Knits With Benefits

It’s been a while- here’s what we’ve been up to!

This is the first ever glimpse I had (immortalized in iphone photograph form) of my new building at my new school!

L and I traveled across the country a few weeks ago, and the highlight was visiting our new hometown. Seeing it has only made us SO MUCH MORE excited to move there- but we can’t go anywhere until I finish my darn thesis! (good motivation).

We had to leave this one behind on our week-long trip:

And he is so excited that we’re back. I snapped this picture of him on Sunday, he had managed to wedge himself in between L’s legs while we were sitting on the couch. I hope that Webster does as well on his upcoming cross-country move that he did on our last cross-country move. Otherwise, it could be a really long trip.

I’ve been knitting, but only stockinette socks. Because that’s all the brainpower I have. I believe I’ve knit nearly 7 pairs of socks so far this year (since January)- and I’m getting a bit tired of them! My fingers are itching for more lace, but my brain isn’t quite ready for it yet. This isn’t helped by the fact that (a) a new yarn store opened recently within walking distance of my house and (b) what I really *should* be knitting are small gifts for my thesis-committee members. I got the yarn last week (I had a gift certificate that I needed to use before we move)- now I need to wind and cast on!

Stay Tuned!

Gratuitous Webster Picture:

Gratuitous FO picture:

Gratuitous Cat wearing FO picture:

(Old picture- Christmas lights are on…)

This is a Holden Shawlette, also knit on the Honeymoon, also knit out of knitpicks Stroll. I like to use knitpicks yarn for travelling because it’s inexpensive enough that I don’t feel like I will die of misery if something unfortunate happens with security, but at the same time it doesn’t feel super inexpensive in my fingers.

This shawl was a fun knit- just simple enough to not require a whole lot of brain power, yet complicated enough to keep my attention on train rides across Spain. It was also un-complicated (technically) enough that I could knit it with bamboo needles, instead of with my nickel-plated Options which are much pointier. I wanted to bring the bamboo because of the potential unfortunateness with security as well.

For the record- I have never had any problems with my knitting at airports… but I would rather be safe than sorry. We are traveling next month, so there will be more travel knitting coming up! Hooray!

In the meantime- I finish my thesis. And L looks for a job. It’s exciting times around here, let me tell you. Webster is so excited that he’s crawled into his kitty-carrier to try to contain himself.

But we are excited to go see the Hunger Games movie sometime soon. We have a gift certificate for 2 movie tickets, so off we will go one of these nights!

(no, we’re not pregnant. geez.)

We know where we are moving! I’ve accepted an offer of admission which includes full funding (they pay my tuition plus a generous stipend) to begin a PhD program in Pittsburgh, PA next year. Webster is quite pleased with this new development, or maybe it’s just that he’s getting great chin scratches at the moment:

For now- we’re busy getting ready to move, finishing an MA thesis and finding a new job for one of us halfway across the country. Which is quite a lot to do!
We both counted this weekend- and in the last 10 years, each of us has moved at least 10 times. GOOD GRIEF!! That’s ridiculous! So, we’re probably going to have to move once to get to PA, into whatever place we can find initially… and then hopefully just once more into a more permanent place. We are very excited to be done moving for a few years!

Catch-up FO of the day/post:

These are the socks I finished while we were on our honeymoon (the Honeymoon socks).

“Breaking Hearts” socks out of a knit picks stroll colorway that was brown and blue/turquoises. (uh, specificity is not my thing right now). I cast these on when we were in the airport leaving Nashville, and bound off just in time to wear them on the plane rides home. By the way- brand new hand knit socks is a great way to deal with 26+ hours of airport/flying time.

The pattern was easy to memorize- although I don’t think I followed the heel part of the pattern… I don’t normally knit with variegated yarn- and while I’m still not a huge fan, it did keep my interest as I kept watching to see what the colors were going to do next. Maybe I was overthinking it and being a control freak- but I kept watching to see what the mini-cables were going to do with the colors.

I’ve been silent on the blog front- but I’ve been knitting up a storm. I’ve also been frogging up a storm, but that’s a story for another day.

There’s a theme here- and it is mindless- because there’s a lot of other stuff going on. But knitting is important to maintain balance.

Here’s my finished Stripe Study:

The colors are actually mustard and tangerine/coral. I wasn’t sure about the asymmetry at first, and L quite vocally hated the asymmetry until it was finished.  HOWEVER, now that it’s done and I’ve had a chance to wear it- I LOVE the construction. I wrap it around my neck bandana style (with the point in front- what’s that called?) and because I wrap one end around two times, and the other side only once- it stays put wonderfully.  In fact, wouldn’t be averse to knitting another.

