Moving Right Along

Change is in the air, and no, I'm not talking about the 60 degree weather we're having in February. Frankly, I kind of hate 60 degree weather in February. Where is my blizzard? Where is the reality stopping torrent of snow that is so fun to look at, but so aggravating to deal with?

I don't know.

I do know that I've been quite the slacker with the updates, and the worst part about it, is that that I have nothing to show for it. I have moved to another location in South Philly. We have a roof deck w/ fantastic views of the sports complex and New Jersey. It's so....not very romantic, but nice nonetheless. Roof decks are hot commodities in this town, so even though the apartment itself has peeling wallpaper, a really old stove, and visible water damage, it is saved by this roof deck. Thank goodness for that!

I turned 25 about a week ago. For my birthday, Mom was kind enough to trek over to Loop on a particularly blustery day and purchase a swift and a wool winder much to my delight. It is honestly one of the best gifts I have ever received, So, while the rest of my life is still sitting in boxes, at least my precious yarn is neat, organized, and ready to be turned into many spectacular things.

I'm not one for new year's resolutions, but after all this organizing and taking stock of my stash, I am definitely not buying any more yarn in the near future. I am on a stashbusting mission. In fact, I'm not even sure how I ended up with all this yarn to begin with. As always, thinking with my eyes and my hands and not my poor wallet.

Growing up is proving to be a royal pain in the ass some days. The end of grad school is fast approaching. Only 6 more weeks and I'll have no choice but to leave this unreal world that I've lived in for the past quarter century and trade it in for some alternate reality known as the real world.

I'm not so sure about this whole real world thing. I mean, I'm sure it will be nice, but I think it also comes with its own set of ideas and pressures and conformities. Essentially, the very things I hate. But, hey, at least with all this yarn, I'll be stylishly dressed for the adventure.

Fall

Imagine my excitement yesterday when I walked into Harris Teeter and found sixers of Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale sitting in the beer aisle? I realize that's it's only August 15th. I can feel the sweat dripping off me as soon as I walk out the door in the morning (it's been in the 100s lately), but this was really the sign I needed (besides pre-season football, of course) to get me through the end of the summer.

It also made me feel better about spending the last few days on Natty. I started the scarf in March, on that one hectic week between terms at school, but never got a chance to finish it until this week. It took exactly 3 balls of Rowan RYC Soft Tweed, which can be got at WEBS on the cheap (Only a few colors left though, stock up now). Anyways, the hat took less than one ball, and the scarf took 2 and whatever was left from the hat. Not a scrap left.

Let's see, I used size 8 and 10 1/2 DPNS for the hat, and size 8 straights for the scarf. Perhaps, you're wondering where the action shots are, but let's be honest here...if you think I'm doning a wool hat and scarf in 100+ Carolina summer heat, you are crazy! Give me my big sunglasses and my pumpkin ale, and I'll see you in September.

Oui Oui!

You know, I was very unsure about the slouchy hat. I don't wear hats very often, though many tell me I've got just the right head for them. However, when Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic came up with this little gem, well I had to do it. Wendy's patterns are the kinds of things that you would buy off the shelf, but they're so much more exciting because you can make it yourself, custom fit so that all your friends, and hopefully all the boys will stammer "ooh la la!" as you walk by in your kitten heels and giant sunglasses.

Anyway, I found this yarn on closeout at WEBS, and I couldn't pass it up. It's Classic Elite City Lights in a maroon color that has some sort of exotic name I cannot recall. I used size 7 and 8 DPNs and made it over my birthday weekend.

I was so excited with the finished product that no sooner did I tuck in the ends, I put it on my head and cast on for a second in stockinette.
This time I used some spare Cascade 220 in a color called Galaxy that was once met to be a pair of legwarmers, but for now is a hat and perhaps mittens in due time. This one needed a little modification. I increased by an additional 6 stitches and used size 8 and 9 DPNs. Again, so pleased. I wear them everywhere. I get tons of compliments, and when the wind blows I can pull them down over my ears. Who could ask for anything more? Go make your own. Trust me. You will be belle of the crowded wintry streets.

The good, the bad, and the suprising.

The other day I was reading through the knitting discussion board on Craftster, and came across a girl who is new to this whole knitting addiction, and who had had an unfortunate experience at the first LYS she went to. Apart from having to overcome the sticker shock of the yarn she wanted, she was faced with a snooty sales clerk and bad customer service. This is unfortunate, but it seems to be a trend that is happening all around us. Today I read an article about reference librarians scoffing or even laughing at patrons who were calling to request information. Furthermore, the information requested was simple and wouldn't have taken up the librarian's time to find a proper and concise answer. So I'm wondering, what gives?

Anytime I visit Loop or Sophie's I'm immediately greeted and offered help. The girls even offer to wind the yarn I've selected while I look around, or to put my things at the counter while I continue to search. This doesn't require anymore effort than being an ignorant jerk would, and as an added bonus I keep going back and giving them more and more of money.

Believe me, I get some bizarre people coming into my work, but I really try and treat all their requests no matter how small or large with the dignity and respect that I would want for myself. I hope that I can acheive the same thing as a librarian. But most of all, I really hope that all those snooty LYS owners and scoffing librarians will wise up and realize that without customers or patrons, there would be no yarn store, no library. And frankly, I don't know what'd I'd do without those things.

Isn't that colorway to die for? I stumbled across a bag of the stuff at Loop in the sale bin. 3 balls of Noro Silk Garden Lite for like $20 total. The pattern is Danica from Knitty. This is my first foray into entrelac, and it's really addictive. Today alone I got through one ball. Already I'm planning another one in some yummy Malabrigo. I love learning new techniques and continuing to push my knitting forward.

Oh Baby

So after several months of taking an extended holiday, winter has decided to grace the east coast with it's frigid but welcome presence. Lemme tell you, it's a little chilly out there. Not like "Oh Gosh, how did we get transported to the artic?" chilly, but enough to finally wear all those hats and scarfs that I seem to make year round just to occupy the time and all those odds and ends leftover from other FOs. Anyways, I bought this yarn at Loop months ago with the intention of making a cowl out of it. So I cast on and made a really small one that was a pain to get over my head and a pain to knit because I thought it was a good idea to use size 11 dpns. This was not a good idea. Then...it got warm, and I abandoned the poor thing until Friday when I picked up a size 11 circ. Now I have my cold weather, my cowl, and heck even a nice brown coat to wear with it. Now if only we'd get a little snow...

The yarn is Blue Sky Alpaca's Brushed Suri. I used two strands in brown and orange (I'm sure they have more exotic names) together with the aforementioned circ. I cast on about 64 and worked in 1x1 rib until I felt that it was long and cozy enough. I've still got some yarn leftover, who knows what kind of concoction that will end up on.