Tag: knit

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 7/17/13, Doing the Herb

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ON THE NEEDLES

Mr. Iknead’s socks continue to grow.  The first of the pair is finished, and the second maybe 2/3 finished.  My goal is to have them done in time for FO Friday.  I’ve said that before and been defeated, but hope springs eternal and all that.

Wise Hilda’s Basic Ribbed Socks for Mr. Iknead

THE HERB

I noticed yesterday that my basil was beginning to flower and that means it needed to be harvested quickly if I’m to have more basil this summer.  I was going to dry it, but learned that because basil has a high water content, it does better when frozen than when dried.  Learn something new every day, I do.

That’s plain basil on the left, lime basil on the right

My kitchen smells HEAVENLY!

BY THE BOOK

I’m nearly through with Joyland and have enjoyed it immensely, wishing sometimes that there were just a couple more hours in the day, like 26 or 27 instead of just 24, just so I could squeeze in a little more of my favorite pastimes.  (I think I just heard a few moms of toddlers groan.)  I also checked out a couple of library books on spinning and knitting; the pictures are lovely, I may never get to the text!

I’m linking up today with Tami, Ginny’s Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams KCCO.  Don’t forget to visit these awesome blogs!

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.  John Lennon

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 07/03/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

Wise Hilda’s Basic Ribbed Socks for Mr. Iknead

75% Medano Bag

I reduced the this pattern by 25% and went down a needle size.  The full sized bag was just too big for me to comfortably carry.

Yarn Along

I’m linking up today, as usual, with Tami Ami’s, Frontier Dreams and Ginny’s Yarn Along.  Pay them a visit, willya?

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.  Walter Bagehot

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Knitting

Home Again, I Hate Dementia, What’s Next

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OFF THE NEEDLES

Nothing, absolutely nothing.  This is not to say I don’t have projects in varying stages of completion, I have tons of them, just none even close enough to pull an all nighter to have something to post.  But, hey, the day has just begun and I do have 24 hours to finish something.  Totally within the realm of possibility.

MOM

Thankfully, my mom was discharged from the hospital early yesterday afternoon to go back to her nursing home.  Her doctor has recommended that she be placed on hospice so Mr. Iknead and I have meetings today with both companies that work within her nursing home.  I’m not ready to lose my Mom, though her dementia has erased my “real” Mom and I’ve been grieving that for a long time.  Dementia kills the person within long before it kills the body without and I hate it, but it is what it is.  To be continued……..

YARN

Newest yarn acquisition in my favorite teapot

Another two skeins of Premier Yarns Wool Free Sock.  Mr. Iknead’s socks using this yarn in a blue colorway are still on the needles, but I’m totally loving the way it feels and how it knits up.   As soon as I get something, anything, off the needles, I’m starting myself some socks using this.

Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.  Napoleon Hill

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Knitting

Passing It On

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AS PROMISED

Like I posted yesterday, I spent pretty much the entire day with the Papoose and the Sprout.  The Papoose is always fascinated by my knitting, she will pick up a piece of yarn and run it through her fingers, saying “I’m knitting”.  She also has a toy that is big wooden beads on a string that can be strung and unstrung and she’ll put them on and take them off, all the while saying, “Look!  I’m knitting!”  In keeping with my belief that you’re never too young or too old to learn something new, I fixed her up a real, live knitting bag with some old, wooden, blunt size 13 needles and three balls of some scrap yarn – pink, green and blue.   She was so proud!  Like I said, never too young.  I cast on a few stitches for her and she played around with “knitting” most of the day.  Here’s my favorite photo from yesterday –

Proud Papoose

Sweet Hands!

and while we weren’t looking –

Another Knitter Is Born

Seriously, I get a warm, fuzzy, lump in the throat feeling looking at these, thinking about sharing my love for knitting and fiber with the grands and then their sharing it and hopefully, loving it as much as I do.  The more (ehem) mature I become, the more I crave continuity and this makes my heart and soul sing.

