Pinched nerve?

IMG_3834.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

My miraculous (ok, overstatement but you know what I mean) recovery from my very sore arm makes Tim think that perhaps I had a pinched nerve. It is somewhat amazing that I can type AND knit without pain and I'm so happy about that!

Cool and wet long weekend, with periods of reading and knitting interspersed with Wii Fit Plus and dog walks. I finished these socks and also made some headway on the monk's cable sweater.

I also found* a sweater wip that hasn't been worked on for at least a year, probably more...it is a fair isle where front, back and sleeves are knit separately and then joined in the round for the fair isle yoke. Well, I've knit the front and back and half of one sleeve, so I'm probably 70% done with this and not sure why I put it away. So it is back on the active wip list too.

I also organized some knitting by matching patterns to yarn in stash so I could get started on even more sweaters I won't be able to finish. It made me feel good and organized. So far, three sweaters on the docket for when I finish these three. Oh how I amuse myself.

Hope you're warmer and drier than we are!

*found as in...opened the drawer in the coffee table where this has been stored forever. For. Ever. One piece was just loose...not stored on waste yarn or anything. Luckily the yarn is pretty sticky and no major bad stuff was done.

Start of Summer Musings

IMG_3836.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

OK OK, I know it isn't really the start of summer but it is Memorial day and we can all gleefully don our white patent leather shoes without any repercussions. Lots to catch you up on as I slowly start to morph into my summer mindset.

1. Finally, a lovely picture of Astor, lovely in that you can see the pattern but not so lovely in that it looks like I have a humpback. But this is a great sweater, a fairly quick knit, looks wonderful on (I've worn it once, it is warm!) and I wish I had done the pockets. I may add a patch pocket here and there.
2. Midnight math: you may have noticed I"m keeping track of stash knit and have a goal of knitting ten miles of yarn. At some point at the start of the year, I calculated with my oh-so-superior mathematical brain that I would have to knit a mile per month in order to make it to ten miles this year. Last night in the middle of the night (while fretting over another month were my goal was NOT met) I realized the error of my high level calculus. Thus, June (and December) are now officially 'catch up' months without a mile goal that should allow me to meet the mileage goal that I set up.
3. I'm sure that is way too much information for you.
4. Summer Knitting is on my head! The goal of course to finish wips. I also have a hankering to knit an entrelac shawl out of some yarn in stash, as well as to knit a secret present for Tim for Christmas. Have patterns and yarn for both.
5. I also want to learn how to crochet. I can do a chain, but other than that I'm limited. There's a gorgeous bracelet pattern in the book Vampire Knits (don't judge) here ; I was thinking I could add beads and create bracelets and chokers for the Artfire shop I'm opening.
6. Oh yeah. Open Artfire shop.
7. Plus clean closets etc.
In other news: my sore arm magically cleared up yesterday. So what's up for your summer?

Lush

IMG_3790.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

I have no interesting knitting pictures to show...it has been so dark and rainy that everything looks dark and gloomy. But. I almost have the second stripey sock done and the right front of the one cable sweater is also close to being done. I've been taking the knitting kind of slow due to busy-ness and to trying to rest my arm a bit.

But...even though it is cool (mid 50s) and gloomy here, the flowers are amazing. We have literally dozens of Digitalis and Columbine everywhere. Even our recalcitrant bleeding hearts are thriving (they don't like sun, and we have plenty of no sun here). This is our tiny front yard which we've tried to create as a mini-forest It is so green...but honestly, a little sun wouldn't kill us.

This I know

IMG_3829.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

1. That I like this little red bead necklace...soon to be in my Artfire shop.
2. That I have progressed from an elbow brace to one of those Carpal Tunnel braces to try to help my arm.
3. It's not pretty, and it makes it hard to knit.
4. It is still winter here. A green, lush, chilly winter.
5. This week was typical end of year crazy; one more week of classes and then finals and then done.
6. Exhaustion is not pretty.

