Roundabout Leaf Tank is flying. Actually not just flying, but the body is finished (just finished it about 30 minutes ago). I picked up for the left shoulder. It suggests knitting 7 inches before the shoulder shaping. When I measured 7 inches on me, there's no way that will work. I think I'll go for about 5 inches.

You'll just have to imagine what it might look like because I second Yarngirl in saying that it is even too hot to use the camera. I've been spending a lot of time at my office (and sort of getting work done) because it is C-O-L-D there. Yay!! Otherwise, we've been hiding out in the bedroom because that's where the air conditioner is. All of our stuff that lives downstairs (desktop computer, camera, Playstation, good TV) is being neglected.

I got a very exciting email today. But I can't really tell you about it. Maybe if everything goes well, I'll share. But until then, just send good vibes.

Inside that blue circle is a squirrel (trust me). I looked out the window and saw this poor squirrel trying to stay cool. It was laying flat out on this stub of a branch with its tail curled up in the air. Poor thing!

When I went outside about 20 minutes ago to take this picture, I noticed that it was incredibly cooler outside than inside our apartment. Too bad the choice is sitting inside melting or sitting outside getting eaten by bugs.

Time to go make more raspberry sorbet (today with pineapple juice too!!).

First up, Kim, your sheep is finally stuffed and ready to be on his way. I'm hoping to run over to the post office this afternoon!

Second, Sock Kit Swap Pal, your bag (which has been just sitting here finished forever) is on its way (if I get to the post office). Here's a peak inside!

I'm sitting in a Holiday Inn in Easton PA. Two drum corp shows in two days. Grand 1am tour of Easton last night. Some yummy midnight pulled pork sandwiches tonight. Turned a heel during the show. Roundabout needs about 4/5ths of a strap to be finished. Time for bed so we don't miss check out!

I just finished Roundabout and I'm not overly impressed. I like the body, but I hate HATE the straps.

It is interesting that you don't get a good look at the straps in the book. They are extraordinarily too wide and only the ribbing pulls them back in. The placement is as per the pattern and just looks bad. The straps are too far from the underarms. I just hate them.

The pulling up in the back is my fault because I shortened the straps significantly, which was good for the front, but not the back.

Tomorrow I'm undoing the straps and starting over. I'll probably do a skinnier version of the called for straps. Or maybe start them out wider under the arms and include some decreases to thin them out over the shoulder. I don't know yet. I'm just annoyed that the pattern picture hides the ugliness of the strap placement and that I didn't study the few pics of finished ones for how the straps looked.

Sigh.

(Oh, and I don't know what the camera did to the color of the yarn. It is not so neon!)

The new and improved Roundabout Leaf Tank with less overwhelming straps! (I don't know what's wrong with the color still... maybe I should take some pictures tomorrow during the daylight hours!).

On both the front and the back, I picked up another inch worth of stitches and rapidly decreased 4 on each right side row. I think the effect looks like a big leaf. Then I mirrored the lace on either side of the strap and put 3 leaves in the middle.

If you're making the Roundabout and want to alter the straps, here's my recipe:

BASE:
Pick up 39 stitches across the front with RS facing.
Row 1: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P30 YO P2tog P2
Row 2: (RS) K3 YO SSK K10 SSK SSK K1 K2tog K2tog K11 YO SSK K2
Row 3: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P26 YO P2tog P2
Row 4: (RS) K3 YO SSK K8 SSK SSK K1 K2tog K2tog K9 YO SSK K2
Row 5: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P22 YO P2tog P2
Row 6: (RS) K3 YO SSK K6 SSK SSK K1 K2tog K2tog K7 YO SSK K2
Row 7: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P18 YO P2tog P2
Row 8: (RS) K3 YO SSK K4 SSK SSK K1 K2tog K2tog K5 YO SSK K2
Row 9: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P14 YO P2tog P2
Row 10: (RS) K3 YO SSK K2 SSK SSK K1 K2tog K2tog K3 YO SSK K2
Row 11: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P10 YO P2tog P2
Row 12: (RS) K3 YO SSK K0 SSK SSK K1 K2tog K2tog K1 YO SSK K2
Row 13: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P6 YO P2tog P2
Row 14: (RS) K3 YO SSK SSK K1 K2tog K1 YO SSK K2
Row 15: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P18 YO P2tog P2
Row 16: (RS) K3 YO SSK Slip1 K2tog PSSO K1 YO SSK K2

Plain Strap Portion:
Row 1: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P2 YO P2tog P2
Row 2: (RS) K3 YO SSK K2 YO SSK K2
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for a total of 7 rows.

