Knitting

WIPW 05/22/13, Yarn Along


ON THE NEEDLES

No, this isn’t the second Crocus Vernus sock.  😦  In the hustle and bustle of the Papoose’s birthday Saturday afternoon, when it came time to go home, the Crocus project bag was left behind.  No problem.  Texted Bigmommy, she’d found it and since she was coming to Little Rock Monday, she’d bring it.  Still no problem.  Got project back.  Tiny issue.  Looking to make sure that the sock in progress was in the bag, she accidently pulled one of the needles out.  Wahhhhh.  So, nearly finished Crocus Vernus sock totally frogged and restarted.  You can bet I’ll be a lot more careful about getting all my projects in the knitting bag before I leave next time.  It’s OK Bigmommy, I know it was an accident.

Still loving the Grrlfriend Market Bag so much I started another.

Still rolling on Granny’s Grab Bag Blanket using my left over sock yarn.

THE GRANDS

Happy birthday, Papoose.  You’re three!

Papoose Playhouse

I’m linking up with Tami’s WIPW blog and Ginny’s Yarn Along, so head on over there for more WIPW and book love.

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.  Mother Teresa

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Knitting

WIPW, KCCO and Books – Can It Get Any Better?


THE WHOLE FAM DAMLY (ALMOST)

Last Reunion 2013 picture – I promise.

All Present and Accounted For Except for Policeman Jason, Who Was Keeping St. Louis Safe

NEWEST ACQUISITION

I went to Yarn Mart last week, just to see what I could see and look what I found in the back, in the sale bin!!  Two skeins of pink Shibui Sock, which pairs up great with the Poodle Skirt yarn that hasn’t decided what it wants to be yet.

Actually, this evening, the Poodle Skirt decided to become Kristel Nyberg’s Sunday Swing Socks, which are my WIPW offering this week.

ON THE NEEDLES

After much consideration and test knitting for the perfect sock pattern, Poodle Skirt is going to become Sunday Swing Socks, from Knitty Summer 2009.  I think it will go perfectly with the color changes in the yarn, showing to their best advantage.  I started them last evening.

Toes Complete, Ready for Foot

BY THE BOOK

I’m starting two books today, Anna Quindlen‘s One True Thing and The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers, books that I started a couple of years ago and then life intervened, reading time was reduced and I forgot about them.  In the process of cleaning out, donating and organizing, I ran across them again and decided to have another go.  If you like seeing what others are reading and knitting, check out Yarn Along.  It always give me ideas about what to read or knit next.

Begonias, WIP, Books and Josie

LOOK WHAT I MADE!

I’ve also started to occasionally link up with Frontier Dreams and KCCO (Keep Calm, Craft On) and get a ton of inspiration there.  Check it out, bet you’ll like it as much as I do.  I made this bracelet for my daughter in law.  It was so easy to do and she loves it!

Don’t forget to check Tami Amis WIPW blog, lots of great projects!

I hear and I forget.  I see and I remember.  I do and I understand.  Confucius

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Knitting

WIPW 04/17/12


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.

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Interlocking Leaves

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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

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Knitting

FO Friday, Blogs and Monkey Pool


OFF THE NEEDLES OR TGIFOF

The Monkey Pool socks are finished as of yesterday.  The Parakeet yarn was amazing to work with, unfortunately, the pattern I started out with, Spring Pools, not so much. This was totally my fault. The pretty pattern was lost in the busy colors on the yarn. Of course, I decided this AFTER the first sock was finished. So, I changed canoes so to speak in the middle of the stream and the second sock is a Crazy Monkey, making these a pair of Monkey Pool socks.

FYI – I tried to post a link for the Parakeet yarn but can’t read the name of the web address on the label.  Sorry about that.  It’s from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company.

