And When My Computer Died...

Yeah. That was a few days ago, which is why I haven't been posting. I had to get a new one (!!! glargh)...we'll see how this Toshiba does, but next time I may just get a Mac. The Geek Squad has no idea why my "video card" doesn't work, but they think there's also a problem with the "LCD screen" and the "motherboard," and they don't know why those things aren't working either. They said I must have dropped it. I did not. Thankfully I backed all my stuff up on an external hard drive.

Anyway, I will post a picture of the halfway-finished rainbow sock #1 very soon, as well as a picture of my brother's new hat, which he says he loves. He wore it to the Dartmouth v. Rutgers basketball game on Tuesday. Awesome.

Hey: a revised to-knit list. I realized that I can't finish all of those things before Christmas, so...

1. Dad - cabled scarf.
2. Mom - stole, Fetchings, maybe cabled scarf.
3. Grandma - shawl.
4. Adam - mittens to match hat, cabled scarf.
5. Jenny - surprise things.
6. Sarah - surprise things.
7. Katie - the rest of a pair of socks.

I also want to knit myself some socks somewhere along the way!

I realized that Natalie is not really running that much anymore, so she doesn't need a headband; my sister might not wear the things I make for her (but if I have time I'll make her something); Stef (thank you!!!) said that her hat could wait; and Phil doesn't have a due-date attached to the scarf.

Oh yeah, I did the heel turn for the sock and that turned out fine (although I dropped a stitch in a post-turkey sedated state yesterday doing the gusset decreases, but whatever). I'll give a more detailed sock update later.

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone!!!

Oh my

I have been so exhausted recently. I'm definitely ready for Thanksgiving break.

In knitting news, I've finished a green hat for my brother (in Dartmouth green as per his request), using a pattern from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. I was worried that it'd be too big just judging by its size on the needles, but I am not a good at eyeballing size since the hats that I've made end up being a too tight when I think they look fine. Thus, the hat is just the right size. I used Valley Yarns Berkshire in Hunter.

I've also started a sock, my first sock and half of a pair for my friend Katie's birthday present, also as per her request. I'll post a picture tomorrow. I'm not at the crucial heel-turn yet, and hope I don't make too many mistakes. The yarn is Trekking XXL in color 181 - the striping rainbow effect is really neat. Sorry about not posting Sunday when I promised to - laundry, cats, and reading for class all led to a late bedtime with no time for posting. And as I write this, I'm falling asleep, so once again, I need to relent and sleep. By the way, Pilot, the cat of the multiple operations, seems to be all better. He doesn't even smell sick anymore, and he's no longer incontinent. Cross the fingers he'll stay that way.

Knit List

I need to get this to-knit list down before I forget all the projects I've bought the yarn for!

1. Dad - cabled scarf
2. Mom - stole, Fetchings, garter-stitch scarf which I've already started that I might rip back (because it's boring)
3. Grandma - shawl
4. Brother (Adam) - surprise mittens to match hat, cabled scarf
5. Sister (Rachel) - hat or scarf
6. Natalie - earwarmer headband for running in the cold
7. Jenny - surprise for Christmas (but I know what it is of course, just can't say because she reads this blog)
8. Sarah - same as above, can't say!
9. Katie - socks for belated birthday (ahem, must needs figure out socks in the process)
10. Cousins (Tracy and Samantha) - toddler clothes (must figure those out in the process too)
11. Phil - scarf (?)
12. Stef - hat

Ok. I can do it...? Before Christmas?!!

I'll post again later this evening when I've gotten more reading and teaching-work done.

Ouch

Due to cabling for about eight hours straight a few days ago to finish the second Fetching (I would post a picture but, you know, it looks like the other one), I have a case of "The Claw" (scroll down to March 4th). It hurt to pick up dish soap last night (conveniently enough, though - at least I didn't have to finish the dishes). It's a bit better today, but still a little achey. I think it was because of the cotton as well as the cables - while that Blue Sky Alpaca cotton is beautiful and soft, it doesn't have very much give, and I really fought with it the whole time. Also I think I was using a cable needle that was too big. Oh yeah, but despite what I thought before, I did not do the cables backwards (phew) - I only did the left hand first, and thought it was for the right hand because I didn't pay attention to the pattern. So I thought all my cables were slanting the wrong way when they weren't. I hope you understand what I mean. I'm not very articulate today. After looking up "repetitive motion disease," which is very scary, I have decided to take the rest of the day off in terms of knitting. Although this bugs me, it will mean that I will actually do work tonight. Stupid the claw. I started a hat for my brother because he really needs it up there in New Hampshire where he goes to college, and now he will have to wait even longer. And my socks (such as they are, which is yarn) will have to wait, as well as the mittens, and my grandmother's shawl...oh well. I will read Phyllis Wheatley and I will like it.