Knitting

Purple Surprise, FO Friday 3/14/14

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

SURPRISE

Look what I found while taking sock pics!

Crocus!

About 18 (I kid you not) years ago I planted some bulbs that never bloomed or even came up, casualties of squirrels and a weimaraner puppy. They obviously missed one. This surprise surely means winter is exiting stage left to make room for spring. Just seeing this purple makes me happy!

NEW SKILLS

For the past couple of posts I’ve been trying out blogging from my fancy new phone, which is doable but time consuming because of the teeny tiny screen, and Mr. Iknead’s iPad, which is much better as far as screen size. I am, however, having to relearn how to do things that have become almost second nature, like inserting pictures, adding links, etc. As I have a very low frustration threshold, I have to work on the iPad, then change to the computer every so often to keep from pitching the whole thing out the window. I plan to keep practicing.

OFF THE NEEDLES

Kew, from Knitty Fall 2006

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Flame

Please disregard the ugly muddy background. This is what you get when you start redoing your patio and get interrupted by about 4 inches of sleet.

ON THE NEEDLES

After finishing the Kew socks yesterday, I stalked some patterns on Ravelry and decided on a shrug with 3/4 sleeves, the purpose of the sleeves being to hide what I call toothbrush arms. As in, when you stop brushing your teeth, but your upper arm doesn’t…. OK, back on track. So, I found a pattern with all the required features and then found out I didn’t have enough yarn to start. Oh, lots and lots of yarn, just not enough of any one for my new project. A trip to Hobby Lobby fixed that and I cast on and got started this afternoon. The yarn is I Love This Cotton in Arctic Blue. The shrug pattern is here.

A word to the wise: Never underestimate the tedium of 60 rounds of K1P1 ribbing. I’m just sayin’…..

Linking with Tami’s FO Friday blog.

Take it easy — but take it. Woody Guthrie

Knitting

WIP 3/12/14, Booklove

March 11, 2014March 12, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

The Kew socks are so close to being finished I can taste it. For once, I’ve held my raging startitis in check and will start a new project without feeling guilty about the number of projects relegated to the “back burner” or in my case, “the bag pitched into the deepest, darkest recesses of my yarn room”.

BOOKLOVE

I finished A Land Kinder Than Home by Wiley Cash and am set to start Paris in Love, by Eloisa James. Enjoyed the Wiley Cash, but didn’t love it. It’s a fictional account of snake handling, murder, religion and what happens when they collide. Entertaining, but probably not a repeater.

GRANDS

This photo says everything you need to know about the Sprout; her cute factor is always first and foremost. I’ve gotten good at changing diapers on the fly!

Linking with Tami and KCCO today.

Indulge your imagination in every possible flight. Jane Austen

Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove and One More Year

March 5, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

HOW OLD???
Yesterday I turned 57. Birthdays just don’t feel like a big deal anymore – but not in a bad way. It really is just a number. My calendar tells me I’m 57, but my internal calendar says something way different. Something more like 35 or so. Sure there are things I don’t do as well as I did; I can’t hear as well thanks to a few too many Aerosmith and ZZ Top concerts and my arms seem to be getting shorter; I’m not as limber as
I once was, but besides those minor annoyances – and that’s just what they are – annoyances, life is better than good….it’s freaking awesome.

ON THE NEEDLES
Kew socks from Knitty Fall 2006 using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Flame.

BOOKLOVE
I just finished The Chaparone by Laura Moriarty. Great book that I’m already planning to read again. I started Death of a President by William Montgomery last evening, a very intense moment by moment account of the Kennedy assassination. Very intense but very interesting.

When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Knitting

Should I?

February 27, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

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

Knitting

Grace, Catnip and W&T

February 24, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

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

Knitting

Spoiler Alert, Grands and Other Random Stuff

February 22, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

SPOILERALERTSPOILERALERTSPOILERALERT

I got my Phat Fiber Sampler box a few days ago and look what was in it!

Luscious Yarn Samples

and some sweet stitch markers, a cool snake button and a Tardis keychain!

Nice, right?

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

My new Yarnbox subscription arrived yesterday containing not one, but TWO hanks of this equally luscious yarn!

Yes, as a matter of fact, yarn DOES make me happy! The colorway is called Anodized and I’m having a difficult time keeping the startitis monkeys off my back. I’m trying to hold out at least until I finish one of the two pairs of socks that are currently on the needles. At the moment, it could go either way.

Two lovely packages in two days – it doesn’t get much better than that in my world. Except for this…….

GRANDS

I love how my three grandgirls are BFFs, even at their young ages. Someday I’m going to be janie on the spot and video the happiness and hugs when they greet each other, whether it’s been an hour or a week since they’ve been together.

2/3 of the Iknead grands

the remaining 1/3

Seriously, could the Sprout be any cuter???

Clearly, the Iknead clan is triple blessed with these three, which will become four this summer. Babymama and Babydaddy plan a gender reveal for my birthday next week, I’ll keep you posted.

