Exams, Exams and more exams!!!

Hey everyone! Again I am so sorry for the lack of posting, I really don't think I'm cut out to be a blogger, I've never been successful in keeping a journal, but I'm going to continue with the occasional post, because sometimes you just need to say things.

I haven't had much time to post either as the semester is coming to an end quickly. Classes ended last Friday, so there was a massive pile of end of term assignments and group work (which I am now positive I hate!) and quizzes and such. Exam period started on Monday, and I had the worst exam schedule, I had two yesterday and one this morning, so it has been a hellish weekend/2 days, but hey at least the majority of my exams are over now and I'm still alive. Sure my eyes hurt from all the reading, but I only have 2 more exams next week and I will be finished with 2nd year! Oh my goodness!

Knitting-wise I have had a grand case of startitis which is usually the case when I get stressed out, however I think I overdid it as in the last couple weeks my wrists have been hurting and now I have an elbow twinge when I knit, so I'm trying to lay off the knitting, but I got started and a few things finished, so I have lots to show!!

Secret of the Stole II - I don't think I posted about this at all while I was doing it but even starting late and getting delayed through mid-terms I did finish on-time, and it paid off! I won the grand prize for completion, 1 kg of cashmere yarns from Colourmart (who by the way I definitely recommend, very fast shipping!), pictures will come, I've just been too busy.
But here is my finished stole. I love it, it was my first lace project, and I really enjoyed making, I love the colour, and it's so warm, I can really see it coming in handy for summer and cold AC places.
If you like the stole, the pattern is now available on Nautical Knitter's website, here, she's awesome so please support her by buying the pattern, there are two options for the pattern, one with the arch in the middle, and one just a straight stole. I've heard that SOTSiii is going to be starting sometime around the end of summer, so if you're interested stay tuned to Nautical Knitter's website for details!


My Cabled Cardigan - I did it! I finished my first cardigan, and my first improvised design sweater!! It was my first button band, and I have to say, I am so glad I was lucky enough to only have to do it once (I've probably jinxed myself now for my next sweater, darn!) since there were 408 stitches in one row of the button band, that's too many with the weight of a whole sweater attached. But the finished product is great, it's a nice casual wear sweater for breezier spring days. The sleeves are a bit long, but I've just folded up a cuff for now. Also I was thinking of doing pockets, but then realized I'm completely out of yarn! Seriously, this worked out so well, I only have a few metres of yarn left!


Jaden (from Knitty Spring 08) - I really like this top, and so I started it even though I should have been studying. I started the back on Friday and finished it on Sunday, I think this is what really brought on the elbow pain because it's knitting up really tight. So I don't think I'll start the front until after exams. My gauge is also off because I'm using a worsted weight cotton (Elann Endless Summer Connemara - discontinued) so I'm knitting the XS, it's kind of turning out in a S size, but I'm adding some extra length just to make sure, and also because short shirts annoy me.


Forest Canopy Shawl - I bought the pattern awhile ago, and didn't really want a worsted weight shawl, just a light shawl to wear on top of jeans casually, so recently on Ravelry I noticed that a few people had made it out of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino. I love this sock yarn, seriously, love! My LYS just happened to be having a sock yarn sale, so I came home with 2 new skeins (I'm hoping my parents won't notice the amount of yarn in the apartment when they come to help me move home for the summer, there have been a few LYS trips where I have ended up with more than I intended/really needed...). I started it off in Spanish Moss, but didn't like how the pattern was coming out in it, plus it didn't seem very forest-y too me, so that first start is just sitting, I'll frog it later, I think I might want to try the Diamond Fantasy shawl in that yarn. But I did restart the Forest Canopy in Green Mountain Madness, which is a nice mix of greens, blues, teals, and blacks, and seems to be working out well, no pictures right now though, sorry.

Spring has also sprung in Montreal!! Finally!! We had a taste of it last week, but then it snowed over the weekend, which was gross and so not good for our mental sanity, but it's 20C out today and spring looks like it might stay this time, so yay!

Sorry for the drought of posts and then a huge one, I won't make any promises about when I'll be back to post again, but hopefully it will be soon, so see you then!

What a close one...

Ok, so it's Friday, yay, and the weekend and all that, but I'm a bit stressed because my parents are coming up to visit for the weekend with some friends. They're not staying here (there's no way they would all fit in my very small student, studio apartment), but it's stressful none the less, this is the first time they will have seen my place, so I spent most of today cleaning. Then just to add to the stress I accidentally threw my ring in the garbage, and didn't realize it until after I had taken the garbage out. That was a fun 20 mins of running between my apartment and the garbage room in the basement trying to figure out where it might have fallen off, and was so relieved when I did find it.
Anyways, that's about how my day has gone. Not much knitting to report as of late, mostly just knitting on a sock in class. I did start a new pair of socks with the Tofutsies I received in the Holiday Tea Swap, they're going to the Monkeys, but from the toe up, so the pattern will be upside down, because frankly I'm too lazy to try and reverse it.

I did get a picture of my progress on the cardigan I'm trying to create. So far so good, although I can see multiple problems upcoming with connecting the sleeves, the hood, and the button band. The fronts ended up a lot skinnier than I thought they would, so I'm hoping a very wide button band will make up the difference. I wanted big buttons to start with, so hopefully this is a good thing. I'm thinking of attaching the sleeves in the way you would with a raglan sweater, just because I've done that before, but I'll deal with that once I get there. I still have to do the entire back, and it will be 2x2 ribbing, so I can see some project boredom kicking in there.
I am also signed up for Secret of the Stole ii, but still awaiting yarn (long story short, DHL is stupid!) so can't start yet, even though the first hint has come out. Hopefully I can get my yarn early next week and catch up so I won't be too far behind, although I can see this taking major time away from the sweater, hmm...

I'm Angora!

Sorry I've been more than slightly absent lately. Before Christmas it was exams and then there was Christmas where I was at home with dial-up and now I'm back at school and things are kind of crazy.
Just thought I'd share this with anyone who is out there reading! This quiz is fun to try and very short!
I found out I'm Angora!
Angora – Soft and warm
“Angora has a warmth that rivals cashmere and softness that rivals qiviut. Best of all, it comes from cute little bunnies that look for all the world like furry footstools with ears.” –The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Angoras are eager to please and are highly sensitive. Flexibility and adaptability are your strengths and sometimes your weakness, as well. You are essentially a warm and feeling person, and little escapes your impressionable mind. You are generous with others and strive for harmony in your relationships.

Some other things that are keeping me busy lately
- Ravelry - oh my goodness, such a wealth of information, pictures, wisdom, sympathy, and an awesome community of knitters
- School - of course! 4 new classes, one continuing very intense Japanese class, 4 very expensive textbooks to buy, ugh!
- Pedometer - www.active2010.com is an awesome initiative by the Ontario government to try and get people active, not to say that it's having much impact, but you know. I found out about it when I got a pedometer for Christmas and I've been wearing it and tracking my steps since I got back to school last week. So far I average about 7,300 steps/day which is making me feel better about never making it to the gym (I know, I know, I still need to do that...)
- A new Sweater - I saw a knit sweater at Winner's over the holidays and wasn't sold on the colour so couldn't justify buying it, but it's turning out to be a good knit for the cotton from Magasin de Fibre LB that I had earlier, so we'll see how my first try at designing/copying the design of something and my first cardigan goes. I'll try to put up pictures soon, promise.