Look what I did with HWJF last night! How fun is that? And as promised I will not talk about the aversion to pumpkin guts I witnessed...

So despite the first week of the new job and all, there is still knitting being accomplished. Afterall, I have to do something during my two hour commute. First we have to go back a ways:

Last Thursday (after my last day at Yale) Eklectica brightened my spirits with a spinning lesson. Turns out the problem I was having was that I was making my yarn too thick for the spindle I have. After a little practice with some pencil roving she let me have and a whole lot of predrafting I was able to spin a lot better.

First, a little quiz:

You Belong in Rome You're a big city girl with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better? What City Do You Belong in? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

Yes I am alive and kicking after one week of working in the big city. And not all the much worse for the wear I might add. Monday was tough. Three hours of benefits orientation and filling out tax forms will definitely make your head hurt. I learned some important things though:

1. I am exempt from NYC tax because I live in CT. :)
2. My union dues are only 2%, not three. :)
3. The max I can get in transit checks per month is $105. And they don't start until January. :(
4. I'm probably going to have a payroll deduction for my health insurance. :(
5. At least I'm covered retroactive to my start date. :)
6. But choosing a plan from 12 possibilities is not going to be easy. :(
7. But I can change it next fall if need be. :)
8. But my other benefits (eye, dental, prescription etc.) don't start until February. :(


After that I reported to my department, had lunch and got another hour or two of orientation. There are rules, rules, and more rules for working in this place. But as the week progressed I began to understand why they were necessary. There are just so many people working at this institution from such an amazing variety of backgrounds that you really have to have things set up to keep them all in line. The most annoying thing so far: I don't have a phone. And I can't use my cell in the "work area". There are allowances for important phone calls and such, but there is no place to use a phone with some level of privacy. That could make certain situations very difficult.

But beyond those little things, so far so good as far as the work environment goes. My coworkers are all very nice people so far and were very welcoming. I have my own desk which is pretty exciting for me and it's actually set up fairly well. The only thing I don't like is that I don't have much room to the left of my computer, which is usually where I put the item I'm cataloging, but I may be able to change that down the line. I've even been able to put up a few pictures thanks to HWJF. He met my in the city on Thursday since he had the day off and he brought me the pictures along with this:



Can you believe it?! It's one of those edible arrangements! How cool and sweet is that? We also had dinner at a local pub before he drove me home. It was very nice to not take the train for at least one trip although I am certainly enjoying my morning rides with Sneaksleep. We chat, we knit, we sleep when we need to, and it really makes the ride fly by. I get to leave NY a little earlier than she does so we don't get to ride back together, but I've been doing a lot more napping then anyway.

And Friday I got my first paycheck. Now, granted it was only for one week, and I don't have all my deductions coming out yet, but still... I'm a little worried. It wasn't exactly impressive. And thanks to Metro North not processing my Mail & Ride application in time I had to buy my monthly ticket for November at the station yesterday, which ended up being most of my first paycheck. Not a fun feeling, especially with rent due this week. But a hear the third paycheck is when you get caught up and things start looking better. If that's true, November 25th can't come soon enough.

I have a fairly relaxing weekend planned. Today is "get shit done" day so laundry is already washing, I've been catching up on blog reading and I'll be figuring out which health insurance plan to go with. Tonight I'll be going up to see HWJF and to carve a pumpkin (something I haven't done in ages). Tomorrow HWJF has the day off so we plan on being as lazy as possible which is fine by me. Monday will be here before I can turn around.

One other plan for the weekend: Post some knitting content tomorrow! See you then! :)

Survived first day stop
Went well stop
Totally exhausted stop
Going to bed now stop

(Warning: Absolutely no knitting or crocheting content contained in this post. Just general blathering about my currently bum mood. If these things are not of interest to you, click away now.)


It's been a rough day.


After over 27 years, I am no longer a NY State resident. That's right, after 2 trips to the DMV this morning, I now carry a CT driver's license. While this might not seem like a big deal to most people, I am one of those few in the world that moved from the hospital where I was born to my home with my parents and did not move again until I went off to college. I spent 4 years there before coming to this area 5 years ago. This is not something I have done or plan to do very often. This is not an easy thing for me. When I left the DMV the 2nd time, new license in hand, I cried.

Then I went to work. I went to work for the last time. I cleaned out my desk. I took all the sticky notes off my computer monitor. I cleaned off all my old files. I went through months of cataloging with my mentor/supervisor. And then I had to say goodbye to everyone and take all my stuff and go. And while I told myself I wasn't going to do it, I cried like a baby.

So Monday morning instead of going here:



I'll be going here:




I'm sad today, but I think I'll be excited on Monday.



