I've been meaning to show you...

...so last week (yes last week) at knit night look what I got: 

My very own ravelry button to display my "name" at knit night.  It really helps because we all go by different names on ravelry....okay if you're a knitter and not on ravelry go sign up today...it is awesome....www.ravelry.com!  Also a Bob pin!  Too cute! These were gifts from a very generous lady at knit night who also gave me a ride home so DH didn't have to come back out to get me!  Knitters are good folk!

The baby bootees found there new home!

Mom...you and I are the only ones who think they look weird by the mismatchness!  Oh well, they are off to their new home where I was reassured that no one would mind that they don't match.  (note to self: don't use self striping yarn on bootees unless you can get them to match)

So this week I'm cheating...I scheduling posts so that I can post more....I have plenty to say....the work week is getting busy....so hopefully this works!

First Day of School!

Well today is the first day back to school!  It isn't as if I haven't been working this summer, but it has all been fun stuff (well I think what I am working on is fun) and on my own schedule.  Now classes start and teaching duties resume.  I'm looking forward to it, I think.  A little strange with my advisor gone, but so far it is going well with her gone.  

So I ended up getting 2 extra Gold Medals for Team Baton Rouge Red Sticks in Ravelympics!  I hate knitting under pressure, so I only entered ahead of time the shawl relay (thank you all for your lovely comments about the shawl!  I adore it and can't wait to give it away--does that sound wrong?)  Tomorrow I will show you my medals (one award ceremony hasn't happened yet)

Last minute entries:

Baby Dressage:

Another pair of bootees (they are just so fun I keep making them over and over!)

Handspun Heptathlon:

Garter Rib Mitts using my first handspun! :)  These are for me (can't part with my first handspun)  They will be perfect for keeping my hands warm in my cold office and classrooms!  I think the pattern was well suited to handspun too....the imperfections of the yarn work instead of looking odd.  I made a few modifications because I feared running out of yarn (see my ravelry page if you want all those type of details)   These were knit flat with short rows for the thumb.  Also learned how to do a provisional cast on (not as hard as I imagined)

I will try to get a better pic soon. (DH didn't quite understand the look I was going for, but he did gladly snap the shot!)

Now the games are over and let the classes begin!!

Baby Bootees!

So pair one of Saartje's bootees are done!  These are for a prof in my department who is expecting!  The yarn is Sockotta (cotton/wool/nylon blend).  It isn't my favorite yarn for socks...a little scratchy in my opinion, but it works perfect for some bootees!  The pattern tends to run a little small, so I used US 3 needles and am really happy with the size of these.  (maybe it's because I knit on the tight side)  

I have plans to make one more pair of these for another friend I met at a recent math conference.   Hope you all are having a great week, I know I'm having fun!!!

Blanket is ready for baby!

So as promised here are the pics of the baby blanket! Overall I really enjoyed this project--even with the different edging construction (I guess that was part of the fun) Thanks for your help picking the pattern! This was the first time I used Bernet Softee Baby yarn. (I think I have enough to make another blanket--I always overbuy because I hate to run out) So I may make another one, just to have around for the next baby, we'll see. The yarn was okay. I think I prefer Lion Brand Baby Soft, but this wasn't bad!

This weekend I had a first--I went to an LSU gymnastics meet with some ladies from church! It was great fun. I have always liked to watch it on tv and thought it would be fun to do that, but my lack of balance caused me to never try (I have been called the Leaning Tower of Leah--another story for another day, probably better told by someone other than me) It was exciting to watch it live--plus LSU did super! I definitely plan on going to more in the future.

An Amazing Transformation!

It is amazing what one more round will do to my funny looking curls! Now it looks like a prefect edging! See those curls...now all stretched out and happy...looking just right. It is definitely an interesting construction that had never seen before, but it wasn't hard. In fact with the edging only being 3 rows it goes really fast. I'd say making the curls is the worst of it.

Here's a larger view just so you can remember how silly it looked!

In other news....I get to teach today! I must say I'm excited! Some semesters I teach a class of my own, which I always enjoy, but is a lot of work. I taught Calculus for the first time last semester and felt swamped the whole time. This semester I'm grading for a professor. The work isn't as enjoyable, but there is so much less of it and it is not stressful that I enjoy the break. But the prof is out of town....so I get to fill in. Not quite the same as having your own class, but I'm looking forward to this afternoon. Hopefully it will go well!

