Mini Mochi – mud&string

CAUTION! ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT ZONE!

I’ve been enmeshed in THAT sort of day today, a “somedays it’s not worth chewing through the restraints” kind of day and for no reason. OK, maybe I’m a little bummed because I’ve no fiber to spin, or I just haven’t hit on the new project that makes the heavens open and the angels sing, kind of bored, kind of tired, exactly that type of day. Then, book junkie that I am, I was on our local library website, trolling for books and happened to see this on the calender – Book Babies. Clicked on it and found that it’s a special story time for babies up to 24 months and their caregivers with stories, rhymes and songs. Meets 9:30 a.m. on Thursdays. Perfect! Bigmommy and the Papoose have dental appointments that day at 9:00 a.m. and I’m one on one with the Sprout. We’re going and it’s going to be a blast, I just know. So, that’s how you make a turnaround in your day, make an investment and get excited.

As an aside, my doorbell just rung, of course I ran like an idiot because I’m expecting some fiber here in the next day or two (see first paragraph) and much to my disappointment, it’s not my friendly mailman, Fedex man or UPS man. It’s two kids who immediately start what feels like a hustle. I finally asked right out what they needed, still felt hustled and so shut the door in their faces. Probably, in all honesty, they’re out fundraising, but when I ask outright what they need and still get hustled, I’m done. Sorry Charlie as the old tuna commercial used to say. Not harshing my mellow, though. Nope.

Back to our regularly scheduled post….

THE KITCHEN RUG EXPERIMENT

My kitchen needs a new rug. Oh, by the way, did I ever mention that I get my best ideas in the middle of the night, or that Mr. Iknead never thinks they’re as great as I do when I wake him with something new? Anyway…. Since this new rug needs to be washable and dryable, I start thinking cotton yarn. Then, I replace the image of cotton yarn in my head with the image of some other type of cotton cording, like rope. Moving right along, knitter that I am, I start wondering what size needles (big) and exactly how manageable something would be in real life, using needles about as big around as my wrist and maybe 1-2 inch rope. Stop. Take a breath. Fortunately, I’ve been able to dial my enthusiasm back (this time) and contented myself with knitting this swatch, using size 15 needles and three strands of Lily Sugar and Cream cotton yarn held together.

Swatch #1

Vital Statistics BEFORE Washing

Cast on 20

20 rows

7.5 x 9 inches

I’m throwing it in with a load of towels here in a minute. I’m really just hoping to see about how much shrinkage there is after a couple of rounds in the dryer. I’m still thinking rope and huge needles, but before I make the investment in a couple of miles of cotton rope and two fenceposts, I thought I’d try this. Mr. Iknead’s Austerity Plan thanks me, I know.

RAKU+MINI MOCHI = EYE CANDY

My Newest Raku Pot and Mini Mochi Yarn

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it. Mark Twain

I’ve been entirely too “hit and miss, mostly miss” about blogging since Mr. Iknead and I returned from our vacation. I’ve intended to get back in the routine, but have found some sort of excuse every day to put it off another few minutes, which turns into hours, which turn into days….

ON THE NEEDLES

I think this is one reason I’ve been so lazy about posting – too many projects with most of them stalled for one reason or another. The Ruffled Tank is ready to block before starting the ruffles, I intend to get that accomplished today and I started the Botanical Cowl on Friday, using the last vacation souvenir yarn from the Destin Yarn Shop. Then there’s the Blue Day socks I want to cast on for the Blue Day KAL on Ravelry, which started last week. I love the idea of a KAL, but the committment? Not so much. I should go get dressed so I can get some pics of the abovementioned before it gets too hot. Doing it in my pjs doesn’t bother me a bit, but Mr. Iknead tends to freak a little when I go outdoors in my jammies for anything other than picking up the newspaper from the front door. My neighbors across the back probably aren’t nuts about it either, come to think of it.

Then there’s the attempt at destashing, asking myself to answer truthfully, “Are you really going to use this yarn/yarn remnant someday?” Sigh. Where do I draw the line? Sigh.

Botanical Cowl

I’m falling in love with Mini Mochi, I think!

Ruffle Tank before washing, blocking and ruffles.

ON THE BOBBIN

And then there’s the spinning. I’ve spun nearly all the fleece from last week, I’ve been holding a little back, sort of like for a rainy day, which I plan to card and spin sometime this week, if not today. I ordered some beautiful roving last week and am a little bummed that it hasn’t arrived yet and with today being a holiday, it for sure won’t arrive until tomorrow at the soonest. This is where the rainy day thing kicks in.

Simplicity is the key to brilliance. Bruce Lee