And You Thought I Was Eaten By The Library

Contrary to popular belief and the proof offered by my facebook and twitter stati (status, plural. Statuses? Whatever), I have not been utterly consumed by my research and projects. My hands may be the only part of me not inside this monster but hey, that means I can still type!

Weird metaphor, I know, but go with it.

I have, unfortunately, lost my knitting mojo. I don't know why. I still love my yarn and think my needles are so nice and smooth, but I can't seem to actually pick them up and use them. This might be thanks to the fact that I moved (I know, again) at the end of January. Or it might be thanks to all the Christmas knitting. Or it might actually be the fact that I spend 15 + hours a day working on school work.

Part of me thinks that it is because I pushed myself to finish my first pair of socks before the start of 2009. Yes, I knitted a pair of socks. No, I never got around to blogging about them because I wanted to wait for my sock blockers to come in the mail (knit-picks! Woo!) and I wanted complete pictures. And then the move happened, go figure. But finally, here it is. The story of my first socks.

I was really scared to make any because I tend to wear out my socks on account of always wearing them (well, until I moved here where beach weather + random rain storms necessitate outdoor sports sandals). Finally I decided to make them because I'd been an all-out knitter for a year and I felt like a real knitter would knit socks. So I bought some destashed Trekking on Ravelry and picked out my pattern, Sell Your Sole Socks.

A little side note: I grew up in Western NC, so when I went home for Christmas break this year we got slammed by snow storms. We were actually snowed in at my parents' house for a day or two before we could get down our driveway. Ok, back to my socks.

Over Christmas break, my family decided to visit our relatives on the East Coast. We left NC at 6 am and drove to Pennsylvania. From there we drove to New York state and Fulton, NY where they have had all that snow this winter. Then we went to New York City for 2 nights with my aunt and uncle and then drove all the way home on New Years' Eve. We were in the car all but 2 days for a week. It was pretty intense and probably won't be repeated for a very long time (when I have kids and force them to do the same thing).

(The mini Statue of Liberty in the Susquehanna River)

In the first two days I knitted the first sock. I turned the heel at the Pennsylvania line. Mom was pretty proud because she was driving for all of this. It was my first dutch heel (or any heel for that matter) and the explanation in the pattern was excellent. It has pictures and little thought bubbles and everything.

Did I mention I was drugged on drammamine which makes you drowsy? Oh yes. It's crazy.

I barely finished the second sock in time, but I did. New Year's Eve. It's a little smaller than it's supposed to be, but I blame the fact that we weren't consistently in the car for several days. But now that it's blocked out I'm the only one who notices the mistakes.

Overall, I love the pattern. Loved the experience of knitting socks (actually got Cookie A's first book and Wendy Knit's Knitting Socks from the Toe Up for Christmas but haven't actually used them. The pictures are very pretty and inspiring). But I HATE the yarn. I don't know if my feet have just gotten really sensitive or if the yarn has too much nylon, but they are actually somewhat painful to wear. They're softening up a bit, but the yarn, especially on the smaller sock, is sharp. They're pretty but I would not recommend this yarn. The pattern, however, is just stunning in its simplicity.

And remember, knitting needles aren't just for knitting. They're also for drumming on the back of the driver's seat in an epic road trip band.

On Looking Hot in a Trench Coat AND Having a Brain

Normally things that enrage me never make it into the blogisphere (unless it's a knitting snafu that others might also run into). But since this attacked new media itself (which isn't just twitter, but also podcasts, blogs, and other social media) it merits a response. Plus, when you further attack the integrity of women as beings with the ability to work hard and use their brain to make their way in the world, you open yourself up to the most vicious of attacks.

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Felicia Day. Her impact on the internet world through Knights of the Guild and then other projects (no, I'm sorry. Her impact on the world. PERIOD) has directly influenced the future of television and the web-based viewing a large number of us enjoy. I have often said "Felicia Day is my hero," and that statement is always true.

It's also no secret that I am a huge fan of Twitter. I have either met or enriched my relationship with many (maybe all) of my closest friends through this medium. It has also allowed me to engaged in a community of individuals around the world, all connected through our common interests and internet activity. I'm not so much talking about the overall twitter community, but the many different realms in which I interact that are based on the various podcasts I either listen to or am involved in. And I'm NOT talking as one of those people who lives alone and has no human contact beyond their computer (though Windows and I would probably have a lot of things in common). I have a life outside of my computer, but Twitter has significatly enriched my life through contact with other people who are into the same things that I am (ie Buffy, Smallville, knitting, etc).

