20-24 oz of nice Canadian wool (weird green color but can be overdyed with a darker color) up for trade. I'm willing to part with it for sock yarn...

keep ur eyes peeled for an english teaching job for me!
*[shellster]*

Spring Break Basket Weaving

Ben and I made baskets during spring break this year!

The Desert of Knitting

A long time ago in a land relatively nearby.....


I am living in the desert of knitting. Wool tumbleweeds bounce past my eyes, cotton goes untouched, and Knitty is a ghost town according to all of my web-browsers. Yes, I am a first-year, full-time teacher and every spare moment I have belongs to Morpheus (the god of sleep), some self-absorbed teen, or my adoring husband.

Yesterday, I saw Miss Mary at the courthouse and almost wept with joy at seeing a friendly knitter decked out in beautiful hand knit items. I guiltily clung to my purse which has a much neglected washcloth suffering in its depths. (NOT EVEN A SOCK!!)

Shamefully, I tried to explain my absence from knitting group. Miss Mary graciously forgave me and completely understood my naughty knitting behavior.

So, today, prompted by my rendezvous with a ghost from Christmas past, I decided to visit the old, faithful knitty.com. Surface... Amused... Plaited points... Blackrose... Maja.....

I think a surge of knitterly inspiration is rushing to my deserted sticks.

Adieu, fair readers, I am off to knit.

Resolutions

In the spirit of the new year, and our culture's time-honored tradition of self-torture, I've decided to go out on a limb and make a new year's resolution. It is simple, easy to remember, and it incorporates everything I hope to accomplish in 2009. My new year's resolution is: Respect. I vow to respect myself and others.

Respecting myself means:

Building back my self-esteem

Eating well and exercising

Giving myself time to relax and do things I'd like to do

Working towards my goals

Getting my finances in order and KEEPING THEM

Respecting others means:

Writing more letters and emails

Calling and speaking with others more

Spending quality time with my husband

Working on my patience and keeping my temper

Valuing things people do for me and not taking their help for granted

Free Original Pattern: Men's Seed Stitch Socks

Size 2 needlesGauge: Stockinette Stitch 8sts/inch

CO 72 loosely (or on two needles held tog) evenly on to 3 needles. Join in a round being careful not to twist the yarn (24sts on each needle).

Work K1, P1 rib for 14 rounds or for desired length of cuff

Round 1: p1, k1 until the end of the round

Round 2: k1, p1 until the end of the round

Continue to knit rounds 1 and 2 (seed stitch pattern) for desired sock leg length (some people go up to 7 or 8 inches).

Slide 36 sts onto one needle for heel and divide remaining 36 sts over the other 2 needles for the instep (18sts on each needle).

Slip 1, K1 across heel sts.

Turn heel to purl side and begin working back and forth of the heel flap sts as follows: Row 1 - Slip 1, p to end of row, Row 2 - (Slip 1, K1) across. Repeat these 2 rows for 33 rows. You should be ready to work a knit row.

TURN HEEL=Feel Smart: Row 1 - sl 1, k18, ssk, k1, turn. Row 2 - sl 1, p3, p2tog, p1, turn. Row 3 - sl 1, k4, ssk, k1, turn. Row 4 - sl 1, p 5, p2tog, p1, turn. Continue in this fashion until you have knit all sts (there should be 20 sts on the heel needle).

Slip all instep sts onto one needle.

K across 10 heel sts. Using another needle, k across other 10 heel sts and pick up 18 sts along the side of the heel. Using ANOTHER needle, knit across instep sts. Using ANOTHER needle pick up 18 sts along the other side of the heel and knit across the first 10 heel sts. You are now at the beginning of the row (the middle of the heel sts).

Knit one round (knitting through the back loops of the picked up sts). Instep sts (needle 2) should be worked in seed stitch pattern from now on. Seed stitch pattern = Row 1 – p1, k1. Row 2 – k1, p1

Work Gusset rounds until there are 72 sts (18,36,18) on the needles. Gusset Round 1: Needle 1 - Knit to within 3 sts of end of needle, K2tog, k1. Needle 2 - knit garter rib pattern. Needle 3 - k1, ssk, k to end of needle. Gusset Round 2: Needle 1 - K. Needle 2 - Knit garter rib pattern. Needle 3 - K.

Knit every round (seed stitch pattern on needle 2) until foot of sock (including heel) measures 2 inches less than desired length.

Toe: Round 1: Needle 1 – K1, slip 1 to within 3 sts of end of needle and k2tog, k1. Needle 2 - K1, ssk, k1, slip 1 to within 3 sts of end of needle k2tog, k1. Needle 3 - k1, ssk, k1 slip 1 to end of needle. Round 2: All needles: K

Continue to knit the above 2 rounds until there are 36 sts left and then work the decrease round (round 1) every round until there are 8 sts left.

Break yarn, gather remaining sts, and weave in ends.

Funny!!