Remember last year’s Valentine’s Day present to L? Here is Louie, again, with L’s Valentine’s day present for this year:

Jerry the Musical Monkey and Louie hanging out, holding hands. This year,  there was no surprise as Luke watched me knitting on it the whole time- but it’s still a neat thing.

Oh yeah- and not totally a finished thing, but I did get an offer for a PhD program. Its not finished because I’m waiting to hear from two more (and for those playing the home game, that means I’ve gotten 4 rejections already…)- but we do, in fact, have a place to go next year, and I will continue to be paid to go to school for at least four more years. Hooray!

Oh kindle, how I love thee…

About mid-way through last quarter (right before the prices dropped, actually), I purchased myself a kindle. I told myself it would be for keeping my pdfs for school and knitting patterns primarily- and there was one textbook I needed for school that quarter that was significantly cheaper in kindle version than text version.

I do a little of those things. I used the kindle a lot for that class I had last quarter, and I do have some knitting patterns on it as well.

But now what I’m using it for is (GASP!) reading for pleasure. Reading books that have nothing to do with research, that aren’t necessarily well written (although they can be), and that are utterly fantastical. I haven’t read seriously for pleasure in YEARS, and it feels SSOOO GOOD! I read a ton of books over the break (and since the break), here’s a partial list:

The Hunger Games series, books 2 & 3 (although those were on L’s nook as he’s already read them)

Water for Elephants

Light in August

Outlander

The Peach Keeper

The Game of Thrones

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Life in Stitches

Plus another few that I started and didn’t finish.

Why/How can I read so many books? Two things that I LOVE about this kindle:

1. It’s small and lightweight. In other words, it doesn’t hurt my hands to hold it like regular books sometimes do. On a similar note, the screen on the kindle isn’t backlit which means I can read right before bed and still actually get to sleep.

2. I can check books out from the library. Up to five at a time. From my home computer. Best invention ever! The one bad thing about the library is there are waiting lists for most books, but that’s also good for my actual work productivity, as I don’t spend the whole day reading (like I did last Saturday), very often.

Something that I’ve noticed now that I’m back in school- I need quick and easy reading, no high literature that needs thoughts. Easy sneezy books that are guilty pleasures are just what the doctor ordered right now.

Have you guys been reading anything great lately? Anything that I should put on my library wishlist?

Advisor: how was your break?

Me: Great, how was yours?

Advisor: It was great, let’s talk about your thesis.

Me: Okay, I’ve got a draft of one chapter done, and have about 2-3 chapters left to do.

Advisor: That’s good, Let’s aim for a complete draft by the end of this quarter.

Me: O.O  uh, sure, that sounds fine…

So. The next 10 weeks for me:

** Finish the first draft of my thesis. This is a lot of work.

**Emotional roller coaster as declines and (hopefully) acceptances begin to roll in

**Obsessive coping-knitting/spinning. I have already wound 4 skeins of Cascade heritage into cakes for this very purpose. This comes with a serious question: does anyone else have a static electricity problem when they wind yarn? Here’s a picture of me winding my mom’s Christmas present (yes, I gave my mom handspun for Christmas)

My hair is attracted to yarn too!! It’s not a serious problem, but it is kind of annoying.

Here’s another picture of the finished yarn:

yarn, swift, and Webster all in one picture. That’s as good as it gets around here, folks.

L’s Business seems to be working out very well (I don’t know how much he wants me to disclose on this here little ole knitting blog, so I’ll be coy for now). In fact, they may have some actual income coming in soon which is AMAZING- hooray!

We’re keeping busy around here. Busy is good and we’re (so far) keeping a good attitude about it- which is my goal throughout this whole process.

It has been nearly two months since I’ve posted! Let’s hope that this quarter at school is less crazy-busy and stressful, which will leave me more brain power for blog-posting. I say that every quarter, and each one seems to get worse so we shall see what happens.

So, what have we been up to around here?

Most of my applications are done (all but one- and that one will be sent off by the end of the week).

We successfully negotiated our first ‘married’ holiday season- and now I’m exhausted and need a break! (Please remind us that hosting Christmas is a lot of work, and that we have a tiny apartment)

There were more homemade elements to our Christmas Tree:

And Webster loved having us both home during the day:

There was some knitting, and there will be more to come.

Now, we are on to the waiting stage. Luke is working hard at making his business work and getting  clients before March, and in the meantime we are waiting to find out if and where I get in for next year. This stage sucks because we can’t make plans for anything- not only do we not know where we’re going or when we’re leaving, but that also means that we don’t know how much it’s going to cost… so all the extra $$ goes into the savings account. So- we are in a holding pattern for now which is hard, but nice compared to the crazy that was October/November/December.  We can not wait to find out what 2012 will bring!