Stripey Sock

IMG_3833.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

Very, very bright. Yes, as bright as this!

I have now progressed to wearing an elbow brace because of my cotton-yarn induced arm muscle pain (on just my right arm). Odd. Last night it hurt so much I had trouble going to sleep. I need to be consistent with ibuprofin, and any additional tips for whatever is wrong with the arm are appreciated. I think the only solution, though, is the one I don't want to hear.*




*to stop knitting.

It's brighter than this

IMG_3831.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

But if you get the real color, then you don't see all the cables.

Sigh.

But, here is the other pink sweater that I had put aside and then picked up again recently. This is made with an Elann yarn that mimics 1824 wool (and I guess that mill is shutting down, did you hear?) and the pattern is from that same book that my other cable sweater is from.

Fiona Ellis, Inspired Cable Knits.

It's not going fast at all. No no no. It moves at a somewhat glacial pace, I must say. But I'm enjoying it. And I"m almost to the armholes so that's something, right?

Ouch

IMG_3799.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

My right elbow..and my arm about two inches above and below the elbow...hurt. Kind of hurt a lot. It started when I was knitting with cotton, it ebbed a bit, but now it hurts. I'm wearing those gloves from Lion Brand (those blue compression gloves) and they help but it still hurts.

I'm taking a lot of ibuprofen but it still hurts.

Good times! It also hurts when I use the track pad, so I'm guessing it is something like carpal tunnel or arthritis or something. So if you have any thoughts and especially if you have any cures, let me know.

In the meantime, a little turtle necklace for you to enjoy.

Bright bright bright

IMG_3827.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

Everything I'm working on right now is pink. The hoodie you saw in the previous post: pale pink. Another sweater with cables: warm pink. These socks: hot pink and orange.

It's a lovely sock merino sock yarn from Big Love socks, in the Sister Wife colorway (who knows why?). Just a basic vanilla sock, but I like it.

Juneau update: she continues to do well and our oncologist wishes to do another bone marrow biopsy, so that will happen tomorrow. Not sure what it will tell us but you'll hear!

Really, truly a horrible photo

IMG_3824.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

This sweater is so pretty yet it looks like a giant Flea Medication dispenser (those of you with pets will be agreeing with me now).

It is the Celtic Icon sweater from Inspired Knits by Fiona Ellis...a hooded sweater with the celtic not pattern on the back, fronts and sleeves too I think.

The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold silky wool in a dusty pink color, not the dead purplish grey that you see here. I can get a photo with the color OR a photo with the cables and I went with the cables for this one. If it ever stops raining I'll take one in natural sunlight.

I started this a while ago...can't even remember when, but it is time to get back to this and the other sweater I'm doing from that same book.

Bauble

IMG_3803.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

I have knitting to show you..yes I do. Astor is finished. I've returned to two untouched sweaters. I unraveled a scarf (I won't show you that). I am knitting a sock (I need a 'knit and read' project.

But.I also did this necklace in shades of red with black velvet cording over the weekend. The first piece for my new shop at Artfire. Stay tuned for that grand opening!

Frabjous Day

IMG_3795.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

1.

Why?
1. Sun is shining today, after some pretty dreary days.
2. Sun allows me to try, to ATTEMPT, to photograph the windowpane pattern in this sleeve cuff for my Astor.
3. Which means, ASTOR IS DONE!

Well not really. Needs seaming and a good steam blocking. But the knitting part. Done

Now that I can see the light at the end of the academic tunnel, I'm starting to think about summer knitting. Which means finishing up sweaters on the needles and other projects in limbo. Stay tuned!

Cotton. Ouch.

The off white top is 'done' except for finishing.
I have a very very sore right arm, which I can only think is due to cotton.
Which is the off white top.
So no cotton knitting for a while. Maybe forever.

All I Gots

I've been knitting a new project that at the moment is just a tube of offwhite cotton stockinette. It is about a 16" high tube and that means it is about to be divided for the back and front, but honestly, there's not much to see there.

