Whew!

Things have been super busy lately between state testing and midterms and my immune system having apparently gone on vacation, but now it is Spring Break and the worst of the state tests is over, so I'm finally getting a little down time! I've spent most of it so far convincing myself that I should be enjoying this time off and not feeling guilty about not getting caught up/ahead on all the work and grad school stuff. I did, however, finish this:
It's currently being test-knit, then I'll publish it on Ravelry for the interested. I'm calling it Sea Spray, cuz I think the color and the nautical-themed lace patterns demand it.

I've also started the Dance Skirt from Interweave Crochet in a lovely dark green CotLin. It's not really big enough to warrant pictures yet though...

DNA?

Gotta keep this quick cuz I've got a midterm to work on, but here's a free pattern for you!

DNA Marker Socks:

Happy Feet color 10, (sock weight, superwash merino/nylon), less than 2 skeins

26.5 sts/40 rows per 4 inches

set of five US #2 needles

Cuff

CO 60 sts

Round 1: *P2, K1, P2, K4, P2, K1* repeat to end

Repeat this round for 5 inches or to desired length

Heel Flap

Knit N1 onto already worked N4, continuing ribbed pattern (30 sts)

Continue ribbed pattern across N4 for 2.5 inches, slipping the first stitch of every row (22 rows)

End with a WS row.

Turn Heel

Switch to stockinette stitch.

Row 1: K16, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 2: Sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 3: Sl 1, K6, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 4: Sl 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 5: Sl 1, K8, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 6: Sl 1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 7: Sl 1, K10, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 8: Sl 1, P11, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 9: Sl 1, K12, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 10: Sl 1, P13, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 11: Sl 1, K14, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 12: Sl 1, P15, P2tog, P1, turn

18 sts remain

Gusset

Knit to middle of heel

On a new needle, k across the remaining 9 heel stitches, placing marker. This is the new beginning of the round. Pick up and k 11 more on same needle

Knit across the 2 instep needles in ribbing pattern

On new needle, pick up and k 11 stitches, then knit the 9 remaining heel stitches

20 sts on N1 and N4; 15 sts on N2 and N3

Knit one round.

Gusset Decreases:

Round 1: K to last 3 sts of N1, K2tog, K1; work in pattern across instep; on N4, K1, ssk, K to end

Round 2: Knit N1 and N4; work in pattern across instep needles

Foot

Work to joint of big toe or desired length, ribbing the instep and knitting the sole.

Toe

Round 1

N1: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

N2: K1, ssk, k to end

N3: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

N4: K1, ssk, k to end

Round 2

Knit

Repeat these two rounds 10 times

Knit across to last decrease point; kitchener toe.

Make 2

I may have finished a good number of projects last week, but I've got just as many running again this week and it's taken an incredible amount of self-control to keep it to this few. All in all I'm proud of myself. :)

The first sock is now complete:
And I whipped these up for dear Angela's birthday dinner Sunday:And I also started a Flying Spaghetti Monster for the boy, but it's just a tiny little strand of spaghetti at this point. I've been really good about knitting from the stash lately instead of buying new yarn. I've actually gotten several projects done that way. Then...a coworker brought in a skirt. This sounds innocuous, but it was handmade. And pretty. And when I said as much, she helpfully added, "And it was really easy and fast! Here, you can have my copy of the pattern!"

And less than 2 hours later I was the owner of 6 new balls of yarn.

Stripey Goodness

I went to a wedding out on the Eastern Shore this weekend, which meant a total of 6 hours in the car, plus the usual evenings. On the drive out, I finished these:

And then crocheted this little scrunchie that night:

Then I proceeded to swatch pretty much all damn weekend while I tried to figure out a decent pattern for socks with the Happy Feet yarn I got in a trade a while back. I'm still not thrilled with the colors, but here's what I've got so far:

I was really feeling cables, but they just don't show well with this yarn, so I settled for a fun ribbing pattern.

