Saturday, July 29, 2006

Progress Report

I am very excited about this post because I'm writing it on my brand new MacBook. I chose the white version because even with the exact same specs as the black one, it's $150 less, and I like the look a little better anyway. One of the main things that makes me happy about my new computer is the fact that I don't have to install any extra software for my camera to work with it. And I don't have to go hunting in hidden "shared" folders to find the pictures that I want to upload to the blog. Oh yeah, and it's just blazing fast overall.

Anyway, moving along to actual knitting content, I am extremely proud of myself for finally starting my first official Summer of Socks project, and I'm even more proud for finally (after about six tries) conquering the Priscilla Gibson-Roberts short-row toe technique:


Grandma M's sock, almost ready for the heel.

This was not without help. I found the instructions in the book to be a little vague in spots, so I wrote to my SnB group, and I googled the technique. I finally found a wonderful, picture-filled blog entry at Purly Whites that really helped me. In the end, my sock compromised between what the blog entry recommended and what PGR said to do. I followed the instructions in the blog entry faithfully except that on my way down the second half of the toe, I did the k3togs and the p3togs the way PGR says to, rather than according to the blog. I felt that the SSSP gave a smoother "seam" than just doing p3tog.

Speaking of socks, because the Jaywalkers don't count as a legitimate SoS project (and because Grandma M's 93rd birthday is in early September), they have been languishing somewhat. However, there has still been a bit of progress:


One and one-third Jaywalkers. Let's hope that I won't
get another ticket when I finish the second sock!


I love them, and I can't wait to finish them so I can wear them, but other things are higher on my list right now (we're not going to mention the four other on-the-needles projects that aren't even going to be pictured in this post for want of progress).

Then, there's Hanging Vines. I have now completed 13 out of the 34 pattern repeats, and I am not at all sick of it. If lace were a knit-anywhere kind of thing, and if I didn't have a deadline for Grandma's socks, I would work on Hanging Vines all the time. Possibly to the detriment of my health. I loveitloveitloveit!


Hanging Vines stole at 13 pattern repeats. This color is actually much
more accurate than what you might have seen in past entries.


And even though I missed the deadline for Challenge #4 of the Amazing Lace, I offer you the world's most luxurious placemat:


Very gentle on your good china...

Yes, I would do severe bodily harm to anyone who actually tried to use Hanging Vines this way.

And last, but most certainly not least, there has also been some non-knitting progress. On Monday, I am going to make a phone call to DC, and I am going to accept the job I was offered by the wonderful people at a well-known human rights organization. It is a six-month position, but it is a foot in the door, and I am very happy about it. I also really need to say that I am the luckiest wife in the world. Taz has been truly amazing through this loooong job search of mine. I don't know what I would have done without his unwavering support (and cajoling when I needed it). And the fact that he is willing to move to a whole new city so that I can try to advance my career? Well, no wonder I married him!

14 comments:

Zarzuela said...

OMG!! Congrats on the computer and the knitting looks great, but more importantly CONGRATS ON THE NEW JOB!!! :) I'm so happy for you!! :)

Patri Jorge said...

lovely blog!!!! I adore your work!!!! Congrats too for the job and good luck! greetings from the canary islands

Joanne M said...

Congratulations on your new job!! Sounds excellent!!! yahoooooo.... (and great knitting progress too)

Jenn said...

The socks and Hanging Vines look great!
Congrats on the new job and all it entails!

jennsquared said...

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!! You work so hard for this moment! I'll be so sad when you move but at the same time so happy for you!

Awesome progress on the projects! I'll have to try my hand on socks sometimes!

Cristina said...

hanging vines looks really good...nice choice of color. and i agree...maybe a little too nice to eat one:)
some things should be left away from food!

Doris said...

Yahoo about the job! Congrats! Now go on and make the world a better place :)

test said...

welcome to DC!! :)
and hanging vines is sooo pretty!!

claudia said...

Congratulations! On the job and on the sock heel.

But especially on the job.

cindy said...

The Jaywalkers are lovely!!

Anonymous said...

yay! so glad you sent along your blog to me. i'm tuned in now! i love your side bar of knitting progress. i should do that. it might help me be more accountable to progressing! when you do visit we'll have to knit together!

so... did you just make the shift from pc to mac? i did a year and a half ago and i couldn't be happier. or did you just go from older mac to new mac? whatever the case, i find it fabulous that a girlhood friend and i have SOOO much in common.

love you much and congrats again on the job.

Beth S. said...

So it's good news all around, then! :-) Congratulations on the job--may it open all the right doors for you. And Hanging Vines!--oh, that is SO pretty... I need a copy of that pattern. Off to Google...

Lolita Blahnik said...

Congrats!!! you are really a lucky girl...
and these socks looks confortable and warm

Anonymous said...

That lacey placemat is nice - smile. I'm sure that you'll be done with Grandma's socks on time. They are nice!
Knit on!