Tag: KCCO

Knitting

FO Friday 02/28/14

mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Catnip socks!  Hurray!!

Wendy Johnson’s Catnip Socks

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, in Wonderstone

Now, I’m off to stalk Rav in an effort to decide which project(s) to knit next, maybe a shawl or more socks.  You can never have too many of either, you know.

CLOCK WATCHING

The  Papoose, who claims, as always, “No nap for me, I’m not even tired” as she keeps an eye on the clock for the end of her rest time.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.  Ray Bradbury

B

Advertisement
Knitting

WIP Wednesday 2/19/14, SCORE!, Ancient Kitty

mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

A couple of socks, as usual.  I didn’t notice that I was using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock for both, it must be love!

Grace, from Knitty, Winter 2011

LLSS Flame

Wendy Johnson’s Catnip Socks

LLSS Wonderstone

 WELL WHADDAYANO!

Remember when I mentioned Phat Fiber and their sample box sale that I was going to try to get, along with most of the other fiber fiends on the planet, having come up short the last time I tried?  I blogged it here.  They open the sale twice on sale day – at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and are usually sold out within (no kidding) a couple of minutes.  I struck out at the 10 a.m. sale, but scored at the one at 5 p.m.  I was so surprised when the site sent me to paypal after I scored a box, it took me a minute to realize what had happened.  Now, I’m anxiously awaiting the mailman/Fedex/UPS person to see what’s in this wondrous box.  Check back for updates!

BOAT

This is the Iknead kitty, *Boat.  She is ancient as far as cats go, 19 to 20 years old, as close as we can figure.  She been a family member since 1995 and was about a year old when she joined us.  She’s arthritic, with high blood pressure and an enlarged heart but keeps on keeping on.  Anyway, I noticed her sleeping in one of her preferred spots yesterday and was struck by the sun shining pink through her ear. She was beautiful.

*As a kitten, she was found living on a friend’s boat which was in drydock and covered for the winter.  She started out as Boat Cat, which was quickly shortened to Boat.  We get a lot of funny looks when we tell people her name.

Hooking up this week with Tami and KCCO.

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.  Confucius

B

Knitting

FO Friday 02/07/14

mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES (AND NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON)

Mariella Cardigan

A little more detail

I’m loving this sweater now, having gotten over my over the top irritation last week at miscounting and having to basically reknit from the armpits up.  I put it on for a while last evening and it’s nice and warm and comfortable.  I think it’s a keeper!

Linking up as usual:  Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Trifles make perfections, but perfection is itself no trifle.  Shaker proverb

B

Knitting

WIPW 02/05/14, Barbie Sweater Update

mud&stringLeave a comment

I’ve been under the weather with a bad cold the last couple of days, but feel much better this morning – just in time for WIPW!

ON THE NEEDLES

The Mariella Cardi has taken on a life of its own.  I had great plans to finish it last week, but noticed on Wednesday there was a BIG difference between the number of stitches on the right and left front panels, where the raglan shaping decreases are done.  BIG difference as in 30 stitches on the left panel and 15 or so stitches on the right panel.  How the heck could I have not noticed that???  I tried to make some unobtrusive increases and decreases to bring them back in line with each other but finally faced facts.  Not going to work, no way, no how, so I frogged back to the point where the decreases started and redid it.  Obvious stitch miscount there. Still….. I’m ready to move on, but sheer stubbornness says I must finish what I started, so have  been slogging through.

Mariella Cardi (again)

I did cave and started a pair of Kew socks from Knitty: Fall 2006 using some stashed Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Wonderstone.  I fall in love with this yarn a little more every time I pick it up!

IT WORKED!!!

Remember the sweater that I was mourning in this post?  Some sweet reader suggested I google how to stretch a sweater after it had shrunk so I did.  Google said to soak the sweater in cheap hair conditioner and water and then block into original shape/size.  Did that and lo and behold…. it worked!  It now fits again and I’m overjoyed!

Linking with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams KCCO today.  Pay them a visit for inspiration overload.

We should all be thankful for thos people who rekindle the inner spirit.  Albert Schweitzer

B

Knitting

Looky!, WIP Wednesday 1/21/14

mud&stringLeave a comment

CHECK IT OUT!

Look at our new sink and faucet!  They’re so shiny and silver!  What you can’t see from the pic is the new disposal to go with the new sink.  Mr. Iknead and I finally got around to replacing the old, gross, avocado green sink that was here when we moved in with the new, stainless one.  Next up on the home improvement list:  new countertops and backsplash.

