Last night while my mom was packing up her bags (SOB!) I picked up my Fleece Artist kit and decided to give thrumming a try. I was merely rows away from finishing my Trekking sock, so I figured instead of finishing that, any sane person would just move onto a new project. I looked at the Yarn Harlot's thrum FAQ, reread the directions on my pattern and dove right in. Thrums are cool, but I think mine are a tad large. See that roving spilling out the cuff? Especially with the brown roving, it looks a lot like hair.

Yes, these loops are huge. I was mocked by the crazy lady with the big suitcases but I persevered. Two rows of thrumming in, I'm not feeling too bad about it. When I actually tried it on my hand, it wasn't too tight so I'm hoping that after a few wears these giant loops will felt into a cozy fur.

Next on the try-it-out parade? Only time will tell!!

Posted by Molly at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I am very frustrated with these Blogger and Typepad word verification systems lately. I can't be the only person that has trouble with them. Especially the ones on the stony-looking background are downright illegible. It's like the computer is TRYING to trick me. Is this really the only way to weed out the humans from the robots? There's got to be a better way!!

Posted by Molly at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

!!!!!

I just noticed that since I haven't posted for a while, the main page of my blog has been blank! I thought I'd post a quick update from work to let everyone know that I'm still alive.

My mom and I have been busy since she got here last Wednesday--teaching classes together, having a crazy time in Tokyo, shopping, cooking and doing all sorts of other stuff. I'm tired just thinking about it. If you want the real scoop on what we've been up to (and details our fun day meeting Kat and Stefana) you'll have to check out my mom's story. I second everything she says--thanks for the great day, girls!

In knitting, I think I've given up on my lacey wrap. I was knitting it for a specific event that's coming up fast, and I just stopped enjoying the whole process. If I was just making the pattern for the fun of it, I would definitely stick with it, but at this point I don't feel like dealing with the trial and error of my own pattern when I'm planning on wearing it two weeks from tomorrow. Life is too short to be knitting things that I don't enjoy. I'll set it aside for a while before frogging, but I think that the beautiful Noro colorway is more suited to a simpler pattern.

You know what that means? It's time to cast on for projects. Lots of them! I'm thinking thrummed mittens, Sesame (I even swatched!), and maybe diving into this beautiful yarn palette to try something fair isle. The possibilities are endless!!

Thanks for all the sock suggestions. I decided to cast on for a ribbed sock with my Trekking and I'm about to turn the heel. Pictures on the way... I'd better get back to work.

Posted by Molly at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Well, now that the cat's out of the bag, I can finally get back to the whole honesty and openness thing that I've had going on ever since I started whistling in the dark. My mom is here! The cleaning, planning, scrubbing, organizing and more cleaning that has been going on around here in the past week (didn't realize what a slob I can be...) in addition to work was too much to handle! Now that I have my knitting time back hopefully I will be back on track for finishing my wrap on time. I thought I'd get so much knitting done on the way to and from the airport with her last, but it turned out to be much of a stressful voyage than I had anticipated and spent more time biting my fingernails. Anyways, I digress..

Today my post is about Trekking. Check out this beautiful yarn! I've shown it at least once before, when I was foolishly trying to make a pair of Jaywalkers. I think the yarn was just too fine for that pattern and to be honest I have just had it for a while and want to make something different--but what to make!? Whenever I go looking for a pattern I find about 8 other things that I add on my mental to-knit list (can't even get into that now) but I definitely want to start a new pair of socks, and soon!

I swore to myself that I wouldn't cast on for anything new until I finish my wrap, and I won't. But it doesn't mean I can't look forward to the future! I really like having a pair of socks on hand to take with me wherever I'm going. If you can suggest a great pattern that inspires me and I actually cast on for it your karmic rewards will be plenty. Ideas?

Posted by Molly at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Here's the latest progress on the wrap that I'm making. See it rolling up at the bottom there? I thought I was so clever to knit the last few rows on smaller needles, but it seems not to have had the amazing flattening effect that I was going for. Even with blocking, this might be tricky. Anyone have a crochet edge to suggest? I'd like to try something like that on this project since it is already lacey and a little girlier than the things I usually make, but I have no idea where to start. This idea is totally contingent on how much time is left after I finish the rest of the sweater.

