Knitting | AuburnChick's Adventures

Haunted Hodgepodge

Posted on October 31, 2012 by auburnchick

Can you believe it, but the Hodgepodge turns 100 this week! WOW!! Joyce, thanks for coming up with 100 weeks’ worth of questions. That, if I’m doing my math correctly (I’m a reading teacher, so be gentle), is about 700 questions (the 8th question is a random comment fashioned by us, the writers). Pretty amazing!!! I look forward to celebrating another hundred Hodgepodges in, well, a hundred (give or take a few) weeks!!

1. What creeps you out?

No doubt about it, but spiders creep me out the most!! I’ve been heard, over the school’s radio, begging like a little girl for someone to come and remove a nasty, hairy spider. This happened a few years ago when I was a computer tech at a school. My office was small and dark, with lots of binders lining the walls. I moved one and found an icky spider crawling out. The custodian came to assist me, entered my room with gloves, and came out shaking, saying, “You weren’t kidding. That thing was huge!” Guess I wasn’t such a baby after all!

2. What’s your least favorite candy?

My least favorite candy is candy corn. Honestly…who in the world came up with the stuff? Gross.

3. Are you a fan of scary movies? What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?

Ha, ha, ha! My family would be laughing right now if they were reading this. I hold my eyes over scary previews in the theater!!! In fact, during my honeymoon, which was spent at Disney World, I covered my eyes during the Haunted House ride. A little girl exiting the ride with her parents gushed over how great it was and, “Could they go again?” I was almost in tears from it being so scary.

That said, I never told the Mr., before he was “The Mr.” that I hated scary movies, and much to my dismay that’s where he took me out on dates. I used to have NIGHTMARES afterward (not from the dates but the movies, mind you).

The worst movie ever…Nightmare on Elm Street. Why? Because I couldn’t escape the dream, of course. I didn’t sleep well for weeks, if at all at night.

To this day, I cannot watch scary things because my creative imagination inserts me into the movie at night when my brain doesn’t know I’m dreaming.

Not.

Fun.

4. What part of life confuses you the most?

At this stage of my life, what really confuses me is what part of Rule #3 my students do not get.

The rule clearly states that “Students will not talk across groups unless given permission by Mrs. AuburnChick.”

This drives the noise level up and causes major distractions, just forcing me to stop teaching to quiet them down.

How teenagers can blatantly disregard classroom rules and, thus, have so little regard for their education as well as that of others, confuses me.

That and the fact that they consider my daring to interrupt their conversations as “bothersome” is beyond me.

Sheesh.

(It’s a good thing I love those students, otherwise I’d be running in the other direction!!!)

😉

5. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy…what’s your favorite seed?

I like sunflower seeds.

6. Imagine your life ten years from today…what’s changed?

Ten years from today, I suspect that Chicky will be married with children. Maybe Rooster will be married. I will be into my thirteenth year of teaching and, hopefully, having some sort of life at home because lesson planning will have become easier. I don’t know if I’ll have all of my fur babies around (gosh, that makes me sad just thinking about it).

7. What do you a) love the most and b) like the least about the Hodgepodge?

I love seeing how other people answer the questions. It’s fun to see how others interpret the questions. Sometimes I find that I totally miss the mark because I’ve read the questions too quickly and misread them. Mostly, though, I find that we who answer and share are very similar, and it makes the world a much smaller place.

I cannot say that there’s anything I don’t like about the Hodgepodge. Joyce, you do a wonderful job. The questions are relevant and fun. There are questions that we can shoot from the hit from, and there are others that really make us dig down deep. For that, I thank you.

8. My Random Thought

I know that I’ve been posting a lot lately about my little knitting group that is evolving at school.

I’ve gotta tell you that this is really just touching my heart.

Before school began, I felt a nudging to create a knitting club at school. I even talked to an assistant principal about it, and she told me which faculty member to speak to in order to make it “official.”

I never got around to it for several reasons…weekly staff meetings, professional development, and my newest Reading Endorsement class, which I knew was coming.

I did not want to commit to something else.

And then things started by one sweet little girl’s desire to learn a hobby she’d seen her grandmother do.

It’s grown.

I used to lock up my classroom door during lunch, visit with other teachers, and be unproductive (cough). It was my chill time.

Now, I have kids coming into my room, eating lunch, and knitting a few rows.

I supervise them, jumping in when they need help, offering praise when they get discouraged.

Word is spreading.

Kids were knitting last weekend…before a big band competition.

They’re learning how to cast on by watching YouTube videos.

I’m not kidding.

