ON THE NEEDLES
Ridged Lace Cowl, created by Elinor Brown
Meadow from The Fibre Company in Aster
Hitchhiker 2
Starry Sock Weight with Sparkle from Dream In Color Yarn
Amethyst Ink
Linking today with Tami and Frontier Dreams.
What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn’t happen much, though. J. D. Salinger
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HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
A certain family member requested some type of scarf (she’s not picky) to go with a new red winter coat. My cerebral cogs started meshing and here’s what they came up with.
Mochi Plus
80% Merino/20% Nylon
Cherries Jubilee
To make a long story short, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with this yarn and am having separation anxiety over the thought of using it for a Christmas gift. I want to clutch it to my breast and croon, “don’t worry, you’re staying with me.” Is this weird?
Truly, though, the red in this yarn is the wrong red to go with the coat. The coat is a blue undertones red and while this yarn does have red, it’s red with orange undertones. Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Off to my LYS sometime today to find a more appropriate bluey red for the gift. I think this is called a “rationalization”.
THE GRANDS
Mr. Iknead and I had the ultimate grandbaby experience over the weekend. Bigdaddy had a wedding to officiate up in Branson, Missouri and took Bigmommy along. Mr. Iknead and I had the Papoose and Sprout solo from Friday morning until late Sunday afternoon. What a treat!
A good time had by all!
Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. Lewis Carroll
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WHAT I DID AND WHAT I DIDN’T DO
Remember all the photos I promised of the Fiber Festival? Didn’t.Take.One. As a matter of fact, my camera didn’t even make it to the festival. That’s right, after being obsessive about making sure I had the camera, it never even made it to the festivities. I remembered it about the time we pulled into the parking lot. I suppose I could have pressed Mr. Iknead into going back and getting it, but the festival and the camera were about 20 miles apart and I just didn’t have the heart to ask him to go back and get on that cold and rainy morning. But……..
MY PHESTIVAL TAKE AWAY
Prepare to be awed:
This, my friends, is a bag of beautiful baby alpaca. It feels like buttah.
It’s from Whirlwind Ranch in Lebanon, Missouri and cries out to be fondled.
Here we have “Raspberry Ice”, domestic wool top from
Diamond B Sheep Farm of Greenwood Arkansas
More from the Diamond B – 100% merino, just waiting to become someone’s favorite socks.
More Diamond B merino, which hasn’t decided yet what it should be, given the amazing possibilities.
A wool, Angelina, silk noil and faux cashmere batt from you know where.
Can you see the little sparklies? I learned that those are called Angelina.
A wool, Tussah silk and bamboo batt, from my favorite Arkansas sheep farm.
All this fiber and I stayed within my budget (give or take about five bucks). This should keep Violet and me spinning for a while!
IF I WERE A KNITPICKS INTERCHANGEABLE CABLE
Where would I be? All I know is that all my lovely interchangeable cables are missing and I’ve pretty much exhausted all possible hiding places. I’ve looked in every bag, basket and drawer in the knitting room, I’ve called my housekeeper, I’ve called Bigmommy and even enlisted St. Anthony. No cables. They may have been abducted by aliens, since I’ve ruled out someone breaking into my house, sneaking into the knitting room and taking off with a ziplock bag of cables. Sigh. They’re sure to turn up now, since I ordered a new set last night. Sigh.
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin
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MY PHIRST PHIBER PHESTIVAL
Yeah, yeah. I know that that’s lame, but I couldn’t resist. As I tell Mr. Iknead all the time, “Just humor me, OK?” The first ever Diamond State Fiber Festival starts today and runs through Saturday and I’m soooo excited. I’m taking a beginning spinning class and hopefully I won’t have to unlearn many bad habits from being self and YouTube taught. This will be Violet’s first road trip, hopefully the first of many. I’ll have to remember to take lots of pictures, though what usually happens is that I get so involved in whatever it is I want to photograph that I completely forget to take pics. I’ll do better this time, I’ll keep the camera around my neck as a reminder.
SPINNING OUT
I ordered four Knitpicks Bare Wool of the Andes and I have to say, it’s been a pleasure to spin. As I get better and better at it (and I am, even I can tell), I’m spinning finer and finer yarn. Think sock or fingering yarn. From someone who a year ago never had any desire to spin, I’m now the proud owner of Violet, my Ashford Traveller wheel and spin some everyday. I find the whole process very calming and centering. I’m planning on coming back from the festival with loads and loads of roving and maybe some fleeces too. Here’s a look at the Knitpicks Bare Roving after spinning.
