Tag: Sock

Knitting

FO Friday 02/28/14

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OFF THE NEEDLES

Catnip socks!  Hurray!!

Wendy Johnson’s Catnip Socks

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, in Wonderstone

Now, I’m off to stalk Rav in an effort to decide which project(s) to knit next, maybe a shawl or more socks.  You can never have too many of either, you know.

CLOCK WATCHING

The  Papoose, who claims, as always, “No nap for me, I’m not even tired” as she keeps an eye on the clock for the end of her rest time.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.  Ray Bradbury

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Knitting

Should I?

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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

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Knitting

Grace, Catnip and W&T

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SOCKS ON THE NEEDLES

Knitting continues on the current socks in progress.  Amazing how much can be accomplished when you have new yarn that you love and a bad case of startitis and have resolved to finish at least one pair before starting anything new.

I got the Grace gusset and heel turn accomplished last night, wasn’t happy with it because the pattern called for the wrap and turn technique and try as I might, I just don’t like the look of a wrap and turn, frogged the heel and redid it using my favorite SSK/P2tog technique.  Much, much better.

Grace in progress

I also finished the first of the Catnip Socks and cast on the second.  I apologize for the cluttered background, too lazy to go somewhere less busy to snap a quick pic.

First Catnip

More info on Grace and Catnip here.

OVERSHARE?

I now have happy feet!!  Made it to the salon for a pedi and though not completely rehabbed, my feet are definitely on the road to recovery!  I’ll spare you the picture.

If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.  Sir Isaac Newton

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Knitting

Junior High Rewind

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JITTERS?  AT MY AGE?

The first day of my new pottery class is tomorrow.  My Monday schedule is turning upside down -class starts at 12:30 and runs to 3:30 instead of 9 to 12.  I have to keep reminding myself of the time change. This semester it’s Introduction to Throwing and Independent Study.  I’m very excited but why do I feel like is the first day in junior high? For the last two semesters, my classmates and I have been a group of five, comfortable and acquainted now, asking about kids, colleges and vacations.  We have a history.  Who will I talk to?  Who will I sit with?  Nice to know that some things never change.  I guess.

ON THE NEEDLES

As for the continuing saga of the Blue Day Socks, I’m happy I frogged them and restarted with a different yarn.  It’s going much more smoothly and I’m so much happier with the result.  See?

THE GRANDS

A week from tomorrow, our babiest of grandbabies, the Sprout, will turn one.  She’s number three in the line up and Mr. Iknead and I should probably be getting a handle on this grandparent thing, but you know what?  It never gets old, never gets routine and her firsts are exactly that for us, firsts.  She made her debut in this post.  Time doesn’t fly anymore – it’s jet propelled, rocket boosted and don’t blink, you’ll miss it.  She’s very enthusiastic and I can’t wait to see her with a cake ALL her own!

You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving.  Anatole France

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Knitting

Snakebit?

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AM I?

Last weekend, I was shopping my favorite part of my LYS – the bargain bin – and picked up seven balls of some great CEY Portland Tweed.  I blogged about it here.  I decided to try to reproduce a favorite sweater and started calcs last night.  Once again, not enough yarn and I’d bought up all Cindy had.  Again, no prob, there’s always the internet, right?  Again, wrong wrong wrong.  None, zilch, nada available anywhere, great yarn, just discontinued and now extinct.  That’s twice in a week that I’ve come up short on yarn for projects.  Sounds snakebit to me.  Dang.

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.  Lily Tomlin

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Knitting

FO Friday 09/13/13, Face The Facts Friday, Whaaaaa…..

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I’m again hooking up with Tami’s FO Friday blog and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

FACT FACING

If you’ve been sort of keeping up with my sock project the last week or so, you’ll know I started a pair of Blue Day socks last week, knowing full well that I didn’t have enough yarn to complete them.  Even with my little feet, I just couldn’t shake that feeling that I was going to come up short.  No problem, I can always get more yarn.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  I started these using Fiesta Yarns Baby Boom, in the color Sweet Pea.  Yeah, I saw that I’d paid a LOT for this one skein, especially when you’re talking just one sock of a pair, but still, sacrifices can be made.  The ONLY skein I found after hours of internet searching was $47.00!!!  As much as this Sweet Pea stuff floats my boat, $47.00 for a sock???  Not even in loonyhoot’s world can that be justified.  So, I gritted my teeth and completely frogged Blue Day and plan to use – thanks to better judgement and a deeper stash dive – some great sock yarn I remember buying on Etsy.  I even remember the color name – Civil Disobedience and, I have a lot of it.  Plenty for Blue Day and maybe then some.  No decision on different sock pattern, but it’ll happen.

OFF THE NEEDLES

I finished the Diagnonal Lace Cowl from Classic Elite Yarns, just in time for today’s post.  It took just under one ball of Mini Mochi, color number 113 (no name, just number).  I probably could have squeezed a few more rounds in, but being paranoid because of the abovementioned sock thing, I decided to give myself a little wiggle room.  My fingernails thanked me.

I think its official name is Lacy Rib Cowl.

HEAD SPINS

Here’s what I learned today spinning:  cotton spins up differently than wool.  Duh.  It felt completely different, it took a different “hand” I suppose you’d call it and seemed to be a little more nubby; that could have been, really, that I’m a newbie spinner and nothing I’ve spun up yet is what you’d call smooth.  It’s getting better, but smooth?  Nope.  Luckily, the person I bought my wheel from threw in a couple of bags of raw fiber – one of wool and one of cotton, giving me a lot of chances to practice and try out different things.   I’ve spun my way though them both, glad that she was generous enough to include them.  I see a serious roving/fleece stash building – especially after the festival in Greenwood in October.