Insert mini leaf (8 Rows):
Row 1: (RS) K3 YO SSK (K1 YO K1 YO K1 YO K1) K1 YO SSK K2 [parantheses is all in 1 stitch)
Row 2 and all even rows: (WS) P3 YO P2tog P2 YO P2tog P2
Row 3: K3 YO SSK SSK K3 K2tog YO SSK K2
Row 5: K3 YO SSK SSK K1 K2tog YO SSK K2
Row 7: K3 YO SSK Slip1 K2tog PSSO K1 YO SSK K2

Repeat Plain Strap Portion for 8 rows
Repeat Mini Leaf

Repeat Plain Strap Portion for 8 rows
Repeat Mini Leaf

Repeat Plain Strap Portion for 8 rows
Break yarn with a long tail and place live stitches on holder.

Repeat Base on back, but break yarn with a long tail before strap portion.

Kitchner stitch the 2 sets of live stitches together (11 stitches on each needle).

Repeat the entire process on the other side.

Hopefully I typed all that up correctly! Let me know if there are any errors. (Also keep in mind that the total length of the straps from base to base is about 19 inches, you can adjust for your own measurements by adding an extra repeat of the leaf and plain strap, or by adding rows to the plain strap area).

As much as I love finishing a project, sometimes I end up with the "now what?" feeling. Knitting Goddess knows I have a ton of potential projects waiting to go, but nothing is sparking my interest.

• I have a pair of socks in Toasty Toes in progress. One sock has been done for a while, the second is just about an inch beyond the heel.
• I have a pair of socks that I cast on for Kevin and knit 2 rows before I freaked that there wouldn't be enough yarn (don't ask me how I could tell after 2 rows) and so set them aside.
• Of course, there's lots of other sock yarn.
• I have that Noro Log Cabin thing I was working on. I think I decided to make it into a pillow, but August isn't the time for Noro Kureyon.
• I have the yarn for mom's shawl, but again, mohair and August don't quite mix. Although today was beautiful and I did consider swatching it.
• I have 2 more sheep to make. One more for me and one for mom.
• I have yarn for 4 more washclothes. I have one in progress that is currently lost. I'm hoping that it just got sucked into the messy yarn corner and isn't gone forever.

I have no motivation for any of those at the moment. In the wake of Roundabout, I've been daydreaming about designing a sleeved version (sans leafs). I drew a couple of sketches and one idea I had included steeks, which I've never done and don't really know much about, so I did some internet searching and came across Eunny Knit's Tutorial. There's some great information there. But then I saw this. And well, I was very quickly clicking the "buy" button and I think I have my next project. I have a bunch of pink and brown Knit Picks yarn (it was supposed to be Tubey, but I'm not feeling Tubey any more). From my brief look, the pattern looks really well written and includes steeking (fun!... I'm mean scary!!!!!!). I'm a bit terrified by the charts and am hoping they are easier to read when printed than when on the computer screen.

Now if only I could get my butt off the couch and print out the pattern and gather the yarn, I'd start swatching.

(Thanks for all the compliments on Roundabout! I'm planning on wearing it tomorrow - unblocked because I'm a wild and crazy girl - so I'll try to get some natural light pictures!)

(And I'm still thinking about designing something based on the Roundabout idea, I have several different plans in mind).

You'd think that outside in "natural" light this tank would photograph. Ok, true it was like 6:30 and the flash went off, but still the color is screwy. I did wear the tank all day yesterday (and to class!). It is very comfortable. I wouldn't wear it if the temps were in the 90s, but for mid 80s it was perfect. I was afraid the cotton would stretch or be too heavy, but it seems fine. Over the weekend I plan to wash and properly block it. (And that white bit is a tank that I'm wearing underneath).