This has been moving very slowly but surely over the past few days. The deadline, a Valentine's ball on the 11th, is approaching at a quickening pace (is quickening a word?) but sadly this sleeve cannot keep up. What's taking me so long? I guess I am just too busy to knit lately. But does anyone really have as much time to knit as they really want? Here's a closeup of the sleeve, in case you didn't get enough of the bobble pattern the first time I showed it.

I am still enjoying this pattern and think that even with the odd bobbles on the sleeves, it will look ok. At least it will be one-of-a-kind! I'm not so crazy about the lilac part of the variegation, but I've got my fingers crossed that in the general scheme of things this one stripe will not throw off the whole look that I'm going for.

I had what could have been an awful day at work today. There was a very serious meeting with the English club where the Japanese teacher in charge had to practically yell at the kids for being so passive and unresponsive when we speak English. Then the president was forced to explain something simple to the two native speakers in English and she cried. Just the kind of enthusiasm we like to see in the students who have chosen our club. It seems like a lose-lose situation, but hopefully the Japanese teacher has some cultural understanding that we don't and things will start to improve. Said Japanese teacher (who has been my only real problem at the school) also felt the need to scold me like a child in front of other teachers totally unprovoked, which is just not fun either. Maybe it's the memory of winter vacation still cursing through my veins or just a successfully morepositive attitude (I hope!), but I think I handled it much better than I have in the past. I was almost glad that other people were there to witness the ridiculousness.

I thought about leaving Japan after two years instead of three because of my problem with this person, but I have recently come to the decision that I'm not going to change my plans because of someone else's defective personality. So it is even more encouraging to me that I didn't totally lose it today. When I got home, I was rewarded with two awesome surprises that are part of what is becoming the birthday celebration that will never end.

Two awesome presents that really make me smile--one from a new friend who lives next door, and another from an old high school friend who I haven't been in such close touch with recently. I taught my high school pal to knit a few years ago, and although she didn't totally take to it, she didn't become a yarn-hater either, and has always been interested and encouraging about my habit-turned-obsession. So as if getting my hands on the Yarn Harlot's book wasn't exciting enough, it was really nice to get it from her.

I think this is a good sign for the rest of the year. Things are going to start happening to me now!!*

*Name that movie... I bet no one knows it.

Posted by Molly at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

It's a gray, very rainy day here today, so I have spent the morning reading blogs and trying to ignore the fact that I actually have to leave the house later today. It's a good thing I was motivated last night to post about all the exciting crafty things that have been going on around here lately! First of all, here is the secret-ish project that I started over winter vacation. I've been using the Noro Silver Thaw laceweight (yes, they make laceweight!) and my own brain power to come up with some kind of cropped wrap/shrug that I can wear to the big Valentine's Ball that we're organizing in my area in February. Luckily, I started my preparations for the knitted accessory earlier than last year, when I casting off for my skinny scarf on the train there!

I used the topdown raglan generator to get the general idea of how many stitches to cast on around the neck, and then did some random increasing to make a v-neck that slightly resembles that of the Lucky wrap I made last year. So far, so good! I also wanted to make a lace pattern down the arm, and the cover of IK summer 2005 caught my eye so I decided to try that. The bobbles remind me a little of those panels down the back of a stegosaurus, but I think that if I just poke them inwards a bit, it ought to work out just fine. I'm starting the arms today, if I have any time left before heading over to my tea teacher's house to prepare for our new year ceremony tomorrow morning.

My work seminar this week went really well, and luckily my "team speeching" comedy routine that I did with a teacher from my office turned out to be a hit. Once the audience started lauging, I could totally relax and actually had a good time. Don't think I have a future in comedy writing, though.

Remember how I said that Becky was just awesome? Well, now I have more concrete proof. She went home to Canada this Christmas and brought me back a Fleece Artist Thrummed Mitten kit for my birthday! I really love this stuff, and always wanted to make some thrummed mittens so I think I'll be casting on soon.

In case you didn't know, it's National De-lurking week! I doubt I have as many lurkers now that I've moved to a new site (have you updated your links?) but if you're reading this, reveal yourself!

