knitting since europe

back in august, one of my oldest friends, alice came to ny for a wedding and stayed with me one night before going back home to sf.  it was just enough time to discuss what she wanted me to make for her and her mom to wear for a fall wedding.  this shawl is what she picked for her mom:

this is the shrug she picked for herself.  her arms are much longer than mine and she wanted the optional thumbholes in the sleeves which i thought was a great idea.

and on a lazy saturday, this is what i made for myself.  another slouchy hat but this time in a dark navy.  i love how this huge hat never gives me hat hair.

 

to the moon and back

things are finally settling down.  i say that with apprehension for i’m not completely convinced that good luck has finally found me or our economy.  buying a couch, a tv, a mattress was supposed to be fun but it wasn’t because what if it happens again?  what if i lose it all again?  being tied down by all these material things makes me nervous but i have to continue on.  i think about what would have been if i’d stayed in austin or picked a different, possibly more stable career.  i wouldn’t have memories like this, that’s for sure:

versailles

paris

barcelona

madrid

florence

lucerne

 

heidelberg

berlin

amsterdam

bruges

stonehenge

bath

london

needless to say, i have no regrets and no hard feelings about my months of chaos and homelessness.  what i’ve learned from this roller coaster ride so far is that the support from family and friends is priceless.  i count my blessings everyday and try not to take them for granted.  so as we approach the last months of this year i find myself reflecting on what places i’ve seen, all that i’ve learned and i’m hopeful and ready for what’s to come…

still here

(hi jill!)

spring was a bit busy for me.  i had to move out of my apartment since my lease was up and i took off to europe for about 6 weeks.  upon my return to nyc i was miraculously able to find a job.  this is my 2nd week back to work after 8 mos. of couching.  i have to say, i was getting really really good at couching and i kind of miss it but it’s great to get a paycheck again.  i’ve moved back to brooklyn but to greenpoint this time.  i’m hoping to get my own place by the end of the month.  details/photos of my trip and my new residence to come…

home

i flew home to texas on april 10th to greet my brand new nephew, nicholas edward, who was born april 8th at 12:47am weighing in at 7lbs, 15 oz.

he’s amazing!  i miss him already…(sorry, no pics with daddy this time)

whilst in austin, i was able to visit with my good friends and their children and also friends i hadn’t seen since college who’ve made austin home again.  of course, i had my fill of bbq, tex-mex, sonic, and chick-fil-a but there was still so much more to enjoy.  i plan to be back mid-june, but who knows what the future holds.  i’ve offiicially stopped trying to forecast my life.

oh, and no knitting right now.  the yarn is packed in boxes unknown when they’ll see the light of day again.  it’s just too hot.

weekend in boston

the last time i was in boston, i was a bratty teenager being forced to go on a tour of new england with my family.  boston was the last stop for us.  out of tireless frustration, my parents ended up kicking us out of the van in front of my cousin’s apartment.  the only thing i remember was shopping in urban outfitters for the very first time and getting into jillian’s with my sister’s college i.d.  this time around, my friend invited me up to show me what i should’ve rememebered before.  i made a short list of buildings i’d wanted to see and to my surprise, we were able to see most of them.  i didn’t know boston was such a small, pedestrian-friendly city.  weather was fair…only needed my wool coat.

frank gehry’s stata center at MIT.  I used the restroom in this funhouse.  Toilets were normal – guess there’s not much else anyone can do there.

here’s the only le corbusier building built in the u.s. – carpenter center for the visual arts at harvard:

i definitely feel like i got a good taste of what boston has to offer.  it was great to see what i’d missed out on before.  my only wish is that i’d gone a little later when the trees were filled with leaves and everything was in full bloom.  must be beautiful!

here’s one of the only pics i got of jess’ visit – us on the brooklyn bridge:

gosh i’m short!

friends and f.o.’s

one of my oldest friends is here for a long weekend and i’m so excited!  she’s sleeping right now after an early flight, a heavy late lunch and lots of girl talk.  tomorrow we’ll probably walk the brooklyn bridge, eat at grimaldi’s, take in some great views of the city and hopefully catch a show!  i made this sweater for her daughter and now that she’s received it, i can post a photo.  finished object #1:

this is my 2nd sweater to date and i’m starting to feel more comfortable with all the seaming, picking up stitches, etc.  i’m currently working on a sweaterdress for myself now but i was getting pretty anxious to get another project done so i started and finished this last night – finished object #2:

super easy and so fast holding 2 yarns together.  i don’t care if it looks like a pumpkin.  it’s finished and that’s all i wanted.