Now, should I dye it or let it alone? Decisions, decisions.
When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of Creation is completed inside us, the doors of our souls fly open, and love steps forth to heal everything in sight. Michael Bridge
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ON THE NEEDLES
If this Le Miz shawl looks smaller than last week, it’s because it is. I found an awful, unfixable, un-live-withable mistake way, way back nearly at the beginning. This shawl is 712 rows long and I was probably on row 400 or so. No way I was going to tink it back. Ever. Timewise, it made more sense to just bite the bullet and start the whole thing over. So I did.
Linking with Tami’s WIP Wednesday and Frontier Dreams today.
If you cannot be silent be brilliant and thoughtful. Byron Pulsifer
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CAUTION! ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT ZONE!
I’ve been enmeshed in THAT sort of day today, a “somedays it’s not worth chewing through the restraints” kind of day and for no reason. OK, maybe I’m a little bummed because I’ve no fiber to spin, or I just haven’t hit on the new project that makes the heavens open and the angels sing, kind of bored, kind of tired, exactly that type of day. Then, book junkie that I am, I was on our local library website, trolling for books and happened to see this on the calender – Book Babies. Clicked on it and found that it’s a special story time for babies up to 24 months and their caregivers with stories, rhymes and songs. Meets 9:30 a.m. on Thursdays. Perfect! Bigmommy and the Papoose have dental appointments that day at 9:00 a.m. and I’m one on one with the Sprout. We’re going and it’s going to be a blast, I just know. So, that’s how you make a turnaround in your day, make an investment and get excited.
As an aside, my doorbell just rung, of course I ran like an idiot because I’m expecting some fiber here in the next day or two (see first paragraph) and much to my disappointment, it’s not my friendly mailman, Fedex man or UPS man. It’s two kids who immediately start what feels like a hustle. I finally asked right out what they needed, still felt hustled and so shut the door in their faces. Probably, in all honesty, they’re out fundraising, but when I ask outright what they need and still get hustled, I’m done. Sorry Charlie as the old tuna commercial used to say. Not harshing my mellow, though. Nope.
Back to our regularly scheduled post….
THE KITCHEN RUG EXPERIMENT
My kitchen needs a new rug. Oh, by the way, did I ever mention that I get my best ideas in the middle of the night, or that Mr. Iknead never thinks they’re as great as I do when I wake him with something new? Anyway…. Since this new rug needs to be washable and dryable, I start thinking cotton yarn. Then, I replace the image of cotton yarn in my head with the image of some other type of cotton cording, like rope. Moving right along, knitter that I am, I start wondering what size needles (big) and exactly how manageable something would be in real life, using needles about as big around as my wrist and maybe 1-2 inch rope. Stop. Take a breath. Fortunately, I’ve been able to dial my enthusiasm back (this time) and contented myself with knitting this swatch, using size 15 needles and three strands of Lily Sugar and Cream cotton yarn held together.
Swatch #1
Vital Statistics BEFORE Washing
Cast on 20
20 rows
7.5 x 9 inches
I’m throwing it in with a load of towels here in a minute. I’m really just hoping to see about how much shrinkage there is after a couple of rounds in the dryer. I’m still thinking rope and huge needles, but before I make the investment in a couple of miles of cotton rope and two fenceposts, I thought I’d try this. Mr. Iknead’s Austerity Plan thanks me, I know.
RAKU+MINI MOCHI = EYE CANDY
My Newest Raku Pot and Mini Mochi Yarn
My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it. Mark Twain
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AM I?
Last weekend, I was shopping my favorite part of my LYS – the bargain bin – and picked up seven balls of some great CEY Portland Tweed. I blogged about it here. I decided to try to reproduce a favorite sweater and started calcs last night. Once again, not enough yarn and I’d bought up all Cindy had. Again, no prob, there’s always the internet, right? Again, wrong wrong wrong. None, zilch, nada available anywhere, great yarn, just discontinued and now extinct. That’s twice in a week that I’ve come up short on yarn for projects. Sounds snakebit to me. Dang.
Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin
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I’m again hooking up with Tami’s FO Friday blog and Frontier Dreams KCCO.
