And then there was Knitting Light!

I discovered a small socket on the front of my laptop (you know, the front that I never look at except to plug in my ear buds). Gasp! There is a socket for my digital camera's memory card! Now I can upload my camera pictures without worrying about finding the camera cord that I invariably lost!

Here are some of the highlight projects I could never pop up. Here is the Juno Regina pattern that I knitted up from Knitty.com with a really pretty lace yarn in a pink that I thought was discontinued.



Before I left Madison, I revisited the yarn shop on Monroe Street, "The Knitting Tree" and refound the yarn in the same color that I once thought was lost. I managed to snatch up the last skein of in this luscious lace in my shopping bag before I left town.


The original project for the Juno Regina pattern is actually one of my favorite scarves and it was certainly the easiest pattern to do because once you get through the intricate diamond intro, you get lulled into a sense of peace with the repeat pattern in the center that goes on and on into knitting zen. Eventually you'll get to the diamond closing but by then it will be a welcoming. This project ended up being my sanity project when I was tutoring at Shabazz High School for their library study class. I kid you not, some days it was mostly sitting around doing nothing when the students didn't need help with their homework so I needed something to keep me busy during those lapses in activity. The trouble with knitting was that I couldn't bring anything TOO complicated or else I'd be in a load of pain in trying to put the project down and repick it up later when my tutoring services were needed by a student. The repetitive rows then became an excellent project as it wasn't too demanding on my attention in between helping students but at the same time still provided some challenge outside of the brain death of garter stitch.

If you want to knit up the Juno Regina scarf/stole for yourself, you can find the FREE pattern here from Knitty.

A Knitting Book

Well, given the look of summer season drawing closer and closer to the inevitable autumn season and of course the new academic school year with me sans a teaching job, I've decided that in between job hunting and non-academic working, I will write a book on knitting. I don't know if I'll ever finish or if I'll ever get it published but in the very least I shall try to be productive with a non-knitting activity. Okay, writing a book on knitting may not be exactly non-knitting in the general sense but at least in the literal sense I'm writing rather than...well, actually knitting.

My goal is to devote at least an hour a day to the project regardless if it's productive writing or not towards the book. This sort of means I'll have to actually do some knitting patterns as well. I kind of like doing a theme of patterns. So far all my personal dabbles with making up my own patterns involves taking an attempt at knitting something useful in regards to my nerdier things. I kid you not. I'm not sure a book made of multiple styles of dice bags, Nintendo DS covers/cozies, and pouches will really make a marketable book but at least this will be a challenge for me to really focus on design work for a while and expand what I can do. Here's to me being ambitious, I guess. :/

Baby got Back...Well, Back Section, Anyway.

I've managed to somehow finish in since the 15th the whole back section. There is an error in the pattern somewhere for the right section so I have to go and print that off before I go to Madison tomorrow to visit Greg for the weekend. I plan to knit up by the end of the weekend either two sleeves or the right and left sides of the pattern if time permits before Monday. Notice that I said, "if time permits" because as we all know with most knitting gift deadlines that shit happens. If there is some cosmic being out there devoted to all things knit then you can be sure that the cosmic being to delays and tribulation is not too far behind.

In any case, I've at least a good, sizable chunk done so that if the birthday deadline comes by and it isn't done yet then at least I can prove my knitting love with at least something to show for that won't look like I'll put it off for Christmas. Case in point, Greg's Christmas scarf which almost ended up as Greg's Valentine's Day scarf. In that particular situation, when we exchanged our Christmas presents before break, he gave me mine and I showed him his. He saw the scarf, he loved it, he nuzzled it, and he met face to face to the circular needles at the end of the scarf with just a quick warning from me to watch out for needles just in the nick of time before someone lost an eye along with my promise to finish it for him AFTER the break. Besides, lucky him he was going to North Carolina for break. What need of a scarf does he in weather that reaches sixty-three?

PS, Lakeside Fibers off of Park Street is having a huge summer sale starting Friday!!! It goes until a week from now and if you're on their e-mail list, they've sent out a double-punch coupon to get double-punches for your purchase! I'd prefer an actual discount but hey, I'll take what I can get and if the sales are as awesome as I think they are then I'm definitely going to dig up some yarns. I'm bringing in a list of projects I want to gather up yarn for so I know the yardage and gauges ahead of time. Last thing I want to do is stock up on clearance yarn that I'll never knit a thing for. I JUST managed to downsize my acrylic stash to my mom a month ago.

Rethinking the French...

After trial and error and constant froggings, I've decided to rethink my earlier review of French Girl Knits based on failed attempts at knitting the Sophia cardigan. The amount of effort that Kristeen goes to avoiding seaming goes beyond just basic knitting in the round for the body or for sleeves to such a degree that not only does it make seaming seem incredibly easy in comparison but also more soothing on the knitter's sanity.

