Knittinology

Ahhhhh... Summertime!

2006-06-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile! Finished that first 4-week Stats class with flying colors. Hoping to get a few tutoring gigs this next year-- I just love that stuff! Meantime, I've been busy learning how to relax. Along those lines, here are a few knitting projects! This first shawl, cheesy ole Red Heart on size 13's, is modeled by our little buddy Purl:

And next we have 2 not-quite-finished designs done in fancy shmancy yarn. The turquoise is silk-wool I hand-dyed in a class over Spring Break, along with a ladder yarn. I still have 1 side left to fringe. The blue is Patagonia hand-spun/dyed cotton and so soft it should've been a critter:

Currently on the needles is an experimental cape/shawl, sort of shaped like bat wings, but if we publish it I'm sure we'll call them butterfly wings. It'd look great in silk, or cotton, or heck, it looks great in cheesy ole Red Heart!

Life-wise, I just got done with a great Psychodrama workshop, am really excited about the method-- it seems to work "ground up" instead of like cognitive-behavioral where we're always having to think think think to make connections & changes in our lives. Doing some more research on substance abuse treatment. And I'm back on the literal treadmill again, too. Will hit the pool when it's economically feasible. I don't see paying $4 to go in and putter around for 1/2 a mile! I'm sure my first week back will be like that, but I'm trying to get a jump-start on the stamina first. And I have a container garden going! If the dang raccoons leave it alone. Went out this morning and the only pots not overturned were the squash, which I'm totally grateful for since I got the seeds from Jane with the hope of propagating the species! In fact, I think I'll go out there now with some chickenwire and get creative. Maybe a car battery, too...

I are a college graduate!

2006-05-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

I DID IT! (Okay, WE did it-- it took an extended village...) After 31 years of college, I finally got my BA! No rest for the wicked, though-- I start grad school in Counseling Psych tomorrow. Stats, one of my favorite classes, because it relates to everything and I can legitimately think KNITTING in class! I think my instructor might be a knitter, too, if I remember the interviews right.

No new news at home. Life is very boring right now, thank goodness. I got my 25 year chip, that was news. And I'm finishing my first ever knit lace (worsted-weight ribbon yarn, bottom part of a tee-sweater). I messed up the 2nd row, decided to change the pattern to fit, think I like it better. Progress, not perfection, and glad of it!

Spring Break Broke

2006-03-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

You appear to be a Knitting Goddess.
You are constantly giving and are unconcerned with

reward, you simply want others to love

knitting as much as you do. If someone wants

to knit miles of novelty yarns, you are there

for them. If someone wants to learn short row

shaping, you can help. There are no taboos in

knitting, only opportunities to grow.

Everyone should have friend like you around

if they want to learn to knit, and there's a

good chance that your passion has rubbed off

on a few others.
http://marniemaclean.com

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Ooo, I'm a Knitting Goddess, too! Now what kind of goddess gets the flu?

It's Spring Break and the only good part about being sick is I'm actually reading for fun (WEB Griffin). Though I could be doing the same thing if I were at the beach or something! No new pics-- I'm too wiped. For those of you following Purl, she's gettign weekly dips for this rash or mites or whatever it is, but she's still a happy little camper.

Latest projects: Fake Cable Brimmed Hat, blue-stripey socks (just finished sock1). Hat pattern to follow:

Fake Cable Brimmed Hat Semi-Unpattern

Gauge: heavy worsted (or 2 strands to make HW) & size 10-11 DPN's or circs.
Works best in a medium to light color non-fancy (as I found out through experience), though hand-painted would work.

RT: Right twist (k into front of 2nd stitch, then k 1st stitch like usual, slip both).
LT: Left twist (k into back of 2nd stitch, then k into 1st stitch like usual, slip both. A little awkward, don't pull too tight on that 1st k).

Brim: CO 14.
1: p3, k8, p3.
2: p across.
3: p3, RT, LT, RT, LT, p3.
4: p across.
Repeat until brim encircles your head comfortably. Kitchner with cut end.