                    

L – Spring Pools     R- Crazy Monkey

I’m still on the lookout for the perfect buttons for Olivia.  I’m going to Goodwill today to search for some I can repurpose and if not, then I’ll continue my stalking.  This search has motivated me to start stockpiling buttons that catch my interest and since I’m a diehard collector, the house will be awash in buttons in no time.  Besides, I think buttons are cool.  Speaking of Olivia, she’s blocked and ready to receive the final touches, an applied I-cord (which I’m going to need help with) and, of course, the buttons.  I’ll show her off as soon as she’s officially totally completed, FO Friday or not!

SHAMELESS PLUG

While you’re blog surfing, please check out these two, which are near and dear to my heart, wife.mother.disciple at susiemom.wordpress.com and The Mommy Life 101 at kcoleman1009.wordpress.com.  As mentioned in another post, these blogs are Bigmommy and Babymama’s first blogs ever and we all know, especially with blogging, a little encouragement goes a long way!  Thanks in advance!

Another blog you don’t want to miss is Tamis Ami’s and since it’s FO Friday, it’s full of FO goodness.  You’ll be blown away by the creativity of us fiber freaks, I always am!

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.  Erich Fromm

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Knitting

The Final Countdown


WHAT’S UP

In 24 hours, I hope my surgery will have begun, taking care of the worsening colitis that I’ve had for I don’t know how many years.  Mr. Iknead and I are extremely optimistic that this will finally end what has become an increasingly nerve wracking problem, never knowing when or where a flare will occur and consequently making us a little gun shy about things like vacations or anything that might take us out of our comfort zone as far as hospitals and doctors are concerned.  I start the official prep today at 2 pm, but as of midnight last night, I can have only clear liquids and then nothing to eat or drink after midnight tonight.  I can’t believe people aren’t lining up to do this!

BY THE BOOK

I finished Jennifer Haigh’s The Condition, which I loved, and am set to start Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.  I read and enjoyed another book of his, Into the Wild, so I’m excited to read it.  I’ve been able to put off reading it, since I’m going to have some guaranteed down time in the hospital.  Today’s been spent making sure all my electronic gear is charged and ready, so it will be ready when I am.

ON THE NEEDLES

I decided on a free Ravelry pattern, Spring Pools,by Linda Fisher, for the Parakeet yarn. I’m loving how it’s knitting up and the way the blue really pops.

One more repeat and I start the second sock.

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.  Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Knitting

Under the Weather, I Need an Umbrella and a Thing of Beauty


WHAT’S UP

The sniffles that appeared a week ago today continue.  I started running a fever yesterday afternoon so I started hitting the vitamin C and forcing fluids, I feel better today.  I had my final visit today with the surgeon before surgery this coming Tuesday and just to be safe, he started me on a short term antibiotic.  No way am I going to postpone this, no way!  I start the prep Monday afternoon which is never, ever fun, but Mr. Iknead is a fabulous cheerleader and I expect to get through it with no problem.

SHOW AND TELL

Remember my prize from deepbluerenegade?  A $10.00 gift card to Mr. Yarn?  Well, here’s what it went toward –

Starry sock weight with sparkle from Dream

98% superwash merino wool and 2% Lurex fiber

Amethyst Ink

I’m ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille!

If this yarn doesn’t make your heart go pitty-pat, you need CPR!  I’ve kept this yarn close to me for the past few days, just so I could fondle and admire it.  It’s off the chart beautiful and makes me almost forget about my stuffy nose!

Imagination rules the world.  Napoleon Bonaparte

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Knitting

Happy Happy Joy Joy


I found it and I was right! It was already wound and was at the very bottom of my sock yarn stash.

Here are the vital statistics:

The Great Adirondack Yarn Company
Silky Sock 70% merino, 20% silk, 10% nylon superwash
Parakeet

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Knitting

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


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

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Knitting

FO Friday 1/11/13 and the Great Washing Machine Crisis


ON AND OFF THE NEEDLES

I finished the Sideways Grande Hat last night, just in time for today and earned the Mr. Iknead Seal of Approval.

Don’t know the reason for the odd look, there’s no telling.  At least my mouth is closed.  It seems like every photo has me with my mouth open, either talking or eating and sometimes (I’m not proud of this) both at the same time.  Anyway, I think the hat is way cute and it was a quick, easy knit.

