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Last. Day.
Tomorrow is my last working day at my current job. I'm taking a couple of days off to relax, get some of my own side business stuff done, and prepare myself to be the new kid at school. Er, new kid at THE JOB. you know what I mean. I'm excited ... well, excited AND scared. (Name that tune, Broadway babies!) But all in a good way.
The knitting is all over the place right now. I finished my second hemp shawl and I soaked the crap out of it in the bathtub. (Question for anyone who dyes yarn: what is good to use on plant fibers? I keep reading that Kool-Aid works really well on animal fibers but not plant, and I'm thinking of playing around with dyeing this hemp yarn. Any suggestions?) The hemp can be a little itchy, so I was hoping that a good long soak would soften it up a little before I blocked the crap out of it. I'm considering adding some sort of edging situation to this one, perhaps (gasp!) crochet? Who knows. Here's what it looks like, post initial blocking, pre-edging.
Bella says, GET THIS CRAP OF MY BACK NOW.
(Or maybe, I love Mommy's knitting. I'm not sure.)
Here's another look. On me this time.
Still itchy. But it's a work in progress.
I've been working on Kiri also, but I have a confession to make: I started something else too. I figured the best way for me NOT to sell my Brooks Farm yarn was to knit something with it...so I started another Clapotis.
I've just started my fourth increase repeat.
And I've finally got it memorized!
This yarn is a dream to knit with. Soft, and pretty, and the colors are...so. amazing. Of course there's mohair in this yarn, so there's a tiny bit of shedding, but that's okay with me. I keep stopping and rubbing my face with the knitted piece. And now I will show you a close up picture (and this one is truer to the real color):
Yum.
And now I will rub my face with the knitted piece.
I told you. You would too, I promise.
I can't stop knitting this Clapotis - I actually knitted in the car, in the dark, all the way home from dinner last night. Which is kind of silly. But I was in a groove and I wanted to keep going. (Note to self: ALWAYS bring head lamp in purse.)
P.S. Dinner last night was fondue at the Melting Pot, which is completely extravagant and gluttonous and DAMN GOOD. Here's what me and Jacob looked like after the cheese course:
Jacob is gazing in the distance, dreaming of the next pot o' melted goodness.
You can imagine how happy we were after the chocolate course.
Posted by carrie at July 25, 2005 07:16 PM
Comments
Hope your managing to squeeze in lots of knitting during your time off. I'm sure they will all adore you at your new job as much as we all do :) I keep seeing Clapotis' everywhere... I think it's time I made one. Yours is lovely.. the yarn looks so scrummy!
Posted by: shell at July 29, 2005 04:26 PM
Oh...and is everyone in blogland leaving their jobs right now?!
Posted by: Stacey at July 29, 2005 02:03 AM
Damnit. I read that first paragraph, got all excited that there was trivia involved and knew the answer and headed straight to comment before finishing the post. *sigh* Someone else beat me to it. Thats whhat I get for being so behind. It's one of the few musicals that I really know since we did a production of it back in high school. :(
Posted by: Stacey at July 29, 2005 02:02 AM
I can confirm Kool-aid works well on animal fibers which are protein based. There are pictures of Kool-aid dyed alpaca on my blog.
Plant fibers including cotton, hemp and linen are carbohydrate (technically cellulose) based and they require different dyes. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about dyes for cellulose based fibers.
Good luck on the new job.
Posted by: Kim at July 28, 2005 11:40 PM
Hey! Good luck with the new jobby job. I wish I had a new one! ;)
Posted by: Monica at July 28, 2005 04:12 PM
Bella looks very pretty in her schmata! Good luck in the new job and enjoy those days off...
Posted by: Silvia at July 28, 2005 03:18 AM
Isn't the Melting Pot the best? I love it! It's totally become our "special occaision" place for birthdays or (in your case) a new job! Congrats!
Posted by: Annie at July 27, 2005 04:38 PM
Oooh...fondue is my favorite...
Have fun at the new job!
Posted by: gwyn at July 27, 2005 01:50 PM
ooh yummy brooks farms... i still have yet to touch my yarn... and still deciding what to make of it! *sigh*
good luck at the new job! i'm sure you'll be great!
Posted by: joy at July 27, 2005 10:33 AM
Bella looks like she is thinking something like, "Oh God... what is she going to make me do next?" She is just too cute! I love that shawl - the colors are beautiful. And your clapotis IS beautiful - and I have now heard enough people talking about how amazing Brooks Farm yarn is that I am about dying to feel it!
Glad you had fun at the Melting Pot! Between your post and the comments, I'm now starving!
Posted by: Kathy at July 27, 2005 10:33 AM
Hi I'm Bella I'm a cutie cute schmoo I love you and love your shawl and will hide my rawhide under it you won't find it hahahahaha. I don't want to go in the room, I'm good, I'm REALLY GOOD!
Posted by: Jenny at July 27, 2005 01:05 AM
We love the Melting Pot, too! It's Jason and I's special occasion (anniversary, etc) place. Much fun and lots of time to talk and hang while eating and between courses. Our favorite is the flaming turtle because they set it on fire. :-) Fun times.
Posted by: sarah b. at July 27, 2005 01:04 AM
Oh look, Bella is pulling a Petey! And he thought he was the only dog model in town!
You will knock them dead at the new job... I just hope they apreciate you more than those old folks. grrr! They better or I will come to GA and mess them up.
Anyway.
Love the pic of you and Jacob- your hair looks fabulous! Love those highlights.
Don't you wish there was a way for everyone to feel your favorite yarn via the web? Yeah, that would be the best. Sigh.
Posted by: frecklegirl at July 26, 2005 04:29 PM
Hi.
