My life has been a tad insane this summer, and honestly, I'm ready for it to be over. I don't talk about what I do a whole lot on this blog, but lately it seems like my academic pursuits are taking over all other parts of my life. I'm in a PhD program and I have my qualifying exams coming up this fall. Anyone who has been through a similar ordeal can probably relate. Suffice it to say, I've done nothing but read books and write notes on them for months and months now. It's exhausting, physically, mentally, and existentially.
There are two parts of my life that have been my saving grace: my husband and crafts. I've never been the sort of person who is good at asking for or accepting help. This isn't a particularly productive quality (I get very "OH JUST LET ME DO IT ALREADY"), but I've had to learn a thing or two in that regard this summer. And you know what? Sometimes when I'm too tired to deal with dinner or cleaning up the apartment or even being conscious? Peter is there to take care of it, to crack a joke or two, and to let me know that it'll be okay. He's wonderful and I love him. So no matter what happens in my life come November, things will be fine. I just have to survive.
In the meantime, my crafting has only slowed down a little bit despite all the studying. We did take a bit of a road trip earlier this summer, driving all the way from Houston, TX, to Santa Fe, NM, on to Albequerque, NM, to Amarillo, TX, Ponca City, OK, St. Louis, MO, and back to Chicago.
I'd be hard pressed to say which part of this was my favorite. I definitely got tired of road food, and it seems I left my 50mm lens somewhere along the way (thank God I have since acquired a new-to-me one), and we got caught in a hail storm (in Houston?!) in our day-old car, but it was all spectacular anyway.
One of the great things about this road trip was that I had a ton of knitting time. I did a good amount of driving as well, but really, I'm the city driver and Peter is the middle of nowhere highway driver, so he definitely did the lion's share. So behold: I knit a Willie!
This is obviously for one member of the forthcoming army of babies. (Seriously - does everyone else know like 900 people who are pregnant right now? Is it something in the water or what?) The pattern is by Pam of Flint Knits fame and like all her patterns that I've made, it's excellent. The writing is completely clear and easy to follow and the concept is fantastic. I'm not really a huge fan of intarsia, but her precise directions and the promise of knitting an adorable weiner dog onto a sweater kept me going. Oh, that and the fact that I was trapped in a car. That'll really help you take care of doing things you might otherwise put off until later, such as button bands and weaving in ends.
Before I say goodbye for the time being, I'd like to leave you with a glimpse of my next design, and the promise that its publication won't be too far off:
Knitters, meet Frank. Frank, knitters. I hope you look forward to getting to know one another.
I’m impressed with how much you continue to craft despite the crazy hours of reading and writing. When I get super busy, the crafting is the first to go, sadly!
Your Willie is adorable. Ahem.
I am sure the phrase “OH JUST LET ME DO THIS ALREADY” has come out of my mouth far too many times. We all need Big Life Events like major exams to remind us to rely on our loved ones!
Your Willie is very cute indeed! I wonder if you’ll get an onslaught of spam from this post… Maybe not explicit enough!
And more fantastic colourwork in Frank. I have to conquer my fear of colourwork sometime.
Best of luck in your exams!
I can’t wait to hear how Frank got his name.
Dude, you’ve been so much more productive on the crafty front than I was last summer when I was the midst of quals reading! That Willie sweater is adorable, and I think you already know how madly in love with those mittens I am.
Good luck with the exams! Glad you have such a wonderful spouse to support you. They come in handy, those awesome spouses, don’t they?
hang in there! you’re almost near the end of this PhD!
I can’t believe how productive you are. If I didn’t know, I never would think you’re doing the whole PhD thing!
That little sweater is SO CUTE, btw.
You can do it! I am available for studying and/or study breaks if you are in need of company
Just let me know anytime.
Also, I saw your Adva in my Knit Picks catalog today and kept thinking, “I know her!”
Like others, I’m completely impressed that you’ve continued so much crafting while studying for comps. I was so stressed there was no way I could knit…and you are still designing for pete’s sake! I know you’ll blow the exams out of the water but I’ll wish you good luck anyway. It’s such a great feeling to have them done…to me, I consider that the hardest part of a PhD program. Data, analyzing, writing, defending…piece of cake next to comps!
And wow on the design. Love it and very curious to hear how it’s name came to be Frank.