Limulus Rules for Today

Rule #1:
If it is cold enough to wear Ugg boots, it is too cold to wear shorts.

Rule #2:
Waving at me does not restore karmic balance to the world after almost running me over.

Rule #3:
Berets are awesome.



Pattern: Estella, by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Mirasol Yarns Miski, 2 skeins
Needles: size 7 bamboo dpns and 16" circ
Mods: I used size 7 for the ribbing instead of size 5s; I have what appears to be an inordinately large head.

Preview!

Sooo I have been knitting, oh the knitting, but there is really nothing to report. The first sleeve of the tilted duster is almost done, and while I started an Estella beret yesterday, the band would not fit over my gigantic head and so had to be frogged. I will try again tonight with bigger needles since I really want that hat. It is getting cool here.

Although there is no news with my knitting, the IK winter issue preview is up! : http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/2007_winter.asp

This issue is supposed to have an emphasis on classic designs, which I usually love, since I'm not usually an avant-garde kinda gal. However, a lot of these pictures were taken in some sort of creepy library, and some of the designs are kind of stuffy-looking. However, since I have no pretty pictures to show you, I will instead go over the projects I like (so far) from this issue - the list may change after I actually get the issue in my hot little hands.

Alicia Tabard, by Louisa Harding

I'm kind of in love with this one. I'm not usually a big fan of vests, but I love the cable and the neckline. It just kind of...grabs you. Plus it would look great over a plain long-sleeve T and jeans. However, it is bordering on tunic-y, and I don't exactly know how the tunic and the booty would interact.

Colette Pullover, by Veronik Avery

I love the simple colorwork, high collar, and flared hem. It looks sturdy and sexy all at once, and warm to boot. I also always love Veronik's colorwork because she usually uses raglan arm shaping, which not only looks fabulous on the shoulderly gifted like me, but lets you do colorwork without steeking if you do it right. The one reservation is this, which might not be a reservation at all:

Robots in Disguise?

Am I the only one who sees transformers? I'm still not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. I also am not going to spend $120 on the sweater, but there are totally ways of making it on the cheap (hello knitpicks?)

Gathered Pullover, by Hana Jason

This looks great - fitted but with raw edges, and fun cable detailing. The only issue is that I don't know how the cable bit would look on an actual person (no offense model-people). Also, this is a new model for IK this issue, and she seems to be sneering at the camera every chance she gets.

Ivy League Vest, by Eunny Jang

Eunny sure hasn't been slacking off since she was made editor of IK. First the Tangled Yoke cardigan, and now this. I looooove the colorwork, although I think I would make the ribbing a darker color. Again though, it is a vest. I am a grad student, and so do not have/wear collared shirts to work, but.... I love it... it is so...complicated. I might have to pass on this one, but it will be hard.


*SCIENCE DIVERSION*
So in other news, I learned a new technique this week in lab! After much bothering the other grad-monkeys, near-poisoning myself, breaking glass all over the place, having equipment break on me,and figuring out where everything is, I have successfully run my first protein gel! (Well, we had to run one in biochem, but they did almost everything for me, so it doesn't count). It is currently staining overnight in lab, and I am feeling very proud of myself. I did research in undergrad, but I was strictly a whole cell/DNA gal. And I was good at it. And now I have to learn protein stuff. Its OK, I can do this. The only thing is that protein gels are thin. Very thin. I kind of miss agarose.
*END SCIENCE DIVERSION*

Ok, I'm off to see if I can make a beret fit my gargantuan head. Peace out dudes and bettys.

Pumpkin Time!

Stats:
Pattern: Wheat Ear Cable Yoke Pullover, from IK Summer 2006.
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Hollyberry, 11-12 skeins I would guess
Size: 40"
Needles: 6,7,8, bamboo circs.
Mods: I knit the body in the round
Verdict: I really love it. I don't have a picture of me wearing it, since the boy was having issues with the camera, but it really is quite nice.

Now, in with the new....



So I got some beaverslide McTaggart Tweed a bit ago, and decided that I wasn't crazy about what I ordered it for, so it is now becoming a tilted duster! I wasn't nuts about the pattern before, but I saw some examples on ravelry, and they were great. The only problem is that Gauge was not going to happen, so I am knitting the 36" size to get a 40"-ish bust, and so far to the best of my calculations it is working out splendidly. We'll see what kind of mess I make out of it.

So the NSF is due soon (FUN!) as is a class project, so I should go and make sure that they don't suck. Also, I should cook the pumpkin in my kitchen (in my family pumpkins are for eating, not carving). I have a recipe for pumpkkin bread pudding. It should be awesome.

P.S. - I just bought the Holiday issue of IK today, and it is awesome. Go check it out, especially Brooklyntweed's rockin' hat.

Peace out!

Ravelry!

I finally got my ravery invitation!

My name is biomusicologist, if you want to friend me. I'm not sure that I will ever ger work done again.

The Wheat Ear Cable Yoke is almost finished - it just needs some blocking. Pictures soon!

October

Hmmmm, so what have I been doing? Well,

1) Making food.

Oyster Mushroom Tart and New Glarus: A winning combination.

2) Working on The Sweater.



The wheat-ear yoke sweater has been upgraded to The Sweater since it is now almost done. It even looks like a sweater, fancy that.

3) Celebrating socktoberfest.


One finished hedera, in Claudia's fingering weight in "Passionfruit"



A beginning of an uptown boot sock, in pigeonroofstudio's fingering weight. I love it. A lot. I can not express the love I have for this yarn in words. I may have to do it through interpretive dance.

4) Being a consumer whore.

So I got paid the other day, and The Boy got PAID, by grad school standards. We bought wonderful food, and I went a little nuts with the yarn. Specifically, two sweaters worth, and this:

Dream in Color smooshy sock yarn, in "Blue Lagoon"

I got it from the Loopy Ewe, which is one of my favoritest online stores, and it came with this:


I am now a "Loopy groupie", which includes a tote bag, candy, and FREE YARN! Specifically, Panda Cotton in "roses". I am way pleased. You can call me whatever you want, if there is free yarn involved.

5) Listening to the new Bruce album. I love it, but then again, being a bit too young, I am not a purist. Check it out.

6) Winding yarn. In my own house.

Yes my lovelies, I have finally acquired a swift and ball winder. The ball winder was procured with my new monies, but the swift, well the swift:

The boy glowing in his victory

Yes, The Boy finally got around to making me a swift (I say finally because it was supposed to be a Valentine's day present). He asked me if this act of creation made him the sexiest male ever, and yes The Boy, it does. He is very pleased with himself and his new drill, and I am just plain happy. See?

Still life with pepper and apple

This is Dream in Color smooshy sock yarn (Chicago Pride!) in "Chinatown Apple" I bought it with a specific project in mind, which I'll talk about if I ever start it. It is officially the first yarn cake I made with my swift and ball winder.

Oh, and Mother-of-The-Boy recieved her socks, and proclaimed them to be too short and slightly too small, but thanked me graciously through The Boy nonetheless. *sigh*


Well peace out my darlings, I'm off to forage for dinner.