Yesterday afternoon, I taught one of my original “groupies” how to knit in the round…on double pointed needles.

She is determined to make a hat…her first project!!!!!

After school, when the kids come in to knit, I do my own thing and only rush over when I hear words like, “Oops,” or “Uh oh.”

The sound of a metal needle hitting the floor also makes me jump out of my seat and run.

😀

I don’t pay too much attention to the conversation if it’s something between the girls. They need their chill time. Often, though, they invite me to sit with them, and I get to hear more about their lives at home.

My friend, Jane, has always had students in and out of her room at all hours of the day.

She’s always been a popular teacher.

Me…not so much.

I am tough, and after that first year of teaching I was especially nervous to let kids get too close.

I’d gotten burned that first year by trusting my students.

Teaching these beautiful youngsters at my new school has made me see how much these kids need someone who’s just there, whether they want to talk or not.

Sometimes it’s just being a present force that’s just what they want.

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks, let me tell you, and it’s why my supply closet in my room looks like this now…

I can’t believe I ever thought that I’d never be able to fill those shelves.

God knew, though, which is why He probably laughed when I thought I wasn’t going to follow the Spirit’s prompting to start that knitting club.

God had other plans.

I am just along for the ride, trusting that the minute details of my crazy schedule will get worked out.

Meanwhile, I count my blessings, for that is what these students and their happy smiles when they knit or purl their way across a row of stitches are to me…blessings.

Filed under: Knitting, Teaching, This-n-That | Tagged: Knitting, teaching, Wednesday Hodgepodge | 14 Comments »

I Think We’ve Got a Club

Posted on October 29, 2012 by auburnchick

I think it might have been last week (perhaps the week before that) when I described how my initial foray into teaching one of my students to knit led to five students wanting to learn.

Well, I thought I would give you an update.

The girls have been coming into my classroom during lunch to knit…to get assistance with extra stitches showing up and whatnot…

Today, I had two or three girls in my room. It was a relaxed time. I played music and worked on “teacher” stuff while they discussed their knitting travails.

Then I heard something that warmed my heart when two more gals entered the room and began talking about a bunch of them knitting on Saturday before a band competition! Apparently, one girl challenged the others, betting that they couldn’t knit.

Guess what?

They picked up the needles and began knitting!

One of the girls bought one of my original girls a new set of needles!

Although I haven’t been able to start an “official” club, what I think I’ve got on my hands is something unofficial…a movement that is spreading.

The girls are very excited, and they are talking about knitting things…like blankets and hats!

I finally feel justified for having oodles and oodles of extra yarn in the closet.

I pulled out a basket and will be taking it to school tomorrow after promising, about five times, that I wouldn’t forget.

One of my girls wants to learn to knit a hat.

She believes she’s ready for double pointed needles.

I’m nervous, but I’m not going to discourage her.

She’ll persist and be successful.

Her confidence is what I’ll draw upon when I encourage her that she has what it takes to make learning gains on the FCAT.

Knitting…talking…creating…building…

It’s becoming more than a club.

It’s becoming a family, where relationships and trust are being generated, watered, and fed.

Filed under: Knitting, Teaching | Tagged: Knitting, teaching | 4 Comments »

Teaching More Than Reading

Posted on October 20, 2012 by auburnchick

A few weeks ago, one of my students, a gal I taught last year, told me that she’d found a couple of her grandmother’s knitting books. I invited her to bring them in and show me.

She did…a couple of weeks later…but we were so busy that we didn’t have time to talk about them. I set the books aside and assured her that we’d chat.

We finally had that chat, and she told me that she’d watched her grandmother knit years ago. Her grandmother passed away a few years ago, so the knitting books make her feel close to her. She then told me that she wanted to learn how to knit.

My student knew that I knit because she’d seen the shawls and socks I wore to class last year. She knew she was asking someone who could help her.

I took in a set of the first needles I’d bought myself along with a skein of yarn (heaven knows I have plenty).

On Friday, she came to me at lunch, and I did something that makes every knitter happy…

I taught someone to knit.

I cast one, and explained, very simply, what I was doing as I created each knit stitch.

I knit an entire row, and she watched my every move.

Then, it was her turn.

She was nervous and giggled a lot.

I helped her position her hands and walked her through the steps.

I watched her grow more comfortable, and it didn’t take too long before she’d finished her first row!

She allowed me to take a picture of her.

I suggested that she knit another row, which she did. I was able to give her some pointers, but really…she caught on quickly.

I told her that she could take the yarn and needles home with her, and she excitedly told me that she would take them on the bus to her band competition the next day. She had a two and a half hour ride ahead of her.

