Finished! Arrrghh!

I was able to finish my hat last night.


It didn't even fuzz up after being squished under my goggles all day.

I wore it while snowboarding today at Vail so I could give a full report on its utility. Today was a fairly warm day on the mountain with the temps in the 20s. I brought a back up hat just in case my hat wasn't all I hoped it would be. But luckily I didn't need it. My hat kept me perfectly warm. Plus no one else had a hat like mine! I wish it was just 1/2 inch longer but for a warmish day like today it was perfect. I want to be clear though that the length is just fine for wearing while traveling to school. For boarding though I prefer my hat a little longer on my ears. There's a possibility I could get this extra length with some aggressive blocking.


View of the inside

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates Hat by Hello Yarn
Yarn: Dale of Norway Falk, 1 skein lime & 1 skein magenta
Needles: Susan Bates' Silvalume DPNs - Size 3
Recipient: Me

Notes: This was the first time I've done a lining for a knitting project. This required a provisional cast-on. I used this tutorial (scroll to bottom for looped cast-on) for guidance and it worked great. I love that there are knitting videos available on the internets. I'm something of a dolt for trying to learn certain techniques from a book (even though I learned to knit from a book). I know many people use a crochet version of provisional cast-on, but that just didn't work for me. I love the Dale of Norway Falk. I'm quickly turning into a true Dale of Norway fan. I was worried the lining would look goofy. I didn't want a line showing around the circumference of the hat. But once I put it on, you can't even tell it's lined.

Trip News...
I'm off to NYC tomorrow morning. I'm bringing my computer and some knitting along with me so I hope to blog at least once or twice on my trip.

We Call Them Pirates Progress

Hey all - what a crazy week! I didn't make it home before 8 o'clock any night this week. Last night I didn't make it home until close to 3 a.m. And ow did I ever hurt when I woke up today. But it's always good to have a girls' night out so I don't regret it one bit.



I actually haven't knit anything since Tuesday. My hat has been blocking for the better part of this week. All I have left to do is sew down the lining. I'm hoping I can finish tonight so I can wear it tomorrow on the mountain.

New blogger announcement!!

You may have noticed that I have switched over the new blogger. The switch was mostly painless. But I have noticed one small problem. I know many of you (37 to be exact) subscribe to my blog through Bloglines. The feed you use to subscribe is apparently no longer valid. This means that you cannot see when my blog updates.

The good news is that there is an easy peasy fix. Just go to your Bloglines page. Are you there yet? Now act as if you're adding a new feed to read (hee - that rhymed). Then enter this link into the box and click subscribe: http://lawschoolandknitting.blogspot.com/atom.xml

From now on you should receive news of my updates bringing you the latest and greatest in this law student's little knitting world. Exciting, I know. In the alternative, you could decide that updating your Bloglines is too much of a hassle and, therefore, you will never read my blog again. But I'm sure you don't want to do that right?

Most lame post with no pictures

Sunday was a prime example of why I love living in Colorado. Mr. Tee and I woke up early and headed out to Keystone for a day of snowboarding. The snow was fantastic! It wasn't too crowded either. In fact, it was pretty dead out there. It was so much fun that I spent all day yesterday thinking about what I could ditch this week to be able to go up again before I leave for New York on Sunday. I have something scheduled everyday this week so I've been weighing the importance of all these events trying to decide how guilty I'd feel playing hooky for each of them. Should I ditch work, class, or moot court? I know which way I'm leaning, but am still weighing my options.

The drive there and back also gave me plenty of time to work on my WCTP hat. My Dale of Norway Falk arrived from Webs on Friday. I was a little suprised by the limey-ness of the green when I opened the box. I actually considered buying a more subtle green to go with the magenta. But then I realized a couple things: a) I was in a hurry to cast on, and b) it would cost me too much money to buy two more skeins and pay for shipping. So I cast on Saturday evening, knit most of the hat in the car on Sunday, and finished the main part of the hat last night. Now I just have to pick up some cotton yarn for the lining. I think I'll use Patons Grace.

(Sorry for lack of piccies. It was too dark last night and this morning I was in a hurry. Isn't the suspense exciting though?)

Spin it 'till you're dizzy

Some people like to drop it like it's hot. I say spin it 'till you're dizzy.

My Secret Pal sent me this kit with everything I'd need to learn to spin (except a cure for dizziness).



I've never tried spinning before. I know some of you spin, though I think most of you use a wheel. If you've used a drop spindle, did you teach yourself? I just have to say that this post I read yesterday has me a bit apprehensive. I mean Kirsten writes patterns, dyes yarn, and churns out FOs like there's no tomorrow and she's even struggling. Is there any hope for me?

