Knitting

Boho

March 27, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT GOES AROUND…..

Wait a second! How come no one bothered to tell my that my fashion sense has always been something called “Boho“, or that it’s very hip and one can drop megabucks on new stuff that looks just like the old stuff I wore all through high school and most of the stuff I wear now? My son tells me I’m just an old hippie with an eyeroll when I thank him for the compliment. Honestly, he says that like it’s a bad thing. Whatever it is, I still love everything about Boho, even if I’m way past the belly and back baring stuff and am more into floaty and fringey nowadays. And the jewelry! And the bags! And the Pinterest!

All that being said, I plan a fabric stash dive sometime today with the idea of making a patchwork bag. I have several packs of fat quarters in colors I love, along with some decorator fabric someone passed on to me when their project was finished. I plan to cut them into random squares/rectangles, then cut the pattern. My sewing skills are, to put it politely, more than a little sketchy, but then, that’s the idea, it’s handmade, it’s BOHO, man.

Look what I found in my closet! I think this qualifies, don’t you??!!

Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working. Pablo Picasso

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 3/26/14, Booklove

March 26, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

1. My Seafoam Shrug is now in the home stretch, down to the last bit of ruffle in ( you guessed it) k1p1 ribbing. At least it calls for only 2 1/2 inches this time. I’ll tell you, those two 60 row k1p1 sleeves just about did me in. Hopefully, this project will be off the needles, washed and blocking by bedtime tonight.

So sorry, the Seafoam link eludes me at the moment. I’ll keep looking and update when I find it.

2. I’ve just barely started a Woodland Shawl from The Thrifty Knitter. I stash dove last weekend and got reacquainted with some yarn that I’ve had for so long I haven’t a clue what it is. All I can remember is that the color is called Papercut. I’m going to do a bit of research, checking Ravelry to see if by some miracle I added it to my notebook. Keep your fingers crossed. OK, uncross your fingers. No luck with Rav. I do, however, remember it was a Etsy purchase, so that’s my next hope. SCORE!!!! I bought this yarn May 15, 2008 from knitfrontandback, out of Calgary, Canada and it’s laceweight merino.

WANNABE

I have the perfect yarn to knit the Maeva Socks from Knitty Winter 2011 with one big inconvenience. The charts are so teeny tiny as to be useless for these old eyes. This means a trip to the copy store to have them enlarged. I tried printing them at 125% but that still isn’t really big enough. >squint<

BOOKLOVE

This week I finished The Troop by Nick Cutter, a horror story. Stephen King said it was one book that scared him, I see a lot of his influence in this particular book. I won’t share any more as not to spoil it. Check your local library. Now, I’m listening to The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider; I love this book! I came clean awhile back regarding my love for what they call Young Adult Fiction and this book hasn’t’ disappointed. If you enjoy YAF, give it a read.

I’m linking with Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Ginny’s Yarn Along.

It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see. Henry David Thoreau

Knitting

Spinning Sunday #1 3/23/14

March 23, 2014March 19, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

I’ve decided to devote one blog post a week to another aspect
of fiberlove – spinning. Six months ago I became a spinner almost by accident when on a whim i made a drop spindle out of a dowel and a small wooden wheel like what would be on a small pull wagon or push toy.

My first attempts were …. interesting. I kept practicing and got a little better but my slow pace using the drop spindle was frustrating. It was easy to see that creating a pair of socks from roving to actual wearing was going to take months, if not years. This dampened my enthusiasm a bit and planted the idea of someday owning a spinning wheel. I did some window shopping on the Internet, feeding my imagination a little more.

Then, remarkably, I heard through the grapevine that someone who worked for the same facility I’d retired from had an Ashford Traveller wheel for sale, and get this: in my price range! This clearly was meant to be, no doubt about it. So, almost before I knew it, I was sitting at my own wheel, surfing YouTube for spinning demos, trying to get a handle on basic spinning techniques. Did I mention that before this I’d never even SEEN a spinning wheel? Gotta love YouTube. The rest, as they say, is history. By the way, my wheel’s name is Violet and yeah, I’m one of those weird (I say eccentric) people that name things. Meet Violet.

Always do more than is required of you. George S. Patton

Family · Knitting

Morning at the Zoo, Wondrous Yarnbox, Meet Forrester Gump

March 20, 2014March 21, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ZOO FUN

Big and busy day today. Mr. Iknead and I spent the morning with all three grands and their moms at the zoo. I don’t know about the others but I’m totally beat. I bet we walked three miles today, easy! We had a blast and except for one tiny episode of COTTON CANDY COTTON CANDY IWANTCOTTONCANDY!!!! everyone’s sunny disposition stayed put. The four newest tiger cubs were a particular favorite. Babydiva developed a short term obsession with mole rats but was eventually distracted and we were able to carry on with our visit.

