Sunday Classroom

I started a pair of socks before my class today. It's been a long time since I've knit a pair of socks. I thought that I might be due--even though the Wallaby sleeve is on the needles and half done.

For Knitting 101 class at JoAnn's I had 6 students. Two came a half hour late, and were instantly behind. One was left-handed. So I really ended up teaching 3 different classes. The first 4 got the standard class with right-handed knitting, and all 4 learned GREAT! The lefty learned how to knit continental, and her mother learned how in about 2/3rd's the time.

All of them were very smart and very engaging and engaged. We giggled and joked through the entire 2 1/2 hours. It was a great time, and entirely a success.

Then I went to do some grocery shopping for the standard stuff--milk, bread, eggs.

When I got home, I set up the slow cooker for stew. But because it was already 4 o'clock, and because I knew hubby would be leaving for work soon, I decided to make up a chicken pot-pie (and 2 calzones) which were far quicker, and that we would have the stew tomorrow. Then I forgot to turn the stew on.

Idiot moi.

This morning, Monday morning, as usual, I am groggy and discombobulated-a shower will help, I think. We have a coating of freezing drizzle on the ground plus a bit of snow, which is going to make driving to work quite treacherous again today.

Today, however, is my half day, and I have quite a lot of work to be done, but I think I'll manage. Then to my doctor's appointment and then to the Knitting Group.

I can't decide if I want to take my Wallaby or the socks. I'm trying to wake up still.Oh, I suppose I'll go and let my dog in, and then take my shower and perhaps that will do the trick. Maybe it will also clear out my sinuses at the same time. Do you suppose?

So I had a productive day with 6 more knitters added to the flock. I told them that it was my evil plan to get the entire population of the world with an "each one, teach one" sort of thinking--which set them all to giggling. One said that she knew her husband would never knit--and I replied. "Hey, everyone's got to have at least one, lofty, unattainable goal--right?'

So long for now. Have a knitterly day.

New Scarf!

Midnight Snow Scarf

Well, here it is in all it's glory, along with the pattern. I hope you enjoy it. Don't look at the scowling woman. She had a bad hair day.

Materials:

3 skeins Caron Simply Soft Party in Snow Sparkle (164 yds each)

1 skein Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes in Deep Sea (57 yds)

Size J Crochet Hook

Directions:

With Size J Hook, 2 strands of the white and 1 strand of the fur, ch a multiple of 8 plus 4—(my sample is 156 ch long) long enough for either a scarf or a cowl. Remember, this is a ripple pattern variation, so chain accordingly. 3 skeins of the white (and 156 ch) will yield a scarf about 4 feet long with some yarn left over. If you want a longer scarf, please purchase more material. If you choose to make your scarf exactly like mine, the last skein of white you need to pull yarn from both ends of the ball (inside and outside) to avoid too much waste and to continue to carry two strands of white. You can always buy more yarn if you wish to avoid this, but it’s not necessary.

This scarf does not really change color, but you do pick up (or drop) the fur. When you work the last stitch on a given row (when dropping or picking up the fur), you have to pull up your loop for the last stitch, then finish the hdc either with or without the fur, depending on if the next row uses it or not.

Row 1: Drop the fur and working with only the 2 white strands, work 2 hdc in the 3^rd ch from hook (increase).

*1 hdc in each of next 2 ch. Work a 3-hdc decrease over the next 3 chain as follows:

(Yo hook, insert hook in next ch, draw up a loop). Repeat twice more. Yo and draw through all loops on hook. Each 2 loops counts as 1-remember, you are working with 2 strands…so there are 14 loops, but only 7 really “count”. The decrease is the bottom of the hill—or valley.

1 hdc in each of next 2 ch.

Work 3 hdc in the next chain (increase, or, as I like to call it, the top of the hill).

Repeat from *, across, ending with a valley and 3 ch remaining—work an hdc in the next 2 ch and 2hdc in the last ch.

Ch 2 and turn the work. This does not count as a stitch!

Row 2: Continuing to work with only the two strands of white, repeat row 1, working 2 hdc in the top of the first hdc, then 1 hdc in the next 2 hdc, then work a 3-hdc decrease (valley) in the next 3 hdc, and so on, ending with two hdc in the top of the last hdc. As you get ready to finish the last hdc, bring up the fur and finish that last stitch with all three strands. You will now work with 3 strands.

Row 3: Repeat row 2, using all three strands. Before completing the last stitch, drop the fur. Finish the hdc and ch2 with just the white and turn.

Row 4-5: Repeat row 2, using only the white. At the end of row 5, pick up the fur and finish that last hdc as before.

Row 6: Repeat row 3.

Row 7-8: Repeat row 2, using only the white. At the end of row 8, pick up the fur and finish the last hdc as before.

Last row: ch 1 working loosely, or with a slightly larger crochet hook, work a slip stitch in every stitch across the row, then finish off and weave in all your ends.

**Note: I made my scarf with 156 sts and obtained a gauge of sorts. I measured across the beginning “points” and there is 2 ½” between points.

Wet block-do not iron or steam. Wash cold, air dry.

New Scarf/Cowl--Whatever...

At my class last night, I reconnoitered the pattern I was teaching and turned up with something spectacular. The pattern will be available on Ravelry in a day or so--and a pic of the full project, but here's what I have so far.

The thing you can't see, is that the white yarn has sparkle to it (called Snow Sparkle), made by Caron Simply Soft, and I just love the look--especially with the blue fun fur.

It does take quite a bit of yarn to make this scarf, because the white skeins are really small  only 160 yards. I estimate that it will take 4 skeins of the white and one of the blue fur (but any fun fur will do it).

Pattern will be posted to Ravelry when I finish the project, and I'll post a link for it here, as well.

Things that Amaze Me

1. That I can sometimes wake up refreshed after only 5 hours of sleep and then other days, try the same thing and I'm so exhausted that I can't stand up straight, walk around like a drunk, trip over the crack in the linoleum and laminate myself to the floor.

2. That I can knit, watch television, do a load of laundry and have a conversation with my husband, all at the same time.

3. That I can sleep for 8 hours and wake up feeling like I've been run over by a truck.

4. That I can drive almost anywhere with a standard map without using Google Earth.

5. That I can have one student in a class, and they actually learn something, but put one more person in the class, who has trouble, and neither one learns anything. This just boggles my brain.

6. That I'm willing to wake up almost every morning at 5:30am to go to work. Today was a small excepttion due to the effects of #1. Not that I've been drinking or anything like that, but I *am* exhausted, and I don't know why. I suppose waking up at 4am had something to do with that. Hubby was just not very considerate this morning, turned on the light, asked me a dozen questions, and then headed off to work, leaving me to try to get back to sleep after having to use my brain. Not a good combination.

So here I am. Awake finally at 7am, late for work. I have to shower and head out, and the roads are bad again due to a snowfall of about 2-3 inches last night.

I'm getting to think

ENOUGH ALREADY! I'VE SEEN THE SNOW, AND IT HAS BECOME MY MASTER, BUT IT'S TIME TO MELT AND GET DONE WITH IT.

I am truly over snow.

7. That snow can fall and cripple an entire state. There are people to the south of my area who haven't had electricity for DAYS. That's a bad thing. Truly.

8. That my husband hasn't yet purchased a gas powered generator to run our corn stove so that *if* we lose electric, that we can still have heat. We can eat out, but we can't heat without electric.

Oh, there's more, but why bore you with the details. I have to shower and get in to the office before I fall asleep again in my chair.

Lunchtime at the Office

I got out for a little while at lunchtime today. The day shone bright and sunny, ands I managed to take a couple of very over exposed picture that turned out pretty cool when I put them through the solarize filter. Solarize can make ordinary things seem "other-worldly".

The building picture is now my background for my phone, and the other, if you can't make it out, is a trash recepicle.

I worked on my wallaby all evening at Knit Night in Lake O tonight. I finished fusing the pocket and have started up the body of the sweater. I did end up going, even though I was really, exhausted for most of the day. I have got to get to bed earlier tonight.

Lester is Done!

In't he koot?

The Big Day Off.

I guess today is Washington's birthday. I have a holiday day today. I spend it wisely, staying home when the roads are so slick! Last night, I watched the storm while hubby slept. Remember he was supposed to start his new job today...well...

Four am rolls around and I'm up, we're checking the road, he thinks he can make it. I pull Tarot cards on my cellie, and it's saying, he'll make a valiant effort, but ultimately fail. The Hanged Man was the last card.

Then I pulled cards that told me that the two head bosses weren't going to make it to work either, and I told my husband what I read in the cards, and while he knew he was taking chances, he thought if he could at least make it to the main road...

So I gave him my cellie, set it up so he could call home should he run into trouble, told him to take his shoes, but wear his boots, found his hat and gloves, and he drove away.

I watched him get stuck on the corner. I watched him get stuck about 3 times trying. I finally watched him sitting sideways in the middle of the road, and decided he was screwed, and that I couldn't watch what was transpiring any more.

I got his son (who had only been sleeping for a couple of hours) up and out of bed, told him his dad was stuck on the corner and to get Fred to help (Fred being the 4-wheel drive pickup). Then I put my tall rubber boots on with woolen socks, my coat and hat, gloves and scarf and headed over to the stuck car to tell my husband that his son was on his way. I thought that I might be able to help, but the boots were seriously hurting my feet, so I walked back home, and put coffee on. It was pretty evident that I wasn't going to get any more sleep until daylight.

Step son got his dad unstuck and towed him back to the house. Hubby got out the snow blower and blew the drive, and run the car back into the drive. When step son got into the drive, we motioned him into the house to warm up with coffee, and then I made him some eggs for breakfast. Hubby called work to let them know he'd be late. Nothing to be done about it, really.

Hubby stayed home until daylight, and then took Fred to work. I watched him drive down the main road, blowing snow in plumes behind him. I figure he had some difficulty getting down the road (since the plow hadn't been through yet), but since he didn't call to let me know that he was in trouble, I figure that he finally made it to his new job.

Whew.

I finally got some rest in, although I don't feel rested.

So I'm wondering if the big bosses made it to work, but I won't hear about that until hubby gets home tonight. Of course, you know he's going to have more trouble getting home--the wind has been horrible all day, and I figure that what isn't nailed down will be blowing into the road again.

Sigh.

Last night, I finished the last of the arms, legs and bib for the bear. I need to get busy sewing the limbs on. I haven't had the ambition to do much but sit and watch television. This is bad for me. My body is craving chips and dip, but there's no way that I'm going out with the roads as bad as they are.

So I need to get started on Lester. Hubby will probably not be home until 6pm, giving him only a couple of hours before he has to go to bed again...and THAT'S only if he can get through the roads...

To be continued.