Notes on first week of classes

Note to professors -- Did you know that the first day of class is usually short? Students expect you to hand out the syllabus, talk briefly, and conclude early. If you feel you cannot do this, I'm even ok with you launching right into lecture. However, I do not want to hear you talk about yourself for the entire class period. Just because we can't discuss class material (because no one has read anything yet) does not mean I want to know about your kids, your hobbies, your anything. We're not friends. You're not cool. Please teach.

p.s. To answer your question - no, people do not still think that Air Jordans are cool. That was the early nineties. (seriously, he asked us that today)

Note to girl one row ahead of me who talked several times today -- Do you realize that you say "you know" at least once every four words? I couldn't even count after awhile because you said "you know" so many times.

p.s. If I know, why are you telling me again? Or is it more a question? And did you want me to tell you whether I know? Or are you just going to tell me anyway?

Note to administration -- Did you know that it's not ok for you to hand off your responsibilities to students and then insist on micro-managing all affairs? Either take control and do it yourself, or hand it over. One or the other folks.

p.s. If students refuse to do these things, do you have a back up plan? Because I'm picturing you running around like crazy people screaming "what are we going to do NOW?" You're also pulling your own hair because that's how crazy people roll.

Wanna know more?

A reader of this blog recently mentioned that she did not know much about me after reading my blog. She said she knew that I have dogs, a lot of snow, that I'm in law school, and that I have, um, expensive tastes.

This got me thinking. There's obviously a lot more to me than these basic observations. Perhaps I've been too guarded in my posts. It's something I think we knit bloggers are careful about. We want to feel like part of the knitting community and to share our progress and bits about us too. But if you're like me, you may be cautious about sharing too much. Of course, it's hard to tell where the line lies.

You've all seen the posts with 100 things about the blogger. But you haven't seen mine - until now. Feel free to stop reading now if you know how boring these posts can be. However, if you feel like you want to know more, read on.

1. I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2. I was named after my great-grandma Kate.
   
3. I grew up in the country - 10 miles from the nearest small town (but not on a farm).
4. I have two brothers. One brother is 10 years older than me. The other is 6 years younger.
   
5. When I was 8 years old, I cried every day for three weeks because I wanted a cat for my birthday.
   
6. My parents got me a dog for my ninth birthday.
7. My little dog lived to be 13 years old and always had a crooked run.
   
8. I used to play clarinet.
9. My first job was working at the candy counter at a Dayton's department store.
10. I'm right handed.
    
11. I'm 6'0 tall.
12. I wear size 10 shoes.
    
13. I hate mushrooms.
    
14. I hate cleaning.
15. I also hate clutter.
    
16. I lettered in golf and was named all-conference in high school. But I did not have a letter jacket.
17. I played basketball from third grade through my junior year.
18. I hate watching professional basketball because of the lack of defense.
    
19. I still know all the words to my high school fight song.
    
20. Before I met Mr. Tee, I thought I would live alone well into my twenties in an apartment in the city with a cat.
    
21. It turns out that I am a total sucker for a man in a military uniform.
    
22. I was 21 when I married Mr. Tee.
23. We met at a party in Boulder, Colo.
    
24. We lived apart for the first 6 months of our marriage because he went to training school.
25. During this time apart, I learned to snowboard.
26. I was a very slow learner. Seriously, embarrassingly slow.
    
27. I still get nervous about getting off the lift.
    
28. But I do not put the bar down on the chair for the ride up.
    
29. While Mr. Tee was at training school, I lived alone in an apartment in the city with my cat, Baxter.
    
30. Baxter went missing two summers ago and I still miss him more than you can imagine.
    
31. Mr. Tee and I lived in Rapid City, South Dakota for just over two years because he was stationed there.
    
32. I hated living in Rapid City.
33. But I met two of the very best friends in the world while living there.
34. I taught myself to knit from books checked out at the Rapid City Library.
35. I biked the entirety of the Mickelson Trail while we lived in South Dakota.
36. I went to the Buffalo Round-Up twice.
37. Mr. Tee and I got Toby while we lived in South Dakota.
    
38. Toby came from the Basenji Rescue and Transport.
    
39. I attended three different undergraduate schools in three states (Colorado, Minnesota, & South Dakota).
    
40. I majored in Political Science and minored in International Studies and French.
41. I was glad when Mr. Tee decided he didn't want to be in the Air Force. The Air Force was not ready for me.
    