I'm going to go console myself with pumpkin ice cream and knitting now....

Yesterday I was treated by my coworkers to some yummy Thai food for my "farewell" luncheon. It was so nice to have almost all the staff there. I'm still in shock about all this. I can't believe I'm leaving Yale after five years between school and working at the music library. It just doesn't seem possible. And as if treating me to lunch wasn't enough they also gave me all of this:


I've been eyeing one of these little animals with the Yale shirt for quite some time and it was so cool that they picked this out for me. The iTunes and Barnes & Noble gift cards will definitely come in handy too since they will contribute to train entertainment. I've worked with great people for the last 3.5 years and I'm definitely sorry I have to leave. I think the bulldog is going on my new desk. Tomorrow is my last day and since I'm getting a little choked up just thinking about it, I'm not going to think about it.


Socktoberfest is chugging along over at Lolly's. There are some great prizes being offered now too. But the best part is a finished pair of socks and that is something I finally have. Take a look:





My fluted banisters are done! I love this pattern and I love this yarn. I used Silja on size 2 addis and reduced the original number of cast-on stitches to 60 from 80. They are still a tiny bit loose for my liking, but a wash may change that even if the yarn is 80% superwash wool/20% nylon. Overall I'm really happy with them and can't wait to wear them with their intended matching sweater (when I manage to find the sweater!)

Next up will be a pair from the Trekking yarn I showed you in this post. I'm taking the advice left in the comments that Lolly and Ann left and sticking with my size 2 addis. I'm also going to go ahead and split the yarn into two balls thanks to the advice of Rebekkah and the loan of a scale from Sami. I think I'd like to do these toe up with the guidance of Crazy Toes and Heels but I'd like to do another interesting cuff pattern. Crazy Toes and Heels has instructions for a pretty eyelet rib pattern that I'm considering. In my quest for free sock patterns I had completely forgotten about the Townsend Socks Knitalong. There are some great patterns there that I'm definitely going to check out.

For now it's on to take care of more things that need to be done before I start the new job this coming Monday. EEek!

What a great event! Saturday was the trip to Rhinebeck. While the weather started out less than stellar, it cleared up quickly which was really nice. We ran into a bit of a problem with a flooded out Taconic Parkway, but after a quick run to the facilities and some much needed food we hit the vendors around 12:30pm. I knew exactly what my first stop had to be. I've been hearing about how great the sock yarn from The Fold was for quite some time so I was really excited that they were going to be there. Unfortunately the specific colorway I wanted was sold out by the time I got there, but I still came home with one skein:

This is the Azure Malachite colorway which I still love. I wish you could all feel just how amazing this yarn really is. I'm definitely going to need a really special pattern for this pair of socks. I'm very happy to say that the colors they show on the website are really that amazing in person.

After completing mission #1 it was off to see the other vendors. There were so many barns full of so many yummy things it was really overwhelming. There was yarn, there were needles, there were patterns, there were completed items, there was roving in every color imaginable... the list just goes on and on! I just couldn't figure out to buy there were so many things. But there was one other mission I had to complete. Mission #2 was to get a drop spindle and some roving so I could learn to spin! Yes, I'm completely insane for allowing myself to get into yet another fiber addiction gateway, but it was an idea I'd been toying with for awhile.

Apparently Sneaksleep read my mind because it turns out that she had already made plans with Mamacate to get materials and a spinning lesson! They were nice enough to let me tag along and I ended up buying this:

3 carded batts and a bottom whorl drop spindle! After we had secured the supplies, Mamacate gave us a lesson:


That's Sneaksleep spinning her very first yarn. I followed soon after. It's a bit tricky to get the hang of drafting the roving while holding the top of the twist and then getting the spindle to spin. Definitely a two person exercise at first. So much so that there ended up being some tandem spinning later:

(Perhaps this should be a new olympic event?!)

Sneaksleep is helping me get things going a bit more here while we wait for our group to get ready to leave. I've done a little more since then and while I can do it pretty well when I use the technique of twisting the spindle up tight, holding it between my knees, and then letting the drafted roving go and spin up the slack, I can't seem to get the hang of getting the spindle to spin while I hold the yarn up in the air. I'm hoping Eklectica might be able to give me a few pointers this week (*waving to Eklectica from down the street*).

There were a couple of other funny things I saw that I couldn't resist taking pictures of:

The owner of this is either REALLY tall or thinks they were REALLY good this year!

I guess after a day of fiber mayhem the people aren't the only ones that need to sit down and take a break... but at least we usually don't sit on someone else!