ON THE NEEDLES

I finally finished the sleeves on the Mariella sweater and would probably  be at least entering the home stretch except for the fact that on my first attempt at joining the sleeves to the body of the cardi I put them on upside down.  Frustration overload, to say the last.  I’ll have another go at it tomorrow.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Trust yourself.  You know more than you think you do.  Benjamin Spock

B

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 12/11/13, Bee Stamp, Booklove

mud&stringLeave a comment

NOT OBSESSED, JUST REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED

As so often happens with me, I got a really good idea along with my coffee and newspaper this morning and as usual, I had to pull out all my other crafting stuff and sort through everything to find what I was obsessed with focused on right then.  The stamp I use to identify my pottery projects bit the dust last week and my big idea was to change from an initial stamp (my initials, bc) to a honeybee mark.  So, back to the idea, I found some Sculpey clay, found a honeybee charm in the craft stash and pressed it in.  Then, I remembered I had some honeybee earrings, so I got one of those and did the same thing.  The next step is deciding which one to use.  I’m sort of leaning toward the charm, I don’t want a cutesy bee, more like a zoological print look.  Which do you prefer?

Just realized there is no contest.  The bigger one is better on all counts.  And they say size doesn’t matter :p.  Here is a better detailed photo:

Upside down.  Oops.

ON THE NEEDLES

Tina Martinez’s Fascine Socks, using Fiesta Baby Boom yarn in Sweet Pea.  My only regret is that I didn’t by more of this yarn when I had a chance.  I’m not running short or anything like that, I just love it.

A little detail

BY THE BOOK

Driftless, by David Rhodes

Linking today with Tami, Frontier Dreams Keep Calm and Craft On and Ginny’s Knit A Long.

Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination circles the world.  Albert Einstein

B

Knitting

Look What I Got, WIPW 08/21/13 and Snakewoman

mud&stringLeave a comment

I’M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN’T HIDE IT

OK, so I’ve been lusting after a spinning wheel, putting a little money back every now and then and doing a lot of window shopping online.   Then, yesterday, I found out that a lady who worked where I used to work had a spinning wheel and was wanting to sell it.  She and I e-mailed back and forth, she sent me some pics and now, as of 5:00 p.m., I have a wheel and not just any wheel, an Ashford Traveller!   Here in the south, it’s considered bad manners to talk about money, much less bragging (that’s what I was taught, anyway), but without stating the amount, it was less than half of what I thought I’d have to pay for one.  Isn’t she beautiful???

Pay no attention to the fact that I’ve never used a wheel before, hopefully, I’ll catch on pretty quick.  Isn’t that what YouTube is for?

ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve been so excited about the new wheel, I almost let this WIP Wednesday get away from me, but here’s my WIPW offering this week –

Ruffle Tank, using the Knit One Crochet Too Kettle Tweed I named My Destin-E.

and last, but not least

BY THE BOOK

My current book in progress is Snakewoman of Little Egypt by Robert Hellenga and I’m loving it!  Very quirky, just like I like it.

Snakewoman of Little Egypt

Here’s to learning new skills!

I almost forgot – I’m linking with Tami’s and Frontier Dreams today.

A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again.  Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

B

Knitting

FO Friday 07/19/13

mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

I FINALLY finished the Papoose’s Olivia Petit sweater this week.  If you will recall, I had intended to knit three (what was I thinking??) of these sweet sweaters, one for each grand, for Easter.  Clearly, I must have been intoxicated from the heady fumes of possibility that this pattern was emitting at that particular point in time.  Be that as it may, here’s the finished product, blocked, with buttons and ends woven in.

Front

Back

Remember this?  My very first handspun and dyed yarn?

It went from this –

To a Cowl

OFF THE MACHINE

Here’s what I made yesterday – I’m getting more confident all the time on the sewing machine.  I think I might make a trip to Jo-Ann today and brainstorm.

Lining

I have to admit I’m more than a little proud of myself.  On Monday, I couldn’t even thread the machine!  Still on a learning curve, but I can see the possibilities that knowing how to sew will open.

OK, enough already.

I’m linking up again with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.  Pay a visit, willya?

Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it.  Leonardo da Vinci

B

Knitting

FO Friday 07/12/13, Bigmommy’s Birthday

mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

75% Medano Beach Bag

Besides scaling it down a little, I used an I-cord bind-off, mostly so I could practice it.  I do like the rolled edge it makes, though.

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY

Happy birthday, Bigmommy!  I love you and am so proud of the beautiful woman you’ve become.  It’s been a pleasure (mostly).  Much love.

BY THE BOOK

I finally was able to get started in Joyland by Stephen King and it’s fabulous enough that I didn’t pick up my needles once yesterday because I couldn’t stop reading.  Now that’s a good book.  I totally plan on finishing it today and am anxiously awaiting Dr. Sleep.  I think it’s due to come out in September.

Linking up with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO

Anyone who keeps the abilith to see beauty in every age of life really never grows old.  Franz Kafka

Knitting

FO Friday 06/07/13, Yarn, The Sprout

mud&stringLeave a comment

First things first –

OFF THE NEEDLES AND INTO THE SOCK DRAWER

Sunday Swing Socks

Shubui Sock

Poodle Skirt Colorway

Finally got colorway and pattern to play nice in the sandbox and I’m loving the almost candy cane color changes!

ALMOST ON THE NEEDLES

A little while back, Mr. Iknead requested a pair of blue striped socks, so off and on I’ve been scoping out different yarns and patterns, thinking maybe something with little or no wool (way too hot for our Arkansas summers) and chanced upon this yarn yesterday at Hobby Lobby.  Blue – check, no wool – check, sock weight – check, price – $4.99.  All systems go.  Label says 93% acrylic, 7% PBT (whatever that is).

These are destined to be plain vanilla, quick knit, ribbed socks.  All that pretty lacy stuff is lost on Mr. Iknead. 🙂

THE BIEBERSPROUT

Cutest Sprout Ever!

Annabelle at 8 months

Linking up with Tami’s FO Friday blog and Frontier Dreams KCCO blog.  Pay them a visit, OK?   They’re always brimming over with FO goodness!

When the voices of children are heard on the green

And laughing is heard on the hill

My heart is at rest within my breast

And everything else is still

                                                    William Blake

B

Knitting

WIPW 06/05/13 and A Makeover

mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

For your viewing pleasure, I present Heidi Kirrmaier’s Mendano Beach bag, in Sugar and Cream 100% cotton, Country Red and Ecru, started last evening.  I love everything about this bag, especially the tie shoulder strap.  Being vertically, ahem, challenged, bag straps are usually too long, so a adjustable strap is always a good thing.  The price is right also, a free Rav pattern.

MOVING ALONG

The Sunday Swing socks are finished, cast off, ends woven and photos taken but you’ll have to wait until FO Friday for the unveiling.  There will be no FOs posted until it’s time. ; )  Remember those old commercials, for Bartles and Jaymes, I think.  A blast from the past as they say.

LANDSCAPED AND LOVELY

For another type of finished project, look at our new front yard!  We’ve gone from the ugliest yard on the block to the most beautiful, IMO.  We finally were able to have a sprinkler system installed and had real, live landscapers come in and transform it for us.  Here’s a really embarrassing before photo-

and a couple of afters, as of yesterday morning

Love my Hydrangeas!

I’m linking up with Tami’s WIPW blog and Frontier Dreams Keep Calm Craft On blog on this Wednesday.  Don’t forget to pay them a visit!

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

B

Knitting

Finally FO Friday

mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

If you read my Saturday post, you know my Yahoo e-mail account was hacked, I was locked out of my account and then things snowballed when anything that remotely connected with my Yahoo was locked and by the time I finally was able to get things up and going again, I was pretty close to crazy.  No matter, it was fixed and I’m up and rolling again.  So, it’s a couple of days late but the Karma sweater is finished and turned out like this:

Karma

Neckline Detail

This sweater was truly a joy to knit, with no seaming (which I hate to do) and super clear instructions.  I’m so happy that the yarn is now a sweater that I really love and will probably wear until it falls apart instead of having to avert my eyes every time I open my closet door.

KCCO

I’m linking up with Frontier Dreams’ Keep Calm Craft On today, so along with Karma, I’m showing and telling this sweet wooden ladder that I found at a garage sale for about 5 bucks, brought home, sponge painted and upcycled into a plant stand.

My morning glories are a little peaked this morning.  They look thirsty.

It feels wonderful to post again!

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life:  it goes on.  Robert Frost

B