The cap shawl is coming along nicely. It was taking me a little over an hour to do the 30-row repeat, but now it's going faster. Because of its structure, I don't keep the stitch counter on the needle, but on a table nearby. I change it every other row because they are so short. Purling backwards is fun! It goes much faster. I wonder why I don't do this stitch regularly... I may try to knit/purl backwards more in the future. Not only is it beneficial for short rows like these, but also for entrelac, so I understand. I have wanted to attempt entrelac for years, but have not found the time. I learned how to do it once. The tricky part was knitting backwards and picking up stitches, but now that I can knit backwards and read my knitting better, I think it would be easier.

The 30-row repeat is going faster for the border: I can do it in about 45 minutes now. I still find it relaxing, but I'm only about a third of the way through. If I do one repeat a day, I should be done by the end of March. Luckily I have spring break, so hopefully I can finish this shawl sooner. Once I'm done, I plan to blog more about spinning yarn. I also want to work on some projects that I've had on my mind for years, but other projects keep interrupting them!

Happy knitting!

I need to get better about posting more regularly!

The cap shawl, in Victorian Lace Today, is a huge project and is taking me forever! It doesn't help that I am in graduate school with a part-time job, but still, an hour a day--if I'm lucky--hardly makes a dent!

I started the project in early August, around the 5th. I only just finished the body of the shawl on Friday, February 13th. The complexity doesn't make this project so time consuming: it's the sheer number of stitches! It's knit in the round, so it's only knitting, knitting two together, and yarn overs--you don't even purl until the outer edge of the body! Yet towards the end, with 738 stitches, it's about an hour to knit a lace row and 45 minutes to do the knit row.

I went to Grandma's Spinning Wheel in Tucson to get help on starting the knitted-on border. Jimmy was a lot of help, and he was really friendly. You have to break the yarn, cast on eleven stitches, and start working on the chart, which I didn't have to write out because it's so much shorter. I did have to learn a new skill, which is purling backwards. It's so much faster than turning my work for each short row. It makes me want to knit/purl backwards for any short project, like scarves. I LOVE learning new skills in knitting, and I know I have a lot more to learn, which just makes me excited.

The border is going well so far. Since it's a 30-row repeat, one repeat is taking me about one hour, especially since I'm still going a bit slowly on purling backwards. The pattern is so easy, though, that it's very relaxing to work on, and soon I may be able to have a conversation while working on it. I hope that my feelings toward the border will continue to be positive and not transition to a purgatory-like state.

This shawl is going to be my wedding veil, and now that I'm so close to being finished, I cannot wait to see how it expands. My non-knitting friends and family don't understand what a knitted veil will look like (sweater on my head is what they envision). However when I go to a knitting store, everyone sees the project as I do. Regardless, it's not going to be a modern-traditional veil that is completely see-through. I will use it to cover my face when I walk down the aisle. I am NOT doing this traditional covering because I am traditional. I am insisting on covering my face because I spent so much time on the project that everyone should look at the veil for at least one minute. I'm hoping it's impressive.

More updates soon to come...I hope!

Happy knitting!

This summer was spent working on one project: my cousin's wedding blanket. I started working on it in the beginning of May. I designed it myself (wasn't that difficult), and I finished it August 1, a few days before the wedding.

Things I learned, but should have already known:

1. never knit a blanket in the summer! I was sweating SO much under the blanket--even with air conditioning!

2. Blocking it takes longer than you expect, even in the desert.

3. Never buy yarn that has been returned to a store. I bought Caron One Pound Yarn, which has no color variation--supposedly. I stupidly got one without an official label on it. I guess it had been returned because when I blocked the blanket, I noticed a slight color variation, which should not have been there. So even if there is no dye lot, make sure they all have the official label.

I will post my pattern soon (it's free!), but here are some pictures:

Hi there!

Well, as you can see from my absence, graduate school has really affected my ability to write posts and to knit. I normally bring my knitting to my choir practice, but I haven't for a while. My fellow singers started to ask, "Where's your knitting? Are you still knitting?" They seemed to be really concerned and worried about me. Instead I had forgone the yarn for books, since I've had to read two per week (it's not that bad actually). So when I finally brought my knitting this past week, a few of them breathed a sigh of relief, almost as if to say, "Good, she's okay. She's going to make it." Somehow in my life, or knitting career, taking around my projects and knitting during every free second has come to symbolize that I am well-balanced, happy, and sane. I must admit that knitting does relieve stress and it does make me happy, so perhaps bringing my needles around does demonstrate that I'm doing fine. I wonder if everyone has physical symbols to show the world their psyche. I'm sure psychologists would love that. Knitting needles equal sanity, crochet hooks mean low-stress, knives mean...paranoia, violent disposition? Perhaps knitting needles are a more aggressive symbol than I think...I'll have to work on the connections.