Crown: PU around. (I got 60 st when I did that, FYI...) Knit about 4". Divide stitches evenly in 4 batches (fudge by dec'ing 1-3 stitches evenly around a couple rows previously, if necessary) if you hadn't already done so using DPN's.
1st dec: k2tog 4 times around evenly. K 2 rows afterwards with no decs.
2nd dec: k2tog 4 times around evenly. K 1 row afterwards without dec'ing.
3rd through 6th decs: k2tog 4 times around evenly, dec'ing every row.
7th through last dec: k2tog twice (right next to each other) every row.
You may have to k2tog the last row just once instead of twice.
Thread remaining stitches on cut end (at least 8" long) stuck on a tapestry needle, knot on the inside & bury ends.

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

Meet Purl, our newest member! Purl was rescued by Mary Beth, another Stitch-n-Bitcher, who brought her to the vet directly from the neighbor's deck after the nasty/idiot person left town for a week's vacation, leaving a kitten out in a winter storm! Purl has a few disabilities, but nothing like when we first saw her. She's a bit unstable on her feet in slow-motion and may be blind in one eye, but she definitely makes up for it when she sees a crumpled piece of paper and goes into afterburner! Funny how you can buy them expensive toys but all they want is the wrapping paper...

Speaking of, it's almost Winter Break! The semester's just about over! I'm supposed to be tweaking the thesis proposal today, woke up with a cascade of brilliance that rapidly winked out as I raised the shades and got snow-blinded by the backyard. Turkeys galore under the birdie tree, BTW, for our wildlife fans. Anyway, I'll be turning in the proposal on Monday, by hook or by crook! The reference section is as long as the paper itself, and I still need 3 more to back up parts of the innards. The presentation's this next Friday. I'm not very nervous-- all that practice in class and then going before the IRB (ethics review board) has given me confidence. It's a bit obvious by now that I know more about the subject than most of the people I'm speaking to. And it's interesting, showing how the brain heals over time. Okay, not HOW; but if, when & where. The when part's the most exciting as far as applications go. Already I've been able to use it doing assessments on recovering substance abusers, knowing that they're probably not making the full connections between events and consequences, being able to use more guided questions in those areas, which not only fills in the research blanks but also helps the clients realize the ramifications of their substance abuse. And it gives people hope that they WILL get better. But I blather on as if I had no impulse control...

I hope everybody has a wonderful holiday season this year! I'll be working at the internship and the lab up until Xmas, but I've got a week off between that and New Year's!!! Will attempt to drag myself out of bed and post a bit with some friends, maybe get a few more pictures loaded.

Until then, may your holidays be filled with friends, and may your hearts be filled with gratitude. And if anyone needs a boost in their holiday spirit, may you fill a few hours with service to others. There's nothing like passing a gift on to truly appreciate having it in the first place.

Just for Fun

2005-10-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

Your Element is Water

Your power colors: blue and aqua

Your energy: deep

Your season: winter

Like the ocean, you evoke deep feelings and passion.
You have an emotional, sensitive, and spiritual soul.
A bit mysterious, you tend to be quiet when you are working out a problem.
You need your alone time, so that you can think and dream.

What Element Are You?

Merrily we slog along...

2005-10-30T09:12:00.000-08:00

Midterm update: UGH! This is the semester from H-E-double-toothpicks! No one thing itself is overwhelming, but 12 hour days and the flu-bug just make it rough. At least most of the papers are done or well on their way. Almost done with the IRB (review board) proposal, which pretty much sets up my experiment (Recovery of Cognitive Functions in Abstinent Substance Abusers) and "self-writes" the first part of my thesis! And the new internship at Chrysalis House is amazing. So many new doors opening, so many of them connected! Psi Chi (I'm veep) is doing a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity next spring, and Joan the housing coordinator at Chrysalis gave me a bunch of info, said she'd help after she finishes the housing fair next week; I helped her put the media packets together. Also, I'm gathering those horrible little styrofoam peanuts from the Psych department for beanbag chairs for the kids' reading nook at Chrysalis day care. Meantime, I got my apps in for grad school: Clinical Psych (PhD only), Counseling Psych (PhD & MA backup), & MFT (2-year MA in Marriage & Family Therapy, just in case, but also valuable/interesting!) Waiting for the last of the transcripts to arrive.