Yesterday Felicia Day wrote a blog post about a Vanity Fair article in which she was featured along with several other women who are entreprenuers and very successful. What connects them all? They are very successful Twitter users. Sounds like an awesome study of how New Media is emerging and maybe even how it is becoming the chosen vehicle of intellectual, ambitious women.



(I mean, look at that picture. How awesome?)

Unfortunately, the author took this opportunity to marginalize these "Tweethearts" (seriously? Could you be more condecending?) She frequently refers to them as "girls" and uses all sorts of supposed Twitter slang that is viewed as juvenial by actual users. Her treatment of these women as unimportant individuals who are unable to achieve success without engaging in an online popularity contest is offbase and very offensive. It is very hard to understand why this woman is trying so hard to put down other successful women unless she herself views the world as one giant popularity contest and must put down others' success to make herself sound more intellectual. Honestly, it totally had that highschool vibe.

Ok, I'm not going to rant anymore. Geekweek has an excellent response if you would like to learn more. All I have left to say is, Vanessa Grigoriadis, you have just declared war on informed women everywhere. And we are a formidale opponent.

Christmukkah (minus the mukkah)

Christmas has come and gone and somehow I managed to get all of my gifts made in time. I'm serious. It was a race to the end, knitting up one last gift a few days before Christmas under a blanket as we watched a movie as a family, but somehow I managed to get them done (did I mention we got snowed in the weekend before and were trapped in the house together?)

With one notable exception, all of the gifts I made this year were hats. Figure if you're going to make something for everyone you might as well follow a theme, right?

I started my sister's hat back in October[ish]. It was the only gift that was knit on schedule, but it turned out quite nicely. She's rather quirky and artistic, so the unique butterfly pattern seemed perfect. Sofiya Cremin's pattern is a lot of fun to knit up, provided you don't lose count in the decrease section (or do as I did and put it down for a while and forget where you were).



My mom's hat is one that most knitters will recognize -- Ysolda Teague's Riply. I knit it up in Borocco Alpaca Light and still have some left over. The color is an almost navy shade of blue, but has a lot of other colors flecked into it. Mom's a PE teacher, so I thought she needed a more girly hat. Hence the lace band. And those pleats! So much fun.



(this is the "Faith, stop taking my picture!" shot)

The other two members of the familiy, Dad and my brother, recieved identical gifts. Or at least that was my intention. As you may remember, on Thanksgiving my family ran a 5K (yes, we trot for our turkey. Though some of us may have walked for a bit), and as it was rather chilly, the male half of our four-person group was not too happy with their lack of hat choices. Well what's a girl to do but knit running hats for the ones she loves?



(photos courtesy of Jen Marriner Photography)

Both hats were knit from the same pattern, the Seaman's Cap, which you can still find on Ravelry (though not the actual details of the pattern). Unfortunately, halfway through the second hat the pattern seemed to disappear from the internet. Now we know, kiddies, always print your patterns if they're not a download! I managed to improvise from what I remembered but it came out shorter than intended. Fortunately, my brother loved it. I mean seriously. I don't think he even took it off when he went to bed.

I made 5 other hats at the last minute. Fortunately they only took 2 days and maybe a total of 4 hours.



They're Jayne hat ornaments! Sent to a few of my online friends to decorate their Christmukkah trees or fingers as the case may be. Easy and fun, I just copied this pattern for Jayne hat pins.

Oh, and I made one more Christmas hat.



It's Hermoine! Better known as my BFF[fffffffff . . . well, you get the idea]. Now she is truly chic geek as she chases her students around the playground (I don't actually know if she chases them, but I think it'd be entertaining).

The last thing I made was 1 nearly completed glove for the boyfriend to wear when he plays hockey. He's only been asking for a pair since March. Maybe next Christmas he'll get the other half.



I have much more to tell you about, but haven't the time right now. But I promise to be back soon. Until then, remember, needles are for knitting and stabbing annoying people at the grocery store.

FO Frenzy

There is nothing quite so satisfactory as the sudden empty time you have once the semester ends. After tons of papers and researching, grading and testing, you're suddenly faced with entire days in which you might have nothing that must be done. What is a girl to do with all of this free time but knit?

During the first week of finals I had tons that I had to do. I would stay up until 2, 3, 4 in the morning and crash when I got home in the afternoon. In the midst of all of this, one day I fell asleep on the couch in the afternoon, only to be jolted awake by the doorbell. Now, I'm not very nice when I'm woken up, least of all by people who I do not know (sure, it could be someone I know, but no one I know at school knows where I live). In addition, I do not have a way to see who is at my front door, so I've gotten into the habit of answering the door with a giant bread knife, just in case. Fortunately, if it's the mail or UPS they've left the package and gone on their merry way before I make it to the door. So wasn't I pleased to open the door and find . . .

My package from the ladies of the Stash and Burn Podcast! Inside were all sorts of goodies. Stitch markers that are beaded... a yarn postcard... a delicious chocolate bar... this beautiful case for circular needles (I've never seen anything like it. I've been showing it to everyone)... and TWO skeins of Malabrigo Chunky in the Vaa colorway (never used Malabrigo before. It's heavenly).

Of course I had to knit with it right away! I stopped whatever paper writing I was working on and started pattern stalking. The result was Braided, a really fun scarf pattern by Susan B. Anthony. Yes, it's got measurements, but I just got started and just knit what I felt like. The result was a fun quick knit that looks way more complicated than it actually was.


(the yarn is not nearly as blue as it looks in this picture. It's actually a deep green)

I also decided to call it quits with my French Press Knits slippers. Not that I don't love the pattern. Not that I don't find the creation absolutely fun. But this was my first felting project and I don't think the straps turned out well. I still really like these. I wear them all the time when I'm home, they're very warm and comfy. Totally worth the $7 for the pattern.



Today I finished the Vine and Leaf beret pattern from the Fall09 issue of VogueKnitting. I had to go up 2 needle sizes to get gauge, but it ended up being much bigger than what I was expecting. However, it's really really nice (my family is in love with the color). I may thread in some elastic in the ribbing. If anyone feels like making this, I would highly recommend using a smaller needle for that part to help keep it from falling off. In any case, of all my FOs, this was one of my proudest moments as it is my first Vogue project (and yes, that is Top Model McKey modeling).



I'm also all but finished with Veyla. I need buttons, so pictures will come after I get some (so, like, never).

There is just way too much more to write about, but break is upon us, so you never know when I'll appear!

Dear Powers That Be . . .

I shouldn't be on here. I should be writing a paper. It is, coincidentially due in approximately 7 hours and I have yet to start. Yes, I truly have become one of those kinds of slackers. And I can't even justify updating because of some killer knitting project because . . . there hasn't been one. I'm forcing myself to only do gift knitting until everything is done. It's scary stuff with Thanksgiving in a week. But bear with me.

Remember that wonderful international project I'm involved with? Angel Between the Lines? Well in case you didn't know, it is the continuation of the brilliant Buffy Between the Lines. With such an amazing project is it any wonder that it has been nominated for the podcast awards? And we NEED you to vote. Why? If BBtL season 2 wins in the entertainment category then Tabz will get the team to produce a one episode shot of what happens with Faith and Robin following the tv show's season 7 finale. Yes! I know! If you know me (and even if you don't), you know that I'm rediculously obsessed with the character of Faith. She was the subject of both my costuming and academic work last year and I'm on a continual hunt to acquire the Jackle (her knife).

So as you can see, I NEED you to go here and vote for BBtL in the entertainment category. It takes about 3 minutes to vote and verify your email. You can vote every day until the 30th.

As an added incentive, I snagged this off of the Blog Archive at the BBtL site. You can find the entire page here. I've always thought Superchic[k]'s "One Girl Revolution" would be perfect for Buffy (as I'm sure many fans have), so I just had to share this video.



Enjoy, feel inspired, and GO VOTE!

Stressed Out Needles (and Giveaway Winners)

Yes, I know I haven't updated in a week or more, but I think I have a good excuse. Giant paper plus Western Civ test grading equals get out of blog jail free card? Normally I wouldn't even feel guilty, but I have to announce who won the free signed comic book giveaway from last week. But for those of you who don't care about that, what has been going on in the life of this geek girl?

Well, like I said, giant papers and grading, which amounts to quite a bit of stress. Ironically, our Bible study tonight was about dealing with stress. And how do I deal with stress? I knit of course! (well, and I write random promos for Buffy Between the Lines, but that's not important)

Since last I blogged, I finished Fetching. I loved this pattern and can definitely see why it is so popular. The construction is grand and with my naturally small gauge they fit just right (I have been told I have small-ish hands). Though I loved the green in my Summer Beret, I didn't think that I would like using it in the gloves. Boy was I wrong.



