Knitting as a crutch

One of the reasons I enjoy knitting so much is related to it's predictability. You sit down to a pattern, you use your experience and knowledge to select a fiber, you follow the instructions... And you usually get an expected result.

This process can't be used with people, with relationships. People are so much more complex than even the most tricksy lace or fair isle patterns.

Sometimes it is comforting to retreat to the reliability of instructions. Rather than face the convolutions of personal change--the difficult emotions, the mountain of tasks leading toward one's dream--it might be easier to hide out in more orderly territory.

In other news, studying is not progressing as I'd like, but my hoodie is almost done.

New woolie, rounding the last lap

Awhile back, during the years of mighty stashing efforts, I found this great yarn really cheap somewhere. It is called "Four Seasons" and it is mostly wool with little flecks of angora and polyamide. I bought up what was left of three colors: a dark chocolate brown (with orange and white tweed), a milk chocolate (with blue and tan tweed), and a denim blue (with orange and brown tweed).

I used to be so large that there wasn't enough of any one color in my stash for me to make a whole sweater, so I thought about stripes or contrasting trims and just sat on the yarn (as one is wont to do with stash yarns).

Well, that is no longer the case!


Chic Knits "Basic Chic Hoodie" in dark chocolate

The hoodie was born from my failed fitted vest. After I rounded up all of the stray balls, I did some maths and realized I had more than enough for this sweater. The lines of the design go well with the versatile tweed--it will go great with everything.

I still have one pocket to finish, the hood, and the button bands. And even though there is no way this sweater is geographically appropriate, I will definitely be wearing it as much as I can!

An endless parade of socks, or a post that doesn't mention health care reform even once...

OK, maybe once, in the title only. We shall not speak of it here otherwise.

SOCKS.

I have been knitting a lot of socks these days... For myself and others. Socks are nice small bites of knitting that don't make me feel overheated here in the oppressive desert.


Trekking, for me...


Lifestyles (the yarn, not the condom) for my friend, V


Some ribbed Koigu for my friend, F

I also finally finished my Clapotis, but have no pics except of it blocking:

It has a very sexy halo. Brooks Duet.

In other news, I have been receiving rejection slips from publishers and trying to keep a stiff upper lip. I will take the GRE in three weeks and then start my school applications. Also, I am 6.6 lbs away from my goal and I dyed my hair red. Feeling a little discombobulated out here in the sand and sun. Send cool and good thoughts.