Yarny update: The patterns are up on the Wool Peddler site! I really like the lightning bolt scarf-- it's just jazzy, very unisex (how's that for an old hippie word) and easy/fun. Saw some similar versions in yarn catalogs, look the same, patterns I tried & discarded 'cause ours is much easier! And the Kimaya bag is really practical. I hope she sends it back or I'll need to make another one. The self-striping-sock-yarn crocheted cardigan is coming along-- almost too big to carry with me anymore. It's back to socks, or I'm dallying with the idea of a new Aibhlinn or a long-wise scarf/shawl out of the turquoise hand-dyed silk/wool. I'd prefer the Aibhlinn, but don't know if I have enough yarn and don't want to do a stripey thing, though a spiral would be cool!

Family update: Some people know Mom was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. She's got another surgery this coming week, has lost 12 lbs in the last 2 weeks, but some of that is because they sent her to a nutritionist and put her on a diabetic diet. We're still waiting to hear about chemo/radiation, probably chemo. We were planning on having her out here for the holidays, but we might have to wait depending on medical appointments. Otherwise, everyone (including Mom) is happy and well. No new cats to report-- trying to let the herd meld and calm down as it is!

So Long Summertime!

2005-08-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

Last hurrah! Last day of summer... Tomorrow's the clinic, Tuesday's the GRE, Wednesday school starts! If you don't see me much until xmas, that's the new normal!

Finished the Aibhlinn, here it is!

Here's Poo and the home-made swift with silk yarn.

Mat with Poo

2005-08-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

Whew, it's been awhile! It's gonna get longer apart, too, as Fall semester starts. I've decided to try to buck the system and take the Developmental advanced lecture/lab, ride their butts so they don't graduate me before I finish the 2-semester Honors thing. This is going to be my selfish year, I'm gonna do SnB and take an hour mid-week for total hedonism instead of doing STAIRS and working my butt off for people who resent me afterwards because I didn't fix their problem. (Can you tell I'm leaning more towards research these days??? ) Signed up to take the GRE the day before school starts, and as soon as that's done I'll get the apps going. Dr. N "reassured" me yesterday, said I can stick around another year in the lab if I don't get in! AAAAAUGH! If I spend another year as a college senior I'm gonna sprout wings, turn green, grow hair out my nostrils, sh*t fire & explode!

Meantime, here's what's happening on the yarny front:

This was NOT supposed to be another cat picture, but Pookie just would not move! This stuff is luscious. Rayon, not silk, but who cares when it's this soft & colorful. Works up like a dream. Probably won't work well for the silk bowls-- that's something we don't want draping around-- but I'm totally coveting this in a sweater or a shawl or a scarf... Anyway, the pattern for this and several other projects will be out with the Wool Peddler ASAP... Definitely in time to whip these puppies up for holiday gifts-- that's the idea!

In other shameless plugs, Stones Throw here in G'town is giving a free dyeing class Saturday the 20th, or, well, free to observe & take notes or $25 if you bring yarn and an old crock-pot. I'm thinking of bringing mine so Bill can't say, "We HAVE a crock-pot," when I want a new crock-pot with the removable innards! But I'll have to sign up fast, there were only a couple spots left last weekend...

And Leah's store is getting closer to opening! I've got her 1/2 convinced to let us adults play in the excavation pit, dig for fossils. I know just as many adults who'd want to do that as kids! Sounds better than a day at Kentucky Kingdom, to me!

And guess who's coming for Xmas? MOM! She finally got some allergy meds she thinks will work. If not we'll just pitch a tent out back. (Just kidding Mom! There's always the barn...)

