Inviting...

Isn't this a picture? Doesn't it make you want to just run outside & bask in all of the glory of nature?

Bright gleaming sunshine...

Snow-covered Chugach mountains...

So idyllic, no?

Okay - here's a few more photos to tempt you into the great outdoors of Alaska:

This photo was taken from my front doorstep while I was facing south:

Doesn't the blanket of snow just make everything look so clean, so inviting?

Perhaps you may want to reconsider:
No - this is not the work of photoshop. This is what our thermometer read this morning at 9:58am (disregard the time displayed - the clock is set by the atomic clock & doesn't account for Alaska Standard Time). Yes - it was -14.6°F this morning. And yes - our heater is having to work overtime to keep us warm - I think the heat had been on all night & only reached 61.7°F upstairs. Unless you are a serious die hard, used to bone-chilling, skin-freezing, snot-solidifying temperatures, this is just plain COLD, COLD, COLD!! I took these photos soon after showering & my hair actually froze during the short time I was outside. Yikes! So yes, going outside with wet hair is just plain dumb & I don't recommend it.

You learn early living in the 49th state that clear, sunny skies during the winter months = cold temperatures. Anchorage temperatures don't usually bottom-out like this, however. These are temps usually experienced by Fairbanks - approximately 360 miles north of here.

Wow!! It's -29°F right now in Fairbanks. Okay - makes the current temperature of -11°F seem more tame.

We were supposed to go out to my parent's cabin yesterday, but the extreme weather changed our plans. It was -20°F at the place where we leave via snowmachine. The cabin is about 2 hours by snowmachine from Deshka landing. With high winds in the forecast combined with negative temps - good sense prevailed & we opted to stay home. Too bad - I was really looking forward to spending time with my parents & enjoying relaxing & quality knitting time. Perhaps we'll be able to squeeze in a trip before the winter vacation is over.

So - let's look at warmer things, shall we? Like a couple of Christmas knitting finished objects:

Danish Earflap Cap in Dimond High School colors

Yarn: Cascade 220 in Maroon & Gold
Pattern: Danish Earflap Cap from Hats On!

My hubby - such a good sport to stand outside to model his new hat. The 'earflaps' are more like cheek warmers in the large size.

Elka Icelandic Sweater from Best of Lopi

Yarn: Lopi Icelandic Wool
Recipient: My stepmother - she'll have to wait to receive it as they are at the cabin & we're not.

The yoke detail.

I was very glad to finish this project. While it was a fun & relatively fast knit, the amount of finishing - knitting separate button bands & sewing them into place, sewing on 6 buttons, weaving in ends, kitchner stitch the underarms, knitting collar & sewing in place was a bit taxing. Overall - I'm glad with the result. I felt the button bands pulled on the stitches a bit, so I'd like to improve on that the next time I tackle a similar project. There was no time to block the sweater, but since now we're not heading out to the cabin, I might set it in the tub for a good soak.

Okay - thanks for sticking with this long post. I think we're off to brave the cold & check out the ice sculptures downtown. Then back to knitting for me. Next up: the Druid Mittens from Vogue knitting.

Stay warm!! Ciao~

Another First Day...

Tis the season to be jolly... Oh - wrong season. Yes - 'tis the season I head back to work and entrusted with educating the masses. I am always so worried and nervous about the 1st day. After 13 years you'd think I'd have it down & be able to breeze on through. I do know I'll be fine. I am confident in my abilities, however - I feel the first day is so important - first impressions and all that. I want the kids to know science - specifically chemistry and anatomy, is fun! I want them to know I mean business (No - you may not go to your locker!) I want them to leave excited about being in my class. So - what do I do on the first day? Go over the rules? Give them a synopsis of the course? Nope - I sing. Yes - I sing. Well, lip sync is more like it, but I always eventually let my real (horrible) voice shine through. I so love a captive audience. Michael Offutt has written and produced tons of songs about chemistry. Sometimes I sing "They Call Me A Chemistry Nerd", but lately (last couple of years) I've chosen the more upbeat "We Dig Chemistry (it really is a blast!)". I put on my tie dye lab coat & nerdy goggles & take the stage as soon as the bell rings. You would not believe the look on the faces of those teenagers. Wow. Usually by the end of the song after much encouragement from me - many students are singing the chorus. It's a great way to let the kids know they aren't just in any science class. We also discuss how music and rhythms can help us remember difficult concepts. I also use it to let them know that sometimes we have to take risks in order to move forward - if I can get in front of a group of teenagers I don't know very well, then they can take the risk & give Chemistry a chance. It's been a week since the 1st day and my students continue to ask if we're going to have more songs.