Webster says: “Mom, why are you working so much? I should be in your lap instead of that computer!”

Also notice that Webster’s looking more scruffy than usual as his winter coat is appearing.

We’ve all been working like crazy around here! But- things are looking up. Everything is going to continue to be crazy until mid-December… but (for now) I’m in a positive and hopeful mood. If all goes right, we’ll be blogging about moving across the country sometime this summer.

There has been tons of knitting, tons of spinning and other stress-coping mechanisms… but no pictures. I actually did my first knitting with my own handspun too, and I am completely hooked. Hopefully I’ll get pictures soon.

In other stress-coping news, I’m dancing again- we’re working on a dub-step sword dance (yes, totally awesome), and here is a picture of L playing with my sword the other night:

Have a good weekend, all!

This is not knitting or fiber related at all. So… I understand if you don’t want to continue reading.

Here’s the deal. I’ve been working For. Months. on my application materials for PhD programs. Months. I’ve compiled and revised and recompiled and readvised my list of schools that I’m applying to. I’ve been working on my statement of purpose for ages- I’m up to the 6th draft since I started numbering them, and I’ve been having weekly meetings with one prof this quarter to shore things up. I’ve met with two other profs to get their opinions, solicit their help, and ensure my letters of rec.

Does this make me feel well prepared and confident? Hell no. I feel terrified and inadequate. I’m told this is normal, but it sure isn’t fun even if it is normal. It isn’t that I lack confidence in my abilities- because I’m sure that once admitted to a program, I will do well. What I don’t have confidence in is my ability to convince an admissions committee that I’m better than the 400 other applicants.

So what am I ranting about? I’m ranting about those people who are “still deciding” if they even want to apply this year! They’ve done nothing- nothing! I’ve been working for months, and they’ve done nothing, and I can not convince myself that this will somehow show in my application. It will, right? right?

(now is it clear why I haven’t been posting much lately? paralyzing self confidence issues. not good blog fodder.)

Here’s Cat Butt (his actual nickname) to distract you from my whining.

I have something very exciting to talk about today (shocking, I know!).

On the agenda for today is a review of Erica Jackofsky (Fiddle Knits Designs)‘s newest design collection: Shades of Green. If you’ve been following me for a while, you’re probably familiar with some of Erica’s work, because I actually test knit for her- so I’ve knit a few of her patterns. I love them! For the most part they are uncomplicated enough that I can knit them in class, but at the same time, don’t look “simple” or uninteresting. This collection follows in that vein.

Obviously the collection is titled “Shades of Green,” so that’s the theme running through the designs. They’re all titled and modeled after something green- trees, leaves, etc- and/or knit in the color green. There is also interesting information throughout the book about the color green itself. (Erica provided me with a review copy via ebook).

The collection is diverse. There are shawls, hats, a tunic and accessories- 11 patterns in all. One of my favorite patterns was originally a mystery knit along (which I did not participate in), and is a worsted weight shawl. The weather is just starting to turn here, and I am craving shawls with a little more substance than my fingering weight shawlettes (although there’s one of those in the collection as well!). The Certain Shade of Green Pattern is full of interesting texture changes, a little lace and the option to use two different colors if you so desire.

(Fiddleknits Designs Picture)

I’ve actually knit two of the patterns in this collection (and my pictures are not nearly as nice as Erica’s!): The Garden Grove Slouch Hat and the Leafy Greens Hat.

I knit the Leafy Greens hat last winter quarter, for L’s mom’s birthday. (She’s a gardener. I knit her things with leaves…) Here’s my version:

(Excuse the bug eyes…)

I knit it out of malabrigo worsted, and it worked up very quickly.

Here’s my Garden Grove:

Geez, I need to close my eyes a little when taking pictures of myself!

I knit this hat during a couple lectures- One in Latin American Revolutions and One in Medieval Islamic Social History, in case you’re interested – and just might keep this for myself this season. It’s nice! The stitch pattern on the brim is unique and interesting, but relatively easy to understand, and the crown of the hat is also straightforward.

Can you tell I like Erica’s designs and this collection? I’m pretty excited to get to share it with you- and this is our first ever contest here at chez Knits with Benefits. (Although, we all know it’s actually chez Webster. geez). If you’d like to win a copy of this collection, please leave a comment on this blog post, or email via the “contact us” tab. If you’d like to tweet about it or post about it on facebook or whatnot to spread the word you can totally do that and then come back here and link back to it. We will do a random number generator sometime on or around October 22 for the winner!

I hope you like Erica’s patterns as much as I do!