Surprise Surprise!

Just when I was thinking that all hope was lost for Knit for Those in Need, it was saved at the last minute by two wonderful guys, Dan and Sean. Both are seniors, and were counting on this group to fulfill the forty hour community service requirement they need to graduate. They told me that they would do all the knitting themselves if necessary, but they had to do it. So I met with them, gave Dan a quick refreshing, and Sean a speedy lesson, and the two were off. As I was walking back to my dorm with all the yarn, my friend Devan saw me walking and asked what I was doing. Since she knows how to knit, she asked if she could do a square as well, and I handed over the supplies. Along with my amazing roommate Liz, that made five people working on squares, which I thought was perfectly respectable. Then two of my groupmates from Project Management and Team Leadership class caught wind of it, and, being the amazing people that they are, spent an entire class period knitting squares and have been working on them since. Finally, I got a phone call from a mystery number while in the library yesterday, and heard a man's voice say, "Is this Hannah? I'm friends with Dan and Sean and they told me about the charity knitting you're doing. I know how to crochet - is there any way I can get in on this?" And bang, we have a group rockin' and rollin'. I can't believe how it's come together in a way I never expected it to, and all at once. As soon as I let it go all the pieces fell into place without me even trying, and it became the joyful, happy experience I had hoped it would be. I guess what's meant to be will find a way (roll your eyes if you want Alex :P).

Happy knitting!

Easter in the Northeast Kingdom

For those readers who may not know, the Northeast Kingdom is a special place in the world where the men are men, the women are men, and fear/awe fills the heart of anyone who looks upon either. My friend Ian has the privilege of living in this blessed land of Northern Vermont, and this Easter weekend my four best friends and I made the trek up to his house for paintball, jeeping, and general bad-assery. Our friend Jared, who is the epitome of a Northeast Kingdom rugged wilderness man, was our first stop of the day (For instance, a man in camo came walking out of the woods with a mask and a paintball gun. Ian said "I think that's Jared." We asked how he knew, he said "I just felt afraid.").We were taken to a paintball spot of epic proportions - two wooden towers, each two stories high with a bridge connecting them and small holes from which to shoot paintballs at enemies. From there we drove around all afternoon to spots of note in the area. Jumping rocks on Lake Willoughby, natural water slides, a small beach, waterfalls, up a mountain. The day was bliss - 80 degrees and sunny, driving around with great friends, blowing donuts and having a good time. We returned to Ian's for some grilled hamburgers, a bonfire and s'mores. And now I must retire to my pop-up camper. Happy Easter, and good night!

Knit for Those in Need

It looks as though Knit for Those in Need will have to wait until next semester. No one is responding to the emails and the semester is running out rapidly, so the options are not many. I have not given up - I still think this is a good idea and that people will be interested - but right now everyone is very busy and the timing is all wrong. Next semester I will be fresh and ready to take on this challenge. For right now, I just want to sleep.

First Knit for Those in Need Meeting

It's my own fault, really. I unknowingly scheduled the first Knit for Those in Need meeting the Saturday of St. Patrick's Day weekend, as well as the first weekend back from spring break. I shouldn't be surprised then, that my roommate and I sat alone at the meeting point for a half hour, quietly starting our little blanket squares and watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets playing on the Fireside Lounge tv.

This has not been the best of weeks, to say the least, and I won't pretend I'm not disappointed. I have $300 worth of yarn and needles in my possession, and an idea that I think is really great, but doesn't seem to be exciting too many others. Another thing going against it is that it took so long to get going that it's already spring. Spring blossoms do not inspire people to knit heavy woolen blankets for people who won't need to use them for almost a year. Maybe I should return the yarn I have and buy something lighter, think of a different project. There are lots of charitable knitting things that are appropriate for springtime. I don't know. Maybe I should put the project on hold until next year.

I know only one or two people read this at most, if anyone does at all, but if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. I could really use some encouragement right now.

Seeing in Color

I have been knitting a pair of black and white mitts for my mother F.O.R.E.V.E.R. This pair of black and white mitts, to be exact.

I have been working on these puppies since Christmas. Why, you might ask? It may have something to do with the fact that it is my first attempt at fair isle, and the completed mitt took me three tries to get right. Well, three tries once I found a good yarn. I actually purchased and twice tried another yarn before finding this one and beginning. And in fact, it still isn't right, as the top is too loose and will have to be redone upon completing the second. As you can see, it has been a bit of a frustrating road.