just in time

i was afraid that i wouldn’t get these done before winter’s end, but i finished them today and my only wish is that i’d finished them sooner:

1×1 rib all the way up with just a hole for the thumbs…BORING!  but i like the slouchy look of them.  i also made them long over the fingers for that extra-long-sleeve look.

i’m headed to jersey this weekend to visit my cousins and their baby so i made this with some leftover yarn:

they look really long and awkward, and i’m not so sure that they’ll work.  it was my first try with booties.  must say, my confidence is DROPS patterns is starting to drop itself.  they’re not written clearly and the photos that are available are weak.  then again, they’re all free so i guess i shouldn’t complain.

in other news, i applied for JET  (the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) back in nov. when i was let go from my job and i was granted an interview this past week.  i’d read dreadful things about the interview and how it was designed to show how you’d react to awkward and uncomfortable situations.  luckily, i wasn’t thrown any curve balls and i left feeling pretty confident that i hadn’t completely blown it (i’m not THAT confident).  i’ll hear in april whether or not i head out to japan for a year to teach english.  it would be completely unexpected since i’d just applied on a whim as a backup/option if i couldn’t find a job here.  so far, the job market for architects here sucks beyond belief.  the only response i’ve gotten after sending my resume out almost everyday is one email containing craigslist spam.  if only i could knit fast enough to support myself…sigh.

quick knit

just finished a hat i’ve been dying to make!

we had a day of 60 degree weather, but we’re back into the 40’s with lows in the 20’s…still time to wear my FO’s.

(ja)KNIT

a couple months ago, i taught my roommate how to knit.  she picked it up very quickly and now she’s just as obsessed as i am, searching through ravelry for free patterns during work hours, sneaking copies from the company printer.  she’s a lot more shy about all the knit accessories she’s made but i make sure to point out “she made that!” when she receives compliments on all her goods.  a few friends here in brooklyn expressed interest in learning so they could sport their own creations so we started what we call the BROOKLYNITE KNITTING SWEATSHOP.  so far, it’s 4 of us that get together once a week (we rotate apartments) for dinner, knitting lessons, and a lot of girl talk.  i started thinking, why not do this for a little extra cash?  i posted an ad on craigslist to teach basic knitting and started another blog to serve as a “portfolio” of my finished knit objects.  here it is:

http://jaknit.wordpress.com

so far, i have one new interested party!  first lesson is tomorrow.  i have the syllabus, lesson plan, required text, supplemental readings, pop quiz, and scantrons all ready to go!  woo hoo!

post imac surgery

one morning, i woke up to find that my computer wasn’t working properly.  i tried not to panic as i searched for the user’s manual while the little file folder icon kept blinking in my face.  after trying all the suggested start-up combinations (press and hold this key and that key with your toes backwards and upside down) i finally made an appointment at the genius bar in the apple store.  of course, with the warranty still valid there was no fear of any huge charges to my credit card (thank goodness because my financial situation can’t handle it).  now how do i get this monster computer from brooklyn to the apple store in soho?  on wheels – but not the ones you find on a yellow cab.  i need to save my pennies these days.  i used a dolly and carted the thing all the way to the subway and through about 7 blocks.  it was not fun.  i made it to the genius bar with a puddle of sweat flowing across my upper lip.

how did i get it home today?  i hailed a cab.  man, sometimes i really miss my car.

catching up on knitting progress, here’s what i made most recently:

hot pink leg warmers just for fun.  what else was i supposed to do with hot pink yarn ?  i used a free sock pattern i found on ravelry called komet but knit with 4 balls of aran weight yarn on size 6 needles instead of what was recommended.  i’ve worn them out twice already but mostly prance around the house alone in them while dancing to 80’s music.

a baby sweater that’s on it’s way to the recipient now.  i have no idea if it’ll fit her next year.  if not, i’ll just have to make a teddy bear or doll to wear the sweater.  hope she likes it!

here are some old things i’ve made, but i finally took photos of them:

my drop stitch shawl that i use a lot as a scarf

a crochet scarf made of kinda not so soft wool yarn.  i rarely use it, but i like the bubbly pattern.

next on the needles is a sweater for cameron which should be ready for when her mama comes here to visit me!  i’m excited about her arrival and our girl’s weekend out.  i also have a couple sweater dresses i’d like to get started on for myself.  hopefully i will have progress shots up soon now that i have ms. imac back.  which reminds me, i should name it.  right now her voice is set to ‘victoria’ but i think i’ll call her ’synergy’ – a jem and the holograms reference…duh.