New England sock, on hold for months now.

Sara’s socks.

and the all-familiar Pomatomus (sorry about the uninspiring photography and weird angles. It was cold out).

With the last two socks, I even cast on for the second immediately after finishing the first, which usually prevents the horror that was the New England sock’s second-sock-itis (remember when I finished the first one? Yep. Back in June). I know I’ve got to plug along and finish — especially the New England, which is on my list of UFOs for the UFO Challenge. But I can’t get motivated. The upside? You can see the photos that it is snowing here. We’re actually supposed to get 3-5 inches, which might not be alot for many parts of the world, but here 3-5 inches makes it a challenge to get around (especially now that the 4-wheel drive on my car is broken. Another story for another time). I was supposed to go to KY tonight, but it’s looking like I’ll get to stay in. The downside (at least in terms of second-sock-itis)? Last night, I cast on this:

(Yep, that’s Misti Alpaca worsted. I’m loving Misti Alpaca right now) Yummy. Those socks might be single a while longer…

This weekend took me across the central mountains on some before-I-leave-Appalachia adventures. On Friday, I headed out to the Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Kentucky for a meeting of the Mountain Music Teachers Association. Although I’m not really a member, it was interesting for fieldwork and, more importantly (to some), there was a good jam that night.

When my fingers crapped out on me (I’m not used to playing guitar — man, it kills your fingers if you don’t have the right calluses! And I’m a wickedly bad fiddle player, so…), I knit. Pomatomus #2 also enjoyed the music (that’s my friend James on the fiddle. I put his picture here because he laughed when I told him I had a knitting blog. Little does he know…).

And (for those of you who lamented the loss of beautiful mountain scenery that will be caused by my northern migration) when I woke up in Hindman in the morning, there was a lovely coating of sparkling snow.

Later Saturday afternoon, my friends Julie, Bethany, and James all headed down to North Carolina to hear the Red Stick Ramblers play at the Boone Saloon. A very, very good time was had by all, although I two-stepped so much that last night my knees were cracking like an old lady’s and this morning my body hurt so much I could barely get up. A lot of time in the car, but well worth the drive. More knitting tomorrow.

I’m moving back to Philly.

This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given the number of trips I’ve made up there recently, although those trips have very little to do with my ultimate decision. This was an incredibly difficult decision for me to make, and one that even after I made it, I still didn’t tell people about for months. I was ready to stay down here in the mountains for the long haul (y’all might remember), but the inherent isolation of dissertation-writing, combined with my physical isolation from friends and family, really took its toll this winter. Add to all of that the difficulty of writing what is turning out to be a fairly theory-heavy dissertation while three hours from a major research library, and… well… it’s a recipe for slow writing. I’m ready to finish my dissertation and I’m ready to get on with my life. I love living here, and the thought of moving away makes me want to sit down and cry. But at the same time, I know now is the time to go. I’ve got to go back to Philly, a city I once loved with all my being, and face the ghosts that remain there. I’ve got amazing friends up there, a wonderful community, and now a terrific apartment waiting for me. It’s just time. And if I wait until spring? Well, I’ll never be able to go. It’s just too damn pretty here in the spring. So… that’s my news.

Despite not blogging, I’ve been knitting quite a bit. I have lots to post. First, and most proud, I learned to darn. Remember these?

I returned them to my mom looking like this:

Not beautiful, but wearable. And I felt so old timey and resourceful while doing it. The first new skill of 2007… Thanks Theresa for your tutorial!

In other knitting news, I’m on the toe of the first pomatomus (please note gratuitous photos), I’m almost done with the first “batman sock,” and while in Philly, I broke my no-yarn rule (hey, I was depressed from the apartment hunt — I deserved it!) and bought myself some beautiful Cascade 220 for an Elizabeth Zimmerman seamless hyrbid (that I think I’m gonna steek into a cardigan… we’ll see if I have the guts to do it). I’m already through the waist decreases for that. But, my patient friend Shane asked ages ago for a pair of “manly mitts” and mentioned recently (in woeful tones) that he’s seen no progress pictures on the blog and did I forget about him? So Shane, this is for you (just a hint, and the shade of green is sooo much nicer than I could capture here):

Now off to the knit-night I’ve organized with some friends in Kentucky (where I will be working on a much more soothing project!)

So I treated myself to knitting on Pomotamus while watching Fog of War, which I netflixed ages ago and never had a chance to watch (can I interrupt myself to note that “to netflix” now seems like a completely acceptable verb? My how things have changed!). I was all set to post about the P-sock tonight — how I first knit one a year ago, how hard it seemed, how I couldn’t follow the pattern and how badly the sock turned out (so badly I actually didn’t knit the second. This rarely happens). This time around, I flew through the first chart, all the way down the ankle, and turned the heel without even a second thought. It was, to me, a testament to how much I’ve grown as a knitter in the last year. I had all of these back-patting thoughts planned for my post — introspective musings about the measuring of progress, adult learning curves and such. But alas! It seems I don’t always learn as fast as I think. Because half way through (of so I thought) the second foot chart, I take a moment to actually consult the chart. And lo! I effed up. Damn. I effed up in a way that can’t be easily fixed. I was so frustrated, I had to set it aside. I’ll figure out how to rip back a sock full of twisted stitches tomorrow.

But I’m worried… could this be a sign of the times to come? So far, everything I’ve knit in 2007 has had to be at least partially frogged. Like the Spindle-socks-that-aren’t. Or the Endpaper mitt disaster, where I repeated two extra rows of the chart, but didn’t realize until I was well on my way up the thumb, had to add an after-thought lifeline, rip back and knit again. Sheesh.

