To Knit or To Study?

I knit my wedding shawl! Ends need to be woven in, as well as a good blocking, but here are some pics to hold you over until the big day.

( leafiness )

There are some new beautiful things in my life.
( cut )

17th pair of 2008: ( cut )

I have been in the Amazing Threads Sock of the Month Club for a while now, about 10 months, I think. The yarns have been hit-or-miss, and I've been passively looking for an alternative for a while now.

Today, I signed up for the Blue Hands Fibers All Raveled Up sock club! Its about $3 more per shipment than the AT club, but all the yarn is hand dyed! Its a 6 month run celebrating Ravelry, with 1/2 the profits going to Casey & Jess. I am so excited! I did cancel my AT sock club subscription, since I'm supposed to be on a yarn diet & everything.

First shipment comes in May, I can't wait!

Let's play math.

I have enough sock yarn left for 15 pairs of socks. I cannot buy any more yarn for 3.5 months (August 1).

I have knit 16 pairs of socks in the last 3.5 months. In addition, I have two socks on the needles now.

What if I run out of yarn??? EEEEKKKK!!!!

If it gets really close, maybe I'll just pick up a few skeins to "get me through" until our honeymoon, when I plan on buying a stupid amount of sock yarn. hopefully.

Of course, there's the possibility of knitting something that isn't a sock. But why would I want to do that?

there's a list on Rav of the most popular yarn in projects and most popular stashed. I have used or stashed 47... pretty close to half! Most of the ones I missed were Rowan yarns or acrylics. not too shabby.

List is here: Ravelry link

I have been knitting socks like crazy so far this year. Being in class 20 hours each week means I'm knitting like its a part time job. So far, I've knit 15 pairs of socks in 14 weeks. Wow!Here's a look at what I've been up to:

( clicky )

I just looked through all 48 pages of projects tagged "wedding" on Ravelry. It had to be sometime, you know?

I found some good stuff, though. Go look at my faves, if you're interested.

Last night I dreamed that I was in a trailer home that belonged to someone I used to know (Gracemarie) and while I was there, someone gave me a small spinning wheel. I had no idea how to use it and I bungled it all up and felt very sad in my dream. BUT pressing the treadle and feeling the fiber slide through my fingers (I have vivid dreams!) was AMAZING!!!! and I hit snooze once so I could bask in the spinning dream a little longer. Yay!

ETA: Also in this dream, I bought nail polish to wear on my wedding day. Pearlescent creamy palest pink. Weird.

I am going to be on a bus for 9 days on the Pay It Forward Tour. I am SO EXCITED to be part of this amazing student movement to serve communities across the country. Also thrilling? 9 days of knitting while traveling. This is one of my FAVORITE activities. I think the the only thing that tops knitting in new places is buying yarn in new places. :)

So anyway, I need to plan and pack knitting. The contenders: ( clicky )

There's someone on Rav with 79 skeins of STR lightweight. They're $19 each on STR's website. That's $1501 in yarn - just one weight of one kind of yarn. There's something pathologically ill about that, seriously. Eek.

I am so jealous of that beautiful yarn, but I would not want to live in that person's head.

I wanted to knit my mom a sweater.
( pics )

Lately, I've been knitting socks that have either pooled oddly or ended up icky blotchy. ( Evidence: )

#1: Don't buy yarn. Seriously. I won't be working from May-August as a result of my internship, and we're moving in August and getting married in November. I just have to tell myself I need a healthy savings account balance more than I need more yarn. I still have almost 10,000 yards of sock yarn, or over 5 miles. Which leads me to...

#2: Knit up the sock yarn stash. I have enough yarn for about 30 pairs, give or take, which is slightly less than I knit this year.

#3: Do something with all the sock yarn leftovers. I was thinking of a blankie based on EZ's Pi Shawl, or maybe learning how to make mitered squares.

#4: Knit up all the Bartlett's in the stash... I have enough for at least one sweater, if not two.

I started using an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of projects - yarn, pattern, recipient. here's 2007's knitting:

1. Bearfoot RPM Socks
2. Knitpicks Memories Tropicana Socks
3. Classy Slip-Up socks in Bearfoot "Winter Sky"
4. Gentleman's Shooting Sock from Vintage Socks in Zitron Trekking XXL - Orange
4. Baby Socks - feather and fan for Quinn's youngest daughter
5. Baby Socks for Quinn's older daughter
6. KPPPM socks for me - first short-row heel!
7. Canal Du Midi from Knitting on the Road in LL Shepherd Sock - Pine for my Auntie Linda
8. Plain Vanilla socks in Opal for Auntie Mary
9. Basic mittens in 1824 Wool - Raspberry and Burgundy + gold fizz for a coworker
10. Colorful Waves Afghan - KP Mix 'n Mingle Kit for me
11. Flower Petal Washcloth from Weekend Knitting in Louet Euroflax Linen
12. My own skort design in Artyarns Supermerino for Laura's daughter
13. Baby Baseball Tee from Knit2Together in Louet Gems Merino - Baby Neptune & Willow forBrook's son
14. Regia Banner chevron socks for Marlys
15. Hand-Dyed Watermelon socks for Mom
16. Classy Slip Up socks in Cherry Tree Hill in Martha's Vineyard - touched by the Yarn Harlot! :P
17. Chevron socks in Cascade Sassy Stripes - Blues for my cousin. this yarn SUCKS.
18. Halweh from Magknits in Louet Gems Opal - Lilac for Shannon (Glenmore)
19. Petal Bib from One Skein in Patons mercerized fine cotton - Fuchsia
20. Bib in Sugar 'n Cream - Blues Brook
21. Bib in Sugar 'n Cream - Summer Mix
22. Dishcloths - Sugar 'n Cream Self
23. Montego Bay scarf in Sea Silk - Amethyst
24. Tofutsies socks in pink for Gramma!
25. Railway Rib from Vintage Socks in LL Sock - Harvest and Violet for Uncle Tom
26. Monkey Socks in Wildfoote - Rhapsody (seconds) for sockpal
27. Wildfoote "Bluegrass" socks for Grandpa
28. Vine Lace Hat in Louet Gems Merino - Willow for Shannon (GM)
29. Tulip Toes Booties in Louet Gems Merino - Willow & Lilac for Shannon (GM)
30. Baby Bolero from One Skein in Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton - Sage for Stephanie (GM)
31. Hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in BSA Organic Cotton - Sage for Stephanie (GM)
32. Saucy Socks in Mountain Colors Bearfoot "Crazy Woman" for Auntie Jan
33. Plain Malabrigo hat for Yost
34. Dishrags
35. Whitby Socks in Lily Chin Gramercy (Pink) for Brian's Aunt Peggy
36. Socks Vanilla Online Supersocke City Color - 918 Uncle Bill
37. Dishcloth & Coaster set in Sugar & Cream "camo" for Brian's mom
38. Quill Lace socks from Knitty in Sockotta for Auntie Hancy
39. Vine Lace baby hat in LL Shepherd Sport Vera for Steph's baby
40. Lace Cuff Anklets from IK's Favorite Socks in LL Shepherd Sock "Iris Garden" & "Blackberry" for Auntie Pam
41. Swirl Socks in LL Shepherd Sport "Vera" for Brian's mom
42. Dublin Bay socks in Trekking XXL (Rainbow) for me!
43. Retro Rib socks from IK's Favorite socks in Rio de la Plata for Gramma
44. Falling Water scarf in Sea Silk "Lilypond" for Mom
45. Dishcloths set for Brian's coworker's girlfriend
46. Embossed Leaves socks in Dalegarn Baby Ull (chartreuse) for ME!
47. Baby Cable socks in RYC Cashsoft 4-ply "gingersnap" for my coworker's daughter
48. Dublin Bay Socks in LL Shepherd Sport "Camo" for my future SIL, Michelle
49. A Damn Fine Scarf for my sister
50. Baby sock set in Merino 5 for a baby in the hospital
51. Canada socks from Knitting On The Road in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock for my FIL, Wayne
52. Ruffles & Ribs scarf in Misti Alpaca Chunky for Laura Randall
53. Flap Top Mittens from Handknit Holidays in Cascade 220 & SWTC Bamboo for me!
54. Diagonal garter stitch scarf in Cascade 220 & SWTC Melody for me!
55. Calorimetry in Cascade 220 & SWTC Bamboo for me!
56. Classy Slip-Up socks in Fleece Artist Merino Socks "Ruby Red" for Cheryl Ranz
57. big & bulky scarf - Cascade 220, SWTC Bamboo & Melody, 1824 Wool for me!
58. big & bulky scarf black and whites for Tamara
59. Le Slouch beret-y hat in Aracaunia Naturewool Chunky for my cousin Gillian
60. long and skinny scarf in Eros Drifter for Auntie Jan
61. Sugarplum Pullover by Veronik Avery in Dalegarn Falk for ME!
62. Blue Hills hat from Knitty.com in Merino 5 & Naturally Sensations for Brian
63. a dozen washcloths for my aunties
64. Toe-Up socks on on 2 Circs in Fleece Artist Merino Sock & Shibui Knits for my cousin Melissa
65. plain socks in Knit Picks Felici "Pebbles" for me
66. Basic Cable hat in Merino et Soie for my real dad, Larry
67. plain socks in Bearfoot "Tamarack" for me
68. Straight Laced Socks from Knit Socks! in Cashsoft Aran for my sister
69. Plain socks in Wildfoote Tomcat & Crystal Pink for Brian's Aunt LuAnn
70. Super Mittens from Weekend Knitting in Lamb's Pride Bulky for Lisa Desrosier
71. Twinkle Toes socks by Cookie A. in Schaefer Lola for me!

I counted 36 pairs of socks - not as many as last year, but not bad, eh?

finished the body of my NaKniSweMo sweater last night!!! I did the math, and the body alone has over 30,000 stitches. yikes. I did cast on for the sleeve, but I tried using the tubular method in the book. it totally doesn't work. as soon as i pulled out my waste yarn, the whole think unravelled. its a sort of doubleknitting technique, but they don't say how to anchor the first row so it doesn't fall apart. damn handknit holidays tubular CO.
so "all" i have left are two sleeves, a yoke, the neck ribbing and tubular BO. eek!

cut for muh ( tummy )

First, I finished brian's cycling aran last week and gave it to him for our anniversary. i even took pictures! but I can't show them to you. you see, our chalkboard is in the background. and over bri's left shoulder, you can see Katie's cell number. his right: my cell number. uh, oops.

So here's some other pretty pics for you:
( pics )

i am so furiously busy with school and life and work and everything, and realizing how little knitting time I have :(

so today, when i saw a certain post on a knitting challenge forum, i just wanted to stomp my foot and pout. the poster remarked that between her two children, her book club, and her volume of email, she didn't know if she could find the time to complete the challenge before the deadline. i wanted to shout, "HELLOOOOO??? PRACTICE SOME GRATITUDE?!?!?!" not that staying at home/child-rearing is easy or less demanding than working outside the home... but i would consider a book club to be a luxury of the leisure class.

cripes.