Spun cotton

Spinning wheel Violet and I are becoming better acquainted all the time, I’m learning her quirks and she, mine.

IN THE OVEN

It’s a few degrees cooler this morning and I’m revved up and ready to do some baking, hopefully Cinnamon and Sugar Pull Apart Bread and/or Snickerdoodle Bread.  Unhappily, I can’t seem to be able to buy cinnamon chips here in LR.  I found a package once, at the Stuttgart Wal-Mart.  I suppose I could order a couple of packs online and the recipe I have includes a recipe for the chips, but I think the store bought ones are better (for once).

MAMA

She continues her decline with her dementia.  I miss her and would love to occasionally be met with a smile and an I’m happy to see you instead of the now normal vacant stare.  I do know that this is the disease and all that, but a little bit of responsiveness can keep me going for quite a while.  There are some days I terribly dread visiting and I wonder how long – for her and for me.  What do I pray for??

Sorry for the Debbie Downer….

For success, attitude is equally as important as ability.  Harry F. Banks

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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

FO Friday 06/07/13, Yarn, The Sprout

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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

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Knitting

WIPW 06/05/13 and A Makeover

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ON THE NEEDLES

For your viewing pleasure, I present Heidi Kirrmaier’s Mendano Beach bag, in Sugar and Cream 100% cotton, Country Red and Ecru, started last evening.  I love everything about this bag, especially the tie shoulder strap.  Being vertically, ahem, challenged, bag straps are usually too long, so a adjustable strap is always a good thing.  The price is right also, a free Rav pattern.

MOVING ALONG

The Sunday Swing socks are finished, cast off, ends woven and photos taken but you’ll have to wait until FO Friday for the unveiling.  There will be no FOs posted until it’s time. ; )  Remember those old commercials, for Bartles and Jaymes, I think.  A blast from the past as they say.

LANDSCAPED AND LOVELY

For another type of finished project, look at our new front yard!  We’ve gone from the ugliest yard on the block to the most beautiful, IMO.  We finally were able to have a sprinkler system installed and had real, live landscapers come in and transform it for us.  Here’s a really embarrassing before photo-

and a couple of afters, as of yesterday morning

Love my Hydrangeas!

I’m linking up with Tami’s WIPW blog and Frontier Dreams Keep Calm Craft On blog on this Wednesday.  Don’t forget to pay them a visit!

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.  Aristotle

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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

WIPW 5/29/13 w/ Yarn Along

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ON THE NEEDLES

After the needle crisis last week, complete frogging and after starting the Crocus Vernus socks one more time, all was peachy keen.  I was loving my new metal needles, how smooth they were and the way the socks nearly FLEW off them – until it all came to a screeching halt Monday evening. Actually, the screeching was me after finding the cable on my new needles had apparently gotten mixed up with something sharp resulting in microdamage to the cable.  Nothing slid any more.  Can’t see it, can barely feel it, but it’s there.  There to the point of not being able to move the sock past that point in the cable.  Frustratus maximus*.  I tried to smooth it with an emery board, tried to paint over it with clear nail polish, nothing worked.  So, see ya later nice metal circs that I’d been so excited about.  Changed needles out, back on the old, reliable Knitpicks Harmonies.  At least, no frogging was involved.  I think that might have completely driven me ’round the knitting bend – which may be closer than I ever thought, according to my daughter, a really, really dedicated non-knitter person who has never turned down a knitted gift.  (I’m just sayin’…….)

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Yarn Along/WIPW with Crocus Vernus

I’m linking up today with Tami’s WIPW blog and Ginny’s Yarn Along, pay them a visit, will you?  They’re always a midweek treat!

The secret of success is constancy to purpose.  Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield

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*Frustratus maximus – a term I just made up to describe the feeling I get when I want to chuck the whole knitting project and move on to something else.

Knitting

Socks, Suits and Swimming

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OFF THE NEEDLES

The first Crocus Vernus sock is (finally) off the needles and I’m pretty happy about the way it turned out.  If you remember, this was the project that inadvertantly was left behind after the Papoose’s birthday party and had one of the needles pulled out before I could reclaim it.  I gave putting it back on the needle a quick try but then decided to suck it up and frog.  I made a change or two, mainly deciding to just do three pattern repeats for the leg instead of eight, making it shorter and hopefully not quite so hot on the feet this summer.

I started the second sock yesterday and am on the second of the three pattern repeats on the leg.  A FO Friday post seems possible.

JUST ADD WATER AND PLEASE PASS THE SUNSCREEN

Mr. Iknead and I are joining kids and the grands today for a swim and then a cookout.  Babydaddy is smoking some ribs and my contribution will probably be something sweet and maybe some deviled eggs.

Saturday afternoon, I began the much dreaded, once every two or three years, search for the perfect swimsuit.  You know the one – it gives me the same body that I had 30 years ago, when I could laugh in the face of gravity, and shows off the perfect tan that I slaved over, beginning in March, shivering in a bathing suit but sure it would all be worth it when I heard the gasps, ooohs and ahhhs of envy around the pool.  Never happened, never will but I did get two new bathing suits without too much damage to my self esteem.  Still, could someone just tell me why the lighting in dressing rooms invariably makes my skin look like cottage cheese?

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

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