My Contribution

I showed you what I got, so I'll show you what I sent!

A Foggy Day

Pattern: Earl Grey Mitts by Bristol Ivy

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Steam Age and Fangrrl Fiber Arts Sherlock Worsted in Buckwheat

Needles: US 4s

Project Page

I'm sure I mentioned the fact that knitting for a knitter was new and subsequently confuddled me. I had a grand idea and had a hell of a time bringing it to fruition. Eliza wanted my Tosh DK scraps and I was more than happy to give them to her. A hat would have been ideal, but I didn't have enough, so my next thought was mitts. I looked through patterns, but I just knew I had to make my own favorite pair of mitts for her and pair the Tosh with yarn dyed by my dear friend, Kate.

The one row stripes didn't do the Steam Age justice, nor did the two row stripes, so I settled on three rows of Steam Age and two rows of Buckwheat. I loved it on the knit and purl sides, but I learned that you can't hide yarns carried up on stripes that wide. :P I couldn't figure out how to make a faux, crocheted seam work over the carried yarns, so for the second mitt I cut the yarn for every stripe. There were many ends and I finally figured out how to weave them in effectively and beautifully, but I just couldn't do it invisibly, so I left that mitt that way and the other one carried. They in every other way match. I mean, can you tell? Didn't think so! :)

By the way, that photo is courtesy of Eliza via our mutual friend (small world!) Jillian. You can tell she's a photographer, yeah?

I'm still anxious about them because they went to a knitter who is going to notice, but all in all, they are pretty, soft, and very...Eliza! What I had in mind all along! She could wear them inside-out and I'm sure no one would know the difference. It's mostly in my head. I like to whine. 

I did have some Tosh left over and I know she's genius with leftovers, so I sent her the last little ball and some nail polish because she's been experimenting with some cool nail art. It was really a lot of fun to knit for her, though it sounds like I stressed out about it. I didn't really. :) I'm already thinking about what I'll knit her next time!

For more FO Friday posts, go to Tami's Amis! I'll be back later with some 30 for 30 outfits. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Another Treat

I've been looking for an excuse to share more of our trip pictures from the Olympic Peninsula and John gave me the perfect opening. Last week, he presented me with a book filled with our trip pictures! There are twenty in all, so I just picked some random ones:

The Twentieth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-second

It's been a while! I didn't take photos of eighteen and nineteen, so that's why I didn't post Monday (or Tuesday as the case ended up). I'm going to cheat and repeat Saturday's outfit, so you'll see it. Sunday's wasn't that great. It was like the first, but with a yellow tank underneath and not buttoned-up.

top: Banana Republic, cardigan: Gap, pants: ?, shoes: Merona, accessories: the usual.

 Still need to hem the pants. :P They are really great pants. They fit perfectly, feel great...almost like a favorite pair of sweatpants. Except you can wear them to a meeting. If you haven't worn holes in the hems. :)

 dress: Cabbages and Roses, cardigan: handknit!, shoes: Blowfish, accessories: the usual plus a new headband.

It's my dress! Finally! The more telling photo of the outfit was a terrible one of me, so you can't really tell, but I had to wear a tank under the dress because I haven't shortened the straps like I need to. I haven't yet determined how to do it, but I'm going to my grandma's this weekend and she will certainly know. I should take those pants, too....

top: Banana Republic, blouse: Banana Republic, shorts: Banana Republic, shoes: Blowfish, accessories:  the usual.

You may note that I am sans bangs this week. They need to be trimmed. I have definitely learned how to hide unruly bangs. Bobby pins, elastic headbands, clippy barrettes, and random ribbon-like belts have been my new-found friends lately. This outfit won't live to see another day. The tank needs something under it. I can't tell you how many times I had to hike it up over the girls today.

There are eight outfits left and I can only think of one piece I haven't worn yet! 

I Swear I'm Knitting

Just not very much or very often. I still haven't gotten my schedule to work for me well enough that I don't have to bring things home with me. I have Labor Day weekend to get it figured out, though, eh? Or maybe I'll just knit....

