Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/27/13

November 27, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Quince&Co Scapula Scarf done in Lark, colorway Bird’s Egg

Tina Martinez’s Fascine Socks, done in Fiesta Baby Boom, colorway Sweet Pea, started last night

Last, Jennifer L. Jones’ Easy Leaves Scarf, in black mystery yarn from stash

You have to use your imagination on this one!

Iknead fam, don’t get your hopes up – I’m doing these for ME! You don’t really think I’d post any Christmas knitting, now, do you??

BY THE BOOK

I just finished this book and loved it! I never wanted it to end!

The Sisters

Linking with Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Ginny’s Yarn A Long.

I have done my plowing: I have sown my seed. Again I have time to sit and read my books. T’ao Chien

Knitting

Spiral

November 26, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S UP

I have some knitting projects that I’m anxious to share and a book recommendation, but that has to wait until tomorrow, the official WIP/Knit A Long day. A couple of these projects are Christmas knits, so I have to keep them on the down low. The Iknead bunch will stoop to anything to figure out what’s under the tree for them. But – A bowl I made in my pottery class was out of the kiln (FINALLY) after a few false starts from the potter (me). I’m SO happy with how it turned out.

Spiral Bowl

A Surprise Inside

This bowl was completely dipped in New Clear Glaze, with a top dip and a bottom dip in Caramel. Who knew that the New Clear glaze would turn out to be such a lovely bluish gray??! I’m in love with this pot!

THE GRANDS

Tub Time with the Grand Trio, right before the kid in the middle dropped a special delivery and the other two made a hasty exit!

Left to Right:

Babydiva, the Sprout and the Papoose

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of algebra. Unknown

Knitting

FO Friday 11/22/13, It’s Here!!

November 22, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Hitchhiker is finished! This one is, at least. I started another one about a month ago, which is coming along, though slowly. Sorry for the pics, it’s rainy today and Mr. Iknead and I are having new siding put on the house, which means that where I usually take pictures is overrun with sawhorses, siding, ladders and construction type guys hammering and sawing.

Here, you can see the subtle color variations.

Just barely fitting into the frame.

LOOK AT MY NEW TOY!

A brand spanking new Baby Brother Drum Carder!

I love it!

I’m linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams today, they’re my Inspiration Central.

The best way to predict your future is to create it. Peter Drucker

Knitting

Guess What Day It Is!, No Excuse and Read This Book

November 19, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

“GUESS

What day it is!” says the hysterically funny camel on the commercial. Never get tired of that one, makes me giggle every time. No camels here, promise. Today is the scheduled delivery day for this – my newest knitting acquisition:

A Baby Brother drum carder. So, once again, I’m running a marathon between my front door and my knitting chair, jumping up and checking every time I hear or even think I hear a big truck in my neighborhood. Can you tell I’m excited?

Much as I love spinning, I hate hand carding, prompting this newest purchase. I still have a TON of alpaca from the Diamond State Fiber Fest that’s clean and ready to card and eventually, to spin. Come on, mailman/Fedex man/UPS man! Stop at my house!!!!

TIME FLIES

I knew it had been a while since my last post, six days, in fact and besides just laziness when I’m not caught up in regular daily stuff, I have no excuse. For some reason, blogging just hasn’t been on my radar lately. I think about doing it all the time, even jot down blog ideas, but for the past week or so, that’s as far as it’s gone. (Gives herself a good talking to about idle hands being the devil’s workshop and all that).

BY THE BOOK

Best book I’ve read since I don’t know when: The World’s Strongest Librarian. Seriously. Awesome. Book. Run, don’t walk to wherever you get books and give it a preview. I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me. (No joke).

TODAYS FEATURED GRAND

Babydiva letting Babydaddy share the stage –

A rare moment of stillness. Is she beautiful or what?

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. Napoleon Hill

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/13/13

November 13, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

From Quince & Company, this scarf:

Scapula, done in Lark yarn, color Bird’s Egg, 100% American wool

This has to be in my top ten fave projects, both the pattern and the yarn. Though I prefer to “buy local” to support my LYS, I have to admit that Quince & Co. has turned my head a time or two.

Another couple of projects, both Hitchhiker shawls, are still on the needles also, but progress is slow and nearly imperceptible. I’ll spare you the nearly identical pics. Hopefully, they’ll join the ranks of FOs in the next week or so.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler. Albert Einstein

Knitting

Fun with Dye, Crazy Cables

November 12, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

INTO THE DYEPOT

So, up until now, I’ve been experimenting with dyes, mostly Kool-Aid, but a couple of weeks ago I decided to take this dyeing thing to the next level. I ordered the sample set of Jacquard acid dyes from Knitpicks and here are the results of a first time for everything dye trial.

This is some of my handspun – Natural Bare Superwash Merino/Nylon, dye color Vermilion

More handspun, this time Knitpicks Bare Superwash Wool/Nylon, dye color Sky Blue

I love, love, love the intensity of the color and, really, the process was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I’ll be doing more of this!

A LITTLE BRAG

Babymama picked up the needles again earlier this year and has been knitting up a storm. Look at her latest project, modeled (of course) by Babydiva. How bout them cables??!!

The minute you choose to do what you really want to do, it’s a different kind of life. Buckminster Fuller

Knitting

FO Friday 11/08/13 and Dysmotivation*

November 8, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Le Miz is (finally) finished and felted, in spite of a couple of “time-outs” for operator error. This was the first project that I felted by hand and I was pleasantly surprised at how simple it is. Lazy me, I’ve always let my washing machine do the work. I’m apologizing in advance for the cruddy pictures, but it’s cold this morning and I’m still in my jammies, giving our back of the yard neighbors yet another reason to call me Crazy Yarn Lady.

A Better Look at the Stitch Pattern

GO AHEAD, MOTIVATE ME, I DARE YA

Right now, I’m having a really, really hard time getting back into my program of walking and watching my weight. I’m not going to share my poundage, suffice it to say that it is totally unacceptable to me and should jumpstart my walking and mindful eating program – but it hasn’t (at least so far). Going to shop treadmills today, I think. I’m hoping that will help. What gets you in the exercise zone?

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams today.

Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes. Henry J. Kaiser

*Dysmotivation – The attitude of not wantin’ to do nuthin’.

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/6/13

November 6, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Ridged Lace Cowl, created by Elinor Brown

Mochi Plus Cherries Jubilee

Hitchhiker 1

Meadow from The Fibre Company in Aster

Hitchhiker 2

Starry Sock Weight with Sparkle from Dream In Color Yarn

Amethyst Ink

Linking today with Tami and Frontier Dreams.

What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn’t happen much, though. J. D. Salinger

Knitting

A Confession, Just Grand

November 5, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?

A certain family member requested some type of scarf (she’s not picky) to go with a new red winter coat. My cerebral cogs started meshing and here’s what they came up with.

Mochi Plus

80% Merino/20% Nylon

Cherries Jubilee

To make a long story short, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with this yarn and am having separation anxiety over the thought of using it for a Christmas gift. I want to clutch it to my breast and croon, “don’t worry, you’re staying with me.” Is this weird?

Truly, though, the red in this yarn is the wrong red to go with the coat. The coat is a blue undertones red and while this yarn does have red, it’s red with orange undertones. Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Off to my LYS sometime today to find a more appropriate bluey red for the gift. I think this is called a “rationalization”.

THE GRANDS

Mr. Iknead and I had the ultimate grandbaby experience over the weekend. Bigdaddy had a wedding to officiate up in Branson, Missouri and took Bigmommy along. Mr. Iknead and I had the Papoose and Sprout solo from Friday morning until late Sunday afternoon. What a treat!