Gas lines, oh my.

I know it's stupid, but psychologically I feel better for not having had to pay $4.00 a gallon for gas...yet. Yesterday at Costco, the price was still $3.99. So I joined my fellow Cosco-ites in line at the pump.

I'm too young to remember the gas lines of the 70s, but I will certainly remember this. I've never seen the Costco gas station this crowded...all to pay $3.99 a gallon. If there hadn't been people directing traffic, it would've been utter chaos. I'm glad the dude directed me into a lane where my gas tank was on the right side of the pump, since I can never pull the darn hose to the other side.
My husband thinks it was a waste of time to save a few cents, but what I neglected to tell him was that sitting in that line allowed me to do 5 rounds on my sock. I consider it time well spent.
Today is Wednesday, and I'd like to try and do WIP Wednesdays, if only to get me to blog more regularly. Now that I've joined the Summer of the Stash group on Ravelry, I should have something or things to show. Right now I'm working on the Gossamer Stars Scarf from the latest Interweave Knits. This is going to be for my very good friend and co-worker Aglae. I've completed one repeat of the chart so far: I really like the pattern. Like the description says, it's interesting enough not to be boring.

Almost back on track

I finally got some pictures taken and uploaded, so now I can make a proper post. First of all, some good news, I got an A in my class, keeping my 4.0 GPA. It's the first time in my life I've been able to maintain a 4.0.
I've been neglecting Project 365, even though I have my camera with me I just haven't been taking the time to snap even one picture. I managed to take 2 pics last week, hopefully starting today I'll be back on track, starting with this shot of my neighbor's cat.
I made my first dishcloth in about a year, the Ballband Dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting. It's for a woman I know through Band. I originally set out to make the Lacy Round Dishcloth but after it was finished it was absolutely hideous! I do realize that I could have frogged it and that would be the end of it, but I had to take a picture to remind me never to try that again, or at least not with size 7 needles.

The Ballband Dischloth is much nicer. I think my gauge has gotten much looser lately; I started with size 7 needles and after a few rows thought it looked way too big and loose. I dropped down to size 5.5 needles and am much happier with those results. The dishcloth was much admired at the shower.
Now I'm a bit unsure what to start next. I only have 2 projects OTN right now, the Fixation Ankle Socks and a Noro Scarf that can certainly wait until the end of the year. I know I should really finish up the socks so I can finally say that I've knit a pair of socks. On Ravelry I joined a group called Summer of the Stash (Rav link) because after spending the first few months of the year buying yarn, I actually have a stash that can be knitted from. The idea is not to buy any yarn this summer but complete projects from one's stash. The official start date is June 21, but some people are starting now, and that's what I should do to. I placed an order yesterday with Elann yesterday for some Soie Bambou after seeing the Gossamer Stars Scarf pattern in the latest Interweave Knits. THIS is the pattern I've been looking for to knit for a dear friend and mentor. I'd originally planned to do a Lace Ribbon Scarf with a few extra repeats to make it more of a stole, but I really like the Gossamer Stars pattern and the Soie Bambou is affordable. Now I have 10 balls of Peruvian Baby Cashmere in my stash!
So while I'm waiting for that yarn to come, I guess I'll take a stab at finishing the socks. I'm also doing some knitting at work for our upcoming Summer Reading Program. The theme is "Catch the Reading Bug!" and I'm working on some Caterpillars.

School's out!

A few little clicks, and I'm done with this semester. Turned in my assignments earlier this week, and this morning posted the link to my website for the class. Have a look here if you're interested.

So I'll have a little extra time on my hands for a few weeks. Summer session starts on June 9 and financials dictate that I should take 2 courses, so I'll be pretty much nonexistent when that starts. I have a couple of little projects I need to finish, I'm planning on knitting up some bugs for the library's Summer Reading Program.

Quickie Update

This is going to be an impacted week for me, this weekend is my last face-to-face meeting in Tucson for my class. Before we can leave for Friday, I need to finish a webliography that was supposed to be a group project but haven't heard a peep out of my cohort. I should also finish up my website for the class so I don't have to mess with it once I get into class. My paper is not due until the 5th so there's a little reprieve, but I really should work on it. Workwise, I need to submit the April monthly report before I leave, and I should really go to the City Council meeting on Wednesday to speak up for my job. My position is being hard-hit this year, but I think I have enough senority to be safe. Normally I'd be fighting mad, but with school, I just don't have the energy right now.
I did finally finish my green nest tote for the Nest Tote KAL. The pattern was easy enough but I figure it must be much easier finishing if knitting in the round. I'll put that on my to-do list; I have lots of Sugar n Cream yarn I bought last year off of Amazon at about 45 cents a ball. They were supposed to be made into dishcloths...maybe everyone will get a cotton mesh bag for Christmas this year...

