Knit, Frog, Knit

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

I’m pleased to report that after knitting, frogging, and knitting these socks did finally get finished. The pattern is Merino Lace Socks in Favorite Socks from Interweave. The yarn is Knit Picks Bare, dyed by me. They were a surprise gift for my friend Beth, who has a much better shot of the socks in action on her Flickr page.

I also finished a pair of Undulating Rib Socks in Silkie Socks that Rock. These are my mom’s mother’s day present… which she’ll get a week late when she comes up for graduation. I am notoriously bad at mailing things.

Scorekeeper

Originally uploaded by Spinstah.

I have another finished object, but I can’t show it to you yet. So enjoy this picture of the Patriot’s Day Red Sox game.

Pea Pod Baby Set

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

This is Johannes, modelling the Pea Pod Baby Set designed by Kate Gilbert and knit by me. I was figuring the baby would be a bruiser (knowing his dad) and knit the 3-6 month size, but baby showed up early. I am told this is his favorite outfit and his parents particularly like how easy it is to get him in and out of it.

In other news, I am in Kansas. Please send good mojo for my job interview on Monday. If I’m going to miss Opening Day it’d better be worth it.

Monkey socks

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

My latest finished object is a pair of Monkey socks from Knitty. I knit these on size 1 needles with a skein of my hand-dyed Knit Picks Essential.

This is fun pattern that knits up very quickly. It looks complicated but is really quite easy to remember.

I really love the way this yarn dyed up. It’s my favorite of all my dying experiments thus far.

I don’t want to work.

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

March is National Craft Month. I thought it would be a fitting celebration of the month for me to get a paid hiatus from work and school, to spend the month crafting. Unfortunately, work and school didn’t think this was the greatest idea.

Adding to the desire to spend all my waking moments knitting is the new Favorite Socks book from Interweave Press. So delicious!

Moments ago I finished a second pair of big black socks for Socks for Soldiers. Also on the needles is the second sock of a pair of Monkey socks from some of my dyed Knit Picks Bare. This pattern is so addictive — I love how fast it’s knitting up and the yarn is so very soft.

Jaywalkers (and clean floor!)

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

I’m about a year and a half late to the party, but I finally knit up some Jaywalkers. Fun pattern — the result looks much more complicated than it really is.

The bright green yarn is Knit Picks Bare, dyed by me. The colors make me think of broccoli.

Socks in progress

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

Ah, baseball is back. While spring training games do tend to devolve quickly into, as Jerry Remy so aptly put it, “Colter Bean talk,” it is good for my soul to once again be able to sit in front of the television, watch my beloved Sox, and knit socks.

During this game I worked on three different socks, two pairs of big black socks for Socks for Soldiers and one pair of Jaywalkers from some of my hand-dyed yarn. I am late to the Jaywalker bandwagon but I see why they are such a popular knit – an easy to remember stitch pattern that looks much more complex than it actually is.

I finished one pair of the ginormous socks (picture here). I’m on the foot of the first Jaywalker sock and still working on the seemingly neverending cuff of the second big black sock (in fingering weight yarn, no less).

New socks and new shoes

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

You know you have reached a new level of knitting obsession when you purchase a pair of shoes specifically because they will show off your handknit socks. (I do have a lot of handknit socks.)

You know you have reached a new level of Flickr obsession when you get the idea to buy shoes to showcase handknit socks from a picture you see on Flickr.

You know you have reached a new level of social ineptitude when you inform the sales guy at REI of the previous two facts. Therefore, by the rules of the Library School Drinking Game, everybody drinks!

“Inside Out” socks completed

Originally uploaded by theknittinglibrarian.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Rockin’ Sock Club.

I have, in the past, bitched loud and long (perhaps not on this blog, but trust me, I have…) about the circulation department at the Boston Public Library, so it is only fair that I should publicly praise them for a recent interaction.

This afternoon, I went to the central branch to return a bunch of materials and pick up a hold. I dropped my books and one book on cd in the return branch, then was assisted immediately with my hold. My bad — it’s on hold at the West End branch. The circulation assistant (yet another Simmons GSLIS student, like myself) looked far and wide before I realized that I hadn’t checked where I’d asked the book to be sent. I apologized and went on my way.

A few minutes ago, I checked my library accounts and saw that one of the items I’d returned was still listed as out. Since I don’t want to incur fines or the wrath of the BPL, I decided to call the central branch and check. I girded myself for wrath and dialed the phone.

I was transferred to circulation immediately, where the phone was promptly answered by a man whose name I either missed or was not given. I gave him my info and he said that it looked like the book on cd in question had just been checked in. He indicated it probably got separated in the hamper, but that I was fine. And then he told me that I had some books on hold at the West End branch. He was pleasant and helpful, and wished me a good evening, adding, “Keep your feet dry.”

It was a pleasant and efficient conversation and a step towards counteracting my dislike of the central branch. Yay!