Yesterday I cast on a swatch for the Deep V Argyle Vest. I started with size 4s because they were available, but the gauge was too small. I jumped up to size 6s (which I had to steal from the Toasty Toes sock in progress which is oddly - despite having the same number of stitches - and freakishly larger than the first one). I'm much closer to gauge. I know that technically I should bind off and wash and block it, but I'm a gauge heretic. I plan tonight to cast on and get started. The 2 color knitting is still a little fiddly, but I think I'm getting the hang of it (in my own way). I'm holding both colors in my left hand. Oh crap! It just dawned on me that my size 6 circulars are only 12 inchers. The pattern calls for one 29 incher (although I was planning on 2 circing it anyway to help me keep the front and back distinct). I don't think the 12s will cut it... hmmmm... I might be making a little trip out to the AC Moore...

Things have been very busy since Friday, hence little knitting and posting. The weekend was mostly work, work, work. This is the last week of summer classes and while I set up the schedule with student projects and oral reports on the last 2 days (yay!! less prep for me), it does leave me with lots of last minute grading.

But Friday I didn't end up going to AC Moore for knitting needles and as such Argyle Tank has not been started. Why didn't I go to AC Moore? Well, mostly because of a phone call I got on Friday (and also because the neary-by AC Moore is located down the most evil of all roads that is even more evil than normal because of construction, making a 13 minute drive at least triple that). But let me back up a bit... remember that exciting email I mentioned a few posts back? While it was about a position for this current year at another university. It isn't a JOB job, but it would be a great 1 year part time opportunity. So I sent in my application. On Friday (while driving to my office), I got a phone call from the chair of the department (I swear, normally I don't answer my cell phone in the car, but I was already on campus and just down the road from the parking lot I was heading to). Of course, my cell phone was nearly dead, so while I was trying to arrange the details with her, I was thinking "don't die, don't die, please don't die." When she started giving me directions that included long pauses to count the number of lights, I was sure my phone was going to die and result in a horribly embarassing situation. Fortunately, it held out. And so I didn't go to AC Moore because I knew that very nearby the interview site was a real yarn store, so I figured needles could wait. Fast forward through the weekend and the Sunday night freak out because I have no appropriate summer "interviewy" clothes. Sunday night I set the alarm for 7am because I've been getting up early before class to exercise (yay me!). We have a stupid alarm clock that sometimes screws up the real time when you set the alarm. On the good side, I noticed the screwed up real time. On the bad side, I apparently fixed the real time to the wrong time. In the end, when the alarm went off on Monday morning, I thought wow, I'm so tired and it is still dark outside. I ignored the dark and blamed the tired on tossing and turning all night with nervousness. I get downstairs in my exercise clothes, yawn, and realize that it is dark because I'm up at 6am! Argh! I decide I might as well just stay up at this point. So I exercise, shower, prep for class, teach class, and then get in my car to drive to the interview. I get there much earlier than I anticipated so I decide to go to the yarn store first. As I walk up to the front of the store (after a horrible parallel parking experience), I think "hmmm, the store looks dark." Sure enough, IT WAS CLOSED! CLOSED! I stood outside the store dumbfounded for several minutes. Instead of spending a relaxing hour petting yarn before my big interview, I got to sit in the buidling of the interview and grade papers. In the end, the interviews went really well (hint to other academics or future academics out there... ask questions so that your interviewers talk... academics like to talk and talk, and you have to answer less!). I was interviewing for nearly 3 hours, and they seemed impressed with my accomplishments. Funnily, I included knitting on my CV at the end in "other interests". I listed my Sexie pattern as a published pattern and the fact that I've taught knitting for 2 years. Two of the male professors I interviewed with asked me about the knitting, and seemed impressed by it... and it certainly seemed like something that made me stand out. So yay knitting! I don't know when I'll hear anything about the position, so keep your needles crossed for me! If I get the position it will be a great experience, but probably will entail less knitting time (and more driving time).

Oh, and Brian the Sheep made it to Europe! Kim will give him a great home!

And lastly, my KSKP got her kit a bit ago and loved it! Apparently she has to fight her daughter for the bag.

Kevin and I created our second ice cream tonight.

That is the actual color from the main ingredient with no dye added. Can you guess the flavor?

(Ok, one final hint... I tasted it. I'm not sure if I like it. I read somewhere regarding this particular type of ice cream that you have to eat 3 spoonfuls before you realize you like it. I've just licked some off my fingers thus far. I don't really think the 3 spoonfuls will hold up.)