Ahh! I have no arms! (Wow - that really looks freaky!)

The boys have both settled into 3rd & 1st grade. I'm including the annual '1st Day of School Photo In Front Of The Fireplace' photo. Dang - they're getting all growed up. Orion says 3rd grade is going to be way more work - he's looking forward to the challenge. Iain claims 1st grade is going well & that the day is longer than it was in kindergarten. In our district, kindergarten is full day with very few exceptions, so he's on the same time schedule as last year. Perhaps the day just seems longer because they don't begin every morning with fun/free choice time - they get straight to work! Don't you love the plaid? Iain claims plaid shirts are the choice for school pictures. Every formal picture he's had in the last 3 years (preschool - kindergarten), he's worn a plaid shirt. He picked this one out for that very reason; at least it's a different color than last year's plaid shirt. So - what are the chances we'll make it through 12th grade with a plaid shirt every year? Hmmm.....

Even though the start of a new school year means I'm 'busier than a one armed coat hanger', I'm making time for knitting. Here a few F.O.s I promised to show:

"Patrick's Pumpkin" hat

Fiber trends pattern - well written & a very quick knit. I think I finished this in a day. I had a little 'goof' while attaching the 'leaves' to the rolled brim, but with a bit of fudging, I think it's all good. I used the Galway worsted yarn - great color selection & new-mom friendly. This hat is for the new baby of one of my colleagues. I think I need to knit a few more...

"Summer Seafoam Scarf"

This pattern is from the Churchmouse Yarns & Teas July-August newsletter. I used two skeins of Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton in a navy (can't find the ball band.) & a Addi Turbo #6 needle. Very simple & quick knit as well. I knit most of it on our return drive from Seattle to Anchorage & was able to wear it on the 1st day of school. Finishing a scarf is quite the accomplishment for me - I have the attention span of a flea, so I haven't finished a scarf (I get bored with the pattern too soon) since I knit scarves for my grandparents back in 1980!!

Here's a close up of the stitch detail. Dropping stitches on purpose was so fun because it felt like you were doing something naughty. I wonder if knitting the Clapotis gives you the same feeling.

Well - off to work on my impulse knit.

Ciao~

Færdig!

Wow - I'm actually posting within a week of my last post - yeah for me. In case you're wondering what the title of this post means, it's Danish for "Finished" as in, I've finished my latest project:
This was the hat I began during the Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat. I was fortunate enough to take a class taught by Ruth Sorenson. The hat was a quick knit and there really isn't a good excuse for not finishing it earlier - other than my KADD. My main issue was interpreting the decreases correctly - I'll have to take some time later & really figure out what to do & how to place the K3tog decreases correctly. So, in this case after some failed attempts at the K3tog, I just K2tog before & after each marker (to delineate the pattern repeats) - seemed to work just dandy!

Pattern: Kauni Hat designed by Ruth Sorenson

Yarn: Kauni Effects 8/2 in the EG and EF colorways

Needle: Addi Turbo Size 2 (3.0mm) size 16" circular + double points.

Here's a close-up of the flower pattern. It's pretty cute & overall I'm happy with the results.

Of course, a finished object wouldn't really be mine if there weren't some flaw. This hat was knit in a similar manner to the hats I knit last December from the Hat's On book. You knit several rows (as wide of a band as you'd like) then do a row of K2tog, YO to create a nice picot edge. Then, after knitting a width equal to the measure of the band, you fold up the band to the inside and knit it in. Well - I sort of forgot to do that. I was so entranced with the yarn waiting for it to blend into another color, that I totally forgot to knit it in, so I had to fold up the band at the end.

The hat was knit using two small balls (~50 grams) of the Kauni yarn. The background color was purples & greens, while the pattern colors were mostly pink hues - I never got to the blue shades. I think next time I'd want more of a contrast between the background and the pattern. I'm not too happy with the green at the top looks too severe. My students loved the hat and were suitably impressed. They really enjoy when I take a moment from our lesson to share with them a finished object. I've taught several to knit & now more are wanted to keep going so "they can make a hat like this one, too."

I could have just done a simple slip stitch to attach the band, but I remembered a post I'd read by the Yarn Harlot about reinforcing knitting using crochet. I vaguely remembered that this technique could be used to attach pieces of knitting as well.

Have a look:

Now, the advantage to using a crochet chain, is that crocheted fabric has less give than knitted fabric. (Read Stephanie's post - she explains it very well). So - the single crocheted edge isn't as stretchy, but doesn't really restrict the hat too much. In fact, I prefer my hats to be a bit snug. However, the hat is just a smidgy too small - next time I think I'll increase the number of stitches.