(Me pretending to be artistic. Hey, I only have 2 hands and do my own photography)

The weather here has been wonky so fingerless gloves have been great for early mornings or late nights that I have to be on campus and fit nicely in my purse. I'm wanting to make more. Maybe Susie's Reading Mitts? Though those are knit in yarn that isn't sock yarn and that is currently the bulk of my yarn collection. I've recently been on a yarn spree via Ravelry users' destashing. Most (ok, fine, not most. All) of it has been verigated sock yarn. But I promise I'm finding uses for it. A couple weeks ago I bought some Socks That Rock Lightweight in the Knitters Without Borders colorway.



I just love the colors in the skein and had this vision of a haunting vampire style shawl/scarf that would look stunning around my neck. Well try as I might I couldn't find anything . . . until Ysolda released this last week as part of the Whimsical Little Knits 2 collection (sorry non-Ravelry users. It's not on ysolda.com yet). It's perfect! Right? Well, I hope so. I cast on last night and the white is a little more striking than I'd like but I think once I get a bigger portion completed it'll look like what I imagine.

And speaking of shawl-like things, I finally blocked my Angela Shawl. I was very unsuccessful in pulling out the points (asking for blocking wires for Christmas), but I think the result is still great.



Only problem is that I still don't see myself wearing a shawl almost ever, but I wore it this way yesterday (it was so warm outside by the time I got to church I had to take it off).



I also knit all of the pieces for the French Press Knits slippers (ballet flats actually) pattern on Friday night (told you I am stress). I put the pieces of one together but haven't gotten around to finishing the second, let alone felting. Not an exciting task. Overall I'd say I've been quite productive this week.

Oh! You wanted to know who won the giveaway? Well that would be Dariclone and Crystal! Email me with your address (tharensolo@gmail.com) and we'll get those sent out to you straightaway!

New Fedora Fad

There's a new comic out there. Yes, I know, as much of a geek as I am the most comic reading I do is Buffy Season 8 (though I'm a bit behind. Haven't read since the Fray arch). But I do keep somewhat up to date. I do, after all, have posters for World of New Krypton and Battle of the Cowl. So I'm not that out of the loop, right?

Yeah, ok, anyway, there is only one thing we're here to talk about and that's Stranger Comics' new book The Untamed (now by book, I mean comic book. And by comic book, I mean ongoing series. Yeah, I need help).

The Untamed is a story of mystery! Betrayal! Intrigue! It seriously feels to me like the start of one really good sci-fi/fantasy novel. And before you say anything, I do know the difference between sci-fi and fantasy. But there are those rare moments where the lines begin to blur and an exciting playground emerges. The Untamed is just that. An exciting playground in which the dead may just come to life.

The story itself involves a mysterious stranger who is permitted to leave Hell to return to a town he once ruled (ruled? maybe he ran it. I'm not sure because it hasn't come out yet and that's not in the eleven pages I was advanced). The man crosses the river out of Hell to visit the graves of his family before entering the town. What happens next you'll just have to wait and see. I know I'm not the best comic reviewer, but seriously, it's pretty exciting stuff. And what's really cool? We'll be meeting the main character of Stranger Comics' main series through this comic. Not just any main character, but a strong female lead, which is going to be so cool! The artwork is stunning and the writing is very well done. And the critics are raving.

The most awesome thing is that the company, Stranger Comics, is not one of your mainstream comic lines (but I DON'T have anything against the mainstream. Let's make that clear. And comic lines probably isn't the best terminology but oh well). As an emerging comic publisher, Stranger Comics is involving in not just traditional comic distribution, which will be done on recycled paper, but will also be making comics downloadable via the iphone app Panelfly. AND, there is an animated version on the official website (it rocks).

Because I'm so excited about this comic (and thanks to the provision of Tabz), I am hosting a giveaway here for the comic itself. All you have to do to enter is to visit Stranger Comic's YouTube channel and watch the first installment of the animated comic. THEN, come back here and leave a comment telling me what you think. Two people will win a signed copy of issue one. How cool is that? The giveaway will run through Saturday, November 7, and the winners will be notified on here with details.

And the thing I find most cool about Stranger Comics? The little dude in their logo is wearing a fedora!