Knitting

A Spinning Sunday, July 4

July 6, 2014July 6, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

INTO THE DYEPOT

I’ve finally gotten around to dyeing the last bit of roving that’s been hanging around Violet, looking so sad. It’s been so long since I started spinning it that I can’t remember where it came from or even what type fiber it is. I know it’s wool, but what kind, no clue. Maybe when I get in there I’ll get lucky and figure it out. Wish me luck! Found it! It’s superwash merino. Meanwhile, here is a look into the dyepot.

Jacquard Acid Dye

Sky Blue

INDEPENDENCE DAY GRANDS

We had a big cookout for the holiday, unfortunately, I took no pictures because my camera was kind of inaccessible, in the same room that JosiePug is banished to whenever the little ones visit. Unhappily, she’s not good with the kids – not because she doesn’t like them, but because she loves them TOO much, jumping and running and just generally being way too much pug for them. She still outweighs the two littlest grands and 20 pounds of Josie goes a long way. We still hope for the time that we can ALL enjoy each other, but until then, we keep them apart. I do have some photos from the concert and fireworks at the river that night that Bigmommy and Babymama were nice enough to share.

Lots of dancing and flag waving!

PARTING SHOT

Hand Study

Albrecht Durer

If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut. Albert Einstein

Knitting

With An Umbrella And Everything

June 2, 2014June 2, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

LOVE THIS

It finally stopped raining and we were able to step outside and enjoy our newest patio purchase:

It was a long time coming and I predict many, many happy hours. Next on the purchase list: a glider and a wading pool for the grands. This will be a perfect spot to work on my art journal and my knitting projects. I might even bring Violet, the spinning wheel, out for some fresh air every now and then!

PARTING SHOT

Can I help it if I’m easily entertained??

E=mc2. Albert Einstein

Edited with BlogPad Pro

Knitting

Spinning Sunday

April 27, 2014April 26, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

FIRST EVER

I was finally able to spend some time on my new blending board this past week. I’d been saving roving scraps for a while, not because I had plans for them, but because someday I might have a use for them. They were perfect practice bits and here’s what they became:

My First Rolags

Not very pretty, but I’m itching to spin them. This will be anther first, I’ve never spun from a rolag.

TOMORROW WE DYE

For some reason I’ve gotten into the habit of doing my wool dyeing on Sundays. I have really nice Rambouillet wool that’s already carded and I have some green acid fast dye that I’ve not done anything with. Tomorrow will be more or less a dye experiment. Since my first attempt at space dyeing was a complete flop, I may give it another try, but then, again, I may just use the old drop it into the dye and don’t move it around too much method. That technique seems to work best for me. Results to follow…..

No one has ever become poor by giving. Anne Frank

Knitting

Spinning Sunday

April 19, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S NEW?

Hurray! It’s here! With our tax refund this year Mr. Iknead and I gifted ourselves with some things we’d been pining after for a while. I gave myself an Ashford blending board and on my first trial run, I could see.what a difference using it is going to make in my spinning adventures. Mr. Iknead has chosen to go with upgrading to an iPad Air. Can you guess what this means? It means that I’m getting his old iPad and my blending board! Two happys at once! I love it!

Here’s what’s currently on the bobbin

Super wash Merino dyed with Jacquard Acid Fast Dye, Sky Blue

Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength. Hasidic saying

Knitting

Spinning Sunday

April 13, 2014April 12, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

YUCK

I decided to try space dyeing on the new roving I got from UpTownDesign and since I didn’t really know how to go about it, I hopped over to YouTube and check out a couple of how tos by ChemKnits. Here’s an in progress look at my first try at it.

It turned out to be the ugliest yarn ever so I overdyed it with some sky blue Jacquard acid fast dye I had on hand. Much, much better.

Rinsed, dry and ready to spin:

Still has some ugly spots, but socks can be mostly hidden 🙂

Live out of your imagination, not your history. Stephen Covey

Knitting

Still Not 100%, Spinning

February 6, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

Still enough under the weather to forego treadmill time today, so I decided to show off a couple spinning projects.

ON THE BOBBIN

Corriedale Cross Roving from Eweniquely Ewe Fiber Creations, dyed with Jacquard Acid Fast Dye, Lilac

More Corriedale Cross from Eweniquely Ewe, dyed with Jacquard Acid Fast Dye, pink

Great fiber, great customer service! Two thumbs up! I still have some undyed roving, I’m thinking green this time. After all the gray weather, I need some Spring!!!

Never grow a wishbone where your backbone ought to be. Clementine Paddleford (is this a great name or what??)

Knitting

Busted, Hey Barbie!, My Playroom

January 20, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Moves were busted and socks completed:

No Pattern, Mystery Yarn Socks

HEY BARBIE

I went to put on my current favorite sweater, a Christmas present from Mr. Iknead, yesterday, only to find that it apparently was put in the dryer and dried to within an inch of its life, turning it from a perfectly fitting, softness to die for, beautiful sweater, into a still beautiful, still soft sweater that only Barbie can wear. I remember washing it on my washer’s handwash setting, along with some other handknits that I try to baby as much as possible, then taking all of them out and air drying on a rack, just like always. I must have missed this sweater when taking things from the washer, causing it to be rewashed with the next (not handwash cycle) load and then put into the dryer and dried and dried and dried. I feel like crying every time I think about it. I know it’s just a sweater, but it was mine and was a million times more special because it came from Mr. Iknead. And, yes, I do get emotionally attached to clothing.

IT’S LIKE A MIRACLE

I did a lot of work in my yarn room this weekend and it paid off in spades. It all began with an old entertainment center that we were planning to donate; suddenly, it wasn’t an entertainment center anymore – it was a Yarn Storage Cabinet. Of course, as a rule, any change made in a room kicks off another change, which precipitates another and then another and so on. So, my yarn/fleece/spin/knit/craft room went from a room totally disorganized, messy and just not that enjoyable to be in to this: a place that’s warm and pretty, a place that feels like a hug –

Wish I’d thought of this sooner, but I intend to enjoy the changes to their fullest. Mr. Iknead was just happy that we had to lift and move the cabinet only about 20 feet, instead of 200. It weighs a ton!!

All things change; nothing perishes. Ovid

Knitting

Is It Fall Yet?

September 10, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

TAKING A SPIN

My first attempt at plying – I think I need to watch some more YouTube tutorials

Nutmeg and Copper

STASH ADDITION

I’m condition SABLE (stash acquisition beyond life expectancy) and I know it, but I just couldn’t pass up this Portland Tweed that was on sale at Yarn Mart Saturday. i’m thinking funnel neck sweater – if 870 yards would do it and it might, it just might. If not a sweater, then maybe a shawl.

I just noticed that perhaps I’m thinking in fall mode now, with my newest stuff definitely being autumney, making me think of pumpkins and falling leaves.

Classic Elite Yarn Portland Tweed, color number 5012, 50 g/approx 120 yds, x7, 50% virgin wool, 25% alpaca and 25% viscose

SOMETHING NEW FOR JOSIE

I made Josie a new bed yesterday afternoon, I decided the old, zipper broke sleeping bag was just too ratty and found this pattern in a library book called One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins. Turned out well and she seems to like it.