Mysterious Stitches

Knitting has definitely grown into a passion of mine over the past few years.  I have oodles of projects started (yes, I have grown into your typical compulsive project starter) and lots of yummy things in the stash!  I enjoy so many different things about knitting- it is a fantastic stress relief between taking classes as a grad student and teaching undergrads;  however, my love of this craft spans even further.  I would go as far as to say that I am a Knit-nerd!  As someone with a healthy love of mathematics, I really appreciate the topology of the stitches, how they interlock/how they can form shapes and different geometry.

If that wasn't nerdy enough, I quickly reached a point where the typical pattern needed a bit of spice.  I began to adjust patterns (bend them to my will, haha!) and do everything from knit-hiking to MKALs any chance that I get.

So, the first time I heard about (mystery knit alongs) MKALs, you better believe that I jumped on the opportunity!  I have been hooked ever since!  They are really very exciting if you have never been a part of one. What are they, you say?  When doing a MKAL, portions of a pattern are released at a time by the designer to keep the overall item or look/construction of the project a surprise - exciting, right?!

So why this mini rant?.. I just thought I would log the ongoings of the current MKAL that I am a part of.  The yarn was too yummy not to squish and put against my face as soon as I received it.  This MKAL is part of a year long MKAL club, "The M Club" by Nelkin Designs!!!  Love, love, love this designer.  If you haven't worked any of her patterns, you are really missing out!  Check out the super yummyness and goodies that this one is using::

Anywho, my swatch was spot on and when clue #1 was release last night, I just had to start on it.  Here is what it looks like so far (both, with and without flash on).  What do you think it is going to look like? :)

I shall add pics of the clue once I am finished with it... let me go get my stitches on... be back soon!  

Until then,  stay awesome and get your craft on!

Craziness...

Well it is the middle of the summer and I have yet again started a ton of projects to add to the mountain of crap I have already set out to do...  Story of my life :)

I am a self taught knitter who has been knitting for just under a year now, but the pattern and yarn bug hit me HARD.  I have been crafting with cross-stitch, sewing, and the like since I was very young.  If it was something that I could learn, relieve stress, and produce something in the end, I am more than willing to try it.

I have come to extremely enjoy knitting as an escape from my constant work on the computer as well as a the nice social tool that this craft can be.  No place is off limits either--  restaurants, road trips, etc.  I have been known on more than one occasion to knit in class.  Hell, I will even knit on a cliff ;)   (I am trying my best to bring in the next big outdoor sport: 'Knit-Hiking'- but my knit night group isn't having any of it)

Not everything is all fun and crafts though... I am doing the work/education thing and that also comes with its own set of project funness.  This is the part that is actually causing me to craft more due to the stress of everything.  It's a vicious cycle...  I need to get into my research and kick some of the stress out of that so that I can hit those projects headstrong.  

At the end of the day Procrastination still seems to be king and instead of doing work on any projects I am writing this silly thing :-P.  I'm new to this whole blog thing, so we will just have to see where this funness goes.   :)