Living up to the title

In true headless chicken fashion, I've been running around in circles this week. There's work, of course, complete with huge piles of papers I haven't graded. Then there's knitting. Since I'm teaching the bat shawl class at Pacific Fabrics, they needed a sample. They don't carry the yarn I used for the book's shawl, so I cranked out another sample in La Gran Mohair, which they do carry, so I could figure the yardage for that yarn. I finished knitting the shawl body at 1:00 am, then knit the choker this morning. I bought a button and sewed it on at the store, handed over the shawl, and then ran off to Bernina for sales floor training. I still need to finish making messenger bag samples for Bernina, but there are those pesky papers, and committees, and other worky stuff. Aargh.

So I don't have any fun pictures or new projects to show you, since the sample shawl went straight to the store without passing go or collecting $200 or any of that. Also, it's gray and dreary here. (That's pretty much unrelated to the previous statement, but is related to a certain lack of fun in the atmosphere.)

Now ketchup

Oy. There was Trent's gig on Friday of Labor Day weekend (fun! successful! you should have been there!). Then I had a cold. Then I had to grade a lot. Then there was work. Ugh.

But, I did manage to sew a knit wrap dress that fits, with no pattern modifications. It fits really well - I didn't have to tug at the neckline to protect my bra all day. (Let's pretend my waist is as skinny as the dress in this picture, okay?)

I also made a messenger bag. I made up the pattern, and I'm going to be teaching a class on this at Bernina Northwest in November.

I've started another one using needle felting and the super spiffy free motion couching foot for my Bernina. This was about the most fun sewing thing ever. The lining-to-be is lost in the laundry right now, but I'm really looking forward to getting this done.

In other class teaching news, I'll be teaching a class about my Bat Shawl from Vickie's Not Another Teen Knitting Book.

The class will be 3 Wednesdays, Oct. 2, 9, and 16, from 7-9 pm at the Northgate Pacific Fabric and Crafts. We just scheduled it, so it's not on their website yet. I really hope people sign up - it's a fun and gratifying lace project (size 17 needles!) and just the thing for Halloween parties.

Incidentally, I caved into peer pressure (is spouse pressure peer pressure?) and joined Facebook. I can see that it's going to be a tremendous time-suck. But, hey, if you've joined the Borg too, add me as a friend.