Here's an old picture I've probably used twice before to show you something I've picked up again after about four years. I'm determined to finish it this weekend. I've finished beading, so it's just knitting a few more (giant) rounds. I told John I'm going to burn it when I'm done. I might still.* But I'll take photos first.

My poor Exeter. I really want to work on it. I do! I just isn't maturing at the rate I'd like. I'll make some progress on it, promise. I have to finish it soon so I can start another Summer Sweater KAL sweater. It'll either be Insouciant (while the weather is still nice enough) or Levenwick.

My robot mittens have hit a stand-still. No wonder I didn't finish them sooner. They take forever! I need to redo the first one, so dreading that has slowed me down, too. They are so flippin' cute, though!

I think that's everything that is actively clicking on my needles. In other modes of life, I'm working on Greek, Greek, and more Greek and I have to begin revising a paper and write an abstract for said-paper before the end of September. Busy, busy, busy! Such is life.

How are you? Much more relaxed, I hope? Knitting lots of good things? :) I need some knit-spiration, so do tell me what you're working on!

WIP Wednesday posts here and Summer Sweater KAL posts here! See you Friday!

*Okay, fine, I won't!

Goodies!

Eliza and I had a little mini-swap last week! It was really fun! I've never knit anything for a knitter, so that was a little nerve-racking, but it was a success! Here's what she sent me:

I can't tell you how anxious I am for cooler weather so I can wear this hat all the time. It's 90 degrees here and I've been wearing it around the house a couple of nights already. :) I have a really big head for someone so small, but it fits great. Her tubular cast-on is genius! I don't know what to do with the yarn, yet, but I can't wait to start knitting with it. The color is beautiful! Maybe socks. It is in two hand-dandy skeins. :) I'm also a huge mix-tape fan, so that was a delightful surprise too. This one has some really great stuff on it. Gosh, she super spoiled me! I should have sent more stuff!

There. I'm done boasting. :) I just had to share! I can't wait to do it again!

I'll have a post for you tomorrow. One with clothes and one with knitting (though there aren't many WIPs happening right now). I have to choose between two FOs for Friday, though! Maybe I'll share both!

So Much Greek!

Panatheniakos

Pattern: Avery by Melissa Labarre
Yarn: The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted in Glacier
Needles: US 9s
Project Page

This was my Ravellenic Games project for Team Bunny Slaves. My bunnies were happy that they had trained me well enough to finish on time. I've had the pattern in my queue for a very, very long time, but had been waiting for the right colorway of Madelinetosh MCN 80/10/10 Worsted, which I would know when I saw it, but I never did. Fortunately, I accidentally stumbled upon a Plucky update and got her 80/10/10 Primo Worsted in this lovely color. I still kick myself for not getting Sagebrush because I don't think she'll be offering it again, but I'm perfectly pleased with this Glacier.

The actual color is between the two.

I loved the predictable pattern, I had to watch the chart like a hawk every row for the first repeat, but after that, I didn't look at the chart again. I could see where the stitches were supposed to move and remembered which rows I had to change the first five stitches and it went swimmingly! I only messed up one repeat, but caught it before I got too far. I did an extra set of row repeats (you do the chart six times around the cowl and three times through the 16 rows--I did an extra 16 rows) and love the volume it gives me.

The one thing I'm not so happy about is the flimsiness of the fabric. The pattern calls for aran weight on 10s. I used worsted on 9s. If I had gone down to 8s or 7s, it would have been perfect, but the length would have been off, so...yeah....Next time. There will be a next time! I absolutely love it (floppiness and all). I can't wait for fall so I can wear the crap out of it!

The name comes from a speech I have been reading by the Greek author I'm specializing in. It's basically an insanely long speech about all the reasons Athens is the best city ever. I'm about to start a speech about why Rome is the best city ever, so I'll have to decide which I believe! Since I was reading it during the Olympics and it made me feel very patriotic and connected to games (Olympic, Panathenaic, world-wide...), I thought it was fitting.

For more FO Friday posts, go to Tami's Amis! Monday, I'm going to show you how spoiled I was on Wednesday. :D It'll take two posts. I'll do the knitterly spoils Monday and the boyfriend spoils Tuesday.