Crispy Critters!

2005-07-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

Where have the last couple of weeks gone? Reminds me of the old tagline, "Where am I going, and why am I in this handbasket?"

Contract negotiations with the biz out in CA, more negotiations with the Wool Peddler (hi Stephanie!) & our new knitting agent (hi Merry!) though thank goodness Jane & I (see Jane's blog over yonder in the sidebar) have worked extensively together and are as close as 2 peas in a pod, if 1 is vintage 1860's and the other vintage 1960's! We're in business! Jaki Designs, soon to be super-famous for our funky/romantic/practical wearables, silk yarn patterns, felted items and modular sweater designer (that Jane & I have been using for years, unbeknownst to everyone else, which is why our patterns are so unique & easy!)

Check out The Wool Peddler, starting in a month or so, for some really quick & fun xmas gift patterns in the most gorgeous materials... Yep, totally plugging both us, the designers, and Stephanie, the Wool Peddler-- it's just a wonderful match, knit & crocheted art! Silk bowls, and of course silk bags, and silk place-settings, ornaments, jewelry... Things that are quick and easy to make, but very very impressive, and plenty of time to do them all before the holidays. And I get to play with them all first!!! Okay, Jane & I get to play first, but if there's anything better than being first, it's being first along with someone else who's just as excited as you are and knows what the heck she is doing!

Here is a pic of a pattern Jane sent me, one that I didn't mess with too much, other than blowing it up and using tan chenille and doing my own thing after the nose area... This will be our youngest grandson Justin's 2nd birthday present. We already got the grandkids the coolest xmas presents from Leah's dino store (yep, another shameless plug, but what great toys for kids-- totally fun plus educational?) I'm just hoping they don't take after their father & uncle and start bashing each other with the cool presents later xmas day. Amazingly, I've already got most of the xmas stuff done! That dark green thing Norm's standing on is the wavy Aibhlinn, my sis's present, though it's not completed there in the pic yet, still has 1.5 more rows of "jade" beads to attach. That thing took me the longest... though I should've figured on dinky needles, and there's the whole pi times the diameter thing each and every row! Next year, scarf time.

School is going to be crazy this semester, so I'm prepping ahead as much as possible. WARNING: If you don't see me in here much, assume I'm running around having the time of my life-- either that or in the looney bin hopped up on whatever it takes to keep me down. Doing a clinical internship (training this Monday) and the honors/Senior Thesis thing, and I need a bazillion volunteers. (You'll be able to tell when I need you because I'll post flyers and visit you personally! All 3500 of you!)

In other news, my last swimming student of the summer, Sirisha, just swam a full lap through the deep end and back, and I am so happy to be able to witness her bravery and intense effort, as well as make a new friend. I've been jumping up and down with glee at each success but was almost at a loss, I was that impressed, when she did the full lap. I could've cried in my goggles...

And this one's for YOU, Lab Rats!

Yes, that's the California Chocolate Cake pan. Shhhhhh... I promise I'll wash it 3 times before the next chocolate cake. BTW, who's ahead in the Lab contest? I think it just might be Andy after this coming Tuesday!

Here, There, Everywhere!

2005-07-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

I'm still here! Boy, was I sick! Missed the last part of that swimming session, probably would have missed the RSA convention out in Santa Barbara, had I been invited!!! I liked the comments, when the lab got back-- "Oh, you should have been there, it was right up your alley, that's what they were talking about!" Well, at least I know some of my thinking is on track! I've been invited to next year's-- in Baltimore. Somehow that pales, compared to Santa Barbara...

No new pictures to upload this time-- they're still in the camera-- but here's one from last year that's sorta tempting...

It's machine applique'd & quilted in 1 fell swoop using conversation prints, then the "frame" was hand-painted with acrylic and fabric paint before quilting. Anyone can do it! I just cut out the pieces, spray-glued the backs, zig-zagged over the edges with thread to match the background (or some fancy thread, like in the lightning bolts.) Just make sure you spray your pieces either outside or in a box, 'cause you do not want to be snorting spray glue!