Anyhow, here is what I have been working on:

It has been a while since my last post because I have been really busy! I decided that I wanted to go back to school for a PhD in English Literature. I have been experiencing a lot of change: moving to a one-bedroom apartment, ending my career as a middle school teacher, and starting a graduate program. Unfortunately, due to all of those changes, I have not had very much time to knit. Hopefully I will be able to make time for it soon. Getting back to graduate school...

I have been in orientation the last few days and I have learned a lot about myself and my new colleagues. The first few days I was timid and did not want to participate in discussions or talk much to people; I was reserved. I was nervous for a few reasons. I haven't been in school for three years. As such, I'm worried that I'm rusty on my essay writing and critical thinking. I'm worried that I won't have enough time to read (at least two books a week!). I'm worried that I'll be the worst PhD candidate in my program when I'm used to being at the top of my class. All summer I have been forgetting the silliest words! What if that were to happen while I was teaching? Or what if my vocabulary left me during a class discussion and I couldn't communicate as eloquently as the others? My list of fears goes on and on.

Now that I've met my colleagues and chatted with them for a few days, I learned that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Many of my colleagues are starting again after a few years of being away from academia. We are all concerned about the work load. We all have been rejected from multiple graduate programs. None of us know the exact trick to getting into graduate school, though all of us have. This makes me more comfortable. It's not that misery loves company, but I am reassured that I am not the only one with doubts. I feel less like the black sheep.

When I was an undergrad, I idolized the graduate students. They were so professional and so intelligent! I had them on a pedestal. Now I'm one of those students. Perhaps I know more than I give myself credit for.

After a few days of being with my colleagues, I am feeling much more confident. We are all starting with worries and doubts, but we are learning together and helping each other. My critical thinking skills are working faster and faster. I am pleased to say that my vocabulary is quickly coming back. Everyday I am becoming more confident, though being accepted into a program should have given me that from the beginning.

Now my knitting has met steep competition: graduate school. Hopefully I will be able to make time for my favorite hobby, especially since reading and writing--my other loves--have become my job!

Happy knitting, reading, and writing!

Well, it's summer break for this teacher! I guess I really needed time off because I haven't been writing or doing much of anything productive. I have been knitting, which is great. However, I do need to stop "chillaxing" so much and do different things during the day. My basic routine is to walk the dogs, have my necessary morning coffee, knit and watch some TV shows, and go to the gym a few times a week. At least I'm taking care of my body, right?

I started working on The Adagio Tunic Vest in late May. I love it. It's an easy pattern to follow with minimal seaming. However, I've since put it on hold to work on the craftsy.com knit-along. I'll write another post about that later. I have really enjoyed working on the vest. The yarn I used from knitpicks.com is the softest tweed that I have ever used. I'm really looking forward to wearing it this fall/winter. Living in the desert, I don't really need to knit items that are super warm, so I think I could wear this with a long-sleeve shirt underneath it and not even need a jacket for even the coldest weather here. Yes, you should be jealous...but not right now because it's been over 100 degrees for at least a week. That also makes it difficult to knit very warm things.

I took a class on lace shawls on craftsy.com. It's a great course with two wonderful lace shawl patterns. I knit up the first shawl really quickly (Skywalker). I started Clarus in June 2012, hoping to finish it before summer ended.

Then I got other projects...

Suddenly it was March 2013 and I knew that I had to finish it. So I started knitting in a frenzy. I knit for hours. I am FINALLY on the border. There are over 330+ little stitches per row and it is taking me about 30 minutes to knit each row. Perhaps I will have this shawl done on Thursday. I only have 11 rows left!

I will definitely post pictures when I am done. Without blocking it, the shawl already covers my back. Once it's blocked, the shawl will grow at least three times its size. It will be exciting.

I always knew that patience was a virtue; it's one of those knitting lessons that I daily learn. However, this shawl is really testing the limits of my patience. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing how much I will love it when I'm done!

Happy knitting!