JUST A COUPLE MORE

Angel

Babydiva And Babydaddy At The Lake

I love that she loves the water, I see a lot more pool/lake time in the future!

I can be changed by what happens to me but I refuse to be reduced by it.  Maya Angelou

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Knitting

FO Finally!

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OFF THE NEEDLES AND INTO THE SOCK DRAWER

Crocus Vernus in Shibui Sock

I had several setbacks with this project, but am glad I stuck with it.  They turned out really well, I think!  The Shibui color is mystery pink, found two skeins in the sale bin at Yarn Mart which had lost their bands.  Excellent find!  Will be making another LYS run sometime this afternoon, probably on my way to the Art Center for some clay play.  With the holiday Monday, I’ve not been able to get to the pottery studio in a week, I’m having a little bit of withdrawal.  I had a couple of things that were ready to fire.  Hopefully, they were included in the kiln and since with clay and glazes, what you see is not usually what you get, the suspense is killing me.  I might even remember to take some pictures!

Don’t forget to drop in on Tami’s FO Friday blog to catch some amazing FOs.

Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction. Pablo Picasso

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday and HBD To You

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WHO’S ON FIRST

Leading off is the Karma sweater, which I’ve made progress on even since taking this photo.  One sleeve is finished, left to do is the other sleeve and a bit of stockinette around the neckline to make is roll even more –

This sweater has been a joy to knit!

Next up – A huge granny square using leftover sock yarn, with no particular effort to match yarn color or even coordination.  I’m calling it Granny’s Grab Bag Blanket.

On third base – Crocus Vernus Socks, with heel flap begun, from The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet:

You’ll just have to trust me regarding the heel flap.

Last up is another granny square, trying to coordinate colors this time, that may end up as a scarf.  Who knows?

THE GRANDS

Tell me this is not the cutest baby ever!  The Sprout being her lovely self –

Today is a special day in Pawpaw and BeBe World – The Papoose turns three today!  Look how much she’s grown!

Hot off the presses!

Three years later….

Happy Birthday, Papoose!

I’m linking up, as usual, with Tami Ami’s WIP Wednesday blog.  Come check it out!

Problems are only opportunities with thorns on them.  Hugh Miller

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Knitting

FO Friday 04/12/13

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    DATELINE THURSDAY, 1400 HOURS
    I’ve been plagued this week with startitis and have had a hard time settling down to any one project long enough to complete it. So far this week I’ve started another, larger Olivia sweater, a pair of socks for me and a knitted market bag and with two more days left to go this week I can’t guarentee I won’t start something else. All this and the Sprout’s new Olivia sweater lacks only buttons.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         OFF THE  NEEDLES
      Olivia is finally, actually, happily done!  I found some cute buttons this week while cruising

Hobby Lobby

     and I think they’re perfect.   I’ve always loved purples and greens together and these buttons allowed me to indulge in my favorite color combo.  I’m so excited to be unveiling this sweet sweater!  Now all I have to do is get a photo of the Sprout modeling it.

IMG_1485

Olivia Petite Sweater

Pattern from Quince&Co.

Don’t forget to visit Tami Ami’s FO Friday blog for today for more FO Friday treats!  I’m always impressed and inspired and I bet you will be too!

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.  A.A. Milne

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Knitting

Just Call Me Tinkerbell

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BY THE BOOK

Not reading/listening much at the moment.  There are a couple of books that have piqued my interest, Mary Coin by Marisa Silver and Fever by Mary Beth Keane.  As far as I can tell, neither one is in my local library’s collection yet, frustrating for me due to our (Mr. Iknead’s) austerity plan.  I’ve requested them, but this takes time, which I have a lot of, but unfortunately I’m continually short on patience.  Could this be a sign that I need to finish the books I’ve started to make room for those I want to start?  Possibly.