Enjoy your time off. Best wishes at your new Job!! I know you'll be great at it. Do you get a vacation at the end of the term like the students?
Tina
Posted by: tina at July 26, 2005 03:44 PM
YAY! Shawly McShawlerson strikes again...all your shawls are coming out SO pretty. Really, its crazy. Crazy in a good way.
Melting Pot is one of the few things that makes Tallahassee somewhat redeemable in my eyes. I keep trying to coerce Brian into taking me there, but we always end up doing fondue at home. One day, my evil plan will work. Muahahaha.
Enjoy your break before the new job....don't be scared, you are going to do great!
Posted by: Sarah at July 26, 2005 03:08 PM
I have some hemp yarn, and the label says to wash it in the machine, then "toss" it into the dryer. I think it'll soften up after some rough treatment, like linen does. Before knitting, I got my skeins wet and then beat them against the side of the bathtub, because I heard somewhere that should soften them up before knitting, and so far I haven't had any problems. Good luck! (With the hemp, and the new job!)
Posted by: Beth at July 26, 2005 11:42 AM
Hey lady! Good luck on your new job. I know you will be wonderful.
High Energy Jenny got me thinking... Can you help with site design for WordPress? If so, gimme a holla, because I might have a paying freelance thingamagig for u.
XOXO
Posted by: Stacy at July 26, 2005 11:34 AM
Where did you find the pattern for that corner to corner garter stitch shawl? A cousin of mine wants to make a shawl, and that's perfect for her beginning level of knitting skill.
M
Posted by: Miriam at July 26, 2005 11:32 AM
MMMeeellltttiiinnnggg PPPooottt!!! Yum-O! I actually have a post about my visit to the melting pot on my blog too (july 8, 2005)!
Love the shawl! You're so talanted and your lace always looks so beautiful!
Posted by: Carrie at July 26, 2005 10:27 AM
There's a Melting Pot in Pittsburgh, PA (parents live there), and I tried it a few months ago. We, too, went for the multi-course gluttony extravaganza! The restaurant used to be The Cheese Station, and I think I liked the original's cheese fondue just a bit better. MMMMMMMMMMMM...chocolate fondue.
Congratulations and good luck with the new position. Very exciting news.
Posted by: Gina at July 26, 2005 10:24 AM
yay for the new J.O.B.!
Love the shawl!
Brooks farm...ahhhh reminds me of the haze of the drifting mohair particles in the air...at MD S&W
Posted by: heather at July 26, 2005 09:14 AM
I lurve the Melting Pot! There's one by us too. So yummers. Good luck at the new job!
Posted by: BigLug at July 26, 2005 09:07 AM
aww bella she looks like a little peasant pup wearing a headscarf! i'm knitting a clapotis too but i'm using sport/finger weight yarn on size 5s though so it's sooooo sloooooow. yours looks luscious! good luck at the new job!
Posted by: vanessa at July 26, 2005 08:52 AM
That's a great picture of you and Jacob. Mmmn. Melting Pot. There really ought to be more melted cheese in this world. I don't know why there isn't.
Bella is looking all cloak and dagger in your shawl.
PS Petey wants to borrow it. Ha!
Posted by: Anne Marie at July 26, 2005 08:48 AM
Yes--Little Red Riding Hood's tale of adventure and personal growth from "Into the Woods." I absolutely adored the first act of that show--loved everything ("Agony!"--both versions--pure joy). The second act was kind of disappointing, but the witch's "Somebody to Blame" is wonderful. And I agree--Brooks Farm yarn is almost sinful, it's so luscious!
Posted by: Deb at July 26, 2005 08:43 AM
Have a funtastic last day at the old job! Glad to hear you'll take a few days off for yourself before starting the new gig.
Starting Clapotis is a great way to keep from selling off your Brooks Farm! Mine's in the Brooks Farm 4-play yarn.
Mmmm...Melting Pot! We used to live directly across the street from one so it was easy to roll home after all the yummy fondue. It's delicious! I always wanted to start with the chocolate first, though. Seemed more efficient to me to start with dessert, won't you agree?
Posted by: Rossana at July 26, 2005 08:20 AM
Good luck at your new job. It is always exciting & scary to start anew!
I love the Melting Pot also. My afvorite parts...the cheese & the chocolate...YUM!!! You know we have one 5 min. from my house!
Your shawl is so pretty & airy & Clapotis is looking fab!
Posted by: Eilene at July 26, 2005 07:45 AM
Good luck with the new job! Ooh, the Melting Pot makes me happy.
Posted by: Chrissie at July 26, 2005 07:31 AM
'but he drew me close and he swallowed me down, down a dark slimy path- where lie secrets that i never want to know. and when everything familiar seemed to disappear forever- at the end of the path was granny once again. so we wait in the dark until someone sets us free, and we're brought into the light. and we're back at the start.'
(several things there: favourite musical, and my cousin wrote the book/directed it!)
good luck with the new job!!
Posted by: rachel m at July 26, 2005 06:42 AM
Good luck with your new jobby!!! I'm sure they'll love you. That big ol' smile on your face in the last pic makes me wanna eat that fondue!! it must've been good.
Posted by: kat at July 26, 2005 12:56 AM
Twinsies! I am making my clappy with the same yarn, same colorway! And I can't stop knitting on it either! DH laughs at me 'cause I knit in the car last night on the way to his mom's house (1.1 miles). So?
Posted by: Jenn at July 26, 2005 12:37 AM
prettyprettypretty! Um, did we buy the same Brooks Farm colorway? Cause liiike, if so, YES!!!!!!!!
I love the Melty Pot with all of my little heart! Sooo jealous you went!
Good luck at the new scho...I mean, job ;)
Posted by: Lara at July 26, 2005 12:17 AM