Sorta FO

I keep meaning to post about my moving adventures, and I just never get around to it. Soon, I promise. Maybe. But anyway, here is a finished sock. It's not exactly a proper FO as it is only one sock of the pair, however it is my third sock ever, so I'm excited. Even more excited that it actually fits! Even better.
The pattern is Jaywalker by Grumperina and details of course are on my Ravelry page.

Happy colors

My thesis pretty much imploded on Friday. I had a reader tear it apart at the very last minute and of course, instead of being productive, I've wallowed in depression this weekend. And a little bit of anger too. I've worked on my thesis yes, just not on her corrections, yet. So on Saturday when I noticed that the grocery store had a big stand with all sorts of Kool Aid flavors (previous weeks it had only 4, yes kids, 4 flavors), I knew it was time to scratch the Kool Aid dying itch.


First I washed the Knit Picks Bare Superwash merino/nylon yarn in gentle shampoo and left it soaking in water.












Then I mixed the Kool Aid packets (black cherry, orange, grape) into cups of water and "painted" the yarn. I found out that my brand new baster does not have a seal (grrr) and had to spoon the dye onto the yarn. Also, I used waaayyy too much liquid and had to sponge it up repeatedly.














But the end result was a beautiful skein of happy colored yummy smelling (and still a bit sticky) yarn. Red and orange are not my usual colors but I just adore this yarn. It produced the desired result and has indeed given me happiness.

Sure, there are some white spots, but I actually dont mind, I think it gives the yarn character. And it reminds me that it's "hand-painted."


I named it ChOrG. Ugly name for a beautiful yarn.





















In fact, I just started knitting with the yarn and I adore the colorway even more! None of the pictures really
captures the brightness and saturation of the yarn. It's very pretty and complex and somehow manages to self-stripe very nicely, without much pooling.



Happiness all around.


Well, except for the fact that I still have the never-ending stole of gray to finish in TWO WEEKS. Ugh. Cross your fingers! (I'm halfway done).

In other news - the BRUINS swept the Canadiens to make it to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs!!!!

dash of this

dash of that. basically lets go over everything that's happened whilst i've been gone from blogging. i've been so busy!
ready to recap? set? go!
Made the decision to attend Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in the fall and get a 1 yr masters in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Accepted Debby's offer to get my PhD in her lab at the University of Utrecht (Holland) after my masters.
Lots of Europe trip planning.
My super awesome birthday. Anne and Erik came up for that - we went to the Sam Adams brewery and started the day off right with free beer after the tour. Then we ate too much yummy food. Climbed a mountain (well ok, Summit Ave). Went candlepin bowling at the Milky Way Lounge with lots of wonderful people. Oh and, holy crap! - I'm now closer to 30 than 20. Feeling old.

Finished first sock and started second (of the pair).
Totally effed up my sisters mittens (They've been a 2 yr wip, ugh) and stopped knitting out of frustration.

Submitted an abstract for the New England TB Retreat and was asked to give a talk too. (stunned that they asked me, a lowly technician, to give a talk but honored. And scared. And where am I going to get the time to prep for a talk too!??). Hired and started training my replacement at work.

Went to the Webs tent sale with the lovely ladies Danielle, Alexis, and Catherine. Money was spent. Projects were planned. Northampton was beautiful and a great day was had by all. Revived my desire to knit crazy new things.

And now for the pictures!

Here's the first sock when it was almost done. I have a huge calf, I know. Its meaty. -Ew - what a word.














Here's some beautiful STR color Mossay that Ariel was kind enough to obtain for me while she was at Sock Camp.

And the stash it grows in the night!












Here is the yarn i ended up with from Webs. One of these days I Will buy yarn for a sweater. Maybe.
We have here a huge cone (for only $3!) of super soft cotton - probably for a blanket and pillow cover its so nice. And another cone - mercerized cotton. Probably going to see if this works for a shawl.
Then we have the Hempathy for The Bag (linking to Grumperina's Bag photoshop explanation).





Super excited that I was able to find the liner material for the Bag as well! I'm stoked to start this project but I think it's going to have to wait until after Europe.















Here is my fabric haul. Goodness me I got a little carried away. In my defense, this is my first major fabric purchase since I was, oh, 16. Most of them are fat quarters destined for knit bags or to line knitted items. Except for the black and white floral pattern at the bottom.
I fell in love with that fabric and immediately SAW the skirt in my head. so I bought it. Problem is, I dont have a sewing machine and dont really know how to sew. But it WILL happen. It must. Inspiration struck. Its going to be a rockabilly style skirt with a black sash around the waist (tying in a bow at the back) and white and black ruffled petticoats peeking out from the bottom. Anyone have a sewing pattern for this type of skirt? Or know where I could get one? Help please!

Well, now I must be off for bed. Tomorrow starts the longest 2 weeks of my life. Sigh. Way too much to do and not enough time to do it.

Birthday goodness

Yesterday was my 25th birthday. I could talk all about how for the past week I've been having a stupid "quarter-life-crisis" even though I think its stupid and assured myself that I would never do anything silly like that, but instead I want to talk about my awesome birthday day (:{

The picture below is the mum plant that my old boss Jyothi gave to me for my birthday. Luckily the sun was shining into my window yesterday and I was able to gt some good shots that adequately depict the pretty-ness of it. Other goodies at work included a card and a cake at lunch, and my friend Liz made me a beaded bracelet.



After work I headed to Sol Azteca with Andreas to meet a whole host of people I had invited out for dinner. Sol Azteca is one of my absolute favourite restaurants in Boston and the Sangria is amazing. When we got there Alexis and Catherine were outside and Amanda and Ariel were already inside at the table. After several other people arrived (my roommate Aditi, Liz, Angela, Laurie) the yarners decided it was time to give me my gift. Here I am wondering what it is that they have for me. (pictures courtesy of Ariel, the paparazzi for the night)


Here is Amanda un-veiling the gift: a Sock Virgin kit!!

Backstory: I'm the only one in the knitting group who does not know how to knit socks. The rest of them are almost obsessed with it. So they created a kit just for me! Squee!




And there is my reaction to it! (Andreas next to me is thinking "now I know for sure Cassandra and her friends are weird and crazy. wtf?")






And here is the contents of the kit
Lion Brand Magic Stripe in blues and greys, Inox needles (good for magic loop socks I hear), a pattern called "Beginner's Lightweight Socks" from Knitting Pure & Simple (this is The pattern that Amanda used to learn to knit socks!), hand-painted Tess Designer Yarn from the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Ariel and Amanda attended, and last but not least: a Sock Virgin Coupon Book!





There I am sniffing the yummy sock yarn. It actually smelt quite nice!











And reading the sex themed coupon book for the first time. This is not the most attractive picture but it is really hilarious. The coupon I'm reading in this says: When things get kinky: turning the heel.



And below: Going for the big T"O"E: Finishing






After presents and dinner came desert of course! Here I am blowing out imaginary candles on my mousse









And finally, here is a close up of the wonderful hand-dyed sock yarn that smells so nice (:{



I'd have to say, this is probably one of the best birthday's I have had in a very long time.
After dinner Elissa from work stopped by (she had to work at her second job at the REI bike shop so she couldn't make it) and a few of us continued with one more drink at the Beacon St Tavern.
So I returned home completely full of wonderful food, a little tipsy, and full of merriment and joy (and somewhat gushy). After all of this "what am I doing with my life and career" stress it was a much needed good time.