alisonknits

Blogging Blahs

Sorry I've been MIA for a while.  I haven't really been inspired to blog lately.  In fact, I haven't even been reading blogs very much.  For a while now, writing on the blog has felt more like a chore, an obligation, than something I really want to do.  This blog's days may be numbered.

But on to what I've been knitting and working on.

The other day I had to pick up some yarn for my intermediate knitting students, and while I was at School Products I spontaneously bought some of their famous cashmere to make a scarf for my husband.  He's been wanting one for a while, but as a rule I tend to find scarves very boring to knit.  But I love the color - a deep burgundy, and I found a really great cable pattern in one of Alice *more's books.  Here's a somewhat fuzzy picture of my progress so far:

The funny thing is, I've been knitting it right in front of him, and I don't think he has noticed.  At least, he hasn't asked what I'm working on.  I will start being more careful soon though... I plan to surprise him with it for Christmas.

My Swan Sweater is still on hold since I still can't find my Norsk Strikkedesign book.  I'm starting to think that I've really lost it, but how does one manage to lose a large knitting book?  It's not like I was travelling around with it - it only left the apartment when I photocopied the chart at work.  Very very odd.  I really can't figure out what to do about it.  I'm not going to buy a $45 book twice, and none of my friends seem to have it. It's really a bummer.

I should go pack for the weekend... I'll be spending my holiday in CT and MA, and my weekend includes my 10-year high school reunion.  That should be a trip.  And lest you think that I'm above wanting to impress my classmates, I made sure to buy a dress that will look good with one of my knitted shawls...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sicky

I'm siiiiiiiiiiick...

Okay, it's just a cold/flu, but I'm a total baby.  I have a new intermediate knitting class starting tomorrow that I had to prepare for, plus a beginning knitting class starting Tuesday, and had preparation to do for both.  Meanwhile, yesterday I had an all day youth advisor training in NJ, and Sundays are my busiest day at work.

So I'm not a happy camper.  But I'm still alive.

Also in the suckiness catagory, I can't find my Norsk Strikkedesign book.  I'm up to the neck on the Swan Sweater, and need the book to go further.  I brought it to the office to enlarge the chart on the copier, thought I brought it home, but have searched my apartment and my office to no avail. 

But that's probably for the best, because I have a new TOP SECRET project that I'm working on.  More details... someday.  Not sure when I can go public with it, but probably not anytime soon. 

Hopefully by midweek I'll be feeling well again and have my book back... keep your fingers crossed for me!

Trying to Move On.

Let's get back to knit blogging, shall we?  I have a lot more thoughts about the elections and especially the gay marriage bans passed easily in 11 states, but this is not the place for that.  I'm thinking about starting a new blog about religion and politics, because I'm disgusted by this new term "values voters"... as if those of us who have values different from the religious right don't actually have any values.  Religious liberals need to speak up.

But about the knitting.  I've been working mostly on the Swan Sweater, and have good progress to show.

I love this sweater!  In the top (blue) section, there are many long floats.  In the past I've usually used the rule of thumb of only leaving floats 1.5" long, but this time I'm trying longer ones.  I'm pretty sure it will be fine, and since the sweater is for me, if fingers or rings catch on the floats, at least I will be the one dealing with it.

As for my designing, I'm still not actively working on anything at the moment, but a couple of good opportunities have come my way.  And looking ahead, I'm thinking that for my next magazine submissions I will focus on accessories (like hats and ponchos), while I work on designing some sweaters for myself and friends and family.  I'd like to get some more experience with sweater design where I can play more and not be on a deadline; I think I can learn more that way.

Okay, that's it for now (as it turned out, I had plenty to say about my knitting - that's reassuring, that I can talk about something other than politics...)

Have a good weekend!

What can I say?

This is a knitting blog; I try to avoid talking too much about politics. But I'm in no mood to discuss my knitting, either. So all I'll say is that I'm baffled by this election. What country am I living in? I always assume the best of people, I truly believe that humans are basically good, so the only conclusion I can draw is that Americans are very very scared.

I'm scared too. Scared that we're going backwards, becoming less free, less evolved. I'm so sad about the number of states that passed ballot initiatives banning gay marriage, some even banning civil unions. I just don't get it.

I'll go back to talking about knitting sometime soon... in the meantime, I'm praying for a miracle.