What do you call these?

The baby blanket is coming right along and I might be finished this week! WooHoo! So I starting the edging yesterday, it looks so weird!

See these little "curls", you make 96 of them around the blanket! They look like Cheetos to me or maybe like little tentacles, definitely not something I've seen before. Looking at the pattern I see what is going to happen, but right now it looks kinda crazy!

Here's a close up of the middle part!

I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend! I have every intention of posting Friday, but boy was that a busy day and it just didn't get done, but Friday we got to welcome baby Madison Rae into the world!

My cousin L had her baby! (I'm not sure what that makes my relation to Madison?) Mom and baby are doing well! Unfortunately I have to wait a little while to give this little one a hug, but she is loved already!

Moving right along!

Last night I started the baby blanket! Does this mean I'm done with the back of the sweater? Nope! Let's just say a day with a high over 80, lots of humidity, and alpaca don't mix--at least not last night! So I went for something a little "cooler."

I can't believe how quickly this is going! I've done almost 5 inches! (I need 25, then I do a border) It was really nice to crochet! I must say I've missed it. (I don't have another crochet project in mind at the moment--except a doily or two, but I guess we'll see) Here is me try to get some close up shots! So many blogs have such artist pics--well I try....practice makes better, right?

How about another Knox story? I know, I know, so many cat stories....we don't have kids we have a cat, but she is just so entertaining and sweet....I know I'm obsessed, what can I say....she makes me smile and laugh! On with the story....this morning I got up before DH (this is normal in our house) Knox got up too and went out to the living room for a minute (we don't give her free reign of the house at night--she has her claws and we have new furniture---she doesn't seem to mind), then went back to the bedroom, crawled under the covers and curled up at DH's feet to sleep in with him! (She is known to crawl under the covers to sleep, but not normally when a human is in the bed too, and very rarely with DH.) It was a tender morning for the two of them :)

My DH said....

....make a poll! My DH is so supportive of my crafting habits. He rarely complains about the mess or expense or the vast amount of time I devote to my "projects." He also patiently listens to me debate what to make, you know questions like...which socks do you think they would like more? Should I used this yarn or this one? which color? So this weekend when I asked:

Do I make this afghan?:

Option 1

or this one?:

Option 2

His response was make a poll and let you all decide! He went on to say that he thought option 2 might be more practical. (of course I was leaning towards option 1) This is for our pastor's baby. They aren't going to find out if it is a boy or girl, so either one would be white. I scored some yarn at Michael's on Saturday (I used that 30% off coupon I told you about) It is Bernat Softee in white. I've never used it before, but it looks soft and it's washable, so we should be in good shape for baby items.

I know this is the first crochet project I've mentioned (both proposed projects are crochet) and maybe you all thought I was just a knitter. Although I learned to knit when I was little (from Grandma) I also learned to crochet (from Grandma too!) For whatever reason, crochet seemed to stick with me better. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I really started knitting. I think in general I prefer knitting, but some projects are more suited to crochetting and I don't mind that at all--crochet doilies are fun, especially when it's hot here and crochet doesn't roll on you like knitting can. Also, if my hands get tired of knitting, switching to a crochet project can be good because it uses different repetitive actions. Anyway, I'm going to crochet this baby blanket and would appreciate you voting in my poll to help my decide. So please go to the side there and vote, help me!

Sweater news: 12 inches and growing :)

Baby Set 2

Here is Baby Set 2 (aka-the girl set) minus 2 buttons. See last post about my inability to count. The color is off in these pictures. There wasn't a lot of natural light this morning and the flash made it orange. This pic which was taken before buttons is closer to the real color, but still not quite right, but you get the idea!

The color is coral, knitpicks shine sport. So cute! Next person having a baby girl will probably get it, otherwise it is going into my hope chest :) Not a lot of knitting got done this weekend. I had the math contest (fun) and then good friends for dinner on Saturday (lots of fun) and the Sunday didn't feel good (so lots and lots of sleep) I did start a new sock so I will tell you all about it tomorrow (hopefully I'll get a little further on it tonight).