Fruit Snacks

Hey hey! I finished this scarf after two days of work and two weeks of mulling over what kind of pattern to use. Turns out complex yarns and simple patterns are fun (and look more complex than they truly are). I began work on another scarf and have been staring (glowering) at the green circular sweater. Growl.

I would like to point out that my wonderful model is also Youth of the Month for Blazers Club and my best photography student. Go Whitney!!!

I taught my coworker how to knit and she has begun making the cutest bulky weight scarf. I was so proud of watch her yesterday in the coffee shop, going to town on the needles. It makes me remember how Kun taught me to knit- and now I can pass that on to someone else- and Talia will pass it on to someone and etc. I'm officially part of the crafty ladies worldwide knitting circle.

It's been so hot here in PDX recently. My lack of air conditioning has resulted in a lack of motivation to do much of anything. Especially cleaning. The apartment is a disaster. It's so hot: it's like the surface of the sun or a sauna or something else that is scorching hot. I mostly just lay on the floor in my underoos, staring at the sewing project I wanted to finish two weeks ago. I can't knit at home anymore because my hands get so sweaty that the yarn starts to get all funky. Obviously it will be challenging to continue this hobby in Thailand.

Which, by the way, my plans are all falling into place for. I have some minor BS with my student loans officer and my medical exam but for the most part its been smooth sailing. If only I can get off my hoohoo and organize or pack my things. I KNOW that I will be doing a majority of the packing 5 days before I have to leave.

Besides all that I have a knot in my shoulder that is making my hand and face numb. I want to watch Lilo & Stitch and just lay around with the dictionary. ...don't worry Courtney, Robbie makes me crazy, too.

The ShizHouse

I really want to use the word apologia since I just learned it AND a blog seems like the perfect place to use such vocabulary. But it also seems rather predictable. I am becoming one of those people who obsessively thinks about knitting. Although I have several other DIY projects in the works it seems unlikely that I will get around to any of them since Mo is in PDX for the week. I have a stomach ache that will not go away and I fear the worst (closed abscess perhaps).
I just cleaned poopoo off the stall (read: STALL, not just toilet) of the boys facilities. It was actually empowering since my masculine coworkers couldn't seem to stand up to the challenge without gagging. I attribute my hard disposition to 1) working at summer camp and 2) owning ferrets.
This most recent project, the ne plus ultra of knitting if you will, is a toddler winter cap. I like it so much that I may just stitch out a larger one for myself or someone close to my heart. The little ear flaps are crackin'. This was made for the project Afghans for Afghans (afghansforafghans.org). It is modeled here by the lovely, yet not toddler aged, Maia. As you can see by my color choices, this is the perfect project for thinning out the stash.

Phat Camp

Another project...Accomplished. I don't sweat the technique.
This is another baby thing for the same kid. It's an acrylic (Im poor) sport weight blanket. I changed needle gauges every 7 rows and worked the entire thing in garter stitch, which got very boring after awhile. I also held two yarns together. It made the blanket fluffier but was sort of challenging to keep the same tension on both yarns. Next up - finish the Christmas afghan.

You're My Obsession

Anyone who knows that I knit knows that I never finish projects. My apartment is pergatory for sweaters and afghans. So it was very exciting for me to complete my first sweater. My pulse was racing as the final stitches were shaped during the late episode of Dharma & Greg (obviously I don't have cable). There are some slight technical problems and some obvious abnormalities but I would say that it is a very successful effort. Besides, it's for my boss' baby so it's not as if anyone using it will know the difference if the shoulder hem is straight or not.
I was thinking about trying out needlepoint (cross stitching, whatever its called). I did it way back when a couple times but I was seriously considering giving that craft another go. I was shopping for a wedding present** yesterday and nothing says marriage like a set of hand stitched tea towels, right?!


** Registry or not, its terribly difficult to pick an acceptable gift when on an extremely limited budget. I like the way its done in Japan, with a nice card and a fistful of cash. I realize that cramming $15 into a card will probably just make me look cheap and/or lazy. So I went with a card and the least practical gift on the list.