the middle knitter

If you're still reading this, you probably noticed that I haven't been updating. That's mainly because I'm taking six classes this semester, and it's all I can do to stay above water most of the time. Sometimes I feel pretty burnt out about the whole business.

Which is why this last, busy stretch of the semester is actually the perfect job for me to start charity knitting again. I'm making baby socks and hats for Afghans for Afghans. As counterintuitive as it sounds, it's great to have something to focus on that isn't related to school at all. It keeps me grounded, I guess. It's also nice to be doing something where I can make with measurable, visible progress.

I found a shoebox in the recycling and turned it into my Box O' Warm.

Currently, it holds 7 baby hats and 17 baby socks. That's 14 warms ears, and 170 warm toes. (Can you tell I'm really craving measurable results? When you study the humanities, there's so little of anything concrete. It's all interpretations and subtext and subtlety. But, dangit, 17 socks means 170 toes.)

There are two groups of special interest in there. First, I had all this leftover Harry Potter themed yarn sitting around, so I hope some babies in Afghanistan don't mind showing some house pride:

Second, I took my first foray into the world of dying a few weeks back, with Koolaid and the dorm kitchen. I had made a pair of socks with white yarn, because it was all I had at that moment, and I needed to dye them so that AfA would accept them. I threw in a couple other socks while I was at it.

From left to right: white socks dyed with cherry Koolaid; white socks dyed with strawberry Koolaid; green socks overdyed with some sort of blue Koolaid; striped socks overdyed with blue, next to socks made with the same yarn but not dyed.

I have also, heaven help me, learned how to make granny squares. Seriously--look:

Those things are addictive! Once I start one, they just keep coming! Which is sort of a problem, because while I can read while I knit (and thus accomplish homework at the same time as I'm making socks; convenient), I can't read while I crochet (thus, no homework; inconvenient).

If you're utterly appalled by the color choices, don't worry--they're going in a big fun patchwork afghan for AfA.

If I post again before finals are over, it will be to share the rest of the bounty. Otherwise, I'll be trying to survive college without burning out or suffering a total breakdown.

I have a feeling there will be wool involved.