In other news, I finished the regular-sized chenille teddy bear, using Jane's pattern for the teddy-bear ornament (one of which she gave me years back, so I could've reverse-engineered it, but this gave me an opportunity to follow a pattern! At least for the bear's face, I sort of veered off after that.) And I finished the Aibhlinn! YAY!!!!! Okay, I still have the last row of the crocheted lace to stick on there, with the beads I just got yesterday. Glass, but they look like jade, and they look super up against the "Pine" Wool-Ease. Leah took me to this hole-in-the-wall bead store down in Lexington, and I got largish glass beads, purple & gold, for the Tweaked bag, too, and we got little friendship beads-- I threaded mine onto an I-wire with some clear glass that look like bubbles, stuck it onto the handle of my buttonhole bag. Sort of like a knitter's charm bracelet or those little things we used to exchange in Girl Scouts-- what were those, anyway?

Team-teaching adult-beginner swimming 4 nights a week again-- this time teaching with Bill, my hubby! He's an ex-SEAL, ex-instructor pilot, used to talking people through computer problems, and just an all-around nice guy, though when he told that lady who was pretending to rescue him, "Pull my finger," I about died. Also have a couple other irons in the fire, and the long-awaited Cellphone Bag pattern is almost finished (along with MY cellphone bag, and nobody's getting this one-- it's MINE!!!) Oops, down girl! My Christmas motto ("Where's mine?") was rearing its ugly head. Just when my Summer-of-05 motto ("Don't dick around!") was doing so well!

Pat, pat, pat

2005-07-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

Patting myself on the back for all the finished projects recently! (How many calories in back-patting???) Seems to go in waves... Not STARTING projects-- that's a constant-- but the being in the midst of a whole slew and finishing a whole slew. Here's the latest batch, the stuff I've been doing while sick & on vacation (which sort of overlapped some, since I'm still battling the sinus part, but what the heck, I'm pretending I'm on the beach in the Bahamas, just with a library and knitting store at hand!) The intarsias on the right aren't felted yet-- heck that one isn't even finished knitting! I'm still waiting for the next yarn shipment, making these little cellphone carriers for xmas presents testing that Dancing Chics pattern (see the link in the Felted Bag KAL.)

And the requisite cat photo, El Ruperto playing in the spice cabinet last night! If only this were video, he went round & around a couple times, only knocked 1 jar over, though waaaay in the back-- we'll find it if/when we ever move.

Ooooo!

2005-06-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Lotsa pics this time, but I'll save the crocheted cellphone holder until I get it felted along with this Tweaked bag (above-- I have to even identify that strange object), which is still almost done and acting more and more like a live octopus. OB the cat even hit it several times yesterday after I laid it on the floor for a bit. Anyway, I want to finish the Tweaked and felt it and the cellphone holder (and miniature xmas tree ornament sized Kureyon bag) and write up the pattern first, so I can throw in the before & after pics of the cellphone holder... And 'cause there's more to see today!

We have FOX KITS! Okay, they're not ours, personally... They're looking pretty healthy this year, too. Still only about 1/4 the size of the adults, so they must've just gotten their gray hair in the last couple weeks. Before that they're coal black, look like little terriers. This one was the 3rd to appear. One was lounging around with its mom under the maple tree when another jumped out and nipped mama-fox in the butt and ran off, came back with kit #3. They're obviously not starving... A little gray fox info: Grays mate for life, just like wolves. A female kit from the previous year often sticks around to help the vixen raise the next year's litter, just like wolves. And grays climb trees. I don't know if wolves climb trees.....

And I just have to add this one, because it's beautiful. Sasquatch fog, we call it. Some people wonder why we moved to KY, what the attraction is. When we've got scenery like this and all the advantages of Mission Viejo... Except the beach-- okay I miss the beach... Though I've probably been to the beach more since we've moved here than I did in the last 10 years we lived in CA!