After the gates closed at Rhinebeck there was still more fun to be had. Our group went out for dinner across the river and then it was on to Morehouse Merino for a look around the store. Most of us didn't really hit their booths at the festival since we knew we'd be making this stop on the way back.

I can't tell you how much I love this store. It is so big and well merchandised. They have all kinds of samples around so you can see the different patterns you can make with their lovely soft yarn. And they always have some free goodies in the back room (the hot cider is my favorite). While I've been drooling over a certain sweater they have on display (but apparently isn't on their website) for a couple of years now, the pocketbook wouldn't allow, so I came home with this instead:


The shawl in their laceweight (I still can't believe I got involved with more laceweight!) will be done in the brighter blue yarn for me. I'm planning it as something I can leave on the back of the chair at my new job since I was already told the climate control commands layering. The darker blue yarn is their two strand which is going to be a scarf for HWJF (who, by the way, had to be informed of the boyfriend sweater curse after a trip to a local bookstore/cafe on Friday. After hearing about it he replied "So is that why you haven't offered to knit me a sweater yet?" and also said "Don't you want to be the first to break the curse?" Perhaps I should get brave with such a willing recipient???). Hopefully we'll be able to pick out a pattern for that soon since I think it will make good train knitting.

It was a long day but a really fun one. I'm excited about the prospects of learning more about spinning and I definitely have some fun new projects ahead of me. Next year I just have to remember to put aside some more cash so I can bring more goodies home! And if you didn't get to go this year, make plans for next year. It's definitely worth the trip!

And be sure to check out Sneaksleep, Almost Felted and Woolybuns to read about their experiences during the day too!

I can't believe tomorrow is Rhinebeck weekend already! How did it even GET to be October? I guess time flies when you're having fun. And time will certainly fly tomorrow, that's for sure. Now that my SnB New/North Haven buddies and I have the car situation figured out we are totally set. I just hope things dry out before then. If you live in the northeast or have read another blog written in the northeast you probably already know that we've been getting soaked for over a week in these parts. It's really getting to be a problem. I think I'm going to grow webbed feet if it doesn't stop soon. And driving for two hours tomorrow will not be fun if it doesn't clear up. Here's hoping the Taconic isn't closed!

In other random news I finally have a proper finished picture of Sitcom Chic as promised:

I'm really quite happy with how this turned out. I lengthened the sleeves a couple of inches and I feel like they hit me in a good place. The eyelets didn't quite turn out as open as I think they probably should have since I have a feeling I twisted the yarnovers when I knit into them, but it still gives it a decorative element. I can definitely use this for work too which definitely makes it A+ in my book right now. It was a fun knit with very good instructions and I still love to work with cotton ease. Good thing I still have plenty in my stash!

What am I gonna wear to Rhinebeck tomorrow? Still haven't quite figured that out. Shoes that won't mind mud will definitely be in order. Guess I better go decide! Expect a full report when I return. And if you see me, do say hi! Always nice to meet other bloggers. This is going to be so much fun!

There is nothing quite like a toilet running water out the top of the tank to get your morning off to a great start. I guess the good news is it got me up and running and finishing this:

Yep. Sock number 1 of my fluted banisters is done. And not a moment too soon. Look how much yarn I had leftover:


I decided to make a minor modification. Instead of continuing the pattern down the instep I stopped and switched to all plain stockinette after the gusset was done. I didn't think I'd like all that bulk in a shoe anyway. I think that may have helped to save yarn.

Now I'm already thinking I want to start the next pair with this:

It's Trekking XXL that I picked up after my NYPL interview (yes there is an LYS right in the area! How dangerous is THAT gonna be?!?). So the burning question of the day:

What's the best way to split this into two balls, one for each sock?

I've tried doing this in the past and can't quite get it to come out even. Anyone with a brilliant solution out there?

And if you've used this yarn before, can a make a decent fabric with size 2s or do I really need to suck it up and get size 1s? It just seems so thin that I'm curious if 1s wouldn't be a better plan.



Next time there will be Sitcom photos. Promise.

I realized after I put up my last post that I completely forgot to write about directions to Rhinebeck! So here are some fairly random but hopefully not altogether confusing thoughts:

The directions on the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival website are accurate and certainly will get you there. I would consider a few other options.

I-84 connects directly to the Taconic state parkway which is probably the fastest and most direct route from the east. If you've never been before you should know that this is a parkway in every sense (much like the Merrit in CT). If you are more comfortable with bigger highways, continue west on I-84 and follow the directions for the NY State Thruway. You'll have to pay tolls, but it might be worth the piece of mind.