The Fourteenth Through the Eighteenth

tee: Banana Republic, slacks: Banana Republic, shoes: Merona, accessories: gifted necklace, Relic watch, Avon rings.

I suppose my lip studs count as accessories too? I need new ones. The balls are two different sizes and it drives me crazy, though not a soul can possibly tell the difference. I loved the ease and simplicity of this outfit. It may be a go-to in the future.

dress: I got it at Penny's?, cardi: Gap, shoes: don't remember..., accessories: the usual, except the belt, which came with the dress.

This guy was a dud. Besides that, it was probably about 90 degrees that day. The cardi is my 30th item. I would have just worn the dress, but I thought that was a cop-out, I'm self-conscious about my armpits, and I wasn't feeling the bright embroidery on the collar that day. My dream for this dress is to some day acquire enough sewing skills to replace the bodice with something more...normal-looking? It's highly impractical and strange to wear, but I do like it, for all the complaining.

top: Mossimo?, shorts: Banana Republic, shoes: probably Blowfish, accessories: yellow tank and the usual.

I totally felt like I was cheating in this outfit. I changed out of the dress and into this for a class from 6:30-9:15 pm. I just wanted to feel comfortable for a little while. It worked! I don't think it looks so terrible, either. I'm exhausted, if you can't tell. :)

top: Banana Republic, jeans: Aeropostale, shoes: New Balance, accessories: gifted necklace, Relic watch, Avon rings, handknit shawl!

It was just barely too hot for the shawl, but, fortunately, it was cool enough in my office and all my classes to justify it. AND it covered my poor-posture shoulder-slump and my shy armpits. Win win win!

top: Banana Republic, pants: ?, shoes: Merona, accessories: the usual.

This is the face I make when I realize I have a lot to do yet and it's Friday, so I don't know whether to be happy or stressed, haha. It doesn't help that I don't have make-up on. The clothes are comfortable and cute, though, I think. These pants need to be hemmed because I've literally walked through the backs of them and they are super tattered, but I haven't gotten around to it (still!).

Okay, I won't go so long without posting next week! Go see what Eliza and the girls have mixed-up!

Note to Self...

You might want to start scheduling Wednesday posts. Your hour break isn't long enough and midnight isn't Wednesday anymore.

Well, hello again! I love my schedule this semester. I'm being super, duper productive, everything is relatively close together so I don't have totally weird down-time between classes, but they are far enough apart that I can actually sit down an immerse myself in work for a while, too. It's perfect. Minus two things: Wednesdays I go from 9:30 am to 9:15 pm with a two-hour break and Thursdays will be about the same unless I decide I can sleep in and stay home until 11:00 or noon. :)

It probably goes without saying that I haven't knit much. I haven't quite got the schedule working to the point that I don't have to bring anything home with me. Next week. Next week I'll spend my evenings knitting to my heart's content!

I am working on this guy for my great-grandmother. Her 91st birthday is coming up and I promised her whatever knitted item she wanted for her 90th. She said a neutral scarf and by a happy accident, I had half the materials for it! I'm crazy about this scarf. It's so fast, easy, and gorgeous! It makes me forget I hate Noro. I may mass-email the fam and see who needs a scarf for Christmas. :)

The sweater will get some airtime this weekend, I think. I need to figure out how to modify the shawl collar and I don't have the brain cells to do it just yet. I also picked up a much hated shawl. I even ordered the correct yarn to finish it, so it will happen! Very soon, I think.

I'll have something to show you Friday, too! I took Rams and Ewes to knitting night for a professional opinion on the lining and ended up re-blocking it sans lining. It's ever more gorgeous and will have a backing (after more advice tomorrow night), but I don't know if it will be by Friday.

Finally, I got loads of surprises today that I can't wait to show you! And of course, for posts on WIPs and Summer Sweaters, click on the links!

Heeeelloooooo!

I survived my first day back at school! Yay! Now let's see how day 2 goes....

I have loads of outfits to show you. I think I'm up to outfit 13/30, but I won't swear it.

