Tag: Knitty

Knitting

Purple Surprise, FO Friday 3/14/14

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

B

Advertisement
Knitting

Should I?

mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

OK, I’m admitting it…. I’m not in love with the Grace socks, not at all.  You can see them here.  Should I cut my losses and frog or grit my teeth and finish because they’re so far along (heel finished on first sock).  WWYD?

Know what?  Never mind.  I’m frogging and starting Kew from Knitty, just because I love that pattern and have always wanted to knit it.

I have not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.  Thomas Alva Edison

B

 

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

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

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

I Spy?, Harlot Visit and Where’s Spring?

mud&stringLeave a comment

SPY?

My neighbors probably think I’m spying on them.  Remember, I’m the weird lady out taking photos of yarn in her pajamas every so often?  The scoop is that since I put out bird feeders a few weeks ago, we have a lot of wildlife activity in the yard, mostly squirrels, birds and now, bunnies and in my quest to declutter, go through, donate or throw out, I found a pair of binoculars and that’s what’s been happening the past few days.  Honest, mister, I’m really not interested in what goes on across the fence.  I just want to see the birds and bunnies.

I’M SO EXCITED!

I can’t wait until Saturday – Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka as the Yarn Harlot, is coming to Arkansas to speak at the Arkansas Fiber Arts Extravaganza. I’ve been an admirer of hers since I started knitting. The Extravaganza is being held at the Lodge at Mt. Magazine, one of the most beautiful spots in Arkansas. I was there a few years ago for the very first knitting get together and always wanted to go back, if not for a weekend, just for a day.

Beautiful!

OFF THE NEEDLES

Last weekend, again in my quest to organize and declutter, this time my yarn room, I unearthed two unfinished scarfs, lacking only casting off and weaving in ends.  I got busy and they officially became FOs.

All I can remember about this one is that it’s a pattern from Classic Elite Yarns.  This is the second scarf in this pattern that I’ve done.  The first was done in Liberty Wool.  This yarn, I don’t remember.  I’ll do a stash dive later and see what I can come up with.

ON THE NEEDLES or LIKE I NEED TO START ANOTHER PROJECT

I caved in last night and cast on Crocus Vernus from The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet, using the pink mystery Shibui Sock I found on sale at my LYS, Yarn Mart.  Loving it already, the color and the pattern.  And yes, I’m still working on the Sunday Swing Socks.  I have to admit it’s very gratifying to see that this pattern really does show off the colors in the Shibui Poodle Skirt yarn to their best advantage. I love it when a plan (finally) comes together!

WAIT, IT’S MAY, NOT JANUARY

I think someone neglected to send Mother Nature the memo that it’s May.  As I type this, the temperature is 40 degrees in Little Rock, it’s snowing in Fayetteville and raining here.  What happened to Spring?  It was here a day ago, I saw it.

Lots more FO Friday projects at Tami Ami’s blog!  Don’t forget to pay them a visit!

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

B

Knitting

WIPW 04/17/12

mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve been able to rein in my knitting ADD, at least for the moment, trying really hard not to veer off into the ozone with knitting projects.  I’m working on Knitty‘s Interlocking Leaves socks in the oh so pretty Shibui Poodleskirt color and I also started another Olivia Petit sweater, this one in a larger size.  Oh yeah, I’ve been knitting up dishcloths at Bigmama’s request and they’re a nice break from those long rows of Olivia.

IMG_1519

Interlocking Leaves

IMG_1529

Olivia Petit 2.0

In case you’re wondering, that’s a set of frosted glass windchimes that I was too lazy to put away this morning, thus their debut on WIPW 04/17/13

FIELD TRIP

Babymama and I, along with Babydiva, Bela the standard poodle and Josie Pug have plans to visit the dog park this afternoon.  I’m expecting it to be loads of fun, and am right now charging Mr. Canon’s battery (sounds kind of nasty, doesn’t it?) to document all the fun.  Look for pictures to be posted later this week.

Don’t forget to visit Tami Ami’s WIPW blog and check out all the neat WIPs!

Develop a passion for learning.  If you do, you will never cease to grow.  Anthony J. D’Angelo

B

Knitting

WIPW 04/10/13, Yarn Along and Sock Pattern Lust

mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

I decided to give myself a little break from fiddly stuff for a bit and have been knitting up dish towels instead, finally using some of that Sugar and Cream that’s been in the stash for lo, how many years.  My current favorite is the Yarn Over Cable Cloth from Dishcloth Boutique.  After just a couple of repeats, I’d memorized the four row pattern, a welcome relief from having to look from pattern to knitting and back to pattern.

I’m getting the sock knitting itch again, I just wound some new Shibui Sock from Yarn Mart and am pondering patterns even as I type.  I have a couple of ideas – Spring Forward or Kew, both from Knitty.  Love them both, maybe I’ll flip a coin.  Here’s a look at the new Shibui –

This color is called Poodle Skirt and how cute is that??

MR. CANON AND ME, WE GETTIN’ TIGHT

Beginning to feel much more comfortable with Mr. Canon and today, it took only about 30-45 minutes to remember and do what took hours yesterday.  Josie, Mr. Canon and I just may take a field trip tomorrow morning, especially if the weather stays as beautiful as it has the last two days.

Photobomb by Josie

BY THE BOOK

My Yarn Along contribution today is Stephen King’s Under the Dome, in preparation for the mini-series scheduled for sometime in June.  I’m still technically reading Annie Dillard‘s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, but haven’t picked it back up since Monday afternoon at the library.  I’m planning to get started again this afternoon, the weather is predicted to be stormy and this seems like it would be a good book to cocoon with.

