Knitting

Busted, Hey Barbie!, My Playroom

January 20, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

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

Yarnlove

January 14, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

SHOW AND TELL

Cascade 220

Color # 9604

100% Peruvian Highland Wool

(I have a definite plan for this, but must keep it on the down low for now)

Lorna’s Laces Solemate

Color # 3684 – Flames

55% Superwash Merino

15% Nylon

30% Outlast viscose

Socks, definitely.

A NEW FAVORITE POEM

Sabrina fair,

Listen where thou art sitting

Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave,

In twisted braids of lilies knitting

The loose train of thy amber-dropping

hair;

Listen for dear honor’s sake,

Goddess of the silver lake,

Listen and save.

John Milton

Knitting

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along 01/08/14

January 8, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

A couple of things:

The first sleeve on the Quince & Co. Mariella Cardi –

and

some random sock, done in some stash mystery yarn (maybe Seasilk???). I started this one toe up because I haven’t decided whether to do a real pattern or just a nice, comfy, go-to kind of sock. As you can see, the jury is still out….

OUT OF THE OVEN

Yesterday, while sort of browsing through some older posts, it dawned on me that I haven’t posted any baking projects lately. I sort of think I need to do that every once in a while, I mean, the blog is called iknead2knit and all. So, with that in mind, I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pics of yesterdays project – homemade granola.

The base recipe is one I got from my pottery instructor (thanks, Jean, the Pottery Queen), with 1 egg white, 1/2 cup agave nectar instead of sugar, 1/4 cup olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and 3 cups old fashioned oatmeal. I tweak it with stuff we like (and what’s in the pantry), cinnamon, raisins, almond slivers, unsweetened coconut and sometimes pumpkin seeds or shelled pistachios. I bake it at 300 degrees, stirring every ten minutes or so until it’s brown and dry. Then, it’s hard to keep from munching on it every time I pass it in the kitchen. Putting a little bit in vanilla yogurt is my favorite, with just enough crunch and sweet/salty to satisfy. Yum!

BY THE BOOK

I’m starting The Book Thief this afternoon. I can’t wait!! Pretty much cleared my calendar for it. I hope it lives up to its rep.

The Book Thief

Linking with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams today, as always, inspiration central!

Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event. Brian Tracy

Knitting

Random Tuesday

December 17, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

RANDOMLY

We got a new mailbox! The house siding is finished, yay; but with the new siding, the old mailbox looked very old and sad, so it retired to the great recycle bin in the sky and was replaced by this:

New kid in town. Isn’t it pretty??

OUT FOR A SPIN

Here’s a look at my newest spinning project:

The roving came from Greenwood Fiberworks. For more info, see this post.

THE GRANDS

In no particular order:

The Sprout loves Josie Pug’s kennel. Look at her new teeth!

The Papoose loves G-grandma and G-grandma loves her back, although you can’t tell it in this pic. Mema looks like she wants to escape! BTW, Mema is Mr. Iknead’s mommy.

Babydiva visits her minions!

Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Satchel Paige

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 12/11/13, Bee Stamp, Booklove

December 11, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

NOT OBSESSED, JUST REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED

As so often happens with me, I got a really good idea along with my coffee and newspaper this morning and as usual, I had to pull out all my other crafting stuff and sort through everything to find what I was ~~obsessed~~ ~~with~~ focused on right then. The stamp I use to identify my pottery projects bit the dust last week and my big idea was to change from an initial stamp (my initials, bc) to a honeybee mark. So, back to the idea, I found some Sculpey clay, found a honeybee charm in the craft stash and pressed it in. Then, I remembered I had some honeybee earrings, so I got one of those and did the same thing. The next step is deciding which one to use. I’m sort of leaning toward the charm, I don’t want a cutesy bee, more like a zoological print look. Which do you prefer?

Just realized there is no contest. The bigger one is better on all counts. And they say size doesn’t matter :p. Here is a better detailed photo:

Upside down. Oops.

ON THE NEEDLES

Tina Martinez’s Fascine Socks, using Fiesta Baby Boom yarn in Sweet Pea. My only regret is that I didn’t by more of this yarn when I had a chance. I’m not running short or anything like that, I just love it.

A little detail

BY THE BOOK

Driftless, by David Rhodes

Linking today with Tami, Frontier Dreams Keep Calm and Craft On and Ginny’s Knit A Long.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world. Albert Einstein

Knitting

Winter Trifecta, FO Friday 12/6/13

December 6, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

BRRRRRR

The long promised winter weather is here. We have the trifecta – sleet, freezing rain and snow. It’s a perfect day to hunker down, drink your hot drink of choice and knit or spin or read or (insert your favorite activity here). The Iknead clan is warm, fed and happy. We have a lot to be thankful for.

From the Iknead front door.

POTS

I spent part of yesterday in the studio and pulled my stuff out of the damp box, getting ready to trim. I was surprised at how many pots I’d thrown.

A couple of these ended up in the clay recycle barrel, but overall, I’m pleased. I’m getting a little tired of bowls, though, and will probably start trying some new shapes when I can get back into the studio. The next ones have been bisqued and are kind of uniform:

I like the way the look stacked. As soon as the weather lets up a little, I’ll get them glazed and fire them one last time.

OFF THE NEEDLES

Scapula scarf from Quince&Co, done in Lark, which is 100% American wool, the color is Bird’s Egg. Very, very pleased with both the yarn and the pattern. If you haven’t yet, head over to their website and check them out. Really awesome stuff.