I've always known that Rumplestiltskin was a fairy tale, albeit a nice one. Who wouldn't want to turn something basically worthless into gold? However, now that I knit, I believe it to be more of a reality.

I went through my stash...my yarn stash that is. Since it has been months since I have bought any yarn, I thought that my stash would be under control. It turns out that I have three bags of unused or partially used balls/skeins of yarn that I have no use for. I know people say to keep some excess yarn for waste yarn etc., but I think I'm fine with three bags. That doesn't count the three containers of yarn that I'm planning to use. Needless to say, I think I'm covered for a year at least.

While I was looking through the yarn, I thought about Rumplestiltskin. Yarn is like hay, perhaps worth a bit more (though I haven't checked the prices of hay recently). Really, unless you are a crafty person, yarn is probably worthless to you. Sure, knitters know that some yarn is really expensive and one only has to touch it to know why. However, yarn doesn't really become worth much more until it is knit, woven, crocheted, etc. Handmade garments and accessories can be extremely expensive, like turning hay into gold.

Now I only need to talk to Rumplestiltskin about how to turn my yarn into gold faster so I can buy some more yarn....

Happy knitting!

Yesterday I picked up a lace shawl that I had started last summer...and it is much more emotional to knit it now than it was then.

To back up, I am one of those people who associates places--and apparently things--with memories. So I can be in a city, see a monument or restaurant, and remember who I was with, how I was feeling, and what was going on in my life at that time. Most of the time, it is wonderful. I do not have the best memory. That award would go to my mom, who could tell you what she ate for breakfast 30 years ago. However, my memory is more like a thumb drive, except that I have many thumb drives that I've dropped all over the world and in different objects and smells. If you asked me about a memory right here and now, I may not be able to recall it. If you take me to a place or give me an object, everything comes back. Perhaps that is why I have trouble throwing stuff away. Anyhow...

Back to the knitting. Normally I knit a project straight through without stopping. This year I got backed up on projects and had to put the lace shawl down. It has been about six months or more since I have knit it.

The last time I remember knitting it was in June and July of 2012. I was starting a trip to Spain and lace shawls are perfect because they keep you busy for a long time, but don't weigh much or take up much space. I remember knitting it on the plane, both ways. I remember knitting it on the couch watching Canal de Cocina at 11pm or later. I remember working on it while lunch was being made: I can smell the Spanish-food goodness, the olive oil, fish, and cheese.

It is so odd to look at that blue shawl and see so much of Spain in it, even though the yarn is from who-knows-where, and the pattern is American and found on craftsy.com. So much has happened to me since that shawl was started. Still, I look at it and it remains the same, though a few rows longer. I wonder how I will feel about it when it is finally done.

So this shawl-to-be has been in Spain, Sicily, Tucson, and it is my project-of-choice for my road trip to San Diego this weekend. Perhaps it will be my memory of this year. It could be the name of a book: The Blue Shawl: a Year in the life of L--.

Happy Knitting!

I started knitting my first pair of socks with a craftsy.com course. It's much easier than I thought, but it is taking longer than I thought. When I look at the needles and yarn, I can't believe that I've come this far. I'm hoping it turns out well. So far it fits nicely. I'm already dreading knitting the second sock since I hear so many horror stories about them not being the same size. We shall see!

Back in November, my mom asked me to knit her friends some decorative scarves. It's important to use a particular yarn--that's where all the magic is. They are a bit short. Next time, I will make them a bit wider and longer, but they will make a great addition to any outfit.

Yarn: Dazzle by knitting fever (get two)

CO 18 stitches using the thumb method or backwards loop method. or as many as desired for width.

Knit 3 rows.

*Make an elongated stitch by wrapping 4 times for each stitch.
Knit 2 rows.*

Repeat until the end. Knit an additional row and cast off. Enjoy!

Sorry I have been so bad about keeping up this blog! I did intend to write more this year. I have been busy! I moved around January 1st, so I have been cleaning, organizing, and finding everything. Due to those changes, I have not been knitting as much as I should have. However, I do have many things that I need to knit.

Currently, I am working on decorative scarves for my mom's friends (pictures and patterns to come). I have also discovered the ruffle scarf that is so popular lately. I can knit one up in a few days. It's only six stitches knit into one side of the ribbon. Again, I will post pictures and little tips that have helped me.

I need to finish the project for my mom and then I need to finish the Masters Level 1 project. Once that is done, I have a lace shawl to finish and socks to learn how to knit. So many projects, so little time!

