Drinking from a Fire Hose...

It has been an absolutely crazy week, mostly work-related. I can’t believe I’ve been too exhausted to blog since Sunday! I’m here now though.

Knitting: I have about a million projects going on.

1. I started Tree Jacket the other day. I’m done with the collar and am currently about 1/3 of the way through the garter stitch section. I’m loving it so far! Total mindless knitting, which is just what I need right now. The Knit Picks Andean Silk is great to work with and really soft. I love the drape of it as well. I am not sure whether I’m going with the XS or the S, but the great thing is, I don’t have to decide until I get to the end of the increases for the XS. If it fits fine as is, I will continue on to the next section. If it needs to be a little bigger, I’ll just do four more rounds as that is the only difference between the two sizes up through that point.

2. Sushi Wallet – no progress: body of wallet done; one sushi piece done, five to go

3. Cabled Purse – done with both side gussets, and have about 10” done on the main body of the purse. The total length is 24” as it folds over and is seamed to be about 12” in height.

4. Flair – need to adjust for my shorter row gauge or my buttons will be too close together. Probably need to do an extra three or four rows between each buttonhole, but I need to confirm that math.

5. Spicy Fitted Tee – actually worked on this earlier in the week and I’m at the waist decreases now. If I worked on this for a good afternoon or so, I’d be done.

6. Indigo Ripples Skirt - done with the increases on the top section; tried it on J.Lo and it fits, need to do about three more inches on the top section and then I'll start the lace.

Totally random: One of my friends at work brought in these amazing apples she picked in Michigan over the weekend. She didn’t know what kind the one was that she gave me, but this is the best apple I’ve probably ever eaten in my LIFE. It looks like a Mackintosh, but is really tart and tangy. I hate sweet apples (like the traditional red “give to the teacher” mealy tasting kind) and usually only eat Granny Smiths or Mackintoshes. What’s another type of sour-ish apple that looks like a Mackintosh? I must buy more. I’m reminding myself of one of my friends that was raving about these pears she got from Harry and David. You would have laughed out loud listening to this reverie about the pears. Think "When Harry Met Sally"...she looooves her food.

Sewing: I didn’t stay long for class on Tuesday night, just turned in my samples (inner and outer curves) and watched the demonstration of the samples for next week. We only have one more week of samples to do after this. The ones we are doing for next week all involve dealing with facing (for waistbands, collars, etc.) Understitching, stitch in the ditch, grading a/k/a “layering the seam” in commercial pattern-speak, clipping and notching curves. Easy stuff. I actually got full credit on all of my samples from last week except for the easing one (analogous to the knitting technique of setting in a sleeve into an armhole – easing a larger piece into a smaller one. ) Apparently, no one got full credit on this sample and our instructor said it just comes with practice. Adrienne told me about an article in the October Threads that covers how to do this technique well, so I plan to check that out when redoing the sample. However, in the meantime, I looked at some of my sewing technique books, such as the Simplicity Simply the Best sewing book and the Sewing With Nancy Tips & Techniques book, and realized that I hadn’t known to pull on each side of the seam allowance while sewing it and a few other tricks. Still waiting for my new machine to be back from the sewing dealer. It was supposed to be done yesterday. Grrr.

In my class, many people are still working on their purses (some just started cutting them out) and we have three more weeks to go until they’re due. I probably have about an hour of work left on mine, so I decided to leave. Pictures to come soon, as I hope to finish it this weekend.

MBA class (no one cares, who am I kidding?): had a case to write up for Wednesday night’s class so that was another part of my “drinking from a fire hose” mindset this week. I am starting to fall a little bit behind on the 2-chapter-a-week reading schedule, but I won’t have anything due for a while now, so should be caught up soon.

Weekend: I am SOOOOO looking forward to the weekend after this week! Tomorrow night Jim and I will be attending a “one year opening anniversary” invitation-only party tomorrow night at Blu Coral, our favorite restaurant, but other than that, NO PLANS. I am going to Hancock Fabrics at lunch today to take advantage of their $1.99 Simplicity pattern sale, which should be fun as well. The sale starts today, but I prepared in advance by looking online at the patterns and making a list of the ones I want. I also plan to beat the crowds by going today, on the first day of the sale, at lunchtime. Wish me luck!

Comments

[marjorie]

Might those apples be Fujis or Galas? My favorites are Mutsu (sort of yellow and sometimes spelled differently). All those are tart (but less so than Macintoshes), but they tend not to placed be in controlled-atmosphere storage so they're not always available. NY is also a big apple-growing state, and this is the time of year for our best selection.