Ahhhhh...

2005-06-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned yet that I'm on VACATION? Of course the folks at work probably think last week was my vacation, but if Robbie hadn't given me the evil summer cold/flu... Getting over that was much more work than work, and it's STILL hanging around! The only thing worse would've been having it this week!

To keep Norm company, here's Rupert! He's sitting on the red scrap afghan I made for the sporty little Grand Am I totalled over Winter Break down at the bottom of our hill. The snow plow stopped short of de-icing the hill, but of course I didn't notice that until I was going down the hill. Luckily I started spinning in circles and slewing sideways or I would've gone straight into some trees, or into the creek had I missed the trees. The car worked great, but the body was totalled. I just sat there with the heater on, listening to some tunes, waiting for the hubby to get the tractor and pull me out of the ditch. Meanwhile the snowplow came by and sprayed me with salt. Anyway, I got a fab afghan out of the deal!

Pattern Posting: Sunshine of my Mind

2005-06-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, more experimento time-- just cut & pasted this out of Word so let's see how it works! The picture for this bag is in the previous post... And here's Norm, finally, to introduce the subject! (It's also highly possible to crochet a bag based on the pattern below that looks much like Norm, by selecting the right colors & deleting row 5, and adding pointy ears & a big fuzzy tail...)

Sunshine of my Mind
Crocheted Felted Bag by Kim Waldheim

Materials:
2 skeins MC (pink or blue)
1 skein CC1 (gray or yellow)
½ skein CC2 (white or orange or black)
¼ skein CC3 (orange or white or orange)
1 skein CC4 (black or blue or green)
½ skein CC5 (purple, optional)
(Note: All yarn in chunky weight, or double-stranded light worsted. Colors are suggested only. Use first color for Brain Bag with optional CC5. Use 2nd color for Sunshine and 3rd color (if present) for Sunflower. Refer to pic.)
Size K & P crochet hooks
Scissors
Tapestry needle
8 large safety pins (optional for beading)
Large silver beads (optional): both long & squatty & small, 8 each OR
Beads/buttons of choosing (optional): such as leaves, fish, anything summery

Directions:
(With K hook, make 2. Crochet over tails as you go.)
Base: With CC2 ch 3, slst into first ch forming loop.
Row 1: Ch 2, sc 7x, slst into 2nd ch forming octagon.
Row 2: Ch 2, sc into same st, [sc 2x into each st] around, slst into 2nd ch.
Row 3: Ch 2, sc into same st, sc into next st, [sc 2x into next st, sc into next st] around, slst into 2nd ch.
Row 4: Ch 2, sc into same st, sc into next 2 st’s, [sc 2x into next st, sc into next 2 st’s] around, insert hook into 2nd st, pull CC3 thru both loops, cut CC2 leaving 4” tail.
Row 5: With CC3, ch 2, sc in same st, sc into next 3 st’s, [sc 2x into next st, sc into next 3 st’s] 2x, [hdc 2x into next st, hdc into next 3 st’s] 2x, dc 2x into next st, dc into next 3 st’s, dc 6x into next st, skip 4 st, insert hook into 5th st, pull MC thru both loops, cut CC3 leaving 4” tail. (You have now formed what looks like a skinny paisley around 7/8ths of the center octagon.)
Row 6: With MC ch 2, sc into same st, sc around, placing 2 sc’s in “corners” and in 3rd dc of shell, slst into 2nd ch. (You’ll have more sc’s on the “sides” that contain shell st’s. Your octagon will start looking squashed. That’s okay, it’s supposed to.)
Row 7: Sc around, placing 2 sc’s into each “corner”.
Row 8: Sc around 7 sides as above. Slst into corner before 8th side with CC1 (cut MC leaving 4” tail) and continue as before with CC1.
Row 9: With CC1 ch2 (counts as first sc.) Make 8 triangles: [sc, hdc, dc, picot,dc, hdc, sc] to fit around 6 sides of your squashed octagon. Fudge if you have to (crochet a stitch together or 2 into a stitch.) Count st’s between finishing last triangle and start of first. Should be around 20. Divide in ½. Sc to this midpoint, your new beginning & end.
Row 10: Sc around, sc’ing twice in each dc and dec’ing in the dip between triangles by pulling loop through a st on each side of the dip then pulling final loop through both. Sc to beginning/end, switch to MC (as above.) Pattern may now be crocheted in a spiral.
Row 11 & 12: Follow same pattern as row 10 with MC, switch to CC last st.
Row 13 & 14: Follow same pattern as above, switch back to MC last st.
Row 15: Sc the non-triangulated/zig-zag parts. Start to fill in the triangles as follows (2 row procedure): Place two 3-dc shells in dip, 1 shell on descending side, one on ascending. “Corner” the tops as usual, sc non-pointy/dippy parts as usual.
Row 16: Continue sc’ing non-pointy/dippy parts and filling in triangles: Place 1 shell in bottom of dip. DO NOT CORNER THE TIPS OF THE TRIANGLES!
Row 17: Sc around.

