Monday, January 31, 2005

This was a good knitting weekend.

In addition to getting to knit and chat with my friend Emily, whom I don't get to see nearly enough of these days (silly doctoral students... they get eaten up by lab a lot) I started making all the knitting needles. The 12 pair of size 8s are almost done. One more coat of paint, a buffup with the ol' wax paper and gluing on the heads and I'm good to go. I spent all weekend making these babies. They're going to rock. Then I have all the stuff to make the size 13s.

So, because I was boxed into an unreasonably low materials cost for both classes, I have all this novelty yarn that is really just not my thing, because I had to get it super-cheap off of Ebay. And all these needles that I'm slaving over. Not worth what I was going to charge them, but I'm donating labor, because they're fun to make.

So, I've so forth put in around $200 of my own money in materials (that I would then sell to the students, reimbursing my costs) and over 20 hours of my time in class prep.

Then TODAY I get an email saying that the classes are cancelled due to low registration. Class was supposed to start tomorrow. So I'm out all this time and money for nothing. Plus, I really needed the money I was going to get paid for teaching.

The University of Michigan had done nothing but jerk me around for at least 2 years now. They have messed up almost *every* aspect of my life at one point. I don't know why I thought this time would be any different.

Thursday, January 27, 2005

Real Conversations with My Husband
circa last week, while driving

Me: Tonight [drop-in at Knit-A-Round] rocked!
Him: Why?
Me: 'Cuz this lady came in with a really messed up project and I fixed it! I felt like a rockstar.
Him: You should become a professional knitter.
Me: There's no money in it. I prefer eating.
Him: Then open a yarn store.
Me: The only place I can think of that is in desperate need of one that I'd want to live is London.
Him: Ok.
Me: Ok? Your typical work visa doesn't allow you to be an entrepenuer. Or entertainer.
Him: All you need is get backing and prove that'll it'll creat something like 3 British jobs.
Me: Serious?
Him: Mm-hmmm
Me: And then if you want books, you need a bookseller's liscense...
Him: Jen, all that stuff is easy to get. It wouldn't be that hard to do.
Me: hmmmmmmm...

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Pictures of Christmas Gifts are up!!!!

The handwarmers are from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I used some Manos. Maybe half a skein? I like how the staggared rib makes it look cabled. (Those are my sister's hands modeling them!)

The scarf is my own design. Pattern here. I used 3 skeins of Plymouth Alpaca Grande. Kinda sheddy. Super-soft. It knit really really quickly.

AND! On Saturday we had a huge snowstorm, so business at the shop was kinda slow, which meant that I could take the crochet class that was being taught (half the class didn't show, due to weather). Now my crochet skillz are solid. Not great, but there, so I started on the fabulous Jo Sharp Shawl! Yay!

Mohair= probably not the best choice for a first crochet project, but, whatever.

Monday, January 24, 2005


My first square!

Nouveau shawl from Jo Sharp's Village

Handwarmer close-up

My sister's handwarmers

Close-up of scarf

My sister's scarf

Monday, January 17, 2005


Shaker Rib scarf

Oatmeal side

Dark brown side

Close up of herringbone between ribs

Close up of herringbone between ribs

Bernat Boa

Bernat Matrix

Novelty Scarves

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

I want a swift and ball winder. They're fun.

I'm sick of this weather-- lots of nice snow one day. Melty rainy foggy ick the next. A week of blah. Lots of nice snow, repeat cycle.

Lots of time then to sit and knit. And catch up on my email!

My "knitting" folder, where all my list mail automatically goes, is down to 213 messages! Yes, "Down to" last month I was at 350. Don't ask. I just want to get it down to like 5, which I can read in a day, and then I can get 5 more the next... for some reason, I can't bring myself to skip them all and must read them.

On the other hand, some people on some lists bring out the worst in me. As in, I actually want to *flame* them. How horrible is that? But, I can take a deep breath and tell myself "do you know how stupidly loser-y it is to flame someone for a comment they made in September?" and then just tell them off in my head. Or sometimes outloud, but only when I'm the only one around.

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Needles will be made with the ol' sticking a wooden dowel in a pencil sharpner technique.

I will then sand them nicely, rub in some mineral oil, and rub down with wax paper.

And make really cool ends with Fimo, because, really, there's nothing I like more than playing with Fimo.

I will probably not do much knitting tonight... got a hot date who sent me a dozen roses at work. (maybe because 2 years ago I married him!)

Monday, January 10, 2005

Wow! It's been awhile. *Sorry*

Anyway... my sister's scarf and handwarmers turned out nice. I left my camera at home, so didn't get pictures at Christmas, but she's visiting in a few weeks, so I'll try and get some then!

Dad's shaker rib scarf is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly coming along. But it looks fantastic. I should take a picture of that when I get home from work and show y'all.

But it's on hold as a whip out an Eros-type scarf. And an eyelash scarf. Yeah, I know... but the lady who's paying me to teach at the U. wants samples for a display case for marketing purposes, so click click click go the needles!

That, and I've decided I'm going to make needles for my students, to keep costs down.