Last Thursday, my parents arrived in Japan with 5 suitcases!  Inside were all sorts of wonderful surprises.  Actually, there were only a few surprises because I made quite a lot of requests.  I think my parents' things for the visit couldn't have taken up more than one or two suitcases.  Imagine my horror, when my mom called to say that their flight was delayed from Detroit, so instead of flying to the new, luxurious airport 40 minutes away, they would be taking the long journey from Tokyo on the bullet train.  I rushed to Nagoya to meet them and help with the heavy bags, and my shoulders and neck are STILL sore.  Not that I'm complaining or anything! 

My Lucky Clover wrap yarn came, and I immediately started on my swatch. 

Doesn't it look perfect?  Let's zoom out and see...


Oh, whoops!  It's only about 3.65 inches wide and it should be 4.  Hmm...  how about the row gauge (is that the right term?)?  Let's zoom out a little more.

Look at that tangle.  It doesn't look too menacing, but trust me, it's bad.  I WON'T be finishing this swatch, but rather using my usual guesstimation techniques and hoping it all works out for the best.  I was trying to decide between making a small or a medium, so I will go for the medium and hope it all turns out for the best. 

I know, I've had 3 whole days to work on this, but they have been a whirlwind with my parents, their friends, my coworkers and the struggle to "translate."  I'm a bit exhausted, but at least I'm not jetlagged.  Tomorrow morning, I will hopefully have the energy to cast on on the 7 am train to Hiroshima!!

Posted by Molly at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

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Thanks for the link, Kay!

Posted by Molly at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's taking over...

I know, this looks barely halfway done, but I am working on it.  I really wish there was more time in the day!  I spent most of my weekend at work or cleaning my apartment like a madwoman (not that it was very dirty to begin with, Mum, really) because MY PARENTS ARE COMING THIS WEEK!!!  Of course, I am thrilled to see them, but also thrilled to see the yarn that my mom is bringing so that I can start on the lucky clover wrap, ASAP!  I am in need of a new, bright, spring knitting project, if you haven't noticed.  Let's see, my parents' flight arrives around 7pm on Thursday, which means they should get to my apartment by 10... and I might have time to swatch before bed!

I am thinking that I might have lots of time to knit as we are jetsetting around this country on the 2 week tour of the Kansai region, but I make no promises.  Tomorrow night is my school farewell party for the administrative workgroup (which I am totally not part of, but I am not one to turn down a party invitation!) so this is my last update on the super-exciting shawl until my parents come.  Hopefully I will have lots of exciting knitting things to show you, faithful readers, but if it's slow going don't lose faith!  I'll be back soon. 

[See that album on iTunes on my computer screen?  I am currently trying to keep myself from downloading one of The Postal Service's CDs. I love their song at the end of Sarah's mixcast and when I checked out their label, I realized that it is the same label as The Shins, my favorite band of the month, AND Pernice Brothers.  That's not bad!  But I'll tell you what is--iTunes.  It is just TOO EASY to download music.]   

Posted by Molly at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I finally got this in the mail in a great box from my mom yesterday.  There are so many things that I want to knit, primarily this:

Hourglass Sweater!!

and these

I want some of these right NOW!

I am debating the choice of Cash Iroha for the Hourglass Sweater.  I WILL make this, it's just a matter of when and with what. 

The box was also full of snacks and VIDEOS!  Yes, two full videos of 24 that I have yet to break into, and a tape of NYPD Blue that I watched last night.  Tomorrow night I'm off to the R.E.M. concert and then my big work week will be extended all the way through Sunday afternoon since I have to work both weekend days. 

Luckily, Monday is a holiday and I might have some knitting time in the car on our way to the concert tomorrow.  Otherwise, I think I would be feeling a little overwhelmed.  No more time for this nonsense--I'm off to watch 24.  Just 1 episode before bed, really.  Ok no, let's be realistic.  Maybe 2 or 3. 

Posted by Molly at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

I've done something bad.  Something very bad.  I didn't want to admit it to myself until now, but when this postcard arrived today, I decided that I have to face the music.  This is a postcard from my secret pal.  No, not the one who is spoiling me, but rather the one that I am supposed to be A SECRET TO!!!  I somehow managed to completely ruin the surprise and reveal my identity with the very first email I sent.  I still don't understand how it happened.  It makes me feel ill.  Je suis désolée, Cécile! (et merci pour la carte postale). 