Once exiting the Taconic, I would suggest staying on 199 (you have to go past Morehouse Merino and you should TOTALLY stop even though they are going to be at the Festival. The store is amazing and totally worth the time.) and making a left onto 9G south then a right on 9 south. Going through the other direction can be more problematic traffic wise.

One other thing to be aware of: On the return trip, the Taconic was closed just South of Poughkeepsie. I'm guessing this may be due to the flooding we've been having in the Northeast this week. I would definitely keep an eye on this as you get into the area. If it's still closed this weekend, it might be worth taking the NYS Thruway south to I-84 on the way back. There is a detour from the Taconic, but it could take awhile on the way back, especially if you are traveling after the festival ends on Sunday (foliage traffic going back to NYC).

I hope this all makes sense. I'd be happy to answer any questions about getting there. Just drop me an e-mail (link in the right sidebar) or leave a comment.

I'm so excited about the trip. I know at least two vendors that I am almost definitely getting stuff from and now that I have a job I'll actually have the money to pay it off. Does anyone know if the vendors take credit cards? And is there a total mad rush when the gates open or what?

Now all we have to do is hope the weather behaves....

Thank you all so much for the congratulatory comments on the new job. I'm very excited about all of this. It's definitely going to be a big change, but it's nice to know that I might finally be able to get on with the rest of my life. I'm really no longer a student! It's a nice feeling.

Obviously there is a lot to do in preparation for the change and it mostly involves this:


Yes, there has been some serious shopping going on. Comfortable shoes being the biggest priority. I think I've got myself pretty well covered at this point. Just a few more things to go. I went home this weekend and visited the folks. We did a little celebrating with a wonderful home cooked meal and little shopping. I also got my winter clothes back and packed away some summer stuff. It was nice to see some of the things I made last winter again! I'd almost forgotten about things like my Dusty Miller. It's like meeting up with an old friend.

There has been some knitting in the meantime between trying to get my life together. I joined this:



In hopes of it motivating me to finish these:



Yep. Still plugging away at the Fluted Banister socks from the 6 sox knitalong year 1. Only this time I'm doing it with 60 stitches instead of 80. MUCH better fit! And just to recap, I'm using Silja yarn which is 80% superwash wool and 20% nylon. This particular pattern makes for a nice "squishy" texture in the pattern and I think they will wear well thanks to the nylon.

Since Lolly posted it, I took this quiz:


Wow! You would have been a pair of socks as long as it's possible for socks to be before they're tights - and all multi-colored with pretty patterns and detail all over the place - then you could stand and admire your sock-self all day!

What type of sock are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Apparently I have quite the penchant for socks (like I didn't know that). I'm hoping to have several more pairs in the coming months. I think they will make great train knitting. In fact, I may start another pair before I start the new job, just so I have something more to talk about for the knitalong.




Next time: Hopefully there will be a finished picture of Sitcom and more sock progress....

So I told you last post that I would have a big announcement on Thursday. Without further ado, here it is:


I GOT A JOB!!


Yes. That's right. A real, honest to goodness, full-time, we-give-you-days-to-get-sick-and-we-still-pay-you-and-even-pay-for-your-doctor's-bill JOB! Yesterday afternoon I officially accepted the position as the new music cataloger at the New York Public Library. I can't even begin to tell you how happy, excited, scared, nervous and all around freeked out I am about this. I have a real job. A real job that I will spend four hours a day commuting to and from (can you say "Serious Knitting Time", 'cause I sure can!). A real job that will pay for my health insurance. A real job that will make me pretend to behave like a grown-up. I'm so freeked out by all this that I even woke up at 5am this morning without an alarm! (I'd normally be pissed as hell about that fact but I guess I'd better get used to it.)

I start October 24th and I have to be there at 9am. While I'm really going to miss my colleagues at Yale, I am already dreaming about what it will mean to have health insurance that my parents don't have to practically mortgage their home to pay for and money to buy groceries without worrying about paying the rent. Not to mention having my own desk, my own computer, my own chair... This all couldn't come at a better time.

So what did I do to celebrate?


Sabres 6 - Islanders 4

Hockey baby!! The first game of the new season after a year long lockout and my Sabres won the home opener!! And I even got to see it!! (It ain't easy to get your team on t.v. when you live 9 hours away.) I did have to sacrifice SnB time for it, but I'll try to make up for that tonight. Notice the requisite order of wings for the festivities. That is very important. They may only be New Haven wings, but one must have the proper food for first game of the season hockey watching.

Could this week get any better?



Oh yeah. The answer is YES! Wallace and Gromit comes out tomorrow and I'm going to see it with HWJF! And then I'm going home on Saturday to visit my parents.



Life is good. I'm a very lucky girl.

