the back of the bonnet. Do you see how the bit across the nape of the neck makes pretty little scallops? Neat-o.

Well, we are officially relocated! After brief overnight visits with my parents in Richardson, then his parents in Plano, then my sister in Nashville, we made our way to Lexington, Virginia, our home for the next three years. Our townhouse is PERFECT for us in every single way, and we're working hard to get everything unpacked, hung, decorated, etc. Once we're finished, I'll definitely share some pics. For now, just know that:

• Everyone here is extremely friendly
• The bugs are huge and plentiful
• You can see a bazillion stars from our back porch
• I panic every now and then thinking about how far I am from a Starbucks or Target

Drool Worthy

Pattern: "Chevron Scarf" by Joelle Hoverson, available in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino - 100% superwash wool, fingering weight
Colorways: p623 and p136
Mods: Only one skein of each colorway, rather than two. It was plenty long, both the scarf and my relationship with it.


Plus: Umm....have you been looking at these pictures?! This thing is freakin' fierce!!! This pretty thing is for my old college roomie Emily. Long, long ago, when we lived in the second poorest neighborhood in St. Louis, she fought off the stress of finals by crocheting me a super-duper long, thick scarf out of that Lion Brand Homespun acrylic yarn you can get at craft stores. It sounds dorky, but the colorway truly was cool, and I was utterly touched. I still have (and occasionally wear) it now, and I decided it's high time I return the favor. Not long after I learned to knit, I wrote her and told her I wanted to makes something. She told me she "wears the crap out of scarves" and can never have too many. She's pretty eloquent for a professor of political science, huh??? Her adorable husband is an artist whose work fills our current apartment, so I thought this painterly project appropriate. Perhaps they'll be so moved, Darick will send more art.


Delta: Blocking was a tad frustrating. It's incredibly wonky right off the needles, and it remained wavy and curled after the first wet-blocking. I re-wet-blocked....then steam-blocked it...and finally just ironed it within an inch of its life. That did the trick.

The pieces are coming together for the big move to Lexington, Virginia! Jake has a law school. I have a job. We've got a respectable collection of sturdy boxes to start packing. The rental truck is arranged. Now, all we need is a HOME. For some reason, these laid back country types don't feel especially obligated to return phone calls or reply to emails. We've been bugging I don't know how many realtors, apartment complexes, and property owners....all to no avail. Boo. I hope we don't end up somewhere that blows simply because we had no time left to deliberate.

Watts Family Afghan of Infinity Square #27....9 more!!!!

Shawrf

Yes, I've noticed that I'm going through a ruffle phase....


Pattern: "A Little Ruffle," by Jennifer Lang, available free here
Yarn: Locally handspun yarn from The Old Oaks Ranch Fiber Arts Center in Wimberley, Texas - 100% fingering weight 2-ply alpaca

Plus: I wish I had a macro lens on my camera so I could highlight the buttery texture of this thing. It's pretty heavenly in its simplicity and gracefulness. A very close friend requested a silvery-gray accessory of some sort for her mother, a striking Cuban with an adorable salt-and-pepper bob. Around the same time, my mother-in-law visited this ranch in just outside of Austin and picked up this very special and GIGANTIC skein for me. It took me awhile to find just the right pattern, particularly one that would use tons and tons of fingering weight, but once I pulled this one up, I knew it was a slam dunk. Similar to the Clapotis, this scarf/shawl thingy works well draped in a number of different ways and styles. Got to love that.


Delta: If I could do it again, I would rewrite the p-wise slip stitch followed by a yarn over, because when purling back that way on the wrong side, it's pretty much impossible to purl those stitches gracefully. I ended up knitting that yarn-over through the back loop, an action which tightened up the hole and made it more difficult to see what I was doing as I picked up those million stitches along the edge. Speaking of, this is a major time commitment, and a mindless knit. Sometimes you really need one of those, and sometimes they make you hate knitting. Choose wisely.

I GOT A JOB! I'm teaching at an alternative school (read: kids who have been kicked out of their public school for behavior or truancy) which has adopted some really progressive and exciting approaches to dealing with kids who don't fit well within the traditional school model. I'll be teaching 9-12 grade, thought not all at once, and I've already been having a ball, planning curriculum and trolling the used bookstores for appropriate resources. Weee! It feels so good to know what I'll be doing (and earning) once we make this big move. The hardest part of the move left is saying goodbye to my amazing group of friends here....or figuring out how to stuff them into the moving van.

The never-ending Watts afghan part 26 of 36:

Ab-Fab

Pattern: "Spring Forward," by Linda Welch, available free on Knitty here
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy - 100% plied superwash merino wool
Colorway: Petal Shower


Plus: Um, I'm utterly nutzoid crazy bonkers in love with this pattern! The lace looks complicated but is SO simple and intuitive and soothing. I relished working on this project more than any other project I've done in a long time. Can't recommend it enough. Go knit some right now! And the colorway? Quite ladylike (rather than babyish, as feared) when paired with this elegant lace.


Delta: Well, I'm in love with wool socks. And it's summer. In Texas. I'm picturing myself this fall, reclining in a wooden chair on a balcony in Virginia, looking down on the fiery burst of colors tumbling across the Shenandoah Valley. I've got some silky, meditative knitting in the lap and a hazelnut latte in an over-sized mug on the table next to me. As I tend to do when feeling totally relaxed, my legs are stretched out and up, so that my heels, wrapped in woolly clouds of strawberry and cream lace, rest on the guardrail edge. Yeah. You want hand knit socks now, too.

We visited my husband's Grandad in the hospital today. He just had open-heart surgery due to a recently discovered 90% blockage! That poor, sweet man has had the worst luck. Only 70, he's already fought back cancer four times and already manages arrhythmia, severe tremors, chronic pain, and diabetes. When we were preparing to drive back to Dallas from Breckenridge, Jake got a call saying that Grandad was in the hospital, and we should brace ourselves for the worst: his heart was barely functioning and the lymphoma was probably back as well. Jake and I drove all through the night to get there as quickly as possible, but by then, things were already looking up. Lymphoma was a negative and the surgeon thought him strong enough to recover from open-heart. That man never ceases to amaze me with his strength and grace. I keep wanting to grab his hand and whisper, "Now, you just hold on! I really want you to meet your great-grandchild, so just hold on."

Watts' family afghan square #25: