Wednesday, December 2, 2009

November socks, and more Jane Austen

I continued my Jane Austen reading marathon, beginning Pride and Prejudice when I finished Persuasion. Mansfield Park is up next, but will have to wait a few weeks, until exams, design reports, etc. are graded and final grades have been submitted.

I am currently reading The Congress Dances by Susan Mary Alsop---a book about the Congress of Vienna and the events leading up to it. It is research (yet more research!) for A Diplomatic Alliance.

I finished my November socks, which I call my "Holiday Socks," exactly two weeks after I started them. The pattern is Wendy Johnson's Slip Stitch Heel Basic Socks, from her book Socks from the Toe Up. Although not very visible in the photograph, there is gold thread running through the yarn, which gives the socks a bit of glitter. Perfect for the holidays!

Currently, I am knitting another pair of socks (for myself), a pair for my oldest niece (for Christmas), and a sweater for my oldest grand-niece. Over Thanksgiving, my grand-niece, who is six, asked, while I was re-measuring her, if the sweater (which she has not seen) could be a tunic. I hope that extra six inches or so doesn't prevent me from finishing the sweater by Christmas. I'd also like to knit a pair of socks for my younger sister for Christmas, but I don't know if I will be able to squeeze in another project. Time will tell.

Of course, if all my students get perfect grades on their final exams, I'll zip through grading and have more time to knit. (I'm not holding my breath on that one.)

Susannah