FEET

Mine are really, really ugly and I need a pedicure STAT. Except that I’ve let them go this winter and am embarrassed for the pedicure people to even see them. A monthly (at least) pedi makes all the difference in the world and I know they probably see worse feet than mine, but I envision them sounding the alarm and running for the hills when they see my car pull up in the parking lot. I don’t know though, my embarrassment makes me a really good tipper, maybe they’re running toward the door instead. Ya think?

Never mistake motion for action. Ernest Hemingway

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 2/19/14, SCORE!, Ancient Kitty

February 19, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

A couple of socks, as usual. I didn’t notice that I was using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock for both, it must be love!

Grace, from Knitty, Winter 2011

LLSS Flame

Wendy Johnson’s Catnip Socks

LLSS Wonderstone

WELL WHADDAYANO!

Remember when I mentioned Phat Fiber and their sample box sale that I was going to try to get, along with most of the other fiber fiends on the planet, having come up short the last time I tried? I blogged it here. They open the sale twice on sale day – at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and are usually sold out within (no kidding) a couple of minutes. I struck out at the 10 a.m. sale, but scored at the one at 5 p.m. I was so surprised when the site sent me to paypal after I scored a box, it took me a minute to realize what had happened. Now, I’m anxiously awaiting the mailman/Fedex/UPS person to see what’s in this wondrous box. Check back for updates!

BOAT

This is the Iknead kitty, *Boat. She is ancient as far as cats go, 19 to 20 years old, as close as we can figure. She been a family member since 1995 and was about a year old when she joined us. She’s arthritic, with high blood pressure and an enlarged heart but keeps on keeping on. Anyway, I noticed her sleeping in one of her preferred spots yesterday and was struck by the sun shining pink through her ear. She was beautiful.

*As a kitten, she was found living on a friend’s boat which was in drydock and covered for the winter. She started out as Boat Cat, which was quickly shortened to Boat. We get a lot of funny looks when we tell people her name.

Hooking up this week with Tami and KCCO.

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. Confucius

Knitting

FO Friday 02/07/14

February 7, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES (AND NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON)

Mariella Cardigan

A little more detail

I’m loving this sweater now, having gotten over my over the top irritation last week at miscounting and having to basically reknit from the armpits up. I put it on for a while last evening and it’s nice and warm and comfortable. I think it’s a keeper!

Linking up as usual: Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Trifles make perfections, but perfection is itself no trifle. Shaker proverb

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

WIPW 02/05/14, Barbie Sweater Update

February 5, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

I’ve been under the weather with a bad cold the last couple of days, but feel much better this morning – just in time for WIPW!

ON THE NEEDLES

The Mariella Cardi has taken on a life of its own. I had great plans to finish it last week, but noticed on Wednesday there was a BIG difference between the number of stitches on the right and left front panels, where the raglan shaping decreases are done. BIG difference as in 30 stitches on the left panel and 15 or so stitches on the right panel. How the heck could I have not noticed that??? I tried to make some unobtrusive increases and decreases to bring them back in line with each other but finally faced facts. Not going to work, no way, no how, so I frogged back to the point where the decreases started and redid it. Obvious stitch miscount there. Still….. I’m ready to move on, but sheer stubbornness says I must finish what I started, so have been slogging through.

Mariella Cardi (again)

I did cave and started a pair of Kew socks from Knitty: Fall 2006 using some stashed Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Wonderstone. I fall in love with this yarn a little more every time I pick it up!

IT WORKED!!!

Remember the sweater that I was mourning in this post? Some sweet reader suggested I google how to stretch a sweater after it had shrunk so I did. Google said to soak the sweater in cheap hair conditioner and water and then block into original shape/size. Did that and lo and behold…. it worked! It now fits again and I’m overjoyed!

Linking with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams KCCO today. Pay them a visit for inspiration overload.

We should all be thankful for thos people who rekindle the inner spirit. Albert Schweitzer

Knitting

Spinning and Plying

January 24, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE WHEEL

I’ve been spinning a little bit every day, but not as much as I’d like. My problem is the classic “Too many projects, so little time”, but here’s a look at what’s on the wheel currently –

My first real attempt at the whole shebang – dying, carding, spinning and finally, plying.

Suffolk, dyed with a mix of blue and red. Not as purple as I’d hoped but still good, I think.

I’m going to keep practicing.

A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something. Wilson Mizner

Knitting

Looky!, WIP Wednesday 1/21/14

January 22, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

CHECK IT OUT!

Look at our new sink and faucet! They’re so shiny and silver! What you can’t see from the pic is the new disposal to go with the new sink. Mr. Iknead and I finally got around to replacing the old, gross, avocado green sink that was here when we moved in with the new, stainless one. Next up on the home improvement list: new countertops and backsplash.

ON THE NEEDLES

I finally finished the sleeves on the Mariella sweater and would probably be at least entering the home stretch except for the fact that on my first attempt at joining the sleeves to the body of the cardi I put them on upside down. Frustration overload, to say the last. I’ll have another go at it tomorrow.