It's just been one of those days.  I had to stay until almost 10 pm correcting  entrance exams at school today, and tomorrow is supposed to be the BUSY DAY!  To top it all off, I had a bad allergic reaction to something (Japanese medicine?) and barely made it home to get my benedryl.  Luckily these berry KitKats that I found at the grocery store the other day are helping me make it until bedtime... which is right about NOW! 

I'll knit again someday, I promise!

Posted by Molly at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Thanks knitters, for coming to the rescue and helping me get things sorted with the Lucky Clover pattern.  The yarn is on its way and I have joined the knitalong so spring knitting will be underway soon!

Posted by Molly at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I need help in more than one way, but today's appeal is to anyone who has Stitch 'n Bitch Nation.  I have been in a bit of a knitting slump lately, with not much time to knit and not much to look forward to after I finish my shawl.  But when I was browsing through the knitblog world the other day, I found the Lucky Clover Wrap Knit-along and decided that this sweater is JUST what I need to welcome spring.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I live in the middle of nowhere.  Fancy knitting books like this and good quality yarn are hard to come by, but luckily my mom and dad are coming to visit me in *less than two weeks* so they can bring along a few necessary items from home.  The book is on its way, but it isn't in my mom's hands yet.  Since I have bombarded her with a long list of ridiculous requests, I thought I would try to exploit the kindness of knitbloggers outside of my family this time.

To owners of the book, would anyone be able to tell me how many skeins of Rowan 4-ply this sweater calls for (in a medium) and what needles I need?  The karmic rewards will be many.  Don't do it for me, do it for my poor mother (who will probably run out and get said yarn and needles because she is the best).  THANK YOU!!

Posted by Molly at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

It's been a week since my last post, and I don't have a lot to say for myself.  I am plugging along on my shawl at a snail's pace.  I am quite enjoying the actual knitting part of this project, and I'm not just powering through to add something new to my wardrobe (although it will be nice when it's finished...).  I have been really busy in the evenings after school and my social schedule has been packed relatively full so it doesn't leave much time for knitting.  Here is some progress, about 35% finished:

Lovely view, don't you think?

Close-up, it looks quite ribbed and 3D, but by the time I finish and block it out, it ought to be bigger and smooth.  We'll see!

Today when I got home from work, I opened my door and found quite an exciting surprise.  I usually hope that there will be some mail waiting for me, but rarely does a package actually get jammed through the mail slot!!  Luckily, my mailman was feeling adventurous and jammed a soft envelope all the way through. 

Thank you, High Energy Jenny!!

I really like this yarn, and I'm thinking a spring scarf might be just what this girl needs!  Surprise yarn in the mail, does life get much better than this?

In other news, today I finished The Lovely Bones.  The big letdown is that I only started it yesterday.  I hate when I finish a good book so quickly!  These two days have been rather exceptional at work, because it's finals time at the end of the academic year, and since I still don't know my academic schedule for next year, there isn't anything for me to do at work.  Yesterday I brought my computer to work and did all sorts of ridiculous stuff like covet every item at anthropologie and update my amazon wishlist.  Then I started the book, which my friend lent me yesterday morning, and I read the rest of it today.  I think it's the first time that I've read a decent sized book in less than 24 hours. 

It's depressing because now I have nothing to read again.  I really like to read books like this one and The Kite Runner, but there are a lot of books that I just can't get into.  Any suggestions of good books I should include in my next Amazon order? 

Posted by Molly at 05:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Have you listened to Sarah's mixcast yet?  If not, get with the program!  This is one of the rockin'est mixes I've ever heard.  I looked at the playlist and thought, hmm... I've only ever heard of the Shins, but I'll give it a try.  It is THAT MUCH BETTER because I had never heard most of this stuff before. 

Last night this music got me moving on my knitting and tonight it is forcing me to pick up my apartment and knit some more before bed.  This mix is "for me, for me, formidable!"  You should definitely check it out if you haven't done so already. 

Posted by Molly at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)