Strings & Yarn

I’ve had a great Sunday…actually a really great weekend. It was much needed, because last weekend was so hectic. First, I just have to say how excited I am with all the house stuff. It is less than two weeks till the closing day and almost all of the loose ends have been tied up. I drove by the house several times this weekend (I’m not stalking, I was in the neighborhood) and it was great to see what a nice house, neighborhood, and street we will live on. Anthony and I checked out a few books on painting techniques to get ideas and soon we’ll be packing up all of our stuff.

As for today we were able to have a great breakfast at Keystone, spend some time in the park and I got a ton done on knitting stuff. Spring is so beautiful here and I haven’t been able to spend nearly enough time outside. It was a little cooler this weekend than it has been, but enjoying the park we soon will be living close to was really nice.

In knitting news I have two new patterns that I will be publishing on my blog. The first is a pair of socks (Globe Trotter Socks) I’m halfway through the second sock and most of the way through the writing process. I also have the “Saturday Market Bag” that will be a mesh bag great for summer reads, and market shopping. I’m almost done knitting it and will be writing it up soon. They both will be up soon.

I’m starting the fifth week of this term tomorrow, which makes it mid-term. Thank goodness no big tests. Just lots of practice and concerts. Hopefully I will be able to fit in some sun time too.

I’ve been waiting to write this post because I wanted to take pictures of my new acquisitions in Bandon.

Back during Spring Break, Anthony and I went on a trip to Bandon, OR to hang out on the coast. We had a great weekend. Of course I found the local knit shop and I made a killing! The were having a store wide sale and it’s a miracle I didn’t walk out with more. Here are some of the things I got.

I got this to work on my first lace weight/lace project. I found a pattern, it doesn’t look easy, but when have ever been one to start with the easy stuff.

This picture doesn’t really show the color accurately. It’s a deep maroon color. It already being used for something I’m giving my mom. I can’t say anything though until it gets to her. Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.

The best is this;

This is to attempt my first dye project. I haven’t picked out colors yet (I’m going to go out and buy some real dyes, no kool-aid this time). I’m almost done spinning my first roving. It’s turned out great. I will definitely have enough for a scarf with my first one. This one is a whole lb, so I could even do two different color ways, or go for masses of handmade yarn. Wahahahaha.

I’m done showing off. I have to go knit up my second sock.

Link: Wool Co. - Bandon, OR

I’m in the middle of writing/designing my second pattern. The first one was submited to Knitty - it’s still a secret and so far I haven’t heard anything. That means they are still considering it. My second pattern is going to be a sock pattern. I’ve finished the first sock, and the pattern is half way written. The pattern will be offered for free, so if you love knitting socks come back and check it out.

I haven’t been blogging very much this week and that is mainly because I’ve been swamped with papers and recitals. I’ve attended four recitals in the last few days (two in a row yesterday) and I’ve spent what little extra time I have trying to keep sane. On top of it all I have an orchestra concert tomorrow. If you are in the Eugene, OR area and would like to come they are great fun.

This particular concert is the concerto winners. We have a violinist, saxaphone, marimba and a bassoon on our program. We are also playing the first two movements of Prokofiev Symphony No. 5. The rest of the symphony will be featured on our last concert.

So now that you are all excited about coming, here is the information.

University Symphony Concert
Beall Hall - 18th and Kincaid
April 23 - 3:00 PM

Hope to see you there.

I’ve been waiting to post this forever. I made this, and finished it in January. I just haven’t been able to post it because it sat on the desk for a long time waiting to be sent. This hat has been sent to Ging all the way to Australia! (Go see her blog to check out her pictures!)

Here’s a picture of me wearing it…

And of course the side view;

I can’t remember the book I got it from. Something from the library… I remember it was full of accessories. It was quick to knit except for the ear flaps. For some reason the first time I made it the ear flaps ended up on the front and back instead of the sides.

It all worked out in the end though. Now it has a wonderful home where it will be loved, and look super cute on Ging.

Way back Anthony posted about the mood swings of buying a house. I didn’t really feel it then. Now I’m feeling it full force. While we were looking, putting offers on various houses I was able to stay very stable. Now we have gone from offers, accepted offer (yippee), inspections (not so good), appraisal (again not so good), and re-negotiations (looking better). Up and down and up and down….. it certainly not easy. Although, it could be looking better. Keeping our hopes up just the right amount is hard work.

We had a wee little knitting get together at Taylor’s house the other day. It was great because I haven’t seen Taylor for a long time. It was great to sit, talk, share projects, teaching knitting, and enjoy the company of great people. Thanks for having us over Taylor!

I’m so excited! I’ve submitted my first knitting design to Knitty online magazine! I can’t give very many details on it right now, but I have officially become a knitting designer. I also have several other designs/patterns in the making right now, so there will be more coming.

So now I just have to wait. They said that if I don’t hear from them that means it’s being considered for the Summer issue of Knitty. So cross your fingers and hope I don’t hear anything for a little while.

I have finished socks! I actually finished these at the end of spring break, but I haven’t been able to post a picture until now. With all the house stuff going on things have been a little crazy, not to mention all the regular teaching and school assignments.

Here are the stats;

Yarn - Lana Grossa Meilenweit Sock Yarn Fantasy 4730
Needles - Size 1 dpns
Pattern - Jaywalker

I call them my Cruchy Granola Socks because I feel like the combination of blue, green, maroon, and orange equals outdoorsy fun. Not a color combination I would normally go for, but was easy and fun to knit. I love the self striping socks. I always look forward to starting the next color without any ends to tuck in.

If you read Anthony’s blog then you already know this, but for those that don’t I get to share the news. For the last few months Anthony and I have been looking for a house. It’s been great fun looking, not to mention all of the bad taste in paint colors and weird home “improvements” we have witnessed. This last weekend (on my birthday actually) we found a house, put an offer on it, and they accepted!

So this next month will be a whirlwind of new stuff. I won’t be fully moving in right away (I have my lease until the end of June), but I will be working on all the small improvements we want to make before we move in. You know, stripping wall paper, ripping up the horrid carpets to uncover beautiful hardwood floors, and painting. Not quite in that order. This is completely new territory, and is very exciting. I couldn’t sleep last night because I was thinking of paint colors. What is going on!?