The last day of sweet freedom

Between finishing classes, visiting the family, and the beginning of my new teaching duties for fall, I've had a wee nubbin of time to myself. I got back Friday afternoon, gave a public lecture Friday night, and then spent some hours with a good friend at his going away party (until 2am). Saturday I had time to myself; slept in, and went to the knitting group, and tried to piece my life back together. Sunday my free time got eaten by a ridiculous headache so I spent most of it asleep, and a wee bit of it on the internets with my twin, and saw my going away friend for one last dinner and a hug. Monday and Tuesday I saw my girlfriend for the first time in seven weeks... ngh. too long. We had a great time: we hung out with her family, went to see Guardians of the Galaxy, had a fancy dinner, played Diablo III, got to snuggle--all the good stuff. Also I got to meet one of her friends who was super sweet--and also a knitter! glee! we geeked out a bit (though I was somewhat zoned out--if the TV is on it really mindcontrols me and I don't pay attention to other things).

So, today is the last of it. And it's not really a full day of freedom because I have a meeting at 1pm and then some telescope training in the evening, but I'm going to take the time to finish getting my life back together rather than spending the full 12 hours at the office. I'm going to do laundry, vacuum my bedroom, try to clean out my bags and my car, and move my stuff to my new desk, plus do some care-time with the poor abandoned kitties. and maybe try to do some cooking and grocery shopping and mailing things... eep. it's gonna be busy.

Anyway, I picked up knitting for joy and pleasure on Saturday for the first time in a long time. The Stash Dash is over, and I hit the 5km goal, totalling 5600 yards of completed work. That doesn't count how much I put into other shiny things I didn't complete (I would've added those up if I hadn't met it otherwise). I'm very pleased with the outcome--the event served as a motivator for forcing myself to work on some big projects that have been lingering on the needles for a couple of years. I've two new shawls (quite large ones, too), and a throw-blanket that I've been wanting. I also got a head start on a gift for my girlfriend, and used up quite a bit of deep stash, and worked on some socks and hats and mitts (my usual pleasures).

I think I've finally come to the conclusion that I want and need a spinning wheel. Right now I'm looking at the Ladybug and the Sidekick but I want to test more wheels out first. I've had a very fun time spinning on my spindles and making yarn--I made three beautiful skeins during the Stash Dash--but I am feeling the need for speed. and quantity. I want to make a lot of things into yarn now that my fiber stash has grown. Additionally, I'm beginning to have goals for the fiber I acquire. Not nebulous "make a skinny three-ply" and "make a skinnier two ply" and "make this one skinny and then chain ply it" goals, but really specific goals like "try to get at least 350 yards of a sock-weight yarn from this one and don't mute the colors too much because I have a shawl or pair of socks in mind for it". I think the wheel helps with the goals--not in the least because it's fast rather than dreadfully slow and requiring patience.

After Stash Dash finished I threw myself into other projects. I'm feeling a bit of ennui, though--I think I need to start something simple and gratifying that I can carry with me. The socks would be all right, but only for another 2 inches before I have to shape and do the heel; the other socks and shawls and hats are all patterned, and the simple wristwarmer mitts require free drafting of mawata silk--not exactly portable, though the color depth is stunning. And the big crochet blanket is too big to carry around and the other secret project--oh... I should get stared on that.

But I think I'll cast on a Hitchhiker scarf/shawl in some handspun instead, and watch knitting podcasts while I do laundry until my meeting.

What are you dreaming about knitting now that fall is so darn close?