Here’s to hoping for either more brain power or fewer mistakes the rest of the year! And now, back to the endpaper…

In other news, I’m so close to being done with this grant, I can taste it. This has nudged a little into my knitting time, but when I’m done, I should have a good thirty pages of a chapter finished, and that’s uplifting.

Recently, I’ve noticed that some folks have been posting about creative interests beyond knitting (too many to link to here, but seriously — everyone’s button collections make me want to start collecting buttons. I’ve got a weakness for collecting). I find it inspiring to see what catches other peoples fancies. So I thought I’d let you guys in on my dirty little secret. I collect saucers.

I love them — their usefulness, versatility, tiny beauty. It’s so much fun to dig through junk shops and antique stores looking for beauties that meet the rules (yes, as with most collections, there are rules — Well, one rule really — each saucer in my collection is an “orphan.” That is, it doesn’t have an accompanying cup, nor did I find it in a store with others like it. They must be lonely saucers, in search of a good home. This keeps me from bringing home every beautiful saucer I see). The above photo is a selection of my current favs from my collection. There is the saucer that inspired the saucer obsession:

A little wedgewood number that I snagged at an antique store in Staunton, Virginia. I love it.

Then there is this puppy:

I got this one in Memphis when I visited last February. It’s a store sample, and the little polka dots make even the dullest day chipper.

And this one? Well, the reason why I love it should be obvious

You’ll notice that my idea of saucer does not necessarily mean that it once had a corresponding tea cup (which, coincidentally, I’d also collect if I weren’t, as my dad constantly reminds me, mobile. I’d collect tea pots too… god, I can’t wait until I have my own home!). I’ve included small plates in my “saucer” collection. Like the blue depression glass — That plate is also the only plate that has violated the “orphan” rule. But I maintain that it was, indeed, technically orphaned, since Jenfee bought all the others and it would have been orhpaned if I hadn’t lovingly bought it. So there.

What do you all collect?

My Saturday night?

[that would be a copy of my dissertation half-chapter that needs revision and the in progress ankle of an all-too-famous sock pattern. More on that tomorrow]

My hot date?

Oh yeah. That’s right folks. It’s either a sign that I’m a grown up or a hopeless dork, but this baby was one of my favorite Christmas presents. Cat hair dust bunnies don’t stand a chance in the presence of the Turquoise Wonder. Ha HA!

Have a good weekend, all!

So here and there over the last few days, I’ve been working on small new projects. I’m in the throes of my last major grant application and have had to lay down the law when it comes to knitting (something, I suppose, I should do more often) — no knitting until I’ve written at least three pages (or whatever my daily goal happens to be. Today, for example, it is to finish the nasty draft of this proposal). So in the evenings, while trying to think of how to say something, or deciding where I want to go next in this chapter, or generally giving my brain a break, I’ve been craving small things to knit — things that can be knit in pieces (and, of course, from the stash, since I’m dead-set on not buying yarn until March). This little guy is a product of this craving. [This picture does him no justice...]

Pattern: Elephant loveable toy, from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: less than 1 skein of Malabrigo (Frost Gray), Misti Alpaca Worsted (in pink) for the nose, scraps of Knitpicks Gloss for the eyes, and Sundara Merino Sport for the snazzy Kerchief.
Needles: Clover bamboo dpns, 4.25 mm US 6

Modifications: Well, other than yarn selection, I knit the whole thing on dpns — The pattern calls for this very complicated process of knitting from the legs up the body on two circulars. Bah! I knit the legs flat, and then rearranged them on dpns with half the leg stitches on each of four dpns. Worked fine. If I had it to do again, I’d knit the arms on slightly smaller needles. My gauge knitting in the round is considerably tighter than it is knitting/purling stocking flat (knitting socks is beginning to take it’s toll… my purl tension is considerably looser than my knit. doh!) and it’s noticeable. I sewed the ears on a little wonky, but i think that’s part of the little elephant’s charm. I stuffed him with yarn scraps, so not a thing was wasted in the process. What a fun and rewarding (and adorable!) knit. Any name ideas?

I just finished brewing coffee. This will be the first cup of coffee I’ve had in almost a week. I decided to cut back this year, after I found myself going through almost a pot a day in November. Coffee is my treat to myself today.

[and for those of you who think I seem to be churning out a lot of projects these days (Minty), I don’t really knit that fast. I’ve had a lot of things languishing around, half finished, that I’ve suddenly motivated to complete. Also, keep in mind I live in a town of 78, about three hours from a reasonable sized city (and movie theaters. and restaurants. and FRIENDS) and I have no day job. Things can get pretty dull chez Twinknit in the winter, and knitting has proven to be an excellent way to pass my evenings).

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl, from Interweave Fall 2006
Yarn: Drops Alpaca 2 skeins (plus some Misti Alpaca laceweight in black…I ran out of yarn)
Needles: Addi Natura circulars, 4.5 mm, US 7

Thoughts: There are no words for the joy this shawl makes me feel. This is my first completed and blocked lace, and I’m hooked. I ran out of yarn at the end which was frustrating, but in the end, I just decided to use black for the last border, just like the tail of the Swallow bird:

(I didn’t really put that much thought into it at the time, but I like the argument).

I’m wearing it now… maybe it will help me write this grant application quicker. If not, then at least it made me feel better! Lace and fresh bread will cure al ills…