Tag: shawl

Knitting

FO Friday 11/08/13 and Dysmotivation*

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OFF THE NEEDLES

Le Miz is (finally) finished and felted, in spite of a couple of “time-outs” for operator error.  This was the first project that I felted by hand and I was pleasantly surprised at how simple it is.  Lazy me, I’ve always let my washing machine do the work.  I’m apologizing in advance for the cruddy pictures, but it’s cold this morning and I’m still in my jammies, giving our back of the yard neighbors yet another reason to call me Crazy Yarn Lady.

A Better Look at the Stitch Pattern

GO AHEAD, MOTIVATE ME, I DARE YA

Right now, I’m having a really, really hard time getting back into my program of walking and watching my weight.  I’m not going to share my poundage, suffice it to say that it is totally unacceptable to me and should jumpstart my walking and mindful eating program – but it hasn’t (at least so far).  Going to shop treadmills today, I think.  I’m hoping that will help.  What gets you in the exercise zone?

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams today.

Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes.  Henry J. Kaiser

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 *Dysmotivation – The attitude of not wantin’ to do nuthin’.

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/09/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

Christmas knitting is going like gangbusters.  One more evening of knitting on this particular project should wrap it up.

Les Miz scarf/shawl is moving right along, although when I took it outdoors for a picture I noticed that somehow one of the needles has pulled out, so that will be today’s Les Miz knitting.

Yesterday was a day of galloping startitis, so I caved and started Hilton Field Cowl, designed by Kate Gagnon Osborn, in a book called November Knits .  I’m using Cascade 220 that I found in the sale bin at Yarn Mart, in the colors I love.  Does it get any better than sale yarn in favorite colors?  I don’t think so.

ON THE BOBBIN

This

is in the process of becoming

this

Merino from Diamond B Sheep in Greenwood, Arkansas

Linking up with Tami’s WIPW blog and Frontier Dreams.  Visit them for inspiration overload.

Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it.  Ella Williams

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Knitting

Frog Pond/WIP Wednesday 10/02/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

If this Le Miz shawl looks smaller than last week, it’s because it is.  I found an awful, unfixable, un-live-withable mistake way, way back nearly at the  beginning.  This shawl is 712 rows long and I was probably on row 400 or so.  No way I was going to tink it back.  Ever.  Timewise, it made more sense to just bite the bullet and start the whole thing over.  So I did.

Linking with Tami’s WIP Wednesday and Frontier Dreams today.

If you cannot be silent be brilliant and thoughtful.  Byron Pulsifer

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Knitting

FO Friday 12/7/12

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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

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Knitting

HBD!!

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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

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/14/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

First up, the Adamas shawl, about 2/3 finished –

Pattern close up –

Number 2 WIP, scrap yarn granny squares, probably ending up as a scarf –

 As an aside, I haven’t crocheted in years, but I was happy that it came back to me pretty quickly.  A nice change from my bigger knitting projects every now and then.

Check out Tami Amis for more cool WIPs.

I promise to keep on living as though I expected to live forever.  Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years.  People grow old by deserting their ideals.  Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up wrinkles the soul.  Douglas MacArthur

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/07/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

 

Adamas Shawl

Not so much knitting time these past few days, I seem more even more distractable that usual.  This usually requires a little bit more alone time, something that’s been in short supply lately.  But, as always, it’s all good.

Check out Tami Amis blog for more cool WIPs.

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.  Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.  Gloria Steinem

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Knitting

Still on Pretty Maids

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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.

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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 –

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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.

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/17/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

Plugging along on the Pretty Maids shawl and am so happy I decided to frog the first attempt, the second try is 100% better.  I’m able to “read” my knitting better and as a result, if I make a mistake, I notice it quicker and can fix it more easily.  A much happier project!   Here’s a photo –

Stitch close up 

 

The Big Picture

 THE GRANDS

I have a new picture of Babysis Annabelle and can’t resist blogging it.  Talk about a lucky shot!

Isn’t she precious???

IN THE OVEN

I have big plans for baking this coming weekend.  I’m going to bake bread and attempt to get a sourdough starter going.  The weather should help out quite a bit, low humidity, warm but not hot temperatures.  I’ve missed baking these past few months, first it was way to hot to use the oven, then I was too busy, what with the grands, work, Mom and the zillion other tiny things that seem to be of no consequence, but turn into a mountain with attempts to accomplish them. 

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

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Knitting

Babies and baptisms

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WHAT WENT DOWN

Mr. Iknead and I had 2/3 of the grands in house this weekend, along with Bigdaddy and Bigmommy, and it was a million things all at once – exhausting (we’re not youngsters anymore no matter what we try to make you believe), exhilirating (try not to be excited by the prospect of a walk with a two year old or snuggles with a three week old), humbling (in the face of two year old wisdom, “because I don’t want to”) and joyful (just because).  Babydiva’s baptism was last evening and she handled it with her usual diva cool, not batting an eye when Monsignor poured the water over her head.  Mr. Iknead took pictures but hasn’t uploaded them yet.  I’m moving that to the top of his to do list and hopefully, I’ll have some to show in the next day or so.  Meanwhile, here’s the Papoose and Babysis –

The Papoose

Babysis

ON THE NEEDLES

After the drama with the Pretty Maids shawl last week, I ended up completely frogging it and starting over.  I realized the first go round was a trainwreck, bit the bullet and frogged.  This time, we’re getting along much, much better.  Will get a picture tomorrow in the sunshine.

RECAP

Babies

Baptism

Knit

Frog

Knit

Blog

A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere.  Before him, I may think aloud.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Knitting

Crisis averted/WIP Wednesday 10/10/12

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ON THE NEEDLES

Ouch!  When I went to take a photo of the ongoing Pretty Maids shawl project to post to WIP Wednesday, I ACCIDENTLY PULLED THE NEEDLES OUT OF THE KNITTING!  My heart just sank.  Seriously, I thought I would throw up when I saw it.  I was three rows from finishing it.   Jeez.  Luckily, I was able to put it back on the needles and am now in the process of tinking it back to a recognizable row to get moving forward on it again.  Even though I know “it’s just knitting”, it’s my knitting and my time invested in it and I love it.  Hopefully, this evening I’ll see forward progress again. 

It’s really hard to make out what it looks like when it’s unblocked lace. Patience, patience and hopefully, it will be finished, washed and blocked by this time next week. 

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.  Albert Pike

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/03/12

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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. 

Pretty Maids Shawl

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 

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