I went to a dissertation group meeting today and narrowed down my areas of interest to 1) higher education and globalization (basically, comparing leadership in asian universities to leadership at u.s. universities), and 2) deep change leadership in american universities (I would probably look at post-prop 209 leadership at public universties such as the UCs and the University of Michigan). I also liked Dr. J's group, which is looking at pathways to success for underserved communities through local community programs such as USC's neighborhood initiatives.
Okay, what does this have to do with knitting? Well, I found out that the global leadership group will take a trip to China in May 2008, which is cool, except that it will also cost me about $3000. I have been been budgeting my money, and I had set aside $1400 to blast that sun spot off of my face (it's 9 p.m. and dark, or else I'd take a picture and post it), $1500 for another set of 30 personal training sessions (no, the first set did not work), and $500 for a sock knitting machine (well, maye $750). But after investigating and drooling over the sock machines and socks made by my new email pal, Kathleen, for the last 2 days, I have decided to forego the laser treatment for the sun spot, stop the personal training (it wasn't working anyway), and up my budget for the sock machine to about $1000 and save the rest for my trip. I want a sock machine so badly!!!!!!!!
Why, you might ask? Well, it's a smaller machine than my flat beds and I want to knit but not get into any big projects. If I get the machine and I learn how to knit well, then it would take me about a couple of hours to knit a pair of socks. Of course, it takes a bit longer to sew up the toe, and then wash and block the socks. Also, socks are more portable and when I go on my China trip (if I'm selected for that group), I can bring a whole bunch of socks to sew up on the airplane. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Anyway, I want one, and that's that. It's a matter of waiting for the right one to come along on ebay or through one of the restorers. I already belong to four sock knitting groups and I don't even own one machine yet!
A large part of my attraction to knitting is the fact that one can create something with just a string (and a machine). I signed up for sewing lessons, and almost bought one of those expensive sewing/embroidery machines, but I dropped out at the very last minute. I took a one-day sewing class and I was bored to tears. So I cancelled the lessons and didn't buy the machine. Funny, I just realized that the machine seemed very expensive for $1000, but I am barely batting my eyes to spend $1000 to buy a 100 year old sock knitter.
Yes, they are antiques....and that is what is part of the attraction. Women 100 - 150 years ago used these machines to support their families by knitting socks. I relate to that, and I think that is neat, and I want to knit socks like that. Although I have knit socks on my flat beds, they had seams running from the toe to the top of the leg ribbing. The socks on the circular sock knitting machine have no seam up the side of the leg, only a small one at the toe.
Isn't the machine neat? This machine is for sale.....and I am thinking about buying it. I think it is an absolutely wonderful contraption on so many levels.