If you would like a Brain, form Cerebellum as follows: Place the 2 pieces of the bag “face to face” so that the non-zig-zag corner is facing down. Rotate them slightly toward each other so the flat side is face down and the center, if it were a cup, would drain empty. The Cerebellum should be placed on the flat part that is not now the base. With CC5, ch 2 into the bottom “corner” and sc up to the tip of the triangle. Ch 2 and skip TWO st’s, sc across, turn. Repeat for 3-4 rows until you have a rounded cerebellum. Repeat with other piece of the bag.

Finishing:
Crochet the 2 halves together. For the Brain, crochet from the top of Cerebellum around the bottom of the bag to the tip of 3rd triangle using CC5 for the cerebellum, then switching to MC for remainder. For Sunshine or Sunflower, use MC to crochet from tip of 2nd triangle down and around to tip of 2nd triangle.
Make straps with CC4: Unravel approximately ½ the skein by feel. If it squishes about the same, you’re close enough. Find midpoint and start to re-roll it into a ball of double-strand. Repeat process until new ball has about the same quantity of yarn as the pile & leftover skein together, except this time re-roll the whole way. Cut off any excess and keep! You will now have 1 ball of quadruple-strand. Using P hook, make 4 chains each 100 st’s long. I left 6” tails, but I’d suggest 8” tails or no tail at all and use the excess to sew the beads on AFTER felting. Plait the 4 chains in the middle for 4” or so, if desired. Secure with waste yarn for felting. Felt the bag & handles separately.
To secure handles, poke a hole in the tip of the next triangle and in the dip between that and the sewn edge. You will have 8 holes, 4 per side, 2 left & 2 right. Being careful to keep strap ends untangled, thread outside straps through bottom holes, and inside straps through top holes. Secure with large safety pins while beading (if desired.) Check straps to make sure they’re straight. For Brain bag’s electrode, thread squatty then long then little bead to secure. For Sunshine & Sunflower, use smaller beads to secure larger beads. Knot & feed ends back through strap using tapestry needle. Beads/buttons may not secure strap to bag. Knot ends of straps to be safe. Use an overhand knot in lower hole and double-overhand knot in upper hole to even the straps.

YAHOO!

2005-06-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Finished the Brain Bag! Still writing up the pattern directions (calling it "Sunshine of my Mind Bag" since it also looks sorta sunshiney, and sounds less gross, and I still have the brain colors listed as one of the options.) The beaded handles turned out great! Took a page out of another Felted Bag KAL member and plaited the straps to make a shoulder "pad" for the top. Those straps are each 4 strands of worsted chained together with a P hook, I think they look just as good as I-cord, are alot faster & easier. Anyway, here's the long-awaited pic!