DON’T FORGET TO

Visit Tamis Amis’ WIPW blog for more WIP goodies and Ginny Sheller’s Yarn Along for lots more book and yarn love.  Prepare to be inspired!

The better part of happiness is to wish to be what you are.  Desiderius Erasmus

B

Knitting

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

mud&stringLeave a comment

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

B

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 1/30/13

mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

I’m still plugging along on the Phloem Socks but on the home stretch for the second of the pair.  I really love this pattern and so it will probably show up again on the needles at some point.  Hopefully I’ll have it completed tonight, I so want to start the Etched Rio Wrap, I can hardly contain myself.  Jeez Louise!  I ran out to get a quick pic in natural light and it’s windy and cold.  I bet the neighbors across the back think I’m nuts.  This is what I imagine is going through their heads, “She takes pictures of YARN, for heaven’s sake.  WHO does THAT?”

Phloem Socks from Knitty, Spring 2012

IN AND OUT OF THE OVEN

I made Snickerdoodle bread Monday evening as a special request from Mr. Iknead.  My recipe makes two loaves, a good thing since one gets eaten up pretty much as soon as it comes out of the oven.  It’s addictive, this stuff.  Here’s how it goes:

SNICKERDOODLE BREAD

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 c. butter, softened

2 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. sour cream

1 pkg. Hershey’s cinnamon chips

TOPPING

3 tbsp. sugar

3 tsp. cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Cream butter, sugar, salt and cinnamon until fluffy.  Add eggs and mix well.

2.  Add vanilla and sour cream and mix well.

3.  Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.  Add to wet ingredients and mix until all combined.

4.  Add cinnamon chips and stir into batter.

5.  Spoon batter into two regular sized loaf pans (about 2/3 full)

6.  Mix 3 tbsp. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle over the batter in each loaf pan.

7.  Bake at 350 until cake tester comes out clean.  Let cool before removing from pan.

Recipe from Kristyn (Lil’ Luna) on Pinterest – Thanks

NOTE:  If you have trouble finding the cinnamon chips, (like me) in the store, there are several recipes online to make them at

home.

Go to Tamis Amis for more great WIPs.

ANSWER TO WHO DOES THAT QUESTION:  Fiber fiends, that’s who! ; )

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.  Mark Twain

B

Knitting

My Winter Tonic

mud&stringLeave a comment

TRENDING NOW (what’s that mean anyway?)

Any time one of us had the droops or doldrums, especially in winter,  my grandmother always said we needed a tonic.  She never gave us a tonic, just said one was needed, which was probably a good thing since when I hear the word tonic, I think of cod liver or castor oil, both of which are off the scale on the official Disgust-O-Meter.  My own personal winter tonic is this:

Take one cold and cloudy day

Add a nice fire and some knitting

Mix in a couple of grands, chocolate milk and cookies

Monitor closely as not to miss anything

and

Watch your contentment rise

Repeat as often as necessary

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

The Papoose Gives the Sprout a Clean Bill of Health

ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve done very little knitting the last day or so, still working on the second Phloem Sock; I did remember that I promised a quick show and tell of the Metalico yarn that The Yarn Mart ordered for me and it’s more beautiful than I remembered –

 

Here are the stats:

Metalico

Blue Sky Alpaca

50% baby Alpaca and 50% raw silk

All natural/No dyes

Gold Dust

This is going to transform into Sarah Smuland’s Etched Rio Wrap and I can’t wait to get started.  The softness and shimmer of this yarn is amazing.  Check out the Blue Sky Alpaca website for a look at the pattern.

POP THE QUESTION

What’s your favorite winter tonic?

The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.  Tony Robbins

B

Knitting

Get your WIP, Get your WIP Wednesday here! – 1/23/13

mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

This week’s WIP Wednesday offering is the second Phloem sock from Knitty, using Shibui Sock that I’ve named Sand and Sky.  I loved the way the first sock took shape, with a botanical bent and so I was probably a tad bit over confident when I cast on the second.  I just dove right in, not an unusual plan for me.  After all, I finally had the pattern down and what the stitch key showed, right?  So, last night, about two inches into it, I went back just to review something in the pattern and noticed that I’d completely forgotten to do the cuff.  I waffled about just forging ahead and pretending it was OK but I just couldn’t, I knew it would bug me just knowing it was supposed to have a cuff but didn’t, so I frogged and started over.  I can rest easy now.  Yes, sometimes I tend to have a perfectionistic streak a mile wide and sometimes it serves me well, like last night.  So here’s the do-over.

THE GRANDS

Remember Babysis, the Papoose’s baby sister? Well, I changed her name from Babysis to Alfalfa Sprout, as in Our Gang/The Little Rascals.  She has a huge, no holds barred cowlick on the crown of her head that is so freakin’ cute I almost can’t stand it.  I just thought that Sprout was a better fit than Babysis.  See what I mean?

I wasn’t kidding, was I?

THE GREAT WASHING MACHING CRISIS

It’s over, it’s really, finally over – at least until another appliance gives up the ghost.  Got my new, fancy washing machine delivered and hooked up.  I think I did at least 15 loads that first day.  Man, does laundry pile up or what?!  Mr. Iknead laughed when I took a picture to share.  I think he thinks posting pictures of washing machines is a little odd, but I tend to blog things that I’m happy about and things that interest me and I’m definitely both about my new washer.  I think it’s very handsome, myself.  To each his own.

NOT ON THE NEEDLES, YET

The Yarn Mart just called and said my special order yarn, Metalico Gold Dust, has arrived so I’m hot-footing over to pick it up.  Pictures and description later, it’s calling my name.

Want more WIP Wednesday?  Check out Tami’s Amis, you can’t miss.

You never truly understand something, until you can explain it to your grandmother.  Albert Einstein

B