I'm doing this because I saw it in lots of other places and I thought it might be interesting.



Ten Years Ago: I was in my senior year of High School and the most important thing on my mind was whether or not I'd get into my first choice of college, which happened to be SUNY Fredonia. I was practicing the bassoon like a crazy girl and spending all my free time in the band room.

Five Years Ago: I was going through what was probably one of the worst months of my life. I started my first master's at Yale and 4 days later my grandmother died. I felt completely out of my element at school and couldn't figure out how or why they had let me in. New Haven scared the crap out of me (it was the "big city"), I missed my boyfriend who was living outside of Buffalo like crazy, and was so homesick and depressed I was going back to my parent's place in NY every weekend. One of my roommates was non-existant and the other was a complete asshole. And on top of everything, I hit a deer on my way back to CT from NY one night and smashed the front of my car. Things were definitely not going my way.

One Year Ago: I was starting my final research project and my next to last semester of my MLS. I was playing gigs on a fairly regular basis and hanging out with my new found Stitch 'n Bitch buddies whenever I could. And I was working at the library 15 hrs. a week and starting to do more original cataloging and authority work when I could.

I do! Sitcom is done and after a little button shopping with Sami I ended up with these:


I think they will work out pretty well. Just have to get them on and get the official finished object picture taken. HWJF already offered to take it for me. :-)

Once that's done I'll definitely be gearing up for Samus. I joined the knitalong yesterday and will be swatching soon. I thought a smaller project might be good in the meantime so I'm taking another stab at this:

No I'm not stabbing my poor little kitty! That's the beginning of the fluted banister socks again. Although Miss Kitty was looking to die last night when I discovered after leaving said sock unattended on the couch for 1.5 min. that she had cut my yarn for me. >:-( I was not a happy camper.

Since several people asked, I'm planning on going to Rhinebeck on Saturday the 15th. Turns out I have a gig the next day so it works out fine. I'm also planning on posting directions to the blog sometime next week. Last year, some people from our SnB group went and the directions they got were not good at all.

This weekend I'm planning on going back to NY to visit my folks, check directions, exchange summer clothes for winter ones and enjoy a home cooked meal. It's hard to believe that I have to do the season change of closet space already, but it is getting chilly around here.

The trip home should be a great cap to what is shaping up to be the best week ever. Wednesday I'll be home watching opening day of hockey season (I'll miss my SnB buds, but I think they'll understand)! My Sabres are even playing the Islanders so I'll actually get to see them and I can't wait. They've done really well in the preseason which is making me a little nervous, but I'll just be SO happy to have hockey back!! Friday I have a date for the new Wallace & Gromit movie!! That is going to be just awesome. And Thursday I expect to be making a big announcement. Some of you who read the blog already know, so don't spoil the surprise ok?! ;-)



And most of all, a very Happy Birthday to my Grandpa who is 86 years old today! Hope you had a great day Grandpa!!

Thank you everyone for all the nice comments I received on my second Clapotis. I'm really enjoying it a lot now that the weather here in CT has turned a bit cooler.

Thursday HWJF and I went up to the Big E. Both of us had never been before so it seemed like a good idea for something to do on a day off. Despite the hurricane force winds and rain that pounded us for a while and then the freezing temperatures that followed we still managed to have a good time (the camera didn't make an appearance considering the weather). We ate way too much of course but we saw some interesting shows and best of all there was hot apple cider in the Vermont building. The craft displays were quite beautiful and there was definitely some amazing knitting and crocheting to see. The "fiber nook" had some nice deals on some yarn, but I'm saving what little money I have for Rhinebeck.

I do have to say though, being that this is the Eastern states exposition, I was feeling a bit left out as a native New Yorker. We may not be New England, but were are East! Then again, as HWJF pointed out, calling the place the big N might not have been the best idea...

Today I returned some good moving karma in the morning and the rest of the afternoon has been spent watching rather boring, blowout football games. I love me my football, but at least be within a 20 point spread! Geez.

During the driving to the Big E and this afternoon I've made some serious progress on Sitcom:



I've got sleeves! Always a good thing for a cardigan to have.

And I just finished the yoke detailing:


The eyelets aren't showing up much, but maybe that will look better after a bit of blocking. I also realized that I need to find a button for this pretty soon if I want to finish it. It would be nice to wear it a couple of times before it gets too cold.

The only major modification so far, I lengthened the sleeves a couple of inches. I think it was a good move considering when I tried it on a little while ago they were still 3/4 sleeves despite the extra inches. I'd hate to think what they would have been like otherwise!

And now I leave you with this meme I saw over at Knitting and 9-0: