Tag: WIPW

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 07/03/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

Wise Hilda’s Basic Ribbed Socks for Mr. Iknead

75% Medano Bag

I reduced the this pattern by 25% and went down a needle size.  The full sized bag was just too big for me to comfortably carry.

Yarn Along

I’m linking up today, as usual, with Tami Ami’s, Frontier Dreams and Ginny’s Yarn Along.  Pay them a visit, willya?

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.  Walter Bagehot

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Knitting

WIPW 6/26/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

This is the WIP that I nearly went nuts getting posted to this week’s WIPW yesterday, only to figure out that was NOT Wednesday, it was Tuesday and no, I’m not oriented as to the time, place or person. Hanging out in a hospital room will do that to you.

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Scrappy Yarn Blanket from The Heathen Housewife

http://www.shellykang.com

A Free Ravelry Pattern

APPRECIATION

I just want to give a quick Thank You to all who have encouraged me and prayed for Mom and me these past few days.  I can definitely feel them all.   They’ve really made a difference, helping me maintain a positive attitude and a patient heart.

I’m linking up today with Tami and Frontier Dreams, give them a visit and be prepared to be wowed!

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.  Wayne Dyer

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Knitting

You Mean It’s Not………

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WHAT’S UP

Still coming to you live from the 4th floor, UAMS, another day spent sitting in Mom’s room, imploring her to eat, which doesn’t work very well, but I was able to get about 1/4 of her supper into her.   It seems to take forever, between sips of water or tea and I’ll admit right here that even in routine situations, my patience is short at best, but, you do what you have to do.  She’s having difficulty drinking, I can’t tell if she’s just too weak or can’t remember how to use a straw, so I’m using the old straw in the drink, finger over the straw, into the mouth for a drink method.  Then, as I was doing this for the billionth time today, the idea of using a sippy cup occurred to me, so I’ll give that a whirl tomorrow.  Her doc told me today that if her blood pressure stabilized a bit and if her appetite started returning, there’s a possibility of discharge back to the nursing home sometime tomorrow.  We’ll see.

WHA…..?

I spent most of the day attempting to get one of my current WIPs photos downloaded so I could post it for WIPW (the internet service sucks at the hospital, to the point of  being nonexistant) and guess what???  IT’S NOT WEDNESDAY!  Hospitals can do that to you, every single day is the same, only the faces change and the days are really, truly a minimim of 48 hours.  There’s actually something called ICU psychosis, brought on because there’s no discernible day or night in the ICU, the lights are always on and the routine has no beginning or end.  I think I might have a touch of it and I’m not even the patient!

THE GRANDS

No matter what, these little ones bring me joy beyond measure, so here’s my happy for today –

The Papoose, Smiling With Her Whole Face

Babydiva, In a Rare Moment of Stillness

Couldn’t You Just Overdose on the Sprout’s Cute???

SILVER LINING

Since I labored all day under the impression that today was Wednesday, not Tuesday, a photo has been taken and uploaded and blog post drafted, nearly ready for posting; so, for once, I’m already a little ahead of the game for once.

Never let yesterday use up too much of today.  Will Rogers

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Knitting

Drive-by WIP Wednesday 6/19/13

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EXCUSES, EXCUSES

This post is later than usual for a very good reason – I was with the Papoose and the Sprout pretty much all day today and as much as I love to blog, share and probably, at times, overshare, if given the choice, the grands are going to win out every time.  We all had a blast and laughed and chased and hid and laughed some more.  What a blessing of a day!  Really, it just doesn’t get better than today.  No way, no how.  I’ve some awesome photos to share tomorrow – I took about a bazillion – so get ready for some grand goodness then.

ON THE NEEDLES

A little backstory:  I bought this yarn about a month ago from Jimmy Beans Wool, mostly because it was on sale and sometimes, the Mad Tosh yells “buy me, buy me” louder than the little voice I carry around in my head that says, “you know, you have plenty of yarn just back in the room and besides, remember Mr. Iknead’s austerity plan?  Really, even without the plan, do you NEED this yarn?”  YES YES YES, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP LITTLE VOICE, MAD TOSH IS IN TOWN AND IS TAKING NO PRISONERS!

Before Winding

After Winding

Mad Tosh Chunky

Nectar

See why I folded under pressure?  Could anyone have resisted?

Then, on Monday, I found the cutest shrug on Sweaterbabe.com and bam, I knew without a hint of doubt that the Tosh was meant for the shrug and the shrug was meant for the Tosh.  The stars aligned, the angels sang, the whole nine yards.  So, here’s todays WIP Wednesday offering –

#101 Quick Shawl Collared Shrug

Look at the difference in the colors.  It’s more of a coppery color than purple, the unwound pic is truer to life.