The yarn was great! At first I wasn't so sure as the thickness varied in places and occasionally I did find some plant matter. I guess that really adds to the overall experience. I'd read on other blogs that the yarn really 'blossoms' after washing. So true!! Before I washed the hat I thought the hat would be too rough & scratchy. After a quick soak & then a tumble in the drier (air setting - no heat), it really filled out & softened up. I still might add a thin inner layer of polar fleece - the jury is still out. Of course, that would require more work and - sewing.

So - now I think I know what I'll knit with the Kauni Effects yarn I purchased while at Madrona. I'm thinking about Anne-Evilla, another pattern designed by Ruth. My, is she talented! :0)

Well - off to finish that darned Jacobean sock.

Ciao~

Pass the Tissues Please..

Blah - yup, that's how I feel today (and yesterday, and the night before that...). Mr. (I'm certain the virus is 'male' - a female virus would know I'm just too darned busy to be sick right now) Rhinovirus has taken hold of my nasal passages. Yucko. So, in a rare move - I stayed home today. Usually I wait until I'm death warmed over, running a high fever, or worse, but with parent teacher conferences all afternoon & evening tomorrow, I thought I'd better nip this virus in the bud. So - home I am. Too many problems with staying home. As a teacher it's more work to prepare for a sub, than to go to work. I want the time my students spend in my classroom to be meaningful, so I write meticulous lesson plans for my sub & hope they are carried through. Fortunately, my sub is a former student of mine (egads - that means I am old...) & knows how I run a class & has actually even participated in the chemistry lessons outlined for today. Some days you get lucky...

The other problem with staying home is that I feel the overwhelming urge to do something productive. Like - mop the floor, fold laundry, vacuum, etc. Thankfully I was able to resist the household chore urge & put my productive energy into sitting in my favorite chair and finishing up some knitting projects. That way, I can get the intended rest a day home from school provides. Let's take a look at how I did...
Here's the Sweet Baby Cardigan - all finished. I started this project back in July during our 6-week road trip. The body of the sweater knit up super fast. I reckon the sleeves would have gone much faster had I not put the sweater in a bag & proceed to work on other projects. The Yarn Harlot first introduced me (and the rest of the blogosphere) to this sweater. It is a fun knit & the yarn (Dream in Color) is to die for. The size is intended for a 6-9 month old. So - by the time it is blocked & dried, my niece (the intended recipient) should still fit in it. The sweater came in a kit (from Coldwater Collaborative) & there's plenty of yarn left over to make something else. I had considered a pair of booties, but after perusing ravelry, I've been inspired to make a hat to match.
Next off the needles:

The Tasseled Fez (without the tassels yet...) from Hat's On! by Charlene Schurch. I was inspired to knit this by Holly Jo. What a fun knit. It's my first fair isle that actually worked out well. I used Mission Falls 1824 wool (from the stash!!) & just needed a smidge more so I can complete the tassels.
Here is an up close shot to show the detail. Of course, there are a few imperfections, but I think I staged the photo so they wouldn't show. lol - I figure, my 5 year old (the intended recipient) won't notice either... It's one of his Christmas presents. That's one of the things I love about 5 year old boys. While he was engrossed watching Pokemon (can I say obsessed by Pokemon?) - I was able to try the hat on his head & he wasn't the wiser.

Here's another shot kind of showing the three points. It's pretty fun. When the tassels are attached, I'll upload another. Anyhow, thanks Holly-Jo for the idea! I've found other hats in this book that will make great presents.

The last cast off is only 1/2 of a project. You didn't think I wasn't working on a pair of socks, now did you?
This is Sock #1 for "Sockin' it to Maggie". A bit of charity knitting as Maggie is a 17 year old suffering from Histiocytosis. A group of bloggers are knitting her socks to help lift her spirits during her treatment and recovery. So - lots of well wishes are being knit into these socks.

Details: Broadripple from knitty.

Yarn: Socks That Rock lightweight (love it!) in Spot Rock On! colorway.

Needles: US 1, Addi Turbo, Magic Loop

Modifications: I'm knitting these over 72 stitches, so I've increased the number of knits between the yo and ssk.

Overall - a fun & quick pattern. I plan to finish these up & ship them off before Thanksgiving.

Well - must run. The latest issue of Interweave knits arrived today. Yes - something to read while I'm resting up before a long day of conferences tomorrow.

Happy Knitting!