Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Sockomatoes!

I finished my last high school exam a little under an hour ago, and I have a job interview an hour from now. Some celebration.

I attended the sock class yesterday and was sufficiently braindead to work the whole heel, before realizing I messed up on the FIRST of the short rows. The heel got frogged and I reworked all the decreases there, will probably finish the increases today. I'm thinking about making them into ankle socks for summer.















If you can't tell, I've been eating a lot of delicious tomatoes lately. It's a spell yet before mine are ready though. I suggest sliced tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with coarse sea salt and fresh cracked pepper and garnished with freshly diced basil. Some crumbled goatcheese on top makes a nice splurge. If you cna get a hold of red AND yellow tomatoes, it's even better.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

mmmm, oh my, yes!

So I went out and dropped resumes around town (hope I get hired at Ambrosia, they are desperate and the girls on staff seemed like a fun bunch), which amounted to an hour or two of walking out in the sun. Upon my return, I was damn thirsy, and I figured, what better way to kick off summer than with a batch of my deliciously green avocado drink?
There is no better way, is the correct answer.
If you like avocado, you'll like this.

-2 avocados (minus pit and skin)
-2 tbsp condensed milk (NOT evaporated, condensed)
-8 icecubes (to be crushed)
-1/2 to 1 tbsp granulated sugar (berry sugar is nice)
-mint, quantity depends on your preference, I used about 8 small-medium leaves of my chocolate mint this timeThat's really it. I suggest blending the icecubes first, get them to preferably not quite 'shaved ice' consistancy. You can hack the avocados into a few chunks beforehand, but the blender will take care of them quite easily. I have a sweet tooth, so I find adding some extra condensed milk on top afterwards makes it into a delightful dessert. Serve in a hefty glass with a tiny spoon and if you like, some mint to garnish it.

Now if you'll excuse me, the green calls.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Molecular knitting?

Ms R.'s gift (the large purple beast) was most well-received, and was promptly named Galahad. Actually, it was an excellent party all around; lots of delicious food and drink, stellar people, adventures, hijinks and swapping of school stories, does not get much better than that.

My sock homework is nearly done, I have somewhere between 5 and 10 rows I think, so I'm going to be measuring frantically to get the size right. And I'm still skecptical. But tomorrow night I learn how to do short row heels, hurrah!

And I have a vision (now that I can knit spheres) of plush molecular models... More to come on this soon I hope, but it promises to be the perfect use for the inordinate amount of vivid, primary coloured acrylic yarn I have kicking around (hmmm, I'll need blue and black as well though).

Friday, June 23, 2006

Ms. R.

So, I have finished Ms. R.'s birthday gift. I think. Who knows, I may add something beforeI give it to the lass on Sunday, we shall see. It needs a name though...

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Sce(ock)ptical

So, sock class. No troubles so far, got my first toe done, now I have until the next class to knit the foot, fine. I think it's too small. Not that I'm doubting the lady, but I have big feet, and I knit on the tight side (in fact, she chided me for it... and I was knitting super loose for me). I don't think the toe will fit me. She suggested I go up a size (thankfully I had a pair of 3.25 mm DPNs laying about from my Nauties). I'm still skeptical, but we'll sort it out on Tuesday, if it's a failure, I'll rip it and she can mathematize me some new numbers, because I at least have the technique and instructions down.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well Horatio...

Now, normally I wouldn't dream of posting pictures of gifts in progress, but there is no way in heck that Ms. R. will find this (does she even USE the great and mighty intarwubs anymore?). Anyway, here is [deep voice] Phase: One [/deep voice] of Ms. R.'s gift. I'm still not sure if it shall be a plain octopus or a monster, but I think I've settled on just doubling over a straight length of garter stitch for the arms, and then the tentacles will look proper... Well it makes sense in my head, it yet remains to be seen how it functions in "reality".

Monday, June 19, 2006

I'm cheap

I do love wool. But it is usually outside my price range. Acrylic isn't (quiet in the peanut gallery, please). I am not a yarn snob, I realise that certain yarns have certain purposes. Take this "heather tweedy" acrylic stuff, for example. It will make an excellent octopus-inspired monster. It's washable, durable and cheap. That white (acrylic) stuff will be for sewing on some details and features. The green stuff is 100% cotton and I think it shall be destined for this little project during study week. Don't hate the knitter, hate the cheap yarn!

Saturday, June 17, 2006

A match if I've ever seen one

So today I met Katherine Foster, and she confirmed the yarn I've got, and the needles I'll need for her class.














Meet


























I can tell you're going to get along famously















I'm getting excited for Tuesdays class!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

One can never have too many buttons!


So. I am officially taking a sock class/course starting this coming Tuesday evening with Katherine Foster of KateKnits(.com) This obviously meant that I needed to buy myself some yarn. Now, what says summer, beginner and broke student more than 3 balls of $5.00 lime-green 'Buttons' (of Naturally Hand Knit Yarns) yarn? Not much my friends, not much. On Saturday I will have the pleasure of meeting the teacher and getting some questions about yarn and needle size needed, I am getting excited!

It is a poor day for photo-taking, alors, pretend that the green is... fresher.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Who'll sing me one, oh red fly the banner high?

Well, hallo and welcome to bloggerland! This isn't my frist blog, actually, but my first hosted by Blogger, and it shall hopefully be much more knitting (and other 3D art) related.

Anyway, I suppose I'll open this with some things of my own design...

Grimsby, my very first attempt at a swatch monster.
My creation

Tetra, my second (and more involved knit monster).
My creation

And finally Kraal. Ok, so he's not knit, but his scarf is!
My creation