What do you think?  Are they soul mates or what???

Linking up with Tami’s WIP Wednesday blog today.  Go on over and enjoy.

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.  Thomas Jefferson

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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

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

WIPW 05/22/13, Yarn Along

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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?

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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

Coffee Cup, Big Six and Book Love

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ON THE NEEDLES/IN THE KILN

My WIPs have been reduced the past couple of days, I wish I could say that they’ve entered FOville but, no, they’ve been frogged or otherwise put on hold, mostly because I just wasn’t satisfied with them.  Life’s too short, right?  I’m still working on an Olivia Petit sweater in a larger size, much larger and now I remember why I prefer to knit baby stuff.  I have to admit though, that it’s knitting up much, much, much faster than the original Olivia, due to, I’m sure, my finally figuring out the pattern and not having to knit and then tink or frog.

I decided to include a pottery WIP today, my first (sort of) recognizable object, a really, really big coffee cup.

Glazed and ready for the second firing

GIRLS RULE!

I call this photo “The Big Six”.  Grown-ups are, left to right, our niece Julia, her mom and our sister in law, Patty, Mr. Iknead’s mom, Mema and my baby boy, Jordan.  Aren’t the matching dresses the cutest things??

(L to R) Lila, Mollie, Marin, Harper, Susannah and Annabelle

Right after this picture, Harper put a cigarette butt in her mouth.  Yuck x1000000000

BY THE BOOK

I’m currently deeply engrossed in Gwen W. Steege’s The Knitter’s Life List.  This particular book is from my local library, but I’m seriously inclined to buy myself a copy, just because I love its lists, pictures and fiber people profiles.  Off to stalk this book online….

Don’t forget to check out the Small Things Yarn Along.

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being.  Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.  Albert Schweitzer

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Knitting

WIPW 04/17/12

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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

WIPW 04/10/13, Yarn Along and Sock Pattern Lust

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ON THE NEEDLES

I decided to give myself a little break from fiddly stuff for a bit and have been knitting up dish towels instead, finally using some of that Sugar and Cream that’s been in the stash for lo, how many years.  My current favorite is the Yarn Over Cable Cloth from Dishcloth Boutique.  After just a couple of repeats, I’d memorized the four row pattern, a welcome relief from having to look from pattern to knitting and back to pattern.

I’m getting the sock knitting itch again, I just wound some new Shibui Sock from Yarn Mart and am pondering patterns even as I type.  I have a couple of ideas – Spring Forward or Kew, both from Knitty.  Love them both, maybe I’ll flip a coin.  Here’s a look at the new Shibui –

This color is called Poodle Skirt and how cute is that??

MR. CANON AND ME, WE GETTIN’ TIGHT

Beginning to feel much more comfortable with Mr. Canon and today, it took only about 30-45 minutes to remember and do what took hours yesterday.  Josie, Mr. Canon and I just may take a field trip tomorrow morning, especially if the weather stays as beautiful as it has the last two days.

Photobomb by Josie

BY THE BOOK

My Yarn Along contribution today is Stephen King’s Under the Dome, in preparation for the mini-series scheduled for sometime in June.  I’m still technically reading Annie Dillard‘s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, but haven’t picked it back up since Monday afternoon at the library.  I’m planning to get started again this afternoon, the weather is predicted to be stormy and this seems like it would be a good book to cocoon with.

DON’T FORGET TO

Visit Tamis Amis’ WIPW blog for more WIP goodies and Ginny Sheller’s Yarn Along for lots more book and yarn love.  Prepare to be inspired!

The better part of happiness is to wish to be what you are.  Desiderius Erasmus

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Knitting

Goal Met, Sweet Sprout, On to the Next

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ON THE NEEDLES

Yesterday’s goal met, with pictures to prove it!  You can see that Olivia lacks a sleeve and some I-cord to be finished. Like I mentioned in yesterday’s post, this sweet sweater has been totally worth the hair tearing and project slinging but I’m ready to move on. It sort of seems like a waste to not go ahead and knit another since I seem to have gotten it down but honestly, I need a break. I’m thinking a simple pair of summer socks for Mr. Iknead. He suffered through my Olivia learning curve too!

Front, without buttons.  Anyone have button suggestions?

Back

Love that the color photographed pretty much true on this gray, rainy day!

THE GRANDS

Today, I’m putting the Sprout in the limelight, I think she may have been given short shrift with the recent birthday and Easter.  Her onesie says it all!

Don’t forget to check out Tami’s Amis WIPW blog for more WIP love!

I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.  Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986)

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