Just a Note

School has started again. Now, I am a sub. You would think that means I have a few weeks before I go back to work. Not so. I am now booked for more that 40 days in the next school year, and that doesn't even count days when the teachers are sick. Yesterday I was in for meetings (that's right. On the second day of school).
Best story of the day? I was going over a questionnaire for second graders about what they would like to do in the Large Group Instruction room before and after school while waiting for the school bus routes to finish/start. One question referred them to their hobbies. "What's a hobby?", asked one kid in the back.
"It's something you like to do that you don't get paid for. It's just for fun. What's my favorite hobby?"
He looked at me (apparently he needs to get his eyes checked) and said, "Jogging?"
The whole class laughed and I asked,"Whadda you? New heah?" All the other kids chimed in with. "She KNITS!"
In knitting news: I finished the Branching Out scarf and it looks pretty much the same, just longer. I started an Aran sweater for Kermit's hubby, but it is looking a little too narrow around the chest. Luckily I have only knitted two skeins up so far and they are coming down to visit soon. We are colluding to trick him into letting us measure him without knowing why, so the sweater will be a surprise. I suppose I should mention that all the pattens I have seen are not quite right so I am designing it as I go.
Youngest Niece has finished her first socks. Go visit her and heap praise on her head. Then I won't have to knit socks for the holiday, just send her yarn. Mah ha ha.

Would you believe, fortnightly?

I did manage to post every Friday in July, but it's a new month now, isn't it? Just to make up for the lost week I will give you lots of pictures (assuming blogger co-operates).

Here is an awful picture of the ribbon vest. As you may have pickup up, I swim. A lot. See those shoulders and arms. Sweetie, that's mostly muscle. Sigh. Anyway, details.
Pattern: Lots of Options vest from Sally Melville's Knit Stitch.
Ribbon: Lion Brand Incredible yarn, City Lights color way.
9 skeins
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony size 5
Buttons: 10. 5 gold and 5 blue plastic
Modifications: I did a three-needle bind off at the shoulders rather than try to seam them. I also made the v-neck a little less deep. Good thing. As it is the very edge of my bra shows under the arms. This will look great in the fall and winter over a turtleneck. It makes a nice change from the knit polo shirts I usually wear all summer and the waitress at Olive Garden was really impressed that I had made it. She knew I was a knitter because as we were waiting for our friends to arrive I was knitting on these:
Pedicure socks for my friend's birthday. I would love to put a gift certificate for a pedicure in the socks, but it's so close to the end of the summer that the exchequer is a bit thin.
Details:
Pattern: One I made up
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony Double points Size 0
Yarn: Knitpicks Essential sock yarn, Dune color 1 skein
These were the purse knitting for most of the summer. They really didn't take long to knit, we just didn't go anywhere. I had them completely finished and was checking them over before I wove in the ends and I found one lonely little stitch that wasn't really connecting so I had to rip out one whole foot and re-knit it. Sigh. Hope she likes them.
Now that I have finished two things I needed something to start. Where to begin.....
I bagged up a number of projects, Cat Bordhi's learning socks from the new book (child size to practice on), the Wrapped in Tradition Shawl for YSS, Belle Epoque socks from 2-at-a-time Socks, Sleeves in my Pi shawl, the Leaf scarf from Nicky Epstein's new book. And the ones I have started to work on:
Branching Out scarf from Knitty. The pattern calls for lace weight yarn, but I have this lovely cashmere in a chunky weight and it should be a wonderfully warn cuddly thing all winter. I have a fawn colored coat that I wear in the winter so this plum color should look good. Last winter, just after I bought the coat I knit a bee-you-ti-ful scarf from Lion Brand Moonlight. Then I found out that I can't let mohair touch my skin or redness ensues. OK, gave that scarf to a friend. Then I knit a soy/wool mix yarn in Stephanie's scarf pattern. It was soft pink, green, and tan. The yarn felt nice and soft, but still was scratchy on my neck. That scarf went to Youngest Niece (the new knitter, Whoot!) As I have been knitting this one I tuck one end into my collar and leave it there. As I knit for hours every night it should be a pretty good test for itchiness.

Last we have the beginning of the purse knitting. Monkey Socks from Knitty in a wonderful autumn color. Is it just me or do you think CookieA needs to publish a book, too? I forget the yarn but I bought it while I was visiting Youngest Niece. Yes, those are Harmony needles. I really enjoy knitting on the wood and they are so pretty! I need to get started on a few "consignment" projects:Sweater for a friend, prayer shawl for a Bar Mitzvah in October, Wedding canopy for a November wedding, and the ever-present quilt (the quilt of Damocles? or maybe the Guilt Quilt) but there are a few good reasons why I can't start them right now, so I'll just go read my book and knit on the scarf. Care to join me?