This is a really, really long scarf!

I’m linking with Frontier Dreams and Tami today. When you’re checking out Quince&Co, trip on over to these guys. Even more awesome stuff.

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. Ellen Parr

Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Will It Fit?, He Has a Sensitive Side

December 4, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Nuthin’. Zero, zilch, negative. Projects? Yeah, I got ’em, just none finished. The weather forecast is for a big ice storm starting tonight or tomorrow, if it happens, projects will FLY off the needles. Just you watch.

GOT A SHOEHORN??

We have an ginormous igloo style dog house that I’m donating to one of the rescue organizations here in Little Rock. Cool, right? So, next on my to do list today is try to fit this ginormous igloo into my Nissan Versa. I think it will fit if I put down the back seats. Maybe.

FLASH:

The rescue lady just called and she will pick it up in her truck tomorrow afternoon. All around good!

FIBER FLASH

This lovely stuff is from Greenwood Fiberworks, hand painted Polwarth, in Rosewood and the best part? I have four of these beauties and whatever they decide to be, it will be mine, mine, mine! I’m thinking socks, but Rosie Rosewood may have other ideas. Don’t laugh – my wool talks to me all the time.

REAL MEN WEAR PINK

Babydaddy got cold over Thanksgiving and donned the pink Snuggie for a while. I think it goes really well with the rainbow sock toe this particular pair of Jaywalker socks ended up with when I ran out of yarn and had to wing it.

The Ladies Love It!

BY THE BOOK

Here’s my current read:

So far – Awesome!

Linking today with Ginny’s Knit A Long.

You have to take it as it happens, but you should try to make it happen the way you want to take it. Old German proverb

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/27/13

November 27, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Quince&Co Scapula Scarf done in Lark, colorway Bird’s Egg

Tina Martinez’s Fascine Socks, done in Fiesta Baby Boom, colorway Sweet Pea, started last night

Last, Jennifer L. Jones’ Easy Leaves Scarf, in black mystery yarn from stash

You have to use your imagination on this one!

Iknead fam, don’t get your hopes up – I’m doing these for ME! You don’t really think I’d post any Christmas knitting, now, do you??

BY THE BOOK

I just finished this book and loved it! I never wanted it to end!

The Sisters

Linking with Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Ginny’s Yarn A Long.

I have done my plowing: I have sown my seed. Again I have time to sit and read my books. T’ao Chien

Knitting

Spiral

November 26, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

WHAT’S UP

I have some knitting projects that I’m anxious to share and a book recommendation, but that has to wait until tomorrow, the official WIP/Knit A Long day. A couple of these projects are Christmas knits, so I have to keep them on the down low. The Iknead bunch will stoop to anything to figure out what’s under the tree for them. But – A bowl I made in my pottery class was out of the kiln (FINALLY) after a few false starts from the potter (me). I’m SO happy with how it turned out.

Spiral Bowl

A Surprise Inside

This bowl was completely dipped in New Clear Glaze, with a top dip and a bottom dip in Caramel. Who knew that the New Clear glaze would turn out to be such a lovely bluish gray??! I’m in love with this pot!

THE GRANDS

Tub Time with the Grand Trio, right before the kid in the middle dropped a special delivery and the other two made a hasty exit!

Left to Right:

Babydiva, the Sprout and the Papoose

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of algebra. Unknown

Knitting

FO Friday 11/22/13, It’s Here!!

November 22, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Hitchhiker is finished! This one is, at least. I started another one about a month ago, which is coming along, though slowly. Sorry for the pics, it’s rainy today and Mr. Iknead and I are having new siding put on the house, which means that where I usually take pictures is overrun with sawhorses, siding, ladders and construction type guys hammering and sawing.

Here, you can see the subtle color variations.

Just barely fitting into the frame.

LOOK AT MY NEW TOY!

A brand spanking new Baby Brother Drum Carder!

I love it!

I’m linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams today, they’re my Inspiration Central.

The best way to predict your future is to create it. Peter Drucker

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/13/13

November 13, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

From Quince & Company, this scarf:

Scapula, done in Lark yarn, color Bird’s Egg, 100% American wool

This has to be in my top ten fave projects, both the pattern and the yarn. Though I prefer to “buy local” to support my LYS, I have to admit that Quince & Co. has turned my head a time or two.

Another couple of projects, both Hitchhiker shawls, are still on the needles also, but progress is slow and nearly imperceptible. I’ll spare you the nearly identical pics. Hopefully, they’ll join the ranks of FOs in the next week or so.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler. Albert Einstein

Knitting

Fun with Dye, Crazy Cables

November 12, 2013 mud&stringLeave a comment

INTO THE DYEPOT

So, up until now, I’ve been experimenting with dyes, mostly Kool-Aid, but a couple of weeks ago I decided to take this dyeing thing to the next level. I ordered the sample set of Jacquard acid dyes from Knitpicks and here are the results of a first time for everything dye trial.

This is some of my handspun – Natural Bare Superwash Merino/Nylon, dye color Vermilion

More handspun, this time Knitpicks Bare Superwash Wool/Nylon, dye color Sky Blue

I love, love, love the intensity of the color and, really, the process was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I’ll be doing more of this!

A LITTLE BRAG

Babymama picked up the needles again earlier this year and has been knitting up a storm. Look at her latest project, modeled (of course) by Babydiva. How bout them cables??!!