• I got the position! This morning I got a call from the Chair of the Department; she left a message since I was in class at the time. When I finally got in contact with her later this afternoon, she said they were impressed with my CV and interview and wanted to offer me the job. Then she asked if I needed some time to think about it. And like a 4 year-old whose grandmom offers her a huge piece of chocolate cake, I said "gimme gimme." (Ok, not quite, but I was a bit too enthusiastic in my acceptance). The position is coordinating a bunch of teaching assistants and overseeing their performance in lab classes. While it isn't directly teaching, it is experience at a managerial type position. I'm simultaneously excited and terrified about this position.
• I got a poster accepted at SPSP in Memphis in January.
• I ate french fries.
• Today was the last day of class, and while I really enjoyed this summer class and these students, and still have a huge stack of papers to grade, I'm very very glad it is over.
• I was finally able to keep up with the strength training workout video this morning.
• I drove to the far away AC Moore for needles and found a sale on Sugar and Cream! I'm developing quite a washcloth stash. I also bought a pair of the light-up needles in size 11. I think they'll be good for my mom's shawl/scarf (probably less so for the lighting up and more so for the bright pinkness of them). On the way home from AC Moore, I stopped at Fabric Land because I really want to learn to sew better. When it comes to knitting, I'm now good enough to wing it and understand the construction. I try the same with sewing and it doesn't work. So I picked up 6 patterns (although no fabric) to try to start from scratch with sewing. I figure I'll look them over and order some fabric online (I got intimidated at the store). It turns out that today was a super special customer appreciation day and everyone who walked in got a 25% off coupon, and the patterns were all already 40% off. Yay!
• Did I mention I ate french fries?

The ice cream is still in the freezer. I'm afraid of it. Skylar was the only one who got it right... avocado ice cream. It tastes like vegetable ice cream (and that's not a good thing). I don't know what I was thinking... but if Alton Brown likes it, I figured it couldn't be bad. The green tea ice creams sounds interesting (and at least more normal)!

I can't speak to how well they knit (since I haven't tried them for the intended purpose yet). But they sure make fun, skinny light-sabers! I think they'd also be useful for walking around alone at night. They can function like a flashlight, and you can give someone a could poke with one if they try to mess with you!

I really like this sweater. There's something about the colors that is very appealing, and I could see this being a great everyday, cuddly type sweater. One problem is that my skills at Fair Isle suck (this is part of why I'm trying this Argyle Vest is to get more practice). The second and bigger problem is that the recommended yarn, Zara by Filatura and company, is approximately $9 a skein, depending on where you look. If you do some quick math, the grand total for the sweater would be $234. That is completely out of my price range, and if I spent that much on a sweater, I'd never wear it for fear of harming it. So, like any good knitter, I turned to KnitPicks.

These colors are my best approximation in Wool of the Andes which would be pretty close to gauge and would cost a grand total of $70. That is reasonable for a big sweater (it comes down to the model's mid-thigh).

I haven't committed to anything yet, maybe when the weather starts cooling and I clear out some other projects. Oh, who am I kidding, once my paycheck from summer teaching finally comes in, I'm probably ordering the yarn.

Godzilla!

(That song has been in my head for days!)

Today I had my first meeting at my new job. It went well and I found out more about the job. I have some stuff to work on and prepare, but I'm in a bit of a waiting period until the university puts through all the paperwork.

I got home early enough from the meeting to go and do laundry (FUN!). After I got back from the laundry mat, I was walking up the driveway with the laundry trying to avoid bumping into our front neighbors' cars, and I scraped my knuckles against the concrete of the house. I was cursing in my head and angry, but I opened the door to see a package for me!!! It was my KSKS package!!

(Oh, and my camera has taken its sickness to an entirely new plane of weirdness. Instead of greened, everything is now pinked).

Here we see the yummy goodies! My favorite Ferrero Rocher!! There are two kinds of Tastykakes in that box (I love me some Tastykakes, I grew up eating lots of Kandy Kakes, we have them up here, but by the time we get to the aisle with Tastykakes, we've already picked up a bunch of sweets, so this is a nice treat!). The Jolly Ranchers have already been eaten and the M&Ms are likely gone by later tonight. There's also a RingPop in there. And in non-food items, there is some hand cream/sanitizer and Eucalan Woolwash!

Look at this bag she made! It is too cute (I need this sewing pattern!). And it is blue and orange, just like the Mets colors (this is definitely coming with me on Saturday to the game!). And there's a K on it!

