Today’s Eye Candy (hey, it’s still Friday for 1 more hour!) is brought to you by Garter Stitch.
It’s just so textured and squishy, especially with Georgia’s hand-spun, I just couldn’t resist casting on! Isn’t it sweet looking? I’m hoping to finish it tomorrow, although I think it might be a bit too warm to wear it for a while ;) My math skills definitely came in handy, because I’m on target to exactly the amount of yarn I need to cast off and seam the hat. It helped that the pattern was written as 4 segments of short rows, so I was able to weigh the yarn and figure out the right size for each quarter, reweighing as I go. Just one more segment left, and I’ll have a perfectly cozy garter stitch hat for next winter :)
I’m still plugging away on the lozenge socks too, which means I have 2 handspun projects in the works! How lucky am I? I don’t even spin, and I have wonderful friends who send me beautiful handspun yarn! Anyone else feeling generous? ;)
And in the department of things that are long overdue, I figured it’s about time that I gave an exercise goals update. So I never did finish my 100 miles for Runagogo, and I haven’t been terribly good about getting to the gym as of late. (Ok fine, I haven’t gone in a month and a half!) School just got crazy, and although it’s over now, it’s still tough to find the motivation when I have time to hang out at home and catch up on all the other stuff. I did manage to lose 5 more pounds (a total of 10), and I haven’t been too bad in the eating department, but I definitely could use a bit more physical activity.
So I’ve decided to stop making excuses and get a bit more proactive. I think to start I’m gonna cancel the gym membership and do more outdoors stuff, since I’ve really grown to hate going to the gym. I figure there’s no use in paying for something that won’t really help me out in my fitness goals, eh?
At any rate, I have a plan. It not only involves getting regular exercise, but will help me save a bit of money and pollute less too. Any ideas?
How about now? Yup, I’m gonna bike commute. See, my job is actually only 5 miles away, and as it turns out, there’s a bike route all the way to my office door, so why not? I got my bike all tuned up, and got all the swanky new gear above (isn’t the reflective vest great? the things I have to do to commute to a military base…), so I’m all set.
I’m gonna do a trial run tomorrow, just to make sure I’m familiar with the route, so wish me luck!
Good for you Adam! Getting out there on your bike and being able to commute that way. Maybe you’ll see a pretty girl here or there - it’ll make it easier for you to stop and say hello! If not, you’ll still be getting in some exercise and fresh air!
Wow! Garter stitch bliss! And the color is gorgeous! The socks aren’t too bad either!
Gotta love bike commuting. I just got a new bike myself, and I’m using it every day. We have great bike routes here and it’s so nice to ride out to the ocean and feel the breeze when it’s hellishly hot in town!
Keep the nice knitbits coming!
That’s awesome! If my office had a shower or at least a better place to change and freshen up I’d consider biking to work too.
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, those socks are gorgeous!
i really would love to bike to work. i did a few times last summer. but, as turtlegirl said, i don’t really have an appropriate place to freshen up once i get to work. and, it took me at least a good half hour to cool down. but, i might just have to give it a go again. because i too need more physical activity.
yes, you are a very lucky knitter to be knitting with handspun!
Hey Good Luck! Your hat and your sock are looking great. I haven’t been to the gym in almost 4 weeks, but I like going there in the early morning before sending kiddo off to school…ride on the bike and knit on a sock…gotta love multitasking! You might find that bike commuting 5 miles doesn’t take all that much longer than driving. I keep thinking of doing it, but time is my issue, and transporting kiddo, and running all the errands between here and there to keep the household going. But when I was at school? It was ALL bike commuting! Have fun (do you know the country nose blow?…you may find you need it!)
wow, the garter stitch looks fantastic! Love it! And the sock looks so cushy. :)
I need to tune my bike up, and then I think I am going to bikecommute again — I used to bikecommute all the time and I loved it. Kudos to you for trying it out! :)
Good for you!! Hmm, one of the more recent issues of Bicycling magazine had tips for bicycle commuting. Alas, I already read the issue and left it at work…
Gratuitous Garter Shot looks suspiciously like zeebee…
:-)
Bike well.
The first day or two might be tough, but STICK WITH IT! I have a kick-ass road bike that has not had its wheels on pavement in 8 years. I thought I’d ride it in Los Angeles, but then I got here and realized just how dangerous the drivers are around here. No bike paths, and after chats with a few bike shop employees it was confirmed — they don’t know anyone who rides regularly who hasn’t been hit by a car. sigh
Bike went on the moving truck yesterday and hubster has strict instructions to take it straight to my brother’s favorite bike shop for a tune-up. I hope to join you on the roads soon!
Hat looks awesome. I’m gonna have to bookmark that pattern! :)
Congrats at your idea of riding to work. I hope it goes well.
the handspun you are using for zeebee is gorgeous.
hey, great idea about the biking…and so efficient too, killing two birds with one stone. i had to finally quit my membership with the gym too, since i was paying for it and hadn’t gone in probably a year!! what a waste. now i can afford to buy more yarn. HA~! i hope the test run went well.
that is a great idea - I used to bike to work when it was about 5 miles away - great exercise and saved plenty on gas! Now, I’m 15 miles by pure highway - not a fun bike!!!!
:)
lookin good! i can’t wait to see the finished hat modeled by one of your dogs ;).