Then, she asked if she could come back after school…just to make sure she hadn’t forgotten how to knit.

I told her yes, of course.

When she came back, she told me that she’d texted her dad after she’d left me earlier and told him that I was teaching her to knit. She said he was happy because he enjoys crafty activities as well.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again.

Teachers do more than impart academic knowledge.

We transfer parts of ourselves to the children we are privileged to spend time with each day…all of our talents that might not necessarily be considered education-related.

I had a rough week, so ending it by teaching this sweet student of mine to knit really helped me find my groove again.

I’m looking forward to teaching her how to purl next week and have printed out a dishcloth pattern for her to make.

🙂

Filed under: Knitting, Teaching | Tagged: Knitting, teaching | 1 Comment »

AuburnChick Begins a New Project

Posted on June 11, 2012 by auburnchick

I don’t have castonitis, I promise I don’t.

Not familiar with this knitterly condition?

Well, it’s something that happens to a knitter when he/she buys new yarn or sees a pattern that simply begs to be knit up. This knitter might have a project…or two…or ten (in the case of my friend, Christina) already on the needles, but casting on another project becomes the knitter’s main focus.

I’ve proudly been a monogamous knitter for nearly all of my knitting career. It hasn’t mattered that I’ve bought lots of lovely yarn along the way. I’ve hardly ever been tempted to set my needles down in favor of another project.

Despite my good reputation, the actions I’m about to speak of might sound a bit suspicious.

You might remember that I recently told you about my cross-county trek…during which I purchased this lovely Malabrigo lace…

My plans were to knit Omelet, a pattern that I believe I discovered by reading the Yarn Harlot’s blog.

Well, I was going to have to wait because I had another project on my needles…had been working on it since March.

However…

And that is one big HOWEVER…

I had long suspected that my project wasn’t going to work out.

It was a pair of socks, and though I rarely mess up on socks, I’d long feared that the pattern was not a good match with the yarn.

Despite using size 0 needles and making the smallest size in the pattern, the sock I was knitting was turning out too large.

I’d gotten through the heel turn and was beginning the leg when I stalled…

Undecided.

Until, coincidentally, I saw that pattern and later bought that pink yarn.

Being a girl who usually makes up her mind quickly, I decided to do something I hardly ever do.

I frogged that sock.

I felt a little guilty as I did so.

All that work…down the toilet…although I’d learned a couple of lessons along the way.

Sorry, but I don’t have pictures. I could not bring myself to capture the moment forever on digital film.

That was the only sad part of my evening because shortly thereafter, after gathering my tools of the trade, I wound the first skein of the pink Malabrigo and cast on.

The shawl starts off with a provisional cast on. I’ve cast on this way before but usually used the crochet method. This time, I attempted to do it using the link the pattern provided.

Oh, how I struggled.

I could not get the cast on to work!!!

I googled and tried following instructions.

Nothing worked.

Finally, I changed out my waste yarn…used a scrap of Peaches ‘n Cream…and a size 6 needle (twice as large as the one I’m using for the pattern)…and watched this video…

After watching, stopping, rewinding, and re-watching…at least ten times…I got it!

I worked twenty-six rows of Chart A before heading to bed…

I’m loving this pattern and especially the yarn! I think it’s going to be a great pairing, and I can’t wait to see its progress!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: Knitting, malabrigo, Omelet Shawl | 1 Comment »

AuburnChick Goes on a Drive

Posted on June 10, 2012 by auburnchick

Ok.

I’ll admit it.

I’m feeling extremely lazy.

Maybe that’s because I’m completely worn out from spending 60-70 hours each week working on lesson plans and Reading Endorsement assignments.

Although I had scheduled a hair appointment for Friday afternoon, I had some time to play…

Especially with You-Know-Who waking me up at the crack of dawn…

The house had been especially quiet because Rooster was at a church camp several hours away.

So, I headed out…game plan in mind.

Drive…

Enjoy the solitude…

Ring up Christina, my BFF, and chat for about half of the drive.

Then I called up Super Sis and talked to her for a short bit.

The drive to my intended destination was scenic with the beach on one side and tourist attractions on the other.

Traffic was heavy at times, but I was patient.

I had my destination in mind.

When I arrived, I chatted it up with a store employee and another shopper who, it turned out, has her Master’s degree in education but is currently a stay-at-home mom and hasn’t had her own classroom yet.

I had a lot of fun selecting my purchases and walked out a happy camper.

Wanna see what I drove across two counties to buy?