For those interested in the spiral socks, here's the pattern:

“Blueberry Spirals”

Bernat Sox, 1 ball each in MC and CC

Gauge: 48 rows and 32 sts per 4 inches in stockinette

set of 5 DPNs, size 3 or size needed to obtain gauge

Spiral Pattern:

Round 1: *K4 in MC, K4 in CC*, repeat to end

Round 2: K1 in CC, *K4 in MC, K4 in CC* to 3 sts from end, K3 in CC

Round 3: K2 in CC, *K4 in MC, K4 in CC* to 2 sts from end, K2 in CC

Continue in a similar fashion indefinitely

CO 56 sts, join

Rounds 1-5

Work 2x2 ribbing in MC, on last st of last row k2tog (55 sts)

Then work 4 in (or desired length) in spiral pattern, about 38 rows

K N1 onto just-worked N4 (29 sts on 1 needle)

MAKE FLAP (in MC or continue spirals)

Row 1: Sl1 P1 to end

Row 2: K to end

Repeat for 11 rows, ending with a WS row

TURN HEEL

Row 1: (RS) Sl1, k to last 10, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 2: Sl 1, P til 10 remain, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 3:Sl 1, K to one st before gap, K2tog, K1, turn

Continue in this manner until only one st remains after the gap (19 sts)

GUSSET

Resume spirals on instep, carrying CC behind for heel sts if you've worked the heel in MC

If you are knitting the heel in MC:

N1: K 5 heel sts, M1, K 4 sts (10 sts)

If you are knitting the heel in spiral pattern:

N1: K

Pick up:

Use empty needle (N2) to k across remaining heel sts and pick up 14 side sts (24 sts)

K across instep sts as normal

Pick up and k 14 side sts plus remaining heel sts on 4^th needle (24 sts)

Decreases:

Round 1:

N1: K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1

N2 and N3: knit

N4: K1, ssk, K to end of round

Round 2:

Knit

Repeat these 2 rounds until you are back to 55 sts (if you are knitting the heel in MC, you will have to dec one extra stitch to maintain the spirals)

FOOT:

Resume spiral pattern all the way around if you have not already; K in pattern to first joint of big toe

TOE:

If you are going to use only MC on the toe, begin now

Round 1:

N1 and N3: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1

N2 and N4: K1, ssk, K to end

Round 2:

Knit

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 four times, then Round 1 only 5 times.

Kitchener remaining stitches together.

Make 2.

Booooo-tay(s)!

No more baby stuff! AND I'm done before the baby makes his appearance. I'm so proud of myself. :-)

I was going to start the Flying Spaghetti Monster the Boy has been requesting next, but he's decided that it would be infinitely cooler if I only work on it when I've had a few too many drinks. Since I'm going to a family wedding this weekend, the FSM is not really an option. Which means *gasp* I'm gonna start something for myself. Maybe some socks? Or something with that yummy camel before it gets too warm to wear it...

On an only slightly related note, tell me WHY it was 70 degrees yesterday and there's snow in the forecast tonight. I hate March.

Big Boring Square of Doom

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And may I never have to look at it again. I'm folding it up and putting it in a bag, and I will hand it to its new owner IN said bag, thus avoiding having to ever see it again.

I also bought myself some yummy baby camel as a reward for not burning said Square of Doom.

I think I might dye it purple. If I ever finish all the other projects I've got going.

Fighting Start-itis

I generally have 3-4 projects going at any given time. You'd think that would be more than enough to keep me entertained. Yet, I'm not. I'm bored. And I want to start about 5 million projects right now.

The problem is, two of the projects I have going have deadlines, and one more (an Aran sweater) is not going to be much use if I don't get going on it before it gets warm. The main two I need to get done are for a co-worker though. She's having a baby in April (shower is in about 2 weeks though) and I've been making these for her:They're quick and mildly entertaining, and I'm making them in 3 different sizes so hopefully I won't get too bored. However, the real problem is the project I was HIRED to do. I really should have known better. Really really really. I hardly ever take orders, and that's no coincidence. Even worse, I hate knitting giant squares, and I'm well aware of that. I think they're impossibly boring, and they tend to lead to either pointed ignoring or throwing the WIP at the wall. Yet, somehow, I was talked into making a BABY BLANKET, the very definition of "big boring square", for said co-worker.

Now, the thing about big boring squares is that they're easy. So at least they should be fast, right? Except that this is me, and I'm reeeeally good at pointedly ignoring things I don't like. Even though I've been a diligent little knitter and picked up the blanket almost every day, it still doesn't have any apparent interest in being done. I've been working on it since friggin' Valentine's Day, and it's only half-way. Even though I've tried really hard to be good and get this sucker done, my poor bored subconcious is fighting it every step of the way. I've begun taking the blanket to work so that I can knit at lunch in a desperate attempt to get it DONE already. Unfortunately, my subconcious being the little stinker that it is, I've managed to forget the blanket at work 2 Fridays in a row. I swear my subconcious is doing it on purpose.