Knitting

13 and Home Again

January 16, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

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.

Knitting

FO Friday 12/7/12

December 7, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Adamas shawl, as modeled by Babymama aka Katie

Babymama was such a good sport, standing in the rain and chilly temp to model for me. Is she a great DIL or what? BTW, This is a Knitty pattern. Love Knitty, my go to when I need inspiration.

THE GRANDS

Bigmommy called last evening to give us a heads up that the Papoose is going to be in the church’s Christmas Pageant on December 19. No surprise, she’s going to be an angel. Can’t wait to see her with her wings. All this with proper documentation (read pictures and videos ad nauseam to anyone but family), of course. NOTE: Wiki defines ad nauseam as “A Latin term for something that has continued to the point of nausea”.

IN THE OVEN

Today’s the day that I get serious about Christmas baking. It’s been a tradition for years that I start my holiday baking with pumpkin bread with cream cheese spread for friends, with the recipient list growing longer and longer. I think I ended up baking about 30 loaves last year. It goes without saying that that’s a LOT of pumpkin and pecans/walnuts. Lucky for me, I have a hook up for pecans for about half of what they go for in the grocery store, shelled and ready to use. If you haven’t bought pecans recently, they cost about $8.00 a pound in the store. I scored ten pounds for $38.00 and can’t help gloating a little. Pecan pie, anyone?

For more FO Friday offerings, check out Tami Ami’s blog, it’s loaded with FO goodness.

At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year. Thomas Tusser

Knitting

HBD!!

December 4, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S UP

Happy birthday Mr. Iknead! I love you!

THE GRANDS

Mr. Iknead and I got to spend some quality time with all three of the grands this morning. Bigdaddy, Bigmommy and Babymama all had business here in Little Rock and so naturally, we jumped at the chance to be able to hog the babies for a couple of hours without parental supervision. It was heaven. We learned that 1)Babydiva loves dry cinnamon toast crunch cereal, 2) The Papoose never turns down chocolate milk and 3) Babysis smiles at ceiling fans. I told you it was heaven, didn’t I?

The Papoose

Babysis with her Elvis ‘do

Babydiva

CURRENT EVENTS OR NONEVENTS WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE

I’m still on medical leave, coming up on 2 1/2 weeks tomorrow and it’s been harder than I ever imagined it would be. Not the not working part, totally into that, but I’m having a hard time remembering that I don’t have to go at a dead run all the time, trying to fit a week’s worth of stuff into a couple of days. I have real, live free time (though I seem to stay busy), so have been doing a lot of cooking, knitting, reading, walking and whatever else strikes my fancy at any particular moment. Right now, I’ve got Mr. Iknead’s requested birthday supper on the stove, homemade spaghetti sauce, simmering nicely and am engaged in obsessively checking to see if the UPS man has brought my new Kitchenaid mixer so I can begin my holiday baking and Mr. Iknead’s birthday dessert. Since we live on a fairly busy street and I’m compelled to run and check every time I hear what sounds like a big vehicle, I’ve probably covered a couple of miles 40 feet or so at a time.

BY THE BOOK

This week, I’ve been listening to Running the Books, by Avi Steinberg and enjoying it immensely. I’m totally enjoying time with my books, whether ebooks, audiobooks or paper. Maybe I can finally make some progress on my want to read list, which, by the way, just gets longer and longer. Loving rediscovering leisurely reading!

OFF THE NEEDLES

I finished my Adamas shawl last weekend and finally was able to hook up with Babymama for a picture. I think they’re both lovely-

I also have a pair of socks in progress at Mr. Iknead’s request but I’m saving those for tomorrow, it being WIP Wednesday and all, they’re working up nicely. Gotta love superwash merino. As Martha would say “It’s a good thing”.

The generous and bold have the best lives. Norwegian proverb

Knitting

Still on Pretty Maids

October 20, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

I’m going great guns on my Pretty Maids shawl from Knitty and this time around it’s going very well. Here’s Josie graciously modeling it for a picture or two.

Can’t tell much about it as it’s a WIP and I’m anxious to have it finished and blocked so I can get the full effect.

LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION

I took my phone with me on my walk this morning and took some pics. I’m trying to get better at it. Here’s a couple –

I think the lichens found on trees are beautiful with their silver/brown/ gray color palette. There could totally be a knitting project with these colors. But not before Pretty Maids is done! Promise!

He who does nothing makes no mistakes.

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/03/12

October 3, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Pretty Maids shawl, from Knitty Deep Fall 2010, done in Cascade Yarns Heritage Silk Paint, 85% Merino Superwash Wool/15% Mulberry Silk, color number 9801, which I call Bonfire because everything should have a name.

A HAPPY

When I visited my mother this morning, she knew me and told me she loved me. This can make the worst day one of the best. I miss the mom I had before dementia, but am coming to love the person she is now.

It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after a committee of sleep has worked on it. John Steinbeck

Knitting

WIP Wednesday

June 6, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

French Market Bag from Knitty

The color doesn’t translate well in the picture, but it’s Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool and once again I’ve fallen victim to Lost Ball Band Syndrome, so my description of the color is heathery brown. Oh, and can someone tell me why this photo rotated itself onto its side and how I can fix it? Thanks in advance.

FROG?

I still haven’t decided what to do with the neglected Maidenhair Fern sock. Here’s a pic showing the “girly” yarn.

And this one has decided to recline also. Help.

Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are — you aren’t. Margaret Thatcher

Knitting

The one where she shows

September 22, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

off her newest obsession, a teapot. Not to put too fine a point on it, a PURPLE and white polkadot teapot. I love teapots and have several, but I’ve never set out to actually collect them, until now. I’m crazy for purple and when I ran across this sweet little pot, I had to have it. Could this be any cuter??

It came in this great matching box and if it gets any better I won’t be able to stand it, matches my reading glasses perfectly. Perfectly purple.

My next project is burning a hole in my knitting bag, but I’m trying to hold off starting it until I have the Diamond Leaf Cowl finished. It’s from Knitty Deep Fall 2011, Alda by Harpa Jonsdottir. I think I’m in love (again).

A man of good will with a little effort and belief in his own powers can enjoy a deep, tranquil, rich life — provided he go his own way….To live one’s own life is still the best way of life, always was, and always will be. Henry Miller

Knitting

The one where she takes time to

May 20, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

tweak her blog a little. I’m still a newbie at blogging and while I’m not as intimidated as I was, I’ve not explored the nuts and bolts of blogging, like style, what’s interesting, what’s TMI and what exactly is a blogroll anyway? I’m working on how to get an About Me page, I’m not exactly computer illiterate, but I’m definitely a slow learner, so it’s pretty slow going and patience is not something I’m overly blessed with.

I do want to share my progress with the seriously impressive Slippery Sock.

OK, I’m about blogged out for today and Mr. Iknead wants to use the computer.

One should not increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything. William of Occam (1285-1349); this principle of parsimony is known as “Occam’s razor”

Knitting

The one where her self control

May 18, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

was tested, but she was able to hang on until it was officially WIP Wednesday. Here’s my WIP Wednesday project, Knitty’s Slippery Socks. I’m seriously in love with this yarn, surprisingly. I lean toward blues and violets, so loving this particular orange/red/yellow colorway is a departure for me. Could the knitting fairies be trying to tell me something? Maybe something along the line of “Girl, everything you knit is the same (almost) color, you seriously need to branch out!”

I shall tell you a great secret my friend. Do not wait for the last judgment, it takes place every day. Albert Camus (1913-1960)

Knitting

The one where I learn

April 5, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

something special about today: It’s the Persian New Year; Happy New Year everyone! Dr. B, a dentist where I work, hands out $2 bills on the New Year, for good luck. You save them for good luck throughout the year. Interesting, huh?

My new sock project is decided upon and I have now moved on to the yarn decision. It’s so hard to choose between yarns, kind of like trying to choose between your kids. Each one has something special to offer, I think. It’s Coupling, from Knitty Summer 07 issue.