They started out life as that extra yarn my advisor gave me.  A box-full of Cascade 220 in various heathered shades … one or two skeins of each color, so not a lot to work with in terms of cardigans or large projects or what have you.  I dithered.  Finally, last week it hit me: socks!  Cozy, woolly, slouchy worsted socks.

The King of Socks, if you will

And I decided to get stripy with it.  Kind of a melting transition pattern from the main color into the contrasting color, which is how they got their name: turtle + celery.  They are quick, easy, cheap, and totally addictive.  My pair for ladies’ feet took less that one skein of two colors.

I’ve already got at least two other pairs planned … just from the advisor yarn.

p.s. I promise to stop with the Hipster-vision soon.  Hipster-panorama.

The humble tuna melt. Perfect food for a gloomy day.
Now if only I could remember to buy tomatoes. Also this hipstamatic thing makes me feel like I have Nashville vision.

What you might not be able to see: this is the almost end of the last chart of Leaves of Grass … so close to the knit-on edging.  So very far from a finished shawl.

I really am in love with this yarn.  It’s woolly and colorful and very tweedy.  Perfect.

I bought some more in another color — thistle, a slightly shocking purple — and am already daydreaming about one more gigantic shawl.  Or maybe a cardigan.  Or pullover.

p.s. I just got an iPhone … Hello, 2007!

Alice had to stay behind in Nashville, unfortunately, so no Northwest Christmas for her … though I doubt she would have relished the opportunity to meet my parents’ gigantic (but very sweet and flail-y) new dog.

Life in Washington is trucking along … and it’s good to be back.  Catching up on neighborhood gossip and all those “do you remember so-and-so from high school?” stories.  Even though I haven’t really lived here since heading off for college (in 1998! oh, how time flies), it’s still home.  And I suspect it always will be, this damp old mill town.

As always, thanks for reading.  Over the years (5: how could that be?!) this space has become another little home, so important to me and my crafty life in so many delightful, surprising ways.  So onward into 2012!

It’s not finished yet, but we’re getting there.

I’m using the recommended Loft (color: blanket fort [what??]) and it is lovely, if rather strangely named.  The flecks of magenta and blue are perfect.

And with two more charts to go, I think I’ve found my winter companion.  (ETA, Leaves of Grass, that is.)

Apparently, this is my early-morning presidential pose.  What caught my attention on the ceiling?  No idea.  A cobweb?  Most likely.  In any case, it was the last day of school before Thanksgiving break …

… and now I’m back, after a fantastic trip to California for the fourth-annual Sistersgiving: I made a start on Leaves of Grass, ate lots of delicious food, got plenty of sleep, and caught up with my sister.

I hope everyone who celebrated had a wonderful holiday (weekend)!

… and maybe listening to a little Lionel Richie.  (Check out those sweet dance moves.)  I can’t help myself, it’s a dorky, it’s soothing, it reminds me of the time (= most of my childhood) when I wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer.  Perfect antidote to stupid application stress.

I also took some time out to visit the yarn store with a friend and pick up some buttons.  And wonderfully woolly Brown Sheep bulky for a Ganomy hat, knitted by special request in FC Union Berlin colors.  An evening later … finished cardigan! finished hat!  The perfect instant gratification.

Now, back to what I should be doing …

It’s a place that never, ever fails to make me smile.  So much fun, so much music, so much Nashville … it’s always a good night out.

Also, this post is really just an excuse to say: ohmygosh, I must knit this shawl right. now.  Literary allusion?  Lace?  Wooly yarn?  Check, check, and check.  Now to decided what color … I’m thinking something lilac-y … don’t know why, but I really want a kind of bright purple giant lace tablecloth to wrap up in.

My dearest friend in Nashville — and one of my dearest friends full stop — will be leaving this evening.  She’s off on some exciting academic adventures and though I’m very happy for her … it’s always sad to say goodbye.  She’s been such a big, generous, wonderful part of my life, Nashville won’t quite be the same without her.

So I’m glad I could send her off with her hat.  Finally.  8 months late.

I always did need a deadline.

Selbu Modern
Rowan felted tweed in billberry (151) and ginger (154), less than one skein each
tiny needles for the brim, US5/3.75mm needles for the body