I forgot to document Thursday's, but it looked like this:

But with Aeropostale jeans, my mismatched Sketchers and a pony-tail instead of a braid. Oh, and bangs.

top: Banana Republic, jeans: Aeropostale, shoes: New Balance (finally looked at them), accessories: gifted necklace, Relic watch, Avon rings, Mom's pearl (didn't mean to put it on).

This outfit totally needs a jacket or something. I hate wearing tanks, but now I can see that I just shouldn't. It's my posture. If I could square my shoulders, I could do a tank. Yoga. Yoga helps. I just have to...do...it....

top: gifted, everything else: see above.

This outfit is actually from the same day as the one above. I just changed shirts. I had a nerdy night with the girls in my department, so Wonder Woman was fitting. :) It's not a great outfit, it's just one...I wear.

top: Banana Republic, sweater: handknit!, shorts: Banana Republic, shoes: Merona, accessories: Relic watch, Gap belt, Avon rings, Mom's pearl?

I was really stoked about this outfit, but I now realize that I already wore it in the same week! I just did shorts instead of jeans. :P Oh well. I like it. :) Bonus pic without the sweater (which is actually cuter, I think):

Yeah? Maybe?

top: Banana Republic, shorts: Banana Republic, shoes: Blowfish (I told you they exist!), accessories: Gap belt, Relic watch, Mom's pearl, Avon rings, beach scarf.

I was proud that I thought up this outfit without any inspiration, then Kendi posted her outfit. Maybe I inspired her telepathically? That would be cool. I fought with my collar all day. In any case, it's a pretty good look.

There! It won't be a post-fest Wednesday or Friday, promise. And there will be knitting! Now, go see Eliza's outfits. She's been doing better at posting than I.

Planning Is Good

I have done next to no knitting since the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics. I have been thinking a lot about knitting, though. Between reading and orientation stuff, I just haven't had the time. I have been working on my Summer Sweater KAL sweater, but the front is constructed so oddly that I'm not going to bother with a photo until it's finished. Should be next week, but we'll see how crazy things get.

The Ravellenic Games got me doing some knitting-related thinking and doing. I frogged a sweater and a hat that I don't wear and am in the process of deciding what the yarn will become and when. I need to weigh it all to determine for sure how much yarn I have and rummage through the stash bin to see if any more of it is hiding somewhere, but I think I have enough to make either another Rocky Coast or Tinder. Then I have to decide whether I'll make it for me or for my aunt, who has been in line to get a Christmas sweater for several years now. I made Rocky Coast for her last year, but the arms were too snug. Now that I know how to fix that....

Here is a terrible photo of the sweater before:

I'll work up a poll so you guys can help me decide, yeah? Would you think about it for me, please? I'd appreciate it. I have so many sweaters, that I probably don't need another, but I'd love to knit both of these for someone, if not me.

Here's a worse photo of an old sweater (look how short my hair is!):

And here's the story: I knit a few sweaters before someone taught me about gauge and a few more before I learned about sizing and measuring. That's why I frogged one and never wear this one. This is actually my first sweater (the first one I finished, anyway). I really, really love it, but I have no idea why I chose to knit it in brown (yes I do...Jared did). I've decided I don't care, this is the year I'm going to wear it! So I'm going to see if blocking it will get it a tiny bit bigger and then, instead of worrying about finding a zipper like I've been doing for 4 years, I'm just going to pick up and knit some button bands.

I have no idea when you'll see these things. They are just things I was thinking about and planning ahead for, which I don't do very often, but kind of enjoyed. :) What are you looking forward to knitting this fall?

For Summer Sweater KAL posts, go to Shannon's blog and for WIP Wednesday posts, see Tami's!

Oops...

I forgot to come back with knitting Friday. I also forgot that Monday was Monday and that I usually post on Mondays and that I was going to share my weekend outfits with you. I was at the Iowa State Fair. It's kinda hard to remember it's Monday when I'm at the fair. I took pictures on John's camera so I'm not sure a) whether they are any good or b) I'll get around to getting them off it and on here, but if they are and I do, I'll share. There are some good ones of me eating a double bacon corn dog, at least. It was good.

