A bit of Homework

Even though I have been home from Camp Knitty ha Ha for two weeks, it feels as though it was a lifetime ago. It was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to repeat it again next year. So much information was dispersed by some truly fantastic instructors. I felt honored the entire week with the opportunity to sit under their tutelage. I only hope that the impression I left them with was one of an ideal student. Quick with understanding and completely immersed in what they were saying. It will take more than this post to share everything, so I ask you now to indulge me with multiple listings. I promise they will start to come quicker now that laundry is somewhat caught up. I will begin with pre-camp knitting. 

So without further ado, I present to you my homework assignment. The assignment was to write a story to go with a knitted creation in a crustaceous theme. (Bonus points if it is 'crab' related.) The creation was to be knit with a 'mini-skein' of yarn weighing approximately 3 grams. We were to utilize our entire 'supplied' package of homework and three sock techniques. 

My techniques were: 1. a toe-up cast on, 2. increases for a toe box, 3. a three needle bind-off. I did short rows as well and decreases for shaping. (Bonus points for me.) 

Here is my story:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl. She loved the water. She liked to swim, splash, and just be near it. She dreamed of one day becoming a mermaid and living forever in the water. 

As she grew up, people would tell her, "There's no such things as mermaids." But the little girl knew they were wrong. She just needed to find one.

One day, the little girl was no longer the 'little' girl for she had given birth to her own 'little' girl, and told her stories of mermaids and taught her how to swim, splash, and just be near the water. 

It was on one of those days, the new 'little' girl made a discovery. As she had been near the water, just being, that she heard a familiar yet distinct sound. It was not the sound of the birds singing or the sound of the crickets chirping or the sound of the wind rustling or the sound of the water gently lapping the rocks. It was the sound of 'clicking.'

'Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Tap. Tap. Tappity. Tap.' This puzzled the 'little' girl. She knew all the sounds her area made. Here was a new yet completely familiar sound. Where had she heard that sound before?

The 'little' girl began to look in the grasses. No, just the crickets. She walked under the rustling tree limbs. No, just the wind. She walked onto the small boat dock. No, just the water lapping against its boards. But, WAIT! What was that noise? The little girl could hear it louder. 

'Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Tap.' 

The sound wasn't coming from on top of the dock. The 'little' girl looked into the boat. Nothing in there but the oars. The little girl looked under the dock. No, but the sound started to get even louder. Where was it coming from? 

As the 'little' girl turned to look back on the shore, she found what she was looking for, the source of all that 'clicking.'

For on a rock, at the edge of the water, sat a little blue crab. And in his claws were two little needles. The NEEDLES were causing the 'click. Click. Click.' The little blue crab was knitting. He was knitting a tiny little sock. For a mermaid. 

A quick note before the storm

I realize that it has only been a week and a bit since my last post, but I am officially on the down hill slide to Sock Camp. I haven't started packing. I haven't done the homework (other than half of my swatches, buy hey, how hard is it to knit up a 10 stitch swatch 1 inch long? I think I can manage those waiting to deplane at each transfer.) I haven't located a camera yet. I have checked a couple of stores to grab another point and shoot, but really, am I saving time or money checking four different stores?

Dude is off again. This time I really think he has left the planet. He procrastinated, again, and didn't pack until 'the last minute of the night before' only to be so tired that he failed to realize that the alarm was set for 4:30 pm instead of am. Yes, you guessed it. He missed his flight. I woke at my normal time of quarter of six only to see him still here for a 6:20 flight. HA!

At least he managed to book another flight. The next problem, he failed to check which airport he was leaving from. So, we deposit him at one airport 45 minutes before the flight only to get a phone call from him asking for a ride to a neighboring airport, 35 minutes away. How we managed to get there without a speeding ticket is beyond me? Even more past my imagination, how he managed to talk them into letting him on the plane. Hopefully, the attempts to get there is more exciting than the week itself.

The good news for me, it means more un-interrupted knitting time at night. As I don't watch television much so I can knit happily away when I am not refereeing. (7:30 comes awful early on those nights.)

I have finished one sock of the January installment of Rockin' Sock Club. The beading on the sock is fantastic and is quite comfortable to wear. I have surrendered to the goal of trying to knit a pair of socks a month as this month it will not occur. Too many distractions produced themselves to remind me that I do know where my eldest received the ADD tendencies from.

The Virginia Shawl has been edged and blocked. I really enjoy wearing it. The weather has accommodated me quite nicely with just enough of a chill to make showing it off a pleasure.

I have been busily trying to knit up a small bag for a swap that I have participated in. I would love to show off a picture but alas, still no camera. (Though I do hope to amend that situation this evening.) I will post it once I put the package in the mail. I can then add it to my completed items. I don't believe the person I am spoiling reads this spot, but on the off chance she does, dear readers, you will just have to wait.

I am itching to cast-on a new project. I am debating to try a child's garment or a gift for a relative. I view the calendar with much trepidation. Is there enough time to attempt the gift and be able to present it by the goal or admit that more often than not, I am as unrealistic with time constraints as a pig will one day sprout wings and fly. Otherwise, I should just knit up a couple of more cupcakes to have on hand. Well, in actuality, I probably owe a couple of people one.... oh the self placed guilt, does a person good. HA!

Enough ramblings for today. Off to shop for a camera and then a bit of knitting.

Cheers!