I’m nearly finished with Meg White’s Cabled Hat, ready to start the crown decreases and am now browsing through Cookie A.’s Knit.Sock.Love.  On an expedition into the stash the other day, I ran across some awesome Shibui sock yarn that just begged to be transformed into a pair of socks and, well, I aim to please.

NOW WHAT?

We finally finished all the electrical work this week, which turned out even better than I had hoped, just to have the washing machine bite the dust.  I’m waiting on the repairman now.  There’s something busted about the spin cycle, when it hits that part, it starts making an awful banging noise and shuts itself off.  I’m not talking about the I’m unbalanced thump, this is the I’m getting ready explode and scatter shrapnel banging.  Here’s hoping that it’s an easy fix and not the arm and a leg and my firstborn child sort of fix.  Anything under $250.00 would be good.  Here’s hoping!

Check out Tami Amis blog for more awe inspiring FOs.  You’ll be glad you did.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast.  Alexander Pope

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Knitting

FO Friday 12/14/12


OFF/ON THE NEEDLES

Mr. Iknead’s Simple Skype socks are finished and he loves them!  I decided after finishing the first one cuff down that I would do the second toe up, which is how I usually knit socks.  Like the toe up sock construction better, confirming once and for all that pretty much any sock can be done toe up, I usually just read the pattern from bottom to top instead of the regular way and use the Fleegle heel.  You can see the difference in the picture, the one on the left is toe up.

IN/OUT OF THE OVEN

Another type of FO – I baked seven loaves of pumpkin bread yesterday and once again, my new KA mixer rocks!  I doubled the recipe, bringing the total flour tally to seven cups, total sugar to six cups, with four cups of pumpkin and eight eggs.  KA performed like a champ.  I once tried to double the recipe in my old KA, a totally dumb idea, since I’m still scraping pumpkin off my kitchen ceiling. : p

These are earmarked for friends, I hope to get them delivered today.  Must make list so I don’t miss anyone.

THE GRANDS

Here is the most recent pic of Babydiva and her mommy.  How beautiful are these two??

Check out Tami Ami’s for more awesome FOs.

Joy shared is twice the joy.  Sorrow shared is half the sorrow.  Swedish proverb

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Knitting

FO Friday 08/31/12


They’re done, finally!  The Crazy Monkeys are hot off the needles and here they are:

On to the next!

Nobody’s sweetheart is ugly.  Dutch proverb

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Knitting

Back Home


ON THE NEEDLES

The Maidenhair Fern socks have been reborn as Nicole Hindes’ Nine-To-Five Socks.  This picture is not the best, the stitch detail isn’t great, but tomorrow I’ll take the WIP sock outside, the lighting will be a million times better that it is at 8:35 p.m. in my bedroom.  I’m using size one circulars and am much happier with a tighter stitch and overall smaller size.

A better picture tomorrow, I promise.

A DUH MOMENT

I can’t believe that I spent an entire hour trying to figure out why pictures taken from my iPhone are on their sides when I e-mail them or try to post them.  Also, I can’t believe that the solution to that  problem is to turn the phone on its side horizontally first, then take the picture.  Duh.  Occam’s Razor once again proves correct: “when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better”, also known as Keep It Simple.

HOME SWEET HOME

As much fun as the Girl Power 2012 get-together was, I was so happy to get home to Mr. Iknead and JosiePug yesterday.  A great time was had by all but when the Papoose (usually so happy-go-lucky and go with the flow) had three meltdowns in ten minutes, I knew it was time to pack it up and take it back on the road to Little Rock.  We rolled back into LR about 5 p.m.; Babydiva needed a bottle STAT and thankfully, we had called ahead and Babydaddy had one waiting.  Babydiva was getting ready to more than live up to her name by the time we got home.  Hell hath no fury and all that.

It is necessary for us to learn from others’ mistakes.  You will not live long enough to make them all yourself.  Hyman George Rickover

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