42. I once broke my tailbone - it killed for months.
    
43. Mr. Tee and I bought our first house this summer.
44. I like to play Scrabble.
45. I hate to lose.
46. I hate being told what to do.
    
47. My favorite beer is Fat Tire.
    
48. My favorite cocktail is a vodka gimlet.
49. I like red wine more than white.
    
50. My favorite holiday is Valentine's Day.
51. I like to go fishing.
52. I once dressed up as Goldy, in the official Goldy uniform, for a University of Minnesota women's basketball game. It stunk, literally.
    
53. I can't sing my way out of a paper bag.
    
54. I'd like to learn to speak Italian.
    
55. I'd like to learn to play piano just like Ben Folds.
    
56. I don't have a TV in my bedroom.
57. I recycle.
    
58. I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart for 4 years.
59. I can't stand feeling like I've been cheated - really, really hate it.
60. I want to live in a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
61. I like to cook. I make a mean dumpling stew.
    
62. I'm not so crazy about baking.
    
63. I am a chocolate addict.
    
64. I can't run. I look ridiculous when I try.
    
65. I do my own taxes.
66. I have a very dry sense of humor.
67. I'm not a gunner in class. I'm more a weigh and consider type of person.
68. I don't like being in large crowds.
    
69. I'm not a patient person.
70. I like listening to NPR.
    
71. I love tomatoes fresh from the garden. Other tomatoes taste like crap.
    
72. I have an ivy plant that has been alive for 5 years. It came from a line of ivy plants originally sprouted from an ivy from a friend's wedding.
    
73. I've never owned a new car.
74. I drive a car that is 12 years old. I think she'll go for another 100K.
75. I'm a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal.
    
76. I call it "soda" (not pop).
    
77. I am pro choice.
78. I've met two people who I truely believe are terrible, evil people. I shudder to think about them.
79. I became an aunt last September.
    
80. I hope my neice and I have a close relationship.
81. I love Sunday brunch with champagne and a bloody mary.
82. I hate it when people throw their cigarette butts out of their cars. I want to run them off the road and then yell at them until they say sorry (like they mean it).
    
83. I started wearing glasses in my junior year in high school.
84. I like to drink coffee.
    
85. I make my own lattes at home with my Bialetti.
    
86. I have a good memory.
87. I am a chronic procrastinator.
    
88. I enjoy eating Ethiopian cuisine.
89. I hate people who chew gum with their mouths open. It makes them look like cows.
    
90. I get carsick sitting in the backseat, but I'm okay if I'm in the front.
    
91. I don't like to speak in front of large groups.
    
92. I'm the first person in my family to attend law school.
    
93. I'm an extremely loyal friend.
94. It really annoys me when people use "your" and "you're" incorrectly.
    
95. Ditto for "its" and "it's"
96. Ditto for "there" and "their"
    
97. I haven't read any Harry Potter books. I don't plan to either.
    
98. I have thick hair.
99. I can't stand it when people don't keep their word. If you say you're going to do it, you better follow through.
    
100. I get excited when I think about my future.
     

We Call Them Pirates - Do you?

I've joined a new KAL - the We Call Them Pirates KAL. You'll note that I was planning on making the WCTP hat as my next stranded project (there it is in writing just below). So it's easy to imagine my surprise and delight to find this KAL yesterday (while slacking off at work). I put in my request to join forthwith and have already spent way too much time contemplating my color choices (while still slacking off at work).

I think I've settled on a magenta / light green combo. I'll likely use Dale of Norway yarn, but won't be using Baby Ull because the pattern calls for sportweight and I'm too lazy to reconfigure the hat for a fingering weight. Falk looks like a good choice. Also, it should knit up more quickly with a thicker yarn.

From the way the weather has been acting (cut rate quality if you ask me), I'll likely need several hat and mitten sets to make it through the rest of our crazy winter. Although I have to admit that today's weather is warm and beautifully sunny. I even rode the light rail into school this morning. It was relaxing (while riding) and good exercise (going from tracks to buildings). I think I walked at least 3/4 of a mile. I'm not going to curse myself by saying I have a resolution to exercise more. But I would like to take the light rail two or three times a week. It saves on gas, could save me time depending on the time of day I ride, and gives me time to listen to podcasts.

Bring on the cold baby

Who would have thought these sweet skeins could become such beautiful mittens?




