Knitting

13, A Bump in the Olivia Petit Road and Library Whimsies

March 13, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

I have a couple of things, as usual, in the process of knitting up, frogging or time out. The first one up today went through all three stages yesterday, the Lolita vest. Here’s what went down – Rewind to Monday evening. Happily knitting, patting myself on the back for doing such a good job of staying on Task Lolita, even when the new yarn on the block, Knitpicks Comfy Sport in Honeydew, was calling me out to get acquainted and get started on the sweater(s) I had planned for it. Final pat on the back and then to bed. On inspection of my progress yesterday morning, I noticed that somehow I’d gotten a few, surely not more than three or so, stitches off in the pattern and now part of the openwork was wonky and didn’t match up with the previous openwork. Tinked back to correct, fixed – still not right, tinked back and tried again – still didn’t suit me, tinked back one more time, reknit and finally produced something I can live with. Since it’s knitted side to side, at the moment it’s just a wad of knitted fabric, but the spring sunshine was too great to pass up this morning and I took a pic anyway.

I’ve hit a pothole in the road on the sweet Olivia Petit sweater and haven’t been able to figure out what’s going on. I cast on, did the set up row for the neck and raglan increase, so far so good, worked the next increase row and that’s where the wheels came off. Too many stitches when I went to count. OK, operator error, frogged and started again. Same thing, too many stitches. Must have misread pattern. Frogged and started again after going over the pattern with a fine toothed comb, counting and recounting, reading and rereading. Still screwed, went to bed. I’m knitting the smallest size, so I’m thinking maybe going up one pattern size will work. Please. Will frog one last time and start again. If no go this time, I’m swallowing my pride, taking it to Yarn Mart and letting them figure it out. Frustration overload.

BY THE BOOK

I finished an absolutely, positively wonderful book yesterday, I started it Monday and couldn’t stop listening until it was finished, An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11 Year Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny, by Laura Schroff. Goosebumps though the whole thing! Incredible heartache, incredible joy, incredible book!

AT THE LIBRARY

I’m a huge library fan and not just for the books; it’s a favorite place for me to sit, knit and people watch for an hour or so whenever I can and I’m always excited to check out the collections on display. This week was a particular treat, with a collection of pottery. Surprisingly, my iPhone pictures through the glass turned out really well. I’m disappointed that there was no artist or artists mentioned but that didn’t cut the cool.

Love the paper pumps but Birthday Cake Grandma is my all time favorite. I’m crazy for her skull purse!

Don’t forget to head to Tami Amis for more WIPW stuff!

To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. Confucius

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 2/27/13 and the Setting in of Antsiness

February 27, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S UP

Me, that’s what. Today’s the first day I’ve really felt nearly back to normal, at least as close to normal as possible being only a week out from major (from what I’ve been told) abdominal surgery. Yeah, every once in a while, mostly when Josie needs to be more comfortable, my belly reminds me that it’s been much put upon in the past week or so and that perhaps I need to give up being the official recliner/throne/bed of the Empress, at least for an hour or so. All things considered, I do think I’m doing well, but I’m getting restless, not really bored, but I want to do a bunch of things Mr. Iknead has made me promise not to do for a while and, well, I try to keep my promises so today I had to be satisfied with piddling around in the kitchen but not baking and making a grocery list, but not shopping. I’m sort of embarrassed to complain about things like that, just being retired and learning to be a SAHW, but I love taking care of my home, my husband and my family. There. I said it and I’m glad I did. I’m a closet housewife and proud of it!

NEARLY OFF THE NEEDLES

The Rio Wrap is nearly finished. It’s been measured and remeasured, examined and reexamined and finally, bound off. The joining together will be done tomorrow (I hate the mattress stitch), blocking will begin and I hope by Friday will be finished and ready for show and tell. Here’s how it looks unfinished but off the needles. Boring, I know.

Today, A Pile of Stockinette

Tomorrow, Hopefully an Etched Rio Wrap!

THE GRANDS

Not as much contact with the babies as I’d like, with us all passing around a nasty upper respiratory thing and the hospital, but here’s a recent favorite –

Isn’t he handsome and isn’t she gorgeous??

Don’t forget to check out Tami Amis for more WIPW 2/27/13.

By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist, we create it. Nikos Kazantzakis

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/31/12

October 31, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

New shawl started, the pattern is Adamas, using Cascade Yarns Heritage Silk in a soft gray. Very pretty. Pretty Maids is officially finished, blocked and waiting for a nice day for a picture. I’m very pleased with it, especially since it’s really my first all lace project. It blocked really well and turned out way better than I expected. My patience with blocking anything is pretty limited anyway and with the Papoose helping me, I wasn’t sure what the result was going to be. I’ll have it up for FO Friday for sure. In the meantime, here’s Adamas –

BY THE BOOK

Still working on the Six Wives of Henry the Eighth, up to Catherine Parr. It amazes me how the monarchy works. I know it’s different now, I mean, what’s it been 500 or so years since Henry the Eighth, but even now, what would it be like to have the power and responsibility of a royal? Would having your every wish fulfilled get tiresome after a while? Probably so, but I’d love to try and see what it’s like!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

The Cancer Registry’s newest employee:

For more WIP Wednesday projects, head on over to Tami Ami’s WIPW blog. Enjoy!

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they may seem invincible, but in the end they always fall, always. Gandhi

Knitting

The one where the baby watch

March 21, 2012 mud&stringLeave a comment

continues. No, DS and DIL are still waiting. Her official due date is 03/23, she’s on maternity leave, we practically jump through hoops whenever the phone rings. I know, I know, she still has a couple of days to go but Mr. Iknead and I can’t wait to meet this new blessing. Patience is not something I have an abundance of, but some things just can’t be rushed.

Here is today’s WIPW –

Josie the pug is the backdrop to just started Circle Socks, a Ravelry download. I can’t find the designer’s name to give her/him credit, so sorry! The yarn is from Pico Accuardi Dyeworks, Acid and Weed, created for “Yarns on Stage” and the colorway is Sneaker Wave, 100% superwash merino.

The Reverse Swirl Blanket for baby Harper is finished, lacking only a quick wash and very gentle block. That may be my FOF.

Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel and feeling. A song makes you feel a thought. E.Y. Harburg

Knitting

The one where Coupling is

April 6, 2011 mud&stringLeave a comment

is my featured WIPW offering. Cast on at lunch today and got a few rounds in before I had to go back to the salt mines. Here they are so far

DD, Lindsey, and Susannah AKA Papoose, are coming to Little Rock for the weekend Friday. DSIL, Clefton, has a busy weekend with work, so she decided to come visit. Can’t wait. I’m so hungry to see them both. I’m going to really hunker down with the Brittany Jumper, I’m hopeful that it can be done by the time they’re ready to go back to Fayetteville.

I’ve had a request that I bake some plain whole wheat yeast bread this weekend instead of sourdough, so I’ll probably end up baking both kinds and then have bread coming out of our ears. I usually give most of it away anyhow, always have takers. It’s been a week or so since I’ve baked and my flour jones is starting to wake up. Will try to resist until Friday.

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. Carl Jung (1875-1961)