Some small progress

Of two different sorts.

So, yesterday, after the somewhat-disastrous class on Tuesday, I buckled down and worked pretty much the whole time I wasn't in class. Close to four hours, and actually maybe a bit more than that - I took out time for a little class prep, and I had to read a colleague's post-tenure-review packet.

But anyway, I started on the chapter on analysis of covariance at 7 am with a brand-new, never-before-sharpened Mitsubishi* pencil and here was what it looked at around 5 pm when I was leaving for the day:




(*Yes, as far as I can tell, THAT Mitsubishi; they even use the triple-diamond logo. They are very good pencils if somewhat spendy but you know? I would rather shell out more money (like about 80 cents each) for GOOD pencils than use the cruddy ones the Wal-mart or Target sells, where the "lead" (actually graphite) is weirdly weak and often snaps when you are trying to sharpen it. These pencils boast "matured graphite" and I have no idea what that is or what process it involves, but it is SO MUCH BETTER. It doesn't break. These are HBs but I have some softer ones on order to see how they work - I often like a softer darker pencil, even if that means I have to sharpen more often. And no, mechanical pencils are a no-go for me: I snap the lead too easily because I hold the pencil very tightly and I press down very hard when I write.)

I've also been picking away at things, added a few more rows to the Hey Girl sweater. This is a project that requires a fair amount of attention because of raglan and neckline increases, and also maintaining the knit-purl texture pattern I decided to do.

Unfortunately, my row gauge has got a bit looser in the intervening months (I don't know either but I started this early last summer and then it sat for months while my life blew up). I'm hoping it blocks out or at least isn't that noticeable



It looks odd, that "detached" part is the collar which I guess gets sewn down later? I'm not entirely sure but I'm hoping it will become clear later.

After some more rows I will also have to start taking buttonholes into account.