[joan]

The apples might be my absolute favorite - Honey Crisp, a newish apple that I adore. They are in season right now and I'm lucky to be just minutes away from the orchards.
Easing in sleeves does take practice. I always pin the sleeve to adjust the ease, remove it and steam the slightly puckered stitching, repin then sew exactly on my basting.

[Phyl]

Could also be Braeburn (sp?) apples. I hate the mealy ones as well. Amazing that the fresh ones I get in my CSA are always crisp and yummy. I think I'll make an apple something this weekend.

[Adrienne]

Gosh those apples sound good! Maybe I will get some of the silk for my tree jacket too. It doesn't make sense that you didn't get full credit! That sucks!!! I'm ready for the weekend too.

[Jenny]

My resident expert, Joe, thinks you had a Mac or a Rome apple. Either way, you have both of us craving apple crumble now! Glad your week calmed down!

[Monica]

Good Luck beating the crowds for the sale! I love your Title for this post, ROLOL! Glad your classes are going well and of course we care and want to hear about the MBA classes. Can't wait to see pictures of all your projects!

[Marin]

Totally food related, nothing about stitchin':

1) You MUST try the Royal Riviera pears from Harry and David. It's a whole different realm of peary goodness. Your friend does not exaggerate in any way.

2) I'm loving the Honeycrisp apples. They're big, always crisp and tangy. I don't like sweet apples either. Or mealy ones. I usually get Galas, but as long as the Honeycrips are in the stores, that's what I'll eat. Highly recommended.

Hang in there... just one more day to go.

[Debby]

My favorite apples are Macoun. They're a newish variety and I'm not sure they're widely available, but they fit your description of "look like a Mac" and are crisp and tart. They don't have a long season -- around here, only in September.

I so hear you on the weekend thing. I've got Saturday off and am going to a knitting group Sunday. I'm overjoyed. Hope you savor every moment!!

[Jeremy]

Empire and Jonathan are also tart and my favorites.

[KeanaLee]

I like fuji apples myself.

[tiennie]

Hooray to the end of a crazy week soon - have fun out with Jim!

[Michelle]

The apples ound great~! I love Fuji and Gala, as well as granny smith. I hate the mushy ones too (the ones I often do get as a teacher YUCK).

Man I wish Hancock's was still open around here! I keep waiting for the simplicity patterns to go on sale for $1.99 at JoAnn's!

[Lara]

You are one busy girl! How do you get it all done in a day? You do have a lot of great projects going on. I can't wait to see how they all turn out! You are now inspiring me to pick up Tree Jacket again. She has been in time out because I am avoiding putting her on scrap yarn to try on. I just hate doing that.

[Heather R]

I'm with you on the fire drills this week at work. I think it's the full moon or something. I'm exhausted just reading about all the things you have going on! :)

[Carol]

Cortland apples look exactly like Macintosh but are very tangy and juicy! My favourites. But you can only get them this time of year. I guess they don't store well...

[Michelle R.]

I'm thinking about the tree jacket...we'll see!...I'm with Adrienne...those apples do sound good!!

[elan]

I'm guessing it's a Cortland they're in season here in Ontario as well & are a great, tart eating/baking apple.

[Liz]

Wow, you sound busy. You should chill out this weekend and do not much at all! Well, apart from a spot of knitting maybe!

[Suzanne]

Hi Robin,

I read your blog all the time and I just wanted to say I'm awed at how many projects you knit, finish and have in progress... let alone your sewing stuff..

Hopefully you were able to get some good deals at the fabric store

Suzanne

[Maryanne]

Hmmm. My favorite apples right now are called Honeycrisp. I don't know if they're regional or not, but they're a new-ish hybrid I think. They're tart-ish and super crispy! I bought a whole bunch the other day because they're not in season for very long :) Your projects sound great! Hope you got to relax this weekend. I need some of that too!

[Heather]

Robin - I'm thinking the apple you had might have been a Red Harrelson or Harrington. They are popular in that area lately - I've gotten some from Vermont - have some in my fridge now, and they are my absolute favorite! I love the tangy apples! Cruncy is a must, so I'll take a sweet Golden Delicious now and then, but tart/tangy is the best!

I'm anxious to see your Tree Jacket. I'm going to cast on for mine as soon as I'm finished by Hogwarts Pal's socks!

:O)