At first, I was excited about the pattern, the yarn, the fact that it was perfect for my mother and I knew she would love it. It was a challenge, and I love complex and visually stunning knitting patterns. The enemy was tension. For the life of me, I could not get my tension correct or even. I couldn't get the hang of carrying the yarn behind without pulling too tight, not understanding the concept behind it. I tried and tried, getting over halfway done at one point and having to frog my way back to the beginning. My optimism is running thin, and it is taking longer and longer to get anything done with them because I am so fed up. I still love the pattern and cannot wait for the completed product, but the amount of effort is not stacking up in solid results.

Luckily for me, there is such a thing as Mochi Plus, by Crystal Palace Yarns. :) I bought this from Northampton Wools a few months ago, and have been dying to try it out ever since. The colors are amazing, the softness is divine - it was exactly the sort of yarn therapy I needed. So yesterday on the way back to school from a quick weekend home, I whipped up this cute little hat with earflaps (it still needs to be blocked and have the ends woven in). It was easy and fun, and just what I wanted - great results with very little time and effort.
Luckily I still have two more skeins of this yarn left, so I can make another little something before having to buy more!

I also took a little time to spin, and finally finished up some alpaca that I have been working on for months now.
Although I got myself into a little rut with the mitts, all I needed was a break to get me back on track feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the first Knit for Those in Need meeting on Saturday! :)

Keep Knitting!

Spring Break

My excuse for not posting on Saturday is that I forgot. I wish I had a better one than that, but it's all I've got. Oh, and it's spring break. That helped with the forgetting.

Yes, spring break. That happy time when college kids all over the country are making their way to the warmth and fun of the Carolinas, Florida, or the Caribbean and drinking themselves into oblivion for a week. At least, that's what a lot of college kids do. If you are like me, however, you would rather have your organs harvested by a thug with sensitivity issues than spend eight days enduring the loud and the mess of hundreds of college-agers in varying stages of inebriation. No, sadly, that scene is not for me. To all of you fellow academics out there choosing to break it up with the help of a little drink and dance, I mean no offense. It's just not for me.

No, for me, spring break is being spent in a quieter fashion, with my boyfriend up at school. There is no place I would rather be. (Sorry family :(). Here are some pics from a walk we took today by the river, and to see an old abandoned mill. Feel free to comment with your spring break plans/spring break favorite memories. Enjoy! :)

A pretty rock the boyfriend found on our walk.



Inside the mill

Down by the water - we had to climb over ice and snow to get here :)

The ice formed in really interesting patterns.

It was a wonderful day and it's been a great start to the break!

Valentine's Day

Now, everyone knows that Valentine's Day is traditionally a day of disappointment. A special time of the year where women's expectations are too high and men's greatest efforts are too little. More so than usual, I mean. If you're single, it is an especially soul-crushing day, when everyone in the world it seems is paired up apart from you, and you are sure it will remain this way for all time. This is how Valentine's Day has been for me in the past. But then, this year, something amazing happened. Something I never thought was possible. I got a boyfriend. And he is wonderful.

Over the course of my dating career I have learned a few things about Valentine's Day that can make it more enjoyable for everyone involved. Today, I would like to share some of those observations with all of you.

1. No Pressure: One of the biggest issues with Valentine's Day, I am convinced, is the amount of pressure that is placed on it. The need for it to be "perfect", and the idea that anything less than that is a failure. This is just silly! Don't put so much pressure on the day, and it will automatically be better.

2. No Money: There is another idea surrounding this day that oodles of money need to be spent in order for it to be a success. False statement. It has often been my experience that the less money is spent, the better. My best friend and her boyfriend had a shared Taco Bell dinner that was full of romance and laughs. The best thing you can do is just spend time together - go for a walk, watch a movie, make dinner together. Soak each other in. You won't regret it.

3. Talk: V-Day doesn't have to be some big surprise that the guy cooks up for the girl to be wonderful. Talking about plans beforehand and brainstorming fun ideas together can be a great way to enhance the anticipation and make it a shared activity.

4. For Singles: Last year I was single on Valentine's Day and had a blast on a group date with all of my other single friends. We went out to dinner together, and spent the night with each other having fun. There is no need to be sad on this day as a single person! Being single can be lots of fun, and that should be celebrated.

This year my Valentine's Day was spent at my boyfriend's apartment, watching movies with his roommate and her boyfriend and relaxing. In the evening he cooked me an amazing meal of king crab legs, corn on the cob, peas, and garlic bread, and the whole day neither of us even thought about the heaps of homework awaiting us the next day. Success indeed! :)