Inside view for knitting voyeurs

Pattern: Anemoi Mittens by Eunny Jang
Size: Small (Size 1 needles)
Yarn: Dale of Norway Baby Ull, 3/4 skein pink & 3/4 skein beige
Needles: Susan Bates' Silvalume DPNs - Size 0 for the cuffs, Size 1 for the mitten bodies
Recipient: Me

Notes: I've already said this, but this was a very well written pattern. I did find one typo toward the very end of the pattern. When you knit the thumb, after completing the body of the mitten, you should have 8, 9, and 8 stitches (rather than 7, 9, and 7 stitches). It's very minor and easy to spot. Other than that, Eunny's instructions are carefully written and straightforward.

To keep my place on the charts, I used a magnetic board. I picked this board up at the Container Store several months ago with thoughts of using it for lace knitting (put lace knitting on the list of things to try in 2007). But it worked perfect for my stranded knitting. I just inched a piece of paper up after each row. This way I could easily see which row I should be knitting. I've seen people who use a highlighter and simply highlight each row as completed, but my eyesight isn't that good. I tried it but eyes had troubling following the correct spot in the pattern.



This is the first time I've used Dale of Norway yarn. It bloomed and softened beautifully after washing. I like that the mittens are superwash because they are bound to get dirty if I wear them anywhere near my car in the winter. The skeins also had great yardage. I still have about a quarter skein left of each color.

Yes, this project is my first time doing stranded knitting. The gauge of my first mitten was tight. But my second one was a bit more loose. My experience definitely improved my second mitten. I don't think the size difference between the two is noticeable to anyone else (can you see it?), but they're just different enough for me to notice. I'm excited to do some more stranded knitting. I'm thinking about making the "We Call Them Pirates Hat" next.

I also want to point out two websites that guided me on these mittens. For the circular cast-on, I followed Fluffbuff's video tutorial. It worked great and I don't think I would have figured it out without the video. I also appreciated Nona's post about yarn dominance. I held the pink lower than the beige, which allowed the diagonal pattern on the mitten palms to stand out.

Merry Christmas from my Mom!!

Before Christmas, Mom asked for some suggestions on what to get me for Christmas. I gave her a long enough list so she could choose a couple among them to fit her budget. Little did I know she'd buy almost every item I listed!! Seriously guys, I was overwhelmed. I must have been very good this year. It was a little sad opening everything alone though. I'm sure she would have liked to have me home so she could watch me open my packages.

Here's the big gift - a swift. I bought a winder last year through a co-op, but still managed to mangle a skein of koigu while trying to trying to wind it. I shouldn't have this problem again now that I have this fantastical swift.


I told her that I like Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs and gave her a range of sizes that I did not already have. She bought one package in each size. I know these needles are aluminum, but I really like them. Even Grumperina swears by them for her socks. (Yes, I have the sock set. I just used them for my Anemoi Mittens.)


I also mentioned some knitting books that would be nice additions to my knitting library. Of course, I listed several of EZ's books. Mom bought me two EZ's and Vogue Quick Knits.




p.s. Do you suppose I'll finally have to knit her the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs she's been asking about for a year now? I think I might. ;-)

For real knitting (as opposed to the fake knitting I usually do)

In keeping with my promise for knitting content, I'll give you a peek at my current project.



Do you recognize it? It's one of Eunny's Anemoi Mittens. I love this pattern. It is meticulously written and oh so easy to understand, even for me. This is my first go at stranded knitting. Turns out stranded knitting is fun and engaging, instead of being annoying and aggravating as I worried it would be. Plus it looks complicated so, in my mind, it qualifies as real knitting. I'll give you all the details in a couple days.

My next post though will show you what the mailperson brought me today. You won't believe the goodies Mom sent for Christmas. I must have been very good this year.

Just a scarf

A few weeks ago I was itching to knit some cables. I had so much fun making cables on Trellis that I just had to make some more. So I figured a scarf would be perfect.

I chose the Irish Hiking Scarf because everyone seems to like it and the pattern was free. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Rose Heather because I was mega broke and it was readily available at Jo-Ann's (it was also on sale - an added bonus). I used size 8 needles, knit until the scarf measured 60", and then bound off in size 6's to keep the ends from flaring out in a wonky-type fashion.

I'm happy to report that even though I used a cheapy yarn the scarf turned out quite well. I even wore it on the day of the big blizzard. Crazy me just could not cancel my hair appointment so I braved the elements and rode the light rail into downtown. My neck was warm as all get out friends.


Please note that I did not bother to block this scarf in any way. It might be improved by a quick soak and laying it out for a day or two, but I just couldn't be bothered. By the time I wrap it around my neck and tuck it under my coat I don't think it matters so much.

I suppose you figured I might post a wrap up to the year and tell you about my resolutions for 2007. I'm still thinking about all that. It's definitely been on my mind for the past couple weeks. I'm letting it all ruminate for a bit longer.