Babydiva and the Papoose – Cousins and BFFs

Patient Tiger Mommy

The Sprout’s Pushing ME Next Time!

Just Us Girls

Mr. Iknead and Babydaddy don’t have a chance.

And you know what? They love it! Mr. Iknead melts completely when he around the grands, it’s the sweetest thing – no request refused, no job too large or too small. Pawpaw’s got this and is loving every blessed minute. I married a marshmallow and it’s grand!

Babydivalicious

That Smile!!

YARNLOVE

Another wondrous box arrived while we were visiting the zoo and (be still my heart) this was inside:

SIIDEGARTE

Silky Swiss Gorgeousness

“Siide-Flauschig”

50% Silk/50% Merino

Aichblatt

250m/273 yds

There were two, count ’em, two hanks of this in the wondrous Yarnbox; the sheen on this stuff is phenomenal, as you can see from the photo. Now the hard part – picking a project because, as we all know, fabulous yarn calls for a fabulous pattern. Shawl? Shrug? Sweater? Who knows? Most of the time, in my plane of existence, the yarn decides what it wants to be, then it’s my job to figure out what that is. I’m thinking some type of wrap, maybe something with a hood?

RUN FORRESTER RUN!

Meet Forrester Gump, the newest member of the Iknead family.

Mr. Iknead has been so patient, waiting until he found just want he wanted, from the sort of silvery green paint job, to the moonroof, to the automatic back hatch – just touch a button and it opens and closes *snap fingers* just like that. I’m happy to see him so happy and excited. He deserves this new ride, he’s been driving my dad’s car for the past couple of years, a good car, a Buick LaCrosse, nice, not too fancy, but really, not his style. He’s more of an SUV kind of guy. I don’t mind telling that I’m a million times blessed to have him as the love of my life.

It is better to travel, than to arrive. Buddha

Knitting

WARNING!!! Phat Fiber Spoiler Alert!

March 20, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

WONDROUS BOX!!!

My Phat Fiber box arrived today full of amazing roving samples mixed with sweet sock yarn samples and a couple of the prettiest stitch markers I’ve ever seen.

That little pouch on top? This is what it
held:

A handmade soap and those stitch markers I told you about. I love these!

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. Aristotle

Knitting

WIP Wednesday and Booklove 3/19/14

March 19, 2014March 19, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Seafoam shrug. At first I couldn’t quite figure out how this would work, thinking those 60 rows of K1P1 ribbing were way little for a neckline. Silly me. I went back and studied the pattern and realized it was knit cuff to cuff. Duh. Yeah, it is a perfect sleeve. Makes perfect sense.

BOOKLOVE

Two thumbs up for Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler, a story with two voices, one elderly, one not so elderly, one white, one black and their unexpected friendship to kinship over the years. It’s been a long time since a story brought me to tears. I love this book.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along.

Every choice you make has an end result. Zig Ziglar

Knitting

Already? Terrarium Imaginarium

March 14, 2014March 15, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT GOES AROUND

The Phat Fiber sale has rolled around again; luckily, I checked my e-mail on an account I seldom use and saw the heads up e-mail they send a few days beforehand. I’m excited to have scored a wondrous box again this month and so will be obsessed with checking and rechecking my mailbox looking for said wondrous box. The theme this month is Inspiring Women, I wonder what this month’s goodies will be…..

A NEW ~~FIXATION~~ HOBBY

Terrariums! I’ve fallen in love with them since seeing some at a garden show a few weeks ago. I saw some lovely containers at Hobby Lobby yesterday that were perfect and the tiny plants! OMG, the tiny plants are so cute! I put a couple together today –

Darn glass glare!

I love the different shapes of both the containers and the plants, it’s easy for my imagination to run away with me! I want at least one of every shape and size – containers and plants. Save those pickle jars! : )

Growth itself contains the germ of happiness. Pearl Buck

Knitting

Purple Surprise, FO Friday 3/14/14

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

SURPRISE

Look what I found while taking sock pics!

Crocus!

About 18 (I kid you not) years ago I planted some bulbs that never bloomed or even came up, casualties of squirrels and a weimaraner puppy. They obviously missed one. This surprise surely means winter is exiting stage left to make room for spring. Just seeing this purple makes me happy!