JUST WHEN

I think winter is really over and begin to anticipate spring with warmer temps and greener everything, Mother Nature brings another surprise.  After a couple of days of short sleeves and sunshine, the weather turned cold again with snow in the northern part of the state and rain and sleet for the rest.  I’m tired of sweaters and long sleeves and am finding myself thinking more and more about swimsuits, sandals and the beach. Our August vacation seems soooo far away!

ON/OFF THE NEEDLES

I cast off Lolita last night, all she lacks is a light blocking and then sewing the shoulder seams.  I’ll get a picture when she’s officially finished.  Still working on the first Olivia Petit sweater.  I ended up tinking back even more when I noticed a dropped stitch about ten or 12 rows back.  I tried to convince myself that I could totally live with it, that with a little blocking it would be next to unnoticeable.  You know how far that got me.  Bit the bullet, tinked back and redid and am much happier.  Two more buttonholes, then separating for the sleeves and I’ll be ready to start knitting the peplum.  Suddenly, knitting two more of these doesn’t seem like such a great idea.  Hmmm, wonder why?  Here it is so far:

Sorry the pic sucks.

Off to start blocking Lolita!

Love life and life will love you back.  Love people and they will love you back.  Arthur Rubinstein

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Knitting

A Good Report, It’s Here and I Can’t Wait to Get Started

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I’M FREE I’M FREE

I had my first postop visit this morning with McDreamy (Bigmommy’s word, not mine) and he released me to my normal life.  Like, I can drive and everything!  Who would have thought that I’d have fantasies of grocery shopping??  Who would have thought that Mr. Iknead would have fantasies of me grocery shopping – alone???  The things we take for granted, right?  I’m doing really, really well according to McDreamy, which I knew already, and after one more follow up next month, this whole hitch in my get along will be officially over.  Yay!!

LOOK WHAT CAME TODAY!!

My new Knitpicks yarn!!  I love it, I can’t wait to get started, so sorry Lolita and former Spring Pools socks, this baby is moving to the head of the line!  Oh my gosh, it’s so springy and green and pretty and is crying out to be on the needles as I blog this.  See for yourself –

Olivia Petit Will Not Wait!

Am I right or what?

THE GRANDS

In keeping with the new beginning, first green of spring theme that seems to have developed today, I present the Sprout’s first ponytail:

The Sprout’s First Sprout!

I know I’ve played fast and loose with exclamation points today, please forgive me, I think Spring is springing!! (sorry)

One today is worth two tomorrows.  Benjamin Franklin

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 3-6-13, A Slight Disappointment and What I Love About Sock Knitting

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ON THE NEEDLES

The first Spring Pools sock is off the needles and, I have to say, is a disappointment – not in the yarn, not in the pattern, but in myself because I know that nine times out of ten, a busy, colorful yarn and an intricate pattern don’t work together.  This is something that I reminded myself over and over during the knitting of said sock and since I wanted them to work together so badly I just kept whispering sweet nothings into my ear, sweet nothings as in, “the pattern will pop more when they’re worn” and, “yeah, it looks a little tweedy but as soon as I get it finished and blocked, the pattern will jump out and really show itself”.  Sound familiar?  Well, the long and short of it is that neither of those statements are true and if I’m truly honest with myself, I knew it all along.  This brings me to share “What I Love About Sock Knitting”.  What I love about sock knitting is 1) you always get a second chance on the second sock and 2) I don’t think the patterns necessarily have to be the same on both socks and in this instance, the first sock’s pattern is Spring Pools, the second sock’s pattern (so far) is Fascine Socks Or…a surprisingly simple way to braid without cables.  I think the Fascines will do justice to the yarn, showing off the vivid colors to their best advantage.

First Sock

Spring Pools

Second Sock So Far

Fascine Socks

The next WIP today is one I started yesterday, Imagine Knit Designs Lolita, using Rowan Purelife yarn in Revive.  I like the fact that this yarn is made of 100% recycled silk, cotton and viscose.  Just trying to do my part saving the planet and if I can combine saving the planet with knitting, well, what’s not to like???

