Monday was the first day of classes and things are already starting to get busy. Most of my classes this term are more about gleaning information from reading than trying to figure out a difficult mathematical concept. It’s quite a shift from the norm and I’m finding myself a little off-kilter as a result. Add to that the stress of my senior design project (which I was chosen to lead, eep!). Sure, it’s really an “on paper” design of a system but it’s still a rather difficult problem that will take two full semesters to solve.

Thankfully, knitting is still there, willing and able to calm me down when I get stressed out. Of course, very little knitting has happened since classes began but this semester has far fewer hours of being alone on campus with a designated lab where my colleagues are located throughout much of the day.

Awhile back I nearly finished a Vine Yoke cardigan. I knit it while working through two group projects, one simulating my work group and another a proposal for sound system installation in a series of new homes. Things were stressful, so I picked up this pattern for it’s easy, albeit abnormal construction and, well, the FO would be pretty.

But, alas, it didn’t work out. The sweater turned out extremely short and too large overall. Stupid garter stitch.

I tried to frogged it but decided, in the end, to just dump it in the trash. Re-knitting yarn I’ve frogged from a sweater has rarely gone well for me. I wind up irritated and knitting is my hobby, it’s supposed to be fun.

More recently, I finished a shawl for a co-worker who’s always chilly in the office. Unfortunately she’s wool-allergic so I had to find an alternative fiber. I’d hoped for bamboo but the only blend at my LYS is, of course, a bamboo-merino blend. But all was not lost; Veronica pointed me to Hempathy, a cotton-hemp blend that it’s DK weight unless you live on Mars, despite it’s Ravelry classification. It turned out beautifully in Lolly’s simple Perseverance pattern.

I do have to admit, though, that the pattern bored me to tears. Same thing, over and over again. Oh well, I know she’ll be highly appreciative of the FO. As I informed her of my progress her only words were, “You spoil me so!”

Another recent FO was the fingerless gloves for my friend, Sarah. Her top pattern choice was a pair of long crocheted gloves but, man, I could not figure out how to join a crochet chain such that it wouldn’t get twisted. Must have tried it ten times and every time, wound up with a mobius. Oye.

I made another of her favorites, instead, a fun cable-ish pattern named Winning Waves. I will certainly be making this pattern again, though not with the picot hem. Just not a big fan of the picots. The pattern was pretty good although could have been a bit more clear after the cuff. If you make the pattern, let me know and I’ll give you a few pointers in following along.

My latest (and really, only) WIP is a sideways-knit shawl/scarf named Chinook. I love the sideways construction although it does sort of mess with my head to be knitting the body and border at the same time. I’m using the Rowan Milk Cotton DK I got at Knit Happen’s going out of business sale. Great yarn, sad occasion for a deal. I may just keep this FO for myself though if it suits your fancy, go ahead and claim it yourself.

Well, that’s all for now. Must get dressed and ready for my day. I’ve got two classes followed by an appointment with an orthopedist to make sure this craziness with my hip is just overuse and not something worse (and to get a professional opinion as to just how long I can’t run, which may include my race day).