Oh, Malabrigo, how I love thee.

You make my heart sing with joy.

Sure, I know that I need more sock yarn like I need to hear another dumb blonde joke.

Still, I could not resist that blue. Blue happens to be one of my favorite colors, and a pair of socks made with color will go especially well with the blue jeans I’m fond of wearing.

The pink?

Well, I’m going to use it to make this…

The pattern is on Knitty.com, and it’s FREE!!!

You can bet that I won’t be wearing mine while I cook, though.

😉

I tried to keep my drive on the DL (“down-low” for those of you who don’t speak Teenager-Speak) from the Mr., but, as Chicky says, I tend to broadcast everything about my life on Facebook, so it wasn’t such a secret.

His only question was, “So, did you travel out of the county today?”

:::cough:::

I figured it was my reward yarn…my reward for making it through my second year of teaching.

Can you believe that the other gal who was shopping in the store had NEVER bought reward yarn? And she’s the fairly new mom of a second child!!

Hello? I would have made sure I bought cashmere for birthing a baby.

She also had trouble deciding if she should buy one skein of yarn if she didn’t know what to make with it.

If you’re a knitter, you’re appalled by her indecision.

Can you believe that she’s been knitting for seven to nine years?

Seriously.

Clearly she needs to friend me on Ravelry so I can teach her a thing or two.

heehee

This will be one of my few indulgences this summer.

I’m getting down to work with my Reading Endorsement class…hoping to barrel through it as quickly as I can so I can finish it a few weeks early. My end-of-the-summer plans are going to be very hectic, so I’m thinking ahead.

Meanwhile, I’ll be loving on my new yarn, trying to finish up the project I’m currently working on, and (hopefully) casting on for that new shawl!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: Knitting | 1 Comment »

Lacy Ribs Socks Fit for a Czar

Posted on April 28, 2012 by auburnchick

Last summer, I had the good fortune of taking an Alaskan cruise and finding yarn shops at every port.

While in Sitka, I came across a hobby store that had a few skeins of yarn in it.

That’s when I spied this…

I fell in love with the rich colors. Despite the hefty price tag ($29.50), I splurged. The yarn is Bear Feet, and the colorway is Jewels of the Czar…fitting given that Alaska was owned by Russia way back when.

I finally got the chance to cast on a project with this yarn, so after much searching (choosing patterns is DIFFICULT work), I decided to make Wendy Johnson’s Lacy Ribs Socks from her book Socks from the Toes Up.

The pattern was super-easy. In fact, I memorized the lace pattern after only a few repeats. I used size 0 needles and made the small. I began the project on March 15 and finished on April 27. I would have finished sooner, but as you know, I have a hectic schedule.

I should have stuck with the medium size I started out making, but I was concerned that the socks would be too big. They’re not too small, but a medium would have been just right. This project only took 90 grams of yarn to complete.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the yarn stripe. I do like striped socks. In fact, I went through a knitting spree when I bought tons of striping yarn. heehee

Something very bad happened, though, after I turned the heel of my first sock.

The yarn stopped striping and started pooling.

Oh my goodness.

It was ugly, and I considered frogging. What happened was that at first, the patterning only ran across one needle…the top of the foot (these were made toe up). When it was time to start the patterning around both needles and, thus, around the entire leg, the length of yarn required for each round increased, throwing off the striping pattern.

I was not happy. I figured this would be the ugliest pair of socks ever.

I persisted, finished the first sock, and began working on the second one.

Something really strange happened.

After turning the heel, the striping resumed.

Great.

Now I really do have the ugliest, mismatched pair of socks ever…

Oy. This will probably drive me nuts every time I wear them. I’m that anal. However, I am not about to go back and reknit that sock. No way, Jose.

So, I think I’ll stick with my mismatched socks. It won’t matter once I pull a pair of pants over them. All people will see are the lower legs and feet.

Enjoy the rest of the pictures!

Oh, and for the record, yes, the pictures are a little off-kilter. I propped my camera on a small box, and I didn’t realize that it wasn’t sitting evenly on the concrete.

Oh well.

The socks are off-kilter too.

It’s just par for the course.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: Bear Feet, Jewels of the Czar, Knitting, Lacy Ribs Socks, Sitka, socks, Socks from the Toe Up, Wendy Johnson | 3 Comments »

Mastering the Hodgepodge

Posted on April 11, 2012 by auburnchick

After taking a week off to Spring-Break it, Joyce has returned with a new set of questions for the Hodgepodge! Yay! You know the drill. Answer the questions on your own blog and link back up at Joyce’s. Then, visit others!