Picture this, an optimistic knitter (moi) with an overabundance in both love and appreciation for her mother that she attempts to knit up this cardigan as a thoughtful present for her dear mother's upcoming birthday. The knitter carefully picks out the yarn in just the right blend of creamy white and earthy brown for a heathered color that calls to mind the the warmth and comfort of a hot bowl of oatmeal on a winter's morning--yeah, it's a lame attempt at visual imagery but the yarn label said the the color was called 'Oatmeal' so I played with Cascade's color name...oatmeal...exactly the kind of color you just want to wrap yourself up as a fashion statement! Next, the ever prudent knitter researches exactly the right pattern with enough challenge for her skill but still beautiful enough that her mother would love--it also helps that her mother thumbed through her pattern books haphazardly one morning and picked out the pattern that worked the least well for the yarn. In any case, fast-forward to weeks later after failed attempt at failed attempt to try to sort through the provisional crochet cast-on that requires picking up and knitting on BOTH sides of the same row with yarn-overs on both sides. Be very careful not to pick up the wrong stitches, kiddos! You might just be crying a few rows later when it all unravels.

Now, my knitting kiddies, I'm off to knit the birthday cardigan in an eyelet cardigan pattern that I have in my stash. The birthday deadline is no longer the month away project that I would have hoped for at the beginning of July...now I've only got four days away until the big birthday. Whoopsies. Here's to at least getting something for show to mom. :)

Book Review: French Girl Knits

Given my summer knitting has drawn into full gear BUT I've still not managed to find that blasted camera cord to upload my current knitting pictures after all the packing and unpacking in between moves, I've decided to do a little book reviewing of some knitting books.

My first review is French Girl Knits by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes. I got this book a few months ago and just recently have begun to dive into the patterns with my summer knitting. What originally drew me to this book was its aforementioned subtitle for "Innovative Techniques, Romantic Details, and Feminine Designs" on the front cover and Kristeen definitely delivers in this respect. She's managed to carefully introduce several types of unique constructions for seamless knitting that is definitely invaluable for any knitter wanting to experiment outside the box. Likewise, her designs and attention to detail not only create a smooth, seamless finish but also plays with cables and lacework to create pieces that draw your mind to a dreamier place with clothing that not only appears flatteringly light and airy but also layerable--something to consider when knitting given that layering clothes seems to be incredibly popular with clothing today and which Kristeen plays up to with her dainty peak-a-boo lacework in several of her tops and tunics.

Something to certainly consider when picking out your next knitting project from this book, you will definitely want to layer the lacier items over another top unless you don't mind showing up your bra. At least six of the tops have just enough lacework up and down the body that may have you shying for an undergarment underneath just to avoid a few awkward stares. This shouldn't deter you from wanting to knit them though. This may just have you experimenting with a contrasting tank top underneath your knitted masterpiece for some really neat outfit ideas which the models in the book certainly play out for your own closet such as pairing either gorgeously long and lacey Anjou tunic or the delicate Niobe pullover layered over a one-piece dress.

There is one pattern though that seems to glare at me with ugg-factor, and I don't mean the boots although those can be pretty hideous at times too. I speak of...the Cybele lace-up tank. From the front it looks like this deliciously gorgeous, almost Ren-Fair like cardigan top with its earthy brown and beautiful cables leading off to a sexy lace-front. Wait 'til you get to the back of this piece, though! This top goes from Beauty to the Beast from front to back. It's literally a split back with only three toothy-like wooden buttons holding it in place at the top but allowing the bottom of the back to splay out unevenly while the garter straps hold on in a haphazardly attempt to the cabled body above the buttons. The back just appears uneven and sloppy which makes this ONE pattern out of the whole book stand out like the red-headed step-child that it is. I would remedy this pattern by just knitting it fully connected and whole in the back without that funky, uneven split backing. Despite this majorly fugly pattern gripe, the rest of the book is wonderful!

For the price of the book, the patterns and the prescribed methods of seamless construction, the book is certainly WORTH IT! There are a variety of wearable patterns for cardigans, tunics, tops, tanks, sweaters, and even a skirt that will certainly appeal to your fashion wardrobe. Do not pick up this book if you're looking for socks, hats, scarves, purses, or shawls though. Also as a warning, this book is NOT a take-you-by-the-hand beginner's knitting book. You won't find detailed lessons in knitting and purling here. The designer expects that you have at least a moderate understanding of knitting construction and technique.

Regardless, Kristeen's designs are not only gorgeous, they are awe-inspiring for your wardrobe. I've actually gone out to buy an extra skirt and sundress to go hand in hand with these patterns. I've never had a knitting book actually tempt me to buy non-knitted clothes to go along in with a knitted project before! Since when does knitting books caused you to buy more clothes along with more yarn?

In any case, one of my current projects right now is the Sophia cable-edged cardigan that you see on the front cover of the book for my mom. After that, I definitely want to knit up the Niobe pullover. :)