And that's not all! Inside the bag is a smaller orange bag full of goodies! And 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces (which is awesome because I've never tried Lorna's Laces). My pal also sent me a pattern for Elfine's socks, which looks really cool (and I'll definitely try that Russian bind off!).

Thank you so much Karla! Your are a super fantastic pal!!!! (Since you're a Philly person, are you familiar with The Hooters? I saw your name and immediatley thought of the song "Karla with a K". There's too much 80s music in my head!)

It took me about an hour to do 3 rows. I think my biggest problem with the fair isle is that I'm not sure how to hold the yarn effectively, so it is very fiddly. Though that's not to complain. I'm enjoying trying to figure this thing out. However, I think I need a little break to look up some yarn holding techniques.

(oh, and I don't know why the camera decided to take a passable picture today. It is having a lot of fun toying with me. Too green, too pink, normal. Argh!)

I just got this book in the mail today. I had forgotten that I ordered it. I've belonged to Crafter's Choice for a couple of years now. The initial deal was great and I was able to stock up on some great knitting books, but since fulfilling my obligations, I've ordered a couple of things, but not many (considering the prices aren't that much better than Amazon). I've been annoyed with the monthly email reminders about the Editor's Choice (which I sometimes forget to reply to and then they send it and I have to send it back and it is a big hassle). So I decided the other day after the most recent email, that I would like to close my account. I realized I had enough bonus points though for a less expensive book. On a whim, I picked "Natural Knits for Babies and Moms". I only had to pay for shipping, so the price was right! I figured since my cousin just had a baby a few days ago and another friend of Kevin's is expecting, I ought to have more baby patterns in my arensal than just the Sheepy Blanket. I love the Sheepy Blanket, but I don't want to be a one note baby knitter! I've been flipping through the book and I really like it. The pictures are nice and the patterns are simple. They're not to cutesy or babyish, and the idea of using organic yarns is cool. So overall, if you are like me and don't have many or any books with knits for babies, this is a good pick because the patterns are simple and classic (and it gives you an excuse to buy Blue Sky Alpaca's Organic Cotton in large quantities!).

We'll be right back after these messages from our sponsers.

**Did you check out the new and improved Completed Projects page? Good goddess it took a long time to enter 83 items! Actually, the very first entry has multiple items because I couldn't date them. Can you believe I've knit over 83 things?! I certainly can't. Especially since a number of them have gone missing. But anyway. They are also categorized, so if it tickles your fancy, you can look at all the scarves at once, or hats, or whatever. When I can gear myself up for it, I'll update the Socks Gallery. Eventually I'll get around to the Knitting Backwards and Evolution of Sexie pages, although those don't need as much work. I like them as stand alones from the rest of the blog format. And oh yeah, maybe I'll start transfering the old archives... that should only take like, a zillion hours.**

**My fabric order from fabric.com came in a few days ago. I'm going to start out making some PJs (because if I screw them up, I don't have to wear them in public, although I'll probably still post pictures for the world to see) and a purse. I also picked up another sewing book (those things are as addictive as knitting books). This one is called "Sew U". I'd seen a review of it in Bust, so I figured it must be good. I've been half to three-quarters reading it. There's good info, but some that makes me annoyed (not at the writer, but that sewing generally involves more work than I thought, such as washing and drying the fabric before you start... which is a pain in the butt when you only do laundry every 2 weeks at the laundry mat. So the PJs are on hold until after laundry day, but I think I can get away with not washing the purse fabric.).**

**Arrested Development Season 3 on DVD today!!**

**Next post... tonight or hopefully tomorrow will include pictures and the pattern for "kim's fancy pseudo-basketweave practice backwards knitting washcloth", which I think needs a shorter name.**

Cast on 45 sts.
Row A: *K5 P5 (repeat * 4 times) K5
Row B: Knit All Backwards (if you're not up for knitting backwards, purl all)

Repeat Rows A and B for a total of 8 rows.

Row C: *P5 K5 (repeat * 4 times) P5
Row D: Knit All Backwards (if you're not up for knitting backwards, purl all)

Repeat Rows C and D for a total of 8 rows.

Continue to alternate 8 row blocks of A/B and C/D for a total of 9 blocks (72 rows).
Bind off.

Crochet edging: Single crochet, Chain 3, single crochet (single crochet into every other stitch).

(I'll make a separate pattern page for this eventually!)