Happy knitting!

It's November 9th, which means I have been working on my sweater for less than two weeks. I would be ahead of where I currently am if I hadn't had to work this past week. I knit maybe two inches from Monday through Thursday. However, I made up for lost time tonight when I nearly finished the front side of the sweater. I hope to finish the other sleeve and the back tomorrow, and seam the pieces together. Then, all I have to do is pick up stitches for the sleeve ribbing and the cowl! Perhaps by this Thursday I will have a new sweater! I will post pictures tomorrow :)

I have officially started NaKniSweMo! A little behind, I finished a prayer shawl for a friend who will be ordained in a little over a month. I then swatched and started knitting my sweater. Below are some pictures. It's an easy pattern, so I think it should be fairly easy to knit in a month, perhaps sooner. I am knitting the Cloudy Sunday sweater from Knitpicks.com: http://www.knitpicks.com/cfPatterns/Pattern_Display.cfm?id=10205220 in a size medium.

Below are the pictures of my progress. I hope to update this every few days so I have more motivation to knit--as if I needed it!

Happy knitting!

Ever since I started knitting and reading knitting blogs, I have kind of made it my quest to find yarn stores wherever I travel and to buy something. I like to support local yarn stores, even if I don't have a particular store in mind.

However, finding yarn in Spain has always been very difficult for me. I use google to search, but "lana" and "tejer" usually don't show me the stores I'm looking for. They tend to show sewing stores, a craft I cannot do, though I'd like to learn to sew someday (especially to hem my own jeans!). It took a Madrileña to tell me that all of the yarn stores are just south of Sol! Even the streets have the names: Calle de la bolsa. I ended up buying yarn in the modern part of the city, but there are yarn shops in Sol, the heart of the country! That just shows you how important knitting/crochet is nowadays.

I started knitting when I was a child because I knew my grandmother did it and I thought it was cool. When I started knitting again, it was because my roommate and I could knit together and chat. I stuck with it, but she didn't. Now I know so many more reasons to knit: it takes away stress, it's good for the health of your brain, and it gives me something to do with my hands, rather than pick at my cuticles, etc. Most importantly, I feel productive when I knit.

It wasn't until this passed December that I started knitting for myself. After seven years of knitting continuously, I had only knit myself one hat. Now I have also made myself a gray winter shawl and a red lace shawl. I have worn each one once in public and that leads me to my newest reason for why I love to knit: I feel like a princess when I wear what I have made, and a sense of pride. Since I am a teacher, you can imagine my income level. Being able to wear ornate shawls that are worth hundreds of dollars, allows me to dress up a basic outfit. They are useful and decorative. Most importantly, I am a happier person while I am wearing what I made.

Needless to say, this realization has only made me want to knit more and to knit faster.

Happy knitting!

I officially finished the school year last Friday, the 25th. So this is my fifth day of "freedom" and I'm feeling a bit bored, but busy at the same time. Things have been really quiet, which is a nice change, and I have a huge knitting goal to reach before June 7th: finish a shawl. I've been working on it constantly. I also want to try to finish a hat, which should be doable. I decided that I will be knitting Clarus from craftsy.com while I'm in Spain. It looks really easy, easier than the first shawl in the course. When I come back from Spain, I have 10 prayer shawls to knit and then it will be time to start knitting sweaters and vests for the fall.

Today, after running errands, I plan to go through my stash and take pictures of the yarn to post on ravelry.com. I think that will help me to stay organized in my projects: what I'm working on and what I need to finish before I buy more yarn. Unfortunately for me, I found Amna on knitpicks and I think I'm going to buy enough yarn for two projects, mainly because I couldn't choose just one color. I've never knit a yoke like it before and it looks really cool. Also, reviews say it's easy, so I think it will be a good learning piece for me.

To Do Before Spain:
-finish shawl
-finish hat
-organize stash

Happy knitting!

I finally mailed my big binder off! I could have mailed it in last week, but I got pretty busy. I think it was a pretty good submission. I answered the questions thoroughly and wrote a good report. The only thing I can think of that I may get docked for are perhaps my 1x1 rib, and maybe my cast-off. Still I know that I've improved in my skills in this level and I've learned a lot about knitting.

Now I'm onto a shawl that I need to finish, work on another lace shawl, and I will learn how to knit socks!

Happy knitting!