Keri's Afghan

I have finally started my best friend's afghan. We have been friends for forty years, since we started our freshman year at Muhlenberg College in 1968. The first square is finished (whee!!!) and I have cast-on the second. Sometimes I don't realize how fast time flies. I have so many other important projects this year to do: a set of 3 Christmas stockings for friends; designing wedding and baby samplers for them (the same family); finishing my blueberry hill sweater; designing an Aran knit sweater pattern for my husband (he's mostly Irish in heritage); finishing the heart-motif sampler afghan I started, socks, etc.

A Rant About China -- OT

I am old enough to remember when the US recognized the Beijing government; however, I never approved of the idea that "China" was one nation because Taiwan was - and still is - a de facto nation. Needless to say, I also believe that Tibet is and should be totally independent from the Beijing. Now, coming to the current fiasco about the Olympics, why oh why did anyone believe that China would change its stripes if it was chosen as a host site? I certainly did not, though it would have been nice to have been proved wrong. I think that the ONLY proper course would be to CANCEL THE OLYMPIC GAMES! If this does not happen, this is the final straw for any moral authority we may think we have on the rest of the world.
(added on 3/27) Of course I can rant about the Peoples Republic on most days (toxic products; slave labour; etc). I will not buy bone beads made there because of the real possibility that the material comes from human beings -- and I refuse to sell anything that I have made which has questionable content. We each have a MORAL and ETHICAL duty to stand up and say, "NO. I will NOT buy products made in the Peoples Republic of China!"

More Done -- More To Do!

Well, I have finished four (4) heart-patterned squares, two in the light dusty rose and two in the dusty purple. I had to make a minor adjustment in the borders of the last one as I prefer seed stitch (I had to cast-on two extra stitches and make the top and bottom borders six rows). Now, I am going to start on my best friend's sampler which has a complete change of colour way and pattern choices. There are so many things that I will have to include that I know this will be much larger than a traditional throw, some of which I will have to chart out! If anyone is interested in a chart for Lehigh (University), PhD, and M'BERG (Muhlenberg College), please let me know.

A Fun Quiz

I just took one of the quizzes on Quizilla: What Is Your Patronus? Check out the bottom of my blog for the answer (Eagle) and a link to the quiz.

Finished Two, Started Third

I have finished my first two squares in Vanna's Choice Dusty Rose and have started a third in Dusty Purple. All three have hearts as the motif, different patterns. I also decided to tie them all together with a seed stitch border (though I really don't remember if any of the patterns called for anything different -- I just prefer seed stitch).
I still need to finish a sweater which I started about 8 weeks ago. The body is almost finished as I did it in the round. I really need to get better circular needles. The ones I used really twisted terribly even though I started off with everything nice and square. GRRR......
I also need to get another set of Size 6 or 7 needles for another sampler afghan I will be doing for my best friend out in Ohio. I guess I have the same complaint: so many projects planned, so little time. ;-)

Corporate Management

Over the years I have seen "Dilbert-ville" becoming the rule and not the exception in management. I am also speaking as someone who obviously learned something in her MPA programme. Anyway, as of right now, it is all's well that ends well since I am taking my knitting classes to a new venue in April. Maybe we'll get a little more support. (HaHaHa)

Charting

I am finally getting ready to do up my first charts -- the capital letters of the Greek alphabet! This has been something that I have wanted to do for some time. In addition, I am also going to do one in counted X-stitch. Both will be in various sizes. I am considering using the SP Ionic font as an inspiration for these charts. Maybe in the future I'll do the lower case as well.