The Bizzy Post

Sooo, what have I been up to since the last post. Burning the candle at both ends! My days start when the alarm rings at 4:30 and most days I head to the bakery. As soon as the work is done I head home to stick my nose into my homework. Right now I have a pathophysiology and pharmacology class and an algebra class that I elected to take because I thought that I had some down time and, hey, who doesn't want to brush up their algebra skills. I have had my "what was I thinking" moments. I am wading through chapter after chapter polynomials, exponents and the like but not without the help of Super Susan and Dynamic David, my super tutors! Just to keep life interesting, my phlebotomy unit started and after I cram in homework, I jump into green scrubs and head to the hospital where class starts promptly at 5 pm, lab ends at 9 pm. After that, I drive home, peel off clothes, and fall between the sheets. Tom has been pinch-hitting in the house and garden. Needless to say my sheets are no longer ironed! We had to let go of something.
My spare time is still spent with needles (syringe or knitting)in my hand and I have managed to complete a small project, frog a few and start a couple just for good measure.

Last year I knit for the Gilcrest Foundation, a local educational charity. The Icarus Shawl went to auction and fetched a modest sum. I was pleased to hear that the scholarship went to a friends young son. There is no better feeling than to know that your efforts directly benefit someone you know.
This year, when asked, I panicked. What could I knit that would be a desirable auction item and fit into my busy schedule? The yarn had to be from my stash. We are still pinching pennies. While cleaning out the stash a few months ago, I came across 5 balls of Plymouth Sinsation in a lovely champagne color. There lay the answer. I would knit the knockoff version of Lisa Daniel's Vintage Velvet, a reverse cable scarf that I have knit twice before. I have decided not to felt the scarf. Instead it will be sold as is with instructions for felting included with the description.


Along the lines of simple knitting from my stash, I have knit my first pair of fingerless gloves. My Tante in Germany has complained bitterly about the cold weather and how the wind whistles up the coat sleeves on her dog walks. I dug out more stash yarn. This time two year old merino sock yarn from Knitting Notions, purchased at SAFF. The pattern is a German one and has my favorite detail cables. The first mitten flew off the needles and I have almost completed the right mitt. Happily, mitts are not difficult at all and are a great sock alternative. I see many mittens and fingerless gloves in my future.

Several of us from ou small knitting group have entered our work into this years county fair. I decided to pick a piece for all three categories. For the seamed event I chose DaCapo; flat knitting, Swallowtail Shawl and for non-seamed shaped knitting, Winter's Eve sock. Judging will be next week and I have free passes to the last days show.

Yarn purchases have been very sparse. I did see a scarf that I fell in love with. The Cable Scarf 1 was on display at our local LYS. They were offering a class to teach the technique, my favorite, cables. I decided to hunt down that pattern through Ravelry and found it was free. The trouble was that I had no yarn, I found a terrific buy through Ravelry of a 500 gram skein of Brooks Farm Primero for a fraction of the price that It now sell for. I cast on and hated the results. Back to Ravelry for more inspiration. I cast on Evelyn Clark's Shetland Triangle and am very pleased with the results. The pattern is easy to memorize and I am already through several pattern repeats.
Sooo, that's what I have been up to. I think I'll go pur myself a second cup and catch up on what you all are up to!