I'm tired. It is that time of the year where the sleepy academic community where I work jumps into high gear to get everything finished by the end of the year (four weeks). So there is meeting up on meeting upon decision upon decision. All rushed and most not well thought out. This is not my favorite time of year.

On top of that, I have three theses defenses and at least one or two project defenses coming up, as well as whatever else a student might throw at me to get done.

Although I did take a break and read "Bossypants" this afternoon and it was very, very good.

Review of Summer IK

Finally it's summer! says the new issue of IK. Well, here in Oregon, not so much. But let's take a look in the new issue anyway.
The Good: Dockside cardigan is 'cocoon like' and that sounds good to me. It's in a pretty color in the magazine as well. The Amelia Hoodie is cute even if it is displayed with the typical "put a tshirt under it" IK styling which I hate. I might even consier the Al Fresco Cardigan although it isn't flattering on the model..I thought she was a plus sized model but turns out she's wearing a 32 1/2. OK so maybe not on that one.
The Uninteresting: Lots of lace stuff in this issue. I'm not big on lace. I can't really say these patterns are bad; they just aren't of interest to me because they're lace. Yes. I'm Lacist.
The Silly: While I liked the article on silk, the call out "Buyer Beware" box made me giggle because it tells you how to test the silk content of yarn that you are thinking about buying. How, you ask? A BURN TEST! I'm sure my LYS will love it when I whip out my Zippo to make sure the yarn I'm about to buy is silk!
And More Silly: The Mission Cardigan is Fishnet stockings masquerading as a sweater. Why?
Bottom Line: I'd write more but I'm yawning because this issue is pretty dull.

I need more necks

IMG_3781.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

Here's the latest in my jewelry collection. These beads are sort of shimmery with rich colors and I like them and the necklace a lot.

I'm feeling a bit on edge. I have two papers to present at a conference tomorrow...I was in charge of one, coauthor in charge of the other. Yesterday co-author emails that he's sick and can't present. And he hadn't done the powerpoint yet. So guess what I am doing today?

Astor Update

IMG_3784.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

Just what one needs going into the summer...a bulky knit long cardigan!

Well actually, this isn't a bad sweater for Oregon summers, which can be a bit chilly in the morning and almost always chilly on the coast. So once I finish the second sleeve, I'll be wearing this one!

I continue to be frustrated by how hard it is to see the cool pattern and the beautiful yarn...black with little multicolored flecks, but once it is done I'll take it out in the sun (which seems to have decided to return here) to show it to you.

I've changed the sleeve...the original sleeve was an elbow length sleeve and readers of my blog will know that those annoy me. So I did a cuff using the same windowpane pattern and then just started the sleeve from there. I think it will look great and luckily I have plenty of yarn.

If you want a quick knit (for a sweater), I highly recommend this! Thanks again to Rachel for her suggestion!

Brief Sock Hiatus

IMG_3782.JPG, a photo by kbshee on Flickr.

I finished these socks (see earlier post, I'm spacing on the yarn) this week---they traveled to the Tall Ships with us so I had lots of good car knitting time. They are purpler than they look here (and apparently purpler is a word since the spell check thingee didn't show up on my screen, as it does when i type the word thingee) and I like them a lot. But. I might take a brief sock hiatus and work on a couple other projects (well, several other projects) that have just been hanging out in incomplete land for too long (and one is a pair of socks, so it is a hiatus on new socks).

Yesterday was my birthday (don't ask numbers) and it was a great day. What can beat a Saturday birthday! It started with presents and cards at breakfast, a nice walk with the dogs, lunch at one of my favorite places, Marche, playing Wii Fit Plus in the afternoon, pretzels and cake, and then Wicked last night. I loved Wicked. We had AMAZING seats (maybe 10th row...thank you to my colleague Sally who bought a block of tix about a year ago that resulted in the awesome seats) and the performance was flawless. Just a great day.