Lolita

FYI, the cake keeper belonged to my grandmother, I can remember seeing it in her house most of my life.  When Mr. Iknead and I went to clean out my parents’ home last summer I came across it again in the back of a cabinet.  I think it lends itself well to picture taking, don’t you?

Don’t forget to check Tami Ami’s for more WIP goodness.

We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.  Kahlil Gibran

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Knitting

FO Friday 03/01/13, A Stash Tour

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OFF THE NEEDLES

It’s finished and is all I’d hoped for and more!  Introducing –

Etched Rio Wrap!  TA DA!

I love it – it’s the perfect weight (not too hot, not too cool), the perfect color (love caramel), it stays put (not falling off one of my narrow to the point of almost nonexistent shoulders or the other) and the drape (OMG).  After some initial misbehavior on the yarn’s part, we came to an understanding and this project truly became a labor of love.

STEP UP, STEP RIGHT UP

After reading a post on uknit2, I decided to document my stash status and share a little of it here.  At the moment, it’s relatively neat and more or less organized, sock yarn, sport weight, lace weight, bulky, you get it, you’re a knitter but the more I looked the more odd I thought part of my stash was.  Here, you be the judge.

Stash as of 2/28/13

Sock Yarn

Stash as of 2/28/13

Sport Weight

Stash as of 2/28/13

Odds and Ends

Here’s what I think is sort of odd

Stash as of 2/28/13

A Ziploc/Shopping Bag Stash

Actually, come to think of it, it’s not odd at all that I hoard ziplocs and shopping bags.  After all, fiberphiles use more ziplocs than anyone else on the planet and for your safety, don’t get between me and a nice, heavy, handled shopping bag.  I won’t pretend to speak for other crafty types, I’m trying to stick with what I know – but no, it’s not odd at all, it’s more than a little smart, green and best of all, frees up more bucks for my fiber fixation.  So, strike the odd.  Smarter than the average bear, us fiberphiles.  I rest my totally turned around case.

IN THE OVEN

Not yet, kneading takes more than a little energy and I’m still promising Mr. Iknead to take it easy, but soon, very soon there will be fresh bread.  I knead it (get it?)!  I know, I love a corny play on words.

Fly by Tami Amis for more FO Friday treats – you’ll be glad you did!

Live so that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.  Will Rogers

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FLASH – Bigmommy and the babies are in town and are headed over!!  Pics and report tomorrow!  Yay, getting a little lonesome!

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 01/16/13 and Home Again

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ON THE NEEDLES

Here’s my current WIP for this week. This sock actually started out a really fiddly Celtic cable, but after about five rounds, I knew it was way over the top too fiddly to work on while visiting the Stuttgart grands, sent it to the frog pond and restarted, this time on Rachel Coopey’s Phloem, from Knitty Spring/Summer 2012. It’s also fairly fiddly but doesn’t require a cable needle, a definite plus when keeping company with a very curious and busy two year old.

The yarn is one I ran across while stash diving looking for a good take-along project for my Stuttgart visit.  It’s Shibui 100% superwash merino, color 6001 and since I believe everything should have a real name, not just a number, I’m calling it Sand and Sky.  Nice, I think.

BACK IN THE NEST

Bigmommy brought me back home this morning and as much fun as I had with the babies over the past few days, it sure is good to be back.  Back where my chair is dented in all the right places, my pillow is always perfect and I know where the toilet paper is kept.  Funny what things make homes homey, isn’t it?

THE CRISIS CONTINUES

The great washing machine crisis is now in its fifth day and I don’t mind telling you that the laundry has somehow learned to multiply and seems to be doubling itself by the hour.  Really though, the new kid on the block is to be delivered and hooked up between three and five o’clock this afternoon.  I’m thinking positive and have already separated darks from lights, delicates from heavy duty and hand knits get to solo.  No unintentional felting allowed, zero, zip, zilch, none, not on my watch, nope.

Don’t forget to check out Tami Ami’s blog for more awesome WIPs.

It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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