Heat Wave

What other title could there be?

Best wishes and hopes that all the StL ring bloggers are doing okay and those without power will have power back soon. It was so hot today I didn't even go outside, so I don't know anything about CWE damage except what I can see from my windows. Very concerned about so many without power in this heat, and those under the boil-water alert.

We were completely unaffected by the storm here--a few lights flickered but that was it. Being in the middle of a high-rise, there was no worry about trees landing on us, and our car got lucky too. That storm was very strange--when the wind started so suddenly it sounded like someone was pushing a heavy piece of furniture in the hall, that sort of whistling of wood on carpet. I opened the door to see if someone needed a hand and the wind pushed me back. Literally. I couldn't close the door.
It was so sudden and unexpected, and since the sirens didn't go off, we had no idea it was so bad until we checked the news.

Was wanting to go out tomorrow (possibly Knitorious if they are powered up) but after seeing the news with so many traffic lights still out today I think I'll do everyone that has to drive a favor and keep to my habitat (within walking distance of apt). I've decided to admit that I have a yarn problem and purchase a ball winder and swift.

With it being so hot I worked from home all this week, and was too hot to do anything but work or knit small things, so I got a lot done on both counts. N's and my socks are done, and Sizzle nearly so. I finished the first Bearfoot sock and picked out Knitty's rpm for Tiff's socks.

Lost in the rain in Juarez

All sorts of troubles, but the most recent is that today the car wouldn't start. Luckily we were at Target, and got a soda (it was hot) while waiting the 12 mins for AAA to arrive. All hail Marco of AAA. 12 minutes!

We are hoping it's the battery, but there is the suggestion that it might not be hanging there. The jump got us home at least.

I am distracting myself worrying about my thesis and other work-related issues.



Now, knitting pictures. Here is my new nifty sock holding thingy, keeps all the needle points covered and safe. So simple and elegant.






And I have just finished the Lotus Lace tank from the cover of Summer IK. I had to change the proportions and shorten it, of course. I'm not satisfied though--I don't think the style is flattering.

Perhaps I will try this summer top thing again. I'm thinking either to do Sizzle, or maybe design something new.

I just got done reading the Pocket Stylist this week, which is another what to wear book, but I found it alot more helpful than anything I've read before. For one, it takes shoulders into account while classifying yourself, instead of just bust-waist-hips, which is important if you're talking about how a sweater is going to hang (or what it will hang from!) It focuses more on shapes that are flattering, and it made me take a look at what I like and don't like about some of my projects. The Geek Chic vest? V neck, ribbed so it will automatically waist shape, and worn with the shirt out the bottom to add balance. No design changes to break up the body.
The Ribby Cardi? Sleek lines, V neck when zipped, and raglan sleeves so no harsh shoulder horizontal.

Every unsatisfactory project has a lesson, I guess, and I did learn this about Petitification: large lace motifs are troublesome. Each lotus is about 1 3/4 " long, making it difficult to shorten by the right measurement. I should have done the math, realized it was either going to be an inch too little or too much, and picked a lace motif with fewer rows.

Knitting-related injury

I was just about to start working on my actual work. I nearly done checking all my daily knitting web sites. First, the new Knitty is out. Then I had to read the The Panopticon and the Yarn Harlot. Then I got over to Knit and Tonic, and that is when my injury occured.
I was so excited that the Sizzle pattern is out that, while bugging N to paypal it for me RIGHT NOW (Now We Are Six is a good summary of my usual mental state), answering allegations of being evil (which had to do with my "spend money so I can make this cleavage-baring top" strategy), and trying to peer over his shoulder at the yarn requirements while wondering if my SWC Bamboo would work, I inhaled/snorted my beverage.
No, it wasn't a Tasty Beverage either.
Though it was a good guess.
For the last half hour, I've been coughing up Crystal Light. Plus, it got into my sinuses, which, due to allergies, are shall-we-say-congested (I call it f***ed up). Add some liquid in there and I've got serious faux-orange flavored post-nasal drip.

Now, to the project update. It's um . . . okay, well, the thing is . . . my good intentions lasted as long as the weather stayed around 85. Speaking of, now I have a nifty weather pixie so P&P can look at the 95 degree weather and feel sorry for me.
ANYWAY, N and I have decided, what with energy costs and rent increases, to try not to use the AC this summer. I know, it's psychotic. We do get a good cross breeze up here, at least in the computer room, and I'm working mostly at night anyway.
The point is that I can't handle a lapful of wool when it's 95, and 3 of the projects on my list--the red cardigan, the Mariah sweater, and N's sweater, are all at the lapful stage. So, I decided a shift over to socks and a start on the cover sweater from Summer IK was in order.
N's wildfoote socks are just about done--I invented (well, I know other people have done it but I haven't seen it so it's Convergent Knitting) an anatomically correct toe shaping for our short-toed feet, so we don't get the bag of empty sock above the little toes (I could call them "phalanges," but then I'd have to beat myself up).
Of course I also broke out the Bearfoot. I'm doing a little pattern based on one of the mock cables from the Walker Stitch Treasury, and it's coming out really nice. I love hand-dyed sock yarn, and part of the fun is finding just the right stitch pattern for the yarn.
Pictures later this week, when it will hopefully be cool enough to put socks on.