The ugly duckling

Lochinver is turning into one of the loveliest sweaters I've ever made. This is not difficult, as I haven't made very many sweaters so far. However, I didn't have high hopes for this one: it's rather boxy and the smallest size was too big for me. Having lots of horizontal patterned bands clearly wasn't going to help with the body-conscious fit. Frankly, the only reason I started this is that I had the amazing Frangipani yarn in my stash and I wanted to make a sweater from Fishermen's Sweaters. Lochinver was the only pattern I thought would go with the yarn.



The knit-and-purl patterns are easy to memorize but very pretty, especially together like that. Also, my gauge is so far off the mark that this sweater will fit me very nicely! Maybe I should add "gauge tighter than Alice Starmore" to my list of accomplishments.

Picture-heavy post

I finished the Swedish Heart-warmer shawl. Click below for a bigger picture.

Long overdue

A post with actual knitting content is long overdue, after all the real life nonsense in the last few months. Freshly blocked, I give you:



The Hanami Stole! Another awesome pattern by the talented Melanie of Pink Lemon Twist. As soon as I finished her Mystery Stole 3, I knew I wanted to support her design endeavors, so I purchased the pattern for Hanami (the first and, so far, only pattern I've bought by itself). It is very much worth it, and you know how I feel about blocking and such (blocking chez Gauss usually involves a green bedsheet, cheap steel wires from the hardware store and even cheaper push pins):



The yarn is JaggerSpun Zephyr. It glows beautifully and all, it makes for some nice crisp lace, so I am pleased, but somehow it doesn't wow me. Perhaps it's because I am turning into a cranky old lady.

"Grown up" thoughts for July

The beginning of July is the season of milestones:

* four years ago I rented my first apartment out of college
* three years ago I started teaching the first college class on my own ("Professor Gauss" sounded nice, until I explained to my students that I'm not a professor)
* two years ago I got married (and may Reverend Bill Levering be blessed forever for marrying people for free!)
* one year ago I became a permanent resident (no more visas for me, thank you very much)
* this year, two days ago in fact, I bought my first car! I am in love, although it's no Mazda Miata (my dream car at the moment).

Funny thing is, I wore the same outfit to exactly TWO of these events. Can you guess which two?

New H(e)aven

I have always wanted to live close to the beach. Not a lake, not a river, but an actual sea or ocean beach. And here is the view eight miles from my new apartment:



The Atlantic Ocean. I think I will be happy here.