FOs: Brothers' Birthday Hats

The nest tote has had to take a back seat to these two hats. With one applied I-cord and handle left to do, I set it aside to knock out one hat for each of my brothers. Their birthdays are two days apart.

The one on the left is for my brother Dwayne. He lives here in San Diego but I figure he can use a knit hat anytime since he has to walk his dog in the middle of the night. He has a Siberian Husky named Simon Blue and boy is that dog spoiled! Good thing he's a Husky though, that means I won't ever have to knit him a sweater.

I used the hat pattern in LMKG. I really like the idea of throwing in a round of purl stitches; it really does give the hat some interest. Maybe I'll make another one for my sister, her birthday is in early May.

Sitting proudly on the right in big bold San Diego Charger colors is a Halfdome for my brother William. He lives in Florida, where I'm sure there is probably very little need for knit hats, but since he does shave his head, hopefully it will come in handy some time...maybe when he's walking his own dogs? He has two dalmatians, Roxie and Elvis. Do dalmatians need sweaters? Probably not in Florida.

So now that the hats are out of the way, it's back to finishing the nest tote. I have six days before the end of the KAL...

Happy Bobmas!

Anyone familiar with Ravelry should be aware that today is Bobmas, the day that Casey came up with the idea of a social networking site for knitters and crocheters. But it's much more than a social networking site, it's also a place to organize yarn and projects. I know I'm not giving it justice with my humble descriptions, but I can say that I certainly spend much more time on Ravelry nowadays than I do on Neopets.

So last night I went to the Bobmas Eve meet-up, hosted here in San Diego at The Grove. I'd say there was a good 40 or so of us Ravelers there, and I recognized many from their Ravatars. The event was organized by (Ravelry names) smittenkitten and juliblue, who kept things going smoothly and made everyone feel welcome. I'm hoping to make it to the regular Knit Salon that happens at The Grove a couple times a month.

I have to show you these! Yarny cupcakes made by CraftyCupcake:

Yes, those are little needles and balls of yarn decorating the cupcakes. Martha Stewart ain't got nothing on her!

Many people on Ravelry seemed to be boasting about the yarn they got for Bobmas. I think Bobmas is a fabulous excuse for ordering yarn. I bought a few things from the Webs Anniversary Sale last week and they just happened to come yesterday, so here's my Bobmas yarn:
Cascade 220 Superwash and Plymouth Encore for some hats/scarves to give as presents later this year, the purple is for the hat I promised my Mom months ago, and the teal-colored Stockbridge is one of several skeins (they're at the bottom of the box) I will use to make Alene's Wrap.You can barely see it, but inside the Bobmas wrapping is some blue/purple sock yarn I got at the swap last night. I brought some extra Elann Adara that I hope someone will find useful.
Last but not least, the Lambs Pride Worsted I bought there at The Grove, that will be for a hat for my friend Christine, the one who's going to Peru.

I guess that means I don't have to buy any more yarn for the rest of the year?

FO: Chevron Scarf

My first ever Chevron Scarf is done and gifted, and I'm pleased to say that my good friend Christine was overjoyed by it! I don't have a picture of her wearing it, so I hope my own humble neck will do:
I was in a bit of a hurry to take pictures, since I had to wrap it for gifting, so we'll all have to settle for the obligatory bed shot.

I used Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in Grandma's Flower Garden and Rose Quartz. Unlike many of the scarves you can see in the Chevron Scarf Flickr Group, I used one multicolor colorway and one shaded solid colorway. You can't tell from the pics I took, but it's quite long. I only knit to about 65", but after blocking it measured over 80"! I'm satisfied with the results and so is my friend, who promptly put in a request for a hat. She's going to Peru and I am soooooo jealous! However, she has promised to bring me back some yarn.

It being April and all, I guess I'm finished with knitting scarves for a while. Hopefully later on this year I'll be able to choose colors for a Chevron scarf of my own. One thing though, I hope I'll have a swift and ball winder by then, we certainly don't want a repeat of this: