Holy Photos! (as in an exclamation- not as in a religious sense)

So yeah. I'm a bad blogger. Started my twelve week practicum on Wednesday (so actually, one 11.5 weeks) which is good- really good. My class, team teacher, and both my sponsor teachers are awesome. My team teacher and I (he's another student in the program- my school does blended grades and team teaching so there's actually four of us altogether for 52 students) spend a lot of time making jokes and laughing so I'm really happy he's my team teacher. I'll keep you updated as much as I can. Next week I start teaching math (probability) and science (starting with scientific language introduction lesson but will be getting into magnetism and eventually extreme environments (I can't wait to teach that)).

So there has been knitting. I had some angst last night and decided to buy yarn again but as of this morning have decided to try to stay on the diet. My problem is that I'm really getting into sweaters and I don't have enough of one yarn to knit any but it's okay. I'm going to start some baby sweaters soon and I'm knitting a tee right now. Part of the reason I went on the diet is so I could use up some of my single skeins. I'm also going to go mitten happy for Christmas so I should start on those.

I kinda went yarn shopping last week. I went home for Easter and raided my stash at my parent's house (I had to put some in storage when I moved). So I got the rest of my Ella Rae from the Skully sweater....


The leftover skeins of 'DK' yarn from Lewiscraft (closing out sale) that are NOT double knitting weight which I didn't know at the time. Liars. And my assorted wooly goodness from up north.
I finished a lot of projects the past month. My Grandma's cardigan, the Clapotis scarf, the crocheted baby blanket, the happy baby blanket, and the chocolate cherry scarf (see below for the scarf). More pictures of some of the other ones when I remember to put more batteries in the camera. So now I've started some more projects. This is a swatch for a tank top or something that I am going to knit. It was going to be two pictures to show the difference made by washing swatches but it became the difference between taking a picture at night with lamps and such:
And taking a picture in the morning with daylight (and post wash):


I only have five skeins of the bamboo so I hope it last for the whole tank. The dark blue is my soy which I do love so.

My other project is a second Phiaro scarf requested by my Mom. Isn't it yummy? I just started today and it took me about 30 minutes to wind that skein. I really need to look into purchasing a swift. The first Phiaro scarf I knit is below. It's some awesome yarn from Claudia's Handpainted yarns that I got in Kelowna.

I've received a lot of compliments on it so I'm pretty happy with it. Oh, and I'm also knitting soakers for ze Beeb out of the Ella Rae I brought home. Though they look like fleur-de-lis they are actually hearts all over the bum. Now that I know the row count I'm going to do some fun designs for the bum area- it's actually a really good idea, the designer was smart when she put those in there- it's for extra padding. She did stripes on her pattern. I'm thinking of making some with skulls, maybe sushi images, possibly his name if I get one done soon enough to be used, words like 'My Aunts Rock!', and the such. Any suggestions? Okay, now I'm going to go clean a little and then possibly go for a walk. And oh yeah, my new favorite picture! Mom took it while she was visiting.

Quirky you say?

Since I tagged Tammy with a meme, she went and tagged me with one too. It's the 6 quirky non-important meme. You'd think in her meme she would include the giant thong she knit. I sometimes have a hard time with these memes. Hm.

1. I have hordes of items from all around the world but I haven't left Canada since I was 11.

2. I find piercings more painful than tattoos.

3. If I had to choose- the one dish I would eat for the rest of my days would be Swimming Rama, a thai dish with chicken, lightly sauteed spinach, and peanut sauce.

4. I have not watched season seven of Buffy and may never do so- even though I am reading season eight.

5. I don't particularly care for inspirational quotes but the one I have taped to my bookshelf (during a horrid week in November) says 'Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort' (Franklin Roosevelt). I may change that soon but yeah.

6. I HATE swatching. When I want to start projects I just want to sit down and cast on; however, I do still swatch, I just don't enjoy it one bit.

I tag Drunken Monkey and Julia. Voila!

Longest knitting meme ever (maybe- in my experience)

Seriously, if you don't knit. Just ignore this. As for the other knitters, I tag Tammy and Brooke! And Jess! (but she just rolled her eyes at me) As with all my memes, you don't actually have to complete it. Just saying hi.

Have you knit....

Afghan - No

I-cord - Yes, painfully with small bamboo yarn and tiny needles for ages and ages and ages!

Garter stitch - uh yeah! How can you not have knit this? Did this make any sense?

Knitting with metal wire - no but I really really want to

Shawl - Yes

Stockinette stitch - yes- more than I'd ever like to admit too.

Socks: top-down - yes- my preferred way though I don't know why

Socks: toe-up - kinda- not done them yet (but past the toe!)

Knitting with camel yarn - unfortunately not. If you see any....

Mittens: Cuff-up - yes

Mittens: Tip-down - never heard of such a thing

Hat - yes

Knitting with silk a fine strand with wool for socks - this one doesn't make much sense... but I think no is my answer here

Moebius band knitting - no

Participating in a KAL - no, though I am considering the mystic light shawl

Sweater - Yes

Drop stitch patterns - Yes

Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn - Yes

Slip stitch patterns - I think so... maybe just a swatch cause I can't think of a specific pattern- oh yeah, it was a swatch for a mosiac sweater.

Knitting with banana fiber yarn - Why have I never heard of this yarn?

Twisted stitch patterns - Yes- wait till you see my current project!

Knitting with bamboo yarn - Yes- see I-cord for more detail

Charity knitting - Yes

Knitting with soy yarn - Yes (way too expensive though)

Cardigan - Yes! Finished the Strawberry Lace cardigan! Need to post pictures.

Toy/doll clothing - No (wait- is it toy clothing or just toy? Cause wait...) Yes.

Baby items - Yes!!!!!!

Knitting with your own handspun yarn - Yes (gar)

Slippers - Yes- for my father, which like everything for my Dad, did not fit.

Designing knitted garments - I have a heavily modified skull yoke sweater that was based on a pre-existing pattern so I don't think that counts.

Cable stitch patterns - Yes (is it just me or are a lot of cables very... vaginaish?)

Lace patterns - Yes

Publishing a knitting book - Loads. Oh, did I forget to tell you about all that? Silly me.

Scarf - Yes

Teaching a child to knit - Yes (and getting ready to teach a toddler- my nephew shall be a knitter unlike no other. Ah Balthazar, the plans I have for you.)

Knitting to make money - No

Buttonholes - Yes

Knitting with alpaca - Yes, though I have a slight allergy to alpaca so my hands get red after awhile

Fair Isle knitting - Yes and I want to do it again!

Dying with plant colors - No

Knitting items for a wedding - Yes, but it got frogged

Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…) - Yes

Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) - Yes

Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn - .... um.... no. Huh. That's lame.

Holiday related knitting - what does this mean? Do Xmas presents count?

Teaching a male how to knit - Yup! And now he's knitting an afghan! I couldn't be more proud!

Bobbles - Yes

Knitting for a living - HA!

Knitting with cotton - Yes

Knitting smocking - No idea what this is.

Dying yarn - Soooo much fun. Microwave it, slow cook it- it's all good.

Knitting art - I think my skeleton art cover counts here

Fulling/felting - Yes- with natural fibres even! (we'll see if Julia is reading this or not)

Knitting with wool - Yes

Textured knitting - I don't get this one either.

Kitchener stitch - Yes and it pleases me to no end.

Purses/bags - Yes, though I've got nothing on my Mom- the felted bag goddess!

Knitting with beads - Yes though it sucked cause the beads were too big and pulled down the scarf. Sigh. *follow* instructions Leone.

Swatching - Yes, even though I cheat and suffer consequences

Long Tail CO - Yes- one of my favorites

Knitting and purling backwards - What?

Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn - It's like porn for knitters if you ask me

Stuffed toys - Yes

Knitting with cashmere (mmm, cashmere!) - Yes, Harry Potter mittens for Jim!

Darning - No.

Jewelry - No. Would wrist bands count? Doesn't matter- haven't knit any of those.

Knitting with synthetic yarn - Yes. Yarn snobs make me go pphhhpptt!

Writing a pattern - Kinda.

Gloves mittens are warmer! - Again, no sense. Have knit both.

Intarsia - Yes (skull after skull after skull)

Knitting with linen - no, which is also lame. Need to get me some linen!

Knitting for preemies - No

Short rows - Yes

Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers - yes

Pillows - Yes, but it remains empty. Still haven't mailed it to Regina.

Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine - All the frickin' time

Rug - Ha! No.

Knitting on a loom - No.... wait... isn't knitting on a loom weaving? I have a loom. So yes.

Knitting a gift - yes

Knitting for a pet? - yes... heh.

Shrug/bolero/poncho - No (though I want to knit the poncho that Willow wears in season... three or four, can't remember)

Knitting with dog/cat hair accidentally or on purpose? - Accidently. I have a disclaimer that anything I knit is 5% Spike.

Hair accessories - What? No.

Knitting in public - All the time! You know it!

Knitting with buffalo yarn - Yes- very warm. And bulky. As buffalo yarn should be.

Knitting with pygora - Eh?

Dyeing with food dye/drink mixes - Yes- the Kool-Aid pirate scarf! Gar!

Dyeing with chemical dyes (acid, etc) - Yes- then I slow cooked the yarn.

Done!

well

since I'm not going to get any work done tonight (which is fine, I did a lot of work this morning) figured I should blog about my revelation on Friday. I went for this uber long walk after class cause I just needed some time to think and I realized something. When I applied for the education program, I could tell you all these reasons about why I wanted to be a teacher right? And well, I had to put them down in essay after essay, and this isn't to say I didn't believe these reasons, I did, it was just I didn't have the knowledge at that point to really elaborate on them. I realized during my 2 and a half hour walk that I can now say these reasons with passion and authentic emotion, and that I truly embrace them. I even have more reasons now about why I want to be a teacher. Here are two.

I believe in the public school program. It is so important. I mean, not even touching upon what it means for Canadian identity, open mindedness, and cross cultural ties- it is the prevention to turning us into a have/ and have/not society. It is the idea that you support all children receiving a quality education. I love teaching. Is there anything better than seeing these amazing creative projects students can come up with? Seriously give them a inch and they run for miles! We have a lot of visitors in my school and getting to hear students explain their work is so neat. I did interviews at the end and asking students to tell me their thoughts and opinions just takes their work to a new level. I learn so much from my kids.

Okay- rah rah me rant over now. I am going to go have some tea and work on my knitting before I head to bed. Ugh... I am waking up at 5am tomorrow! Daylight savings is rude.

Jenn do you want any of these?

kthnxbi