(you can get more delurking buttons here)

Posted by Molly at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

I don't have much to show these days, between my travels and my busy work life, so today I want to introduce blogland to two of my friends!

Becky, one of my friends here who has become a knit addict has gone ahead and started her own blog, yay! She is a great person with fun ideas and cool shoes. Check out her rad armwarmers--the reason why I had to make myself a pair, too.

I also got a message from Stefana, one of my favorite commenters also living in Japan, who finally started her own crafty blog, too. Hopefully some of you Japan craftophiles will enjoy what these two talented chicks have to say!

Tomorrow is the beginning of a two-day seminar for my program on how to be a better ALT. Thrilling in and of itself, but this year there is even more to be excited about because I'm doing a manzai (traditional Japanese comedy routine with two people) performance with my boss in English. How I got dragged into writing and performing this "comedy" is a blur, but it's coming up in the morning. I'm a little worried about it, but if there's one thing I've gotten better at in Japan, it's making a fool of myself in front of a lot of people. Sure would be nice if I could just sit in the back and knit, though...

Posted by Molly at 05:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

So I'm back from Hokkaido, one year older and really excited about snowboarding! It was my birthday on Saturday and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than in the mountains with more snow than I have seen in my life. Thank you everyone who left a nice birthday comment! I got a text from my brother this morning asking if I had seen my mom's latest post, so I knew it would be good. I celebrated my birthday with a gracious fall from the ski lift and was sung to by a mongolian tent-full of restaurant goers before blowing out a birthday candle on my pile of birthday beans and tapioca.

I am a novice on the slopes but I managed to hobble home without any serious injuries and I am ready to give snowboarding another shot as soon as my wounds are healed. I really used every muscle in my body--even my fingers! My knitting muscles were generally too exhausted to knit this weekened even though the spirit was willing. I managed to continue only a few rows on my Flower Basket Shawl Leaf Lace Shawl (I never was one for details--thanks, Mum), half of which is now looking like this:

And to wrap things up, the great birthday gift of 2006. No explanation needed.

Posted by Molly at 09:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

I love 2006! I have finished something already, and am generally recharged and ready to take on whatever is in store for me. Some Noro Silver Thaw mysteriously showed up at my door on New Year's Day, and I then knit up these babies, diagonal rib wristwarmers from Last-Minute Knitted gifts, while I was with family (Japanese family, that is) for the holidays. They can joke and tease just like anyone at home, and they were more than sufficiently horrified when I told them of the recent drama with my one friend from work who has been giving me grief. They also reassured me that it is not "Japanese people" who are the problem but just an individual. I am much less jaded about the whole thing after hearing it from them. All three daughters and the parents were hanging on my every word (being very patient as I was stumbling to explain in Japanese..) and they really tried hard to think of a solution. No resolution, but it was nice that they cared.

Everyone was also very accepting of my knit hobby, and oohed and aahed at everything I pulled out of my Hello Kitty project bag. I'm not sure if it was my tension or due to all the attention and fondling that it received, but the size of the first wristwarmer I made was noticably larger than the second. Look! I can't figure out why, but since that part is generally stuffed under a sleeve and they both fit fine, there is no reason to be a total perfectionist about it.

So after three lovely days of eating home cooked food, sleeping late and laying around playing with little kids all day, it was time to come back the old homestead. I have been busy at work getting ready for classes and a big conference next week, but it's generally a good feeling to get things done rather than just sit around and wait for something to happen at school.

And finally, although I'm not a huge resolution-maker, I have been trying to improve the way I live my life over the past month or two. One thing that I so far have been totally unable to do is get up early. So my goal for this year is to wake up just 20 or 30 minutes early every day (or at least once in a while) and have time to sit and drink some coffee, watch the morning news shows and knit a few rows before heading to work. It beats getting up 15 minutes before leaving, taking a crazed shower, running around like a maniac and then racing to school to get there on time. Not that I do that on a regular basis or anything, though.

Oh yeah, and when I thought of the title? I was giddy for my snowboarding trip that I'll be leaving for in the wee hours of Friday morning. There will be lots of travel time by bus, boat and plane, which means knitting time, of course, and lots of snow!

Posted by Molly at 09:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)