And here's the previous crocheted bag, the experimental one with the flap that sorta butterflied out. Warning to all felted bag crocheters! Knitted bags shrink more in height, crocheted shrink more in width! Always finish to-be-felted crocheted "raw edges" (sides) with a row of sc to pull things together. Too late for this bag, but after Bill manhandled it and I boiled and mashed the flap with a budvase it's decent enough for the Sis's birthday. Heck, she'll probably use it for a cat bed anyway!

Currently working on the rapidly morphing used-to-be-Unbiased bag (in wool, to be felted, instead of sari-silk.) About 1/2-way done, and NOW I come up with an idea for doing it in 1 piece, which would make it deeper, too! AAUGH! Oh well, there's always more yarn.

In other news, I've pretty much decided to go for the research degree, if I can get in. Okay, the work may be a bit boring, except for working with the people, and getting interesting results. I mean the actual rote interviewing & monitoring 100's of people at a whack (since I actually like entering data!) But it's so exciting to actually make a difference in alot of people's lives in 1 fell swoop instead of working like a dog to help people individually. I have the swimming lessons where I can make a difference that way. And as Emily in the lab next door pointed out, it's just a current choice, not a DECISION, meaning I'm not burning any bridges. Actually, what I really want to do more than anything is teach! Either way, clinical or research, will get me there!

Duh...

2005-06-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

If I did this right, we should now be looking at... something. I forget what. A picture-- that's it! I think this is either a purse or a cat. If it has ears and a tail... well, knowing my knitting that doesn't rule anything out.

In other news, I volunteered to teach adult swimming at the local pool in the evenings for the next 2 weeks (except Wednesdays, when there's swim meets.) Spent today adapting the curriculum. It should look good on the resume, and I just have a ball teaching swimming-- teaching anything! The people are great, it's a worthwhile cause, and I'll get my free membership renewal again! Though it will cut down a bit on free time, and supper. Which is okay since I feel like my own personal flotation device about now...

Well, I guess I didn't do it right! ACK! You'd think for someone who'd learned alot it still wouldn't be such a painful process! OMG OMG, I might have something!

Learning the Ropes...

2005-06-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, things are starting to settle down, thanks to Jane here, the lab-rats at work, and lots of encouragement and help! Now I know why we're called egg-heads, because after each semester we come out fried.

Norm's helping me type here, on my day off. As soon as I figure out the picture linkage trick, I'll post one of Gorgeous Norm (a real girlie-girl, despite the name, who loves all things knit & quilted, and jewelry, too.)

Things are good on the homefront, too. The Brain Bag is starting to look like a brain. The socks (thanks to Jane's suggestion) are going to fit! The crocheted bag turned out great, even if I did have to slash & stitch the inside pocket to fit. Note to self (and everyone here!): Crocheting shrinks much more in width than height! Do not leave "raw edges" (where you turned) without crocheting over them, or you'll end up with skee-whiffled butterfly ruffles!

Okay, Norm, time for pets... Just let me throw in a big THANKYOU to Jane (see her blog in the sidebar) for all her help with the code! It's actually starting to make sense! It's easier than some crochet patterns I've seen!

WHEW!

2005-05-20T23:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay, it sounds dumb, but these 12 hour weeks are exhausting! I think it's the learning curve (besides the hour drive & walk each way.) Right now I'm at the "duh" stage, where everything looks familiar and they trust me much more than they should. Given my druthers, I'd re-fanitulate the office at this point. I mean, 2 calendars, neither of which have all the appointments? It doesn't help we're spread through 3 offices, not counting the labs. Good news: they submitted a proposal based on my thesis!

In other news, been working almost exclusively on the Aibhlinn, just to clear out a PIP. The cleaning crew that came through Wednesday (part of hubby's b-day present, since he's the primary housekeeper and not very thrilled with the job lately) has got me on a roll, wanting to simplify. Resisting urges to start new PIPs-- or I'd like to at least finish 2 for every 1 I start. It doesn't help to see all the raw data on impulsivity at the lab. Do they know I'm a yarn addict? I try to bring the same PIP (Pink Obsession socks) so I don't blow my cover.....