The biggest one for me right now? A hair cut! Check it out…
One of the worst parts about moving is finding a new hairstylist. I was robbed of mine when she got married and moved to Chicago 6 or so years ago (how dare she!). Ever since, I’ve looked for someone who can get me, my hair and my vague instructions (like for length, I usually say “I don’t want to be able to put it into a ponytail”). I love how it looks sophisticated, yet young, girly but not silly and I LOVE how it moves! Finally I found someone here in Bloomington who understood my mumbo-jumbo! Of course, I may be leaving when I graduate in June. Figures.
Other Signs of fall:
The leaves changing colors! By the way, this building is part of the Residence Hall where I work everyday. I love how gorgeous it is here! The grounds and buildings are simply stunning. However, I do not live in that building or even close to it. I’m in a fringe building a few blocks away that looks like a big cinder block. Still, I consider myself lucky to live/work here (even if I don’t actually live in a pretty building).
The leaves falling! Already!
I feel so unprepared! I have this list of things that I want to do before I graduate (and potentially leave Bloomington) and high on that list is to take photos of the leaves in Autumn (it’s gorgeous down here, gorgeous) and I’m not ready for the leaves to fall yet! They must stay on the trees, at least for a little bit longer!
There’s nothing like the crunch of the leaves and the brisk coolness of fall. I was so excited today because I got to wear a new, finished pair of socks – one you haven’t seen yet… until now!
I love them, but I hate them. Introducing… The finished pair of of Knitpicks Memories in Redwood Forest (a very fall colorway):
Here’s the specifics:
Pattern: A basic 2×2 rib
Yarn: Knitpicks Memories (Merino wool, Redwood Forest Colorway)
Needles: US 2 Clover Bamboo (My fave for socks)
Began: May or June 2006
Finished: September 23, 2006
Final Measurements: They fit my size 8 feet (as do most socks based on 64 sts)
Final Comments: This was boring (usually this would be too boring), but in the circumstances where I was knitting it, it was perfect. I did the second sock in 3 days flat (a record for me) after knitting the entire leg while watching the the finales and first episode of this season of Grey’s Anatomy (OMG, it was AMAZING).
Also, both skeins of these socks (one skein each with some left over) are the same dye lot. I specifically remember checking. And yet, view the pooling. I hate it! I hate it! Usually
, I tolerate a bit of pooling, but when it’s different on each sock – that’s just too much for me. These socks are going to get lots of wear and abuse. I’m not too proud of them and there will be no love lost when these are the first pair of handknitted socks I wear out.
The yarn itself is very soft and it was a pleasure to knit with otherwise. It’s pilling but I think that’s cause it’s merino and soft yarns do that. So my only real complaint is the pooling.
But now I’m hesitant about knitting the Fly Fishing color that I bought because I know it’ll pool just the same way. So, for now, I’m sticking with my hand-dyed.
You can read more about this sock (in it’s sad single state) here.
All Buttoned Up 
I’m sorry about the pooling, but I will say I dig the colourway. Seems Knitpicks is growing up, no?
I actually love the pooling on the socks! I never thought much of that colorway on the KP’s website, but seeing how it looks in a sock, I love it!
I’m very impressed that you can knit socks and watch Grey’s. I can only knit on my log cabin blanket while GA is on. I get too caught up in the show and mess up anything else!
I like your haircut and feel your pain about finding a stylist. I found a fabulous one a couple years ago and she understand my “I want it the same, but different” directions.
Aw, I’m sorry you don’t like them. I like them and I know where you can mail them where they will be loved and worn with pride. 🙂
Your hair looks great!
For me, pooling and weirdness with yarn is balanced by the entertainment value I derive from finding out which color will come next as I knit. 🙂
I also recently found a fantastic hairstylist and am rockin’ an awesome haircut right now. Kind of similar to yours, but with bangs sweeping across the top, and perhaps a little shorter.
Gah! Grey’s knit along! I’m so joining up… anyway, I just saw your post and thought I’d chime in… did you knit these two socks from two different hanks of yarn? Sometimes even if the dyelots are the same, the space dying is different. That could be your culprit. Either way, they’re beautiful. 🙂
hehe, I just reread a few paragraphs… got ahead of myself there… I do think that the two different hanks are the problem. However, how could you have known? That’s VERY annoying and anyone would have had this issue. You may want to contact Knit Picks and complain (yes I’m serious) they tend to get right on top of stuff like this and I think this is worth a mention.
Love the socks and the colorway. I wouldn’t worry about the pooling…no one will ever notice. I didn’t til you mentioned it. By the way, Clover size 2 are my favorite for socks, too!
Ang
I love the colors, but gosh, sorry to see the pooling. Oy. But they don’t all pool weirdly. I have used the Yukon colorway twice with 64 stitches on US1 needles and only got pooling on the gusset. See photos here. Maybe the other colorway you have will be okay?
Loved seeing picture of residence hall, I grew up in Altoona PA and had best friends that went to IUP, haven’t been there since Homecoming 2001, love the socks!
Hey, Nicole, I didn’t realize you’re at IU. I went to Ball State, but took many a road trip down to that way to see friends and go hiking (I really loved going to Brown County and other places around there). I grew up in NW Indiana – the Region! – but man, do I love Southern Indiana. It’s so pretty. And oddly enough, I’ve got a new hairstylist I’m trying out on Friday, so hopefully my appointment goes as well as yours did. 🙂
Oh, they look great. I love the colorway.
Your hair looks fabulous!
Hey Nicole, I guess I hadn’t figured out that you were at IU right now either–I thought you were somewhere in northern IN. I live in Brown County, and I’m in Bloomington atleast 3 times a week. And is that Collins by chance? I lived in Brown about a hundred years ago–okay, maybe 16 years ago. What a tiny world. If you ever get to Sheep Street Fibers, I work there every other Tuesday (I worked this last Tuesday). I think the redwood socks are beautiful, even with the uneven pooling. And hey, there’s two of them!
Your hair looks great! As for the pooling… I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!!! I’m the Pooling Queen, eveything I touch pools! EVERYTHING! Apparently, the way around this is to knit with 2 balls i.e 2 rows per ball. Helloooo – who has the patience for that? In the meantime, I’m sticking to my hand-dyed also. The hand-dyed that I learnt to dye HERE – on your blog! x