1. Have you ever played golf? Any interest in playing? Do you have a significant other who loves to play? Did you watch The Masters this past weekend?

I have played Putt Putt. Does that count? Let’s just say that most people beat me at Putt Putt because I did not inherit one itsy bitsy sports-related gene. And no, I did not watch the Masters although I really don’t mind watching golf on TV. I really did not watch my daytime television last weekend.

2. Hats are back in fashion this spring…how do you feel about wearing a hat? (fyi-I’m not talking baseball caps) When was the last time you wore one?

Oh, I love wearing hats!!! The only time I do, though, is when the weather is cold. That’s when I pull out the hats I’ve knit over the years.

Brattleboro Hat

Koolhaas Hat

Mini Mochi Fair Isle Hat

3. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 meaning proficient and 1 meaning “I’d starve“, how adept are you at using chopsticks?

I’d say a 10 if the question allows for using the chopsticks to shovel the food into my mouth. Otherwise, I’m not coordinated enough to use chopsticks (although I do knit decently…go figure).

4. Has technology taken over?

For the most part, I think it has. It takes computers to run nearly everything, including the cars we drive!!

5. In the course of a day how often do you look in a mirror?

Tough question! I do frequent booger checks because I am a teacher and do not want to gross out my kids by having boogers hanging out of my nose.

True dat!

6. Tulip or Daffodil?

I like the shape of tulips the best.

7. I am proud of myself for __________________.

I am proud of myself for doing what it took to achieve one of my life-long dreams…teaching. I went back to school, full-time, while working part-time, rearing two children and traveling across the state and country for soccer. I didn’t give up even after over a dozen interviews and two years of subbing. I’m proud of myself for never throwing in the table but having faith that the Lord would see through the plans He had for me.

8. My Random Thought

A few weeks ago, I put out an SOS on KnittingHelp for baby blankets. Two of my current students and a student who started out the first half of the year with me are expecting babies. These girls are babies themselves. Sigh. I wanted a way to show them that someone cares about them. Though I don’t really have time to make each of them a blanket, someone else did. I received a package in the mail yesterday. It contained these…

These came from one of KH’s Oddball Blanket coordinators.

Each blanket is themed…

Ahhh…Remar-cable…love the play on words. Here’s the other side of the blanket (I didn’t want to take the ribbon off and mess up the pretty bow…

The next blanket is called Rainbow Connection…

The third blanket is called “Candy Cane.”

Ever since I started knitting in 2007, I’ve learned that yarnies, whether they are knitters or crocheters, are some of the most generous folks around! I’m blessed to call myself a member of this community.

Filed under: Knitting, This-n-That | Tagged: Brattleboro Hat, Knitting, knittinghelp.com, Koolhaas Hat, mini mochi fair isle hat, Wednesday Hodgepodge | 7 Comments »

Tickle My Funny Bone Tuesday

Posted on April 10, 2012 by auburnchick

Ok.

So today isn’t really called “Tickle My Funny Bone Tuesday,” but I wanted to share a few funnies, and because I like playing with words, I figured that this would be a catchy title.

Funny #1

Last Friday, one of my students asked, “Mrs. AuburnChick, are you OCD?”

To which I replied, “No, I’m not. I just like things a certain way.”

heehee

Funnys #2-whatever (I don’t feel like counting)

I saw this knitting cartoon on Facebook…

I loved it so much, I went hunting for more and found just what I wanted here…

My search led to this…

And eventually this…

Filed under: Knitting, This-n-That | Tagged: funnies, Knitting | 2 Comments »

An Answer to an SOS for Blankets

Posted on April 2, 2012 by auburnchick

I have a couple of students who are pregnant.

It’s a sad situation, but it’s not my first go-round teaching expectant students.

While it breaks my heart, all I know to do is to embrace these girls and love them without judging them. I have a feeling that’s why God keeps sending them to me.

As much as I’d like to knit for them, I’m completely swamped with my job responsibilities and online reading classes.

So, I put out an SOS on KnittingHelp, and one sweet lady, GrumpyGrandma, answered the call.

On Friday, I received this in the mail…

I cannot wait to give this blanket to one of my girls. She’s going to be thrilled.

Please pray for these girls. One of them is completely shattered and lost right now. I read something she wrote, and it broke my heart. This particular young lady told me about her pregnancy before she got up the courage to tell her mother (which I advised her to do as quickly as possible). Her mom is now supportive of her daughter, but it’s strained their relationship as they search for answers to the decisions they are facing.

Thanks so much!