In any case, here is what I wore Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and today. I don't go anywhere Saturdays, so I chill in my pjs all day. Maybe next time I do the 30 for 30, I'll actually pick some pjs so I have something to show you Saturdays. :) Now check out these really awful photos!

top: Banana Republic, jeans: Grane, shoes: Merona, accessories: gifted necklace from Gma's collection, Avon rings, Relic watch, Gap belt.

Sunday I hosted a Closing Ceremonies party at the shop for our Ravthletes. It was a good time with good mimosas and good company! John asked why I was so dressed up. I wonder if I hadn't worn the necklace whether he would have said the same thing? I'm rockin' a double pony straight from the 90's, too, though you can't see it very well.

Got the outfit idea from Kendi.

top: Banana Republic, shorts: Banana Republic, tank: Mossimo, shoes: New Era? New Age? New somethin', accessories: mystery belt/headband (that you can't see very well), Relic watch, Avon rings, Mom's pearl.

I have a ton of Banana and Gap clothes because I have an in. I knit with a woman who works at Banana and shares super sweet deals with us. She's an awesome personal shopper, too, so I took advantage of that once (or twice) and she pulled this top for me (and the shorts too, actually). I kind of hated it because I never wear tanks and I hate red, but it was an excellent deal and looked good on me, so I bought it. This is probably the second time I've worn it. I've decided I like it a good deal. A second outfit with it has just occurred to me, so be prepared to see it again!

This photo pushed me to think of this outfit.

top: Banana Republic, skirt: eeeerrmmm...?, shoes: Blowfish (you might think they're invisible by now), accessories: the usual suspects plus a hidden belt that came with something I mixed in the winter.

I'm not sure I pulled off this look the way I wanted to, but it works all right. The shirt isn't fitted enough, maybe. I was going to wear my Wonder Woman shirt, but I had to make a first impression on my orientees, so I thought I'd class it up a touch. :) I'll try the Wonder Woman shirt next week, I think.

top: Banana Republic, sweater: handknit! Slow Motion in my Rav projects, jeans: Aeropostale, shoes: New whatever, accessories: Gap belt, and the usual plus handknit Dexter socks. :)

I may have to go back to posting three days a week. I've started orientation for classes that begin next week (:S), so I'll be busier than I ever wanted to be again. I'll keep up with the 30 for 30, just not posting every day. In the meantime, go see what Eliza and the gang have mixed up! I"ll be back later with knitting.

The Picks

Finally! Here are my 29 picks for the 30 for 30. I have no idea what to pick for the 30th....

From top left clockwise to the center, I've got two pair of tennis shoes, one pair of heels, five tees (the coral one is in the laundry and I'm wearing the fifth), one knit tank (not knit by me), a black dress, the coral dress (needs its shoulders shortened a touch), two pair shorts, four blouses, two pair flats, four pair jeans (I'm wearing one), two pair slacks (one is in a "hem me" pile), a circle dress linen skirt, and two hand-knit sweaters (yes, in August).

I may swap the striped sweater out, I have a look in mind and that was the only sweater that came to mind that would work, but if I finish Exeter in time, I'll use it instead, I think. I could steal one of John's too....I'll decide the 30th item when I hate everything I've got. :)

Here's my fourth outfit:

top: Arizona, gifted, jeans: Aeropostale, shoes: Blowfish (forgot to put them back on!), accessories: Avon rings, Relic watch, Mom's pearl.

I'm going to cheat a little by claiming camis as accessories. I have a ton of them and for as badly as I thought I needed them all, I never wear them. With this shirt in the mix, I am going to go through them all and see what I've got, what I like, and which ones I really need. This one is dark blue. I just grabbed it, not much thought. I didn't see much of the world today. :) I think it's American Eagle, but I'm not sure. I am sure I got it as a gift.

I'll be back with something knitted that is finished. Whether it will be Rams and Ewes, though, I cannot promise. I'll try! In the meantime, go see what Eliza's wearing today!