NEW SKILLS

For the past couple of posts I’ve been trying out blogging from my fancy new phone, which is doable but time consuming because of the teeny tiny screen, and Mr. Iknead’s iPad, which is much better as far as screen size. I am, however, having to relearn how to do things that have become almost second nature, like inserting pictures, adding links, etc. As I have a very low frustration threshold, I have to work on the iPad, then change to the computer every so often to keep from pitching the whole thing out the window. I plan to keep practicing.

OFF THE NEEDLES

Kew, from Knitty Fall 2006

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Flame

Please disregard the ugly muddy background. This is what you get when you start redoing your patio and get interrupted by about 4 inches of sleet.

ON THE NEEDLES

After finishing the Kew socks yesterday, I stalked some patterns on Ravelry and decided on a shrug with 3/4 sleeves, the purpose of the sleeves being to hide what I call toothbrush arms. As in, when you stop brushing your teeth, but your upper arm doesn’t…. OK, back on track. So, I found a pattern with all the required features and then found out I didn’t have enough yarn to start. Oh, lots and lots of yarn, just not enough of any one for my new project. A trip to Hobby Lobby fixed that and I cast on and got started this afternoon. The yarn is I Love This Cotton in Arctic Blue. The shrug pattern is here.

A word to the wise: Never underestimate the tedium of 60 rounds of K1P1 ribbing. I’m just sayin’…..

Linking with Tami’s FO Friday blog.

Take it easy — but take it. Woody Guthrie

Knitting

WIP 3/12/14, Booklove

March 11, 2014March 12, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

The Kew socks are so close to being finished I can taste it. For once, I’ve held my raging startitis in check and will start a new project without feeling guilty about the number of projects relegated to the “back burner” or in my case, “the bag pitched into the deepest, darkest recesses of my yarn room”.

BOOKLOVE

I finished A Land Kinder Than Home by Wiley Cash and am set to start Paris in Love, by Eloisa James. Enjoyed the Wiley Cash, but didn’t love it. It’s a fictional account of snake handling, murder, religion and what happens when they collide. Entertaining, but probably not a repeater.

GRANDS

This photo says everything you need to know about the Sprout; her cute factor is always first and foremost. I’ve gotten good at changing diapers on the fly!

Linking with Tami and KCCO today.

Indulge your imagination in every possible flight. Jane Austen

Knitting

Go Team Girl, Birthday Swag, More Booklove

March 6, 2014March 7, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

NEWS FLASH

So the big reveal Tuesday was drum roll please a girl, bringing the Iknead grandgirl total to four. Her name is Charlotte Faith, Charlie for short. The name Charlotte carries special significance for me as it was my mom’s name. Charlie is expected to make her debut this August and Mr. Iknead and I are once again over the moon excited to add another precious grand to our collection.

BIRTHDAY SWAG

The Stuttgart branch of the Iknead family got me this guy, along with everything I needed to make him feel right at home.

I’ve named him Snoopy.

The Little Rock branch of the Iknead family got me this, which I’m planning to try out today. Don’t cake pops sound fun?

BOOKLOVE

I’m rereading In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White and am loving it just as much as I did the first time around. I also downloaded a new library book yesterday, The Scar Boys, by Len Vlahos. OK, I’m coming out of the closet with this one – I admit it, I love Young Adult Fiction. There, I said it, my secret is out and I’m glad. 🙂

ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve finished the first Kew sock and cast on the second last night. Since this pattern has kicked my fanny in the past, I’m glad to say it appears to have been conquered and is now marching to the beat of my drummer.

I love my past. I love my present. I’m not ashamed of what I’ve had, and I’m not sad because I have it no longer. Colette

Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove and One More Year

March 5, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

HOW OLD???
Yesterday I turned 57. Birthdays just don’t feel like a big deal anymore – but not in a bad way. It really is just a number. My calendar tells me I’m 57, but my internal calendar says something way different. Something more like 35 or so. Sure there are things I don’t do as well as I did; I can’t hear as well thanks to a few too many Aerosmith and ZZ Top concerts and my arms seem to be getting shorter; I’m not as limber as
I once was, but besides those minor annoyances – and that’s just what they are – annoyances, life is better than good….it’s freaking awesome.

ON THE NEEDLES
Kew socks from Knitty Fall 2006 using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Flame.

BOOKLOVE
I just finished The Chaparone by Laura Moriarty. Great book that I’m already planning to read again. I started Death of a President by William Montgomery last evening, a very intense moment by moment account of the Kennedy assassination. Very intense but very interesting.

When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Knitting

That’s Better

March 1, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

I frogged the Grace socks and started Kew from Knitty Fall 2006. Much much better all around, with the yarn and pattern really complementing each other.