FACT FACING
If you’ve been sort of keeping up with my sock project the last week or so, you’ll know I started a pair of Blue Day socks last week, knowing full well that I didn’t have enough yarn to complete them. Even with my little feet, I just couldn’t shake that feeling that I was going to come up short. No problem, I can always get more yarn. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I started these using Fiesta Yarns Baby Boom, in the color Sweet Pea. Yeah, I saw that I’d paid a LOT for this one skein, especially when you’re talking just one sock of a pair, but still, sacrifices can be made. The ONLY skein I found after hours of internet searching was $47.00!!! As much as this Sweet Pea stuff floats my boat, $47.00 for a sock??? Not even in loonyhoot’s world can that be justified. So, I gritted my teeth and completely frogged Blue Day and plan to use – thanks to better judgement and a deeper stash dive – some great sock yarn I remember buying on Etsy. I even remember the color name – Civil Disobedience and, I have a lot of it. Plenty for Blue Day and maybe then some. No decision on different sock pattern, but it’ll happen.
OFF THE NEEDLES
I finished the Diagnonal Lace Cowl from Classic Elite Yarns, just in time for today’s post. It took just under one ball of Mini Mochi, color number 113 (no name, just number). I probably could have squeezed a few more rounds in, but being paranoid because of the abovementioned sock thing, I decided to give myself a little wiggle room. My fingernails thanked me.
I think its official name is Lacy Rib Cowl.
HEAD SPINS
Here’s what I learned today spinning: cotton spins up differently than wool. Duh. It felt completely different, it took a different “hand” I suppose you’d call it and seemed to be a little more nubby; that could have been, really, that I’m a newbie spinner and nothing I’ve spun up yet is what you’d call smooth. It’s getting better, but smooth? Nope. Luckily, the person I bought my wheel from threw in a couple of bags of raw fiber – one of wool and one of cotton, giving me a lot of chances to practice and try out different things. I’ve spun my way though them both, glad that she was generous enough to include them. I see a serious roving/fleece stash building – especially after the festival in Greenwood in October.
Spun cotton
Spinning wheel Violet and I are becoming better acquainted all the time, I’m learning her quirks and she, mine.
IN THE OVEN
It’s a few degrees cooler this morning and I’m revved up and ready to do some baking, hopefully Cinnamon and Sugar Pull Apart Bread and/or Snickerdoodle Bread. Unhappily, I can’t seem to be able to buy cinnamon chips here in LR. I found a package once, at the Stuttgart Wal-Mart. I suppose I could order a couple of packs online and the recipe I have includes a recipe for the chips, but I think the store bought ones are better (for once).
MAMA
She continues her decline with her dementia. I miss her and would love to occasionally be met with a smile and an I’m happy to see you instead of the now normal vacant stare. I do know that this is the disease and all that, but a little bit of responsiveness can keep me going for quite a while. There are some days I terribly dread visiting and I wonder how long – for her and for me. What do I pray for??
Sorry for the Debbie Downer….
For success, attitude is equally as important as ability. Harry F. Banks
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ON THE NEEDLES
Mini Mochi, color #113
and
Moonfire Handknits Blue Day Socks
Fiesta Baby Boom Sweet Pea (which I’m a little nervous about because my calcs come out about 20 yards too short); thinking positive thinking positive thinking positive.
BY THE BOOK
I finished Orphan Train yesterday, a little disappointed with the ending, but a great read overall and am planning to start Stephen Gallagher‘s The Bedlam Detective today, with a couple of others that are waiting in the wings, Life of Pi and The Devil in Pew Number Seven. I’m trying to be patient, I’m at my 10 book checkout limit and so must wait until the next two books expire. Yet another instance of Mr. Iknead’s austerity plan, which, I have to admit, is good practice for me. I don’t consider myself really impatient, more, umm, excitable would be a good word.
Linking with Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Yarn Along today.
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Joseph Addison
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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.
True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice. Ben Jonson, Cynthia’s Revels
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OFF THE NEEDLES
Got a twofer today.
Botanical Cowl, using the Mini Mochi from Destin
I’m a Mini Mochi fan now, this turned out prettier than I’d ever imagined!
Woo Hoo!!! I finished the Ruffled Tank and even got Bigmommy to model. This is the yarn from Knit One Crochet Too. Again, it turned out even better than I’d expected. I think it’s the first sweater I’ve knit that actually fits!
So that does it for my souvenir yarn this year. I’ll be making a yarn run in the next few days. I haven’t visited Yarn Mart in a while and like I said, I’m a new fan of Mini Mochi and am anxious to get more. TGIP (Thank goodness it’s payday)!
I’m linking up with Tami’s FO Friday blog again, be sure and pay her a visit!
Laughter is the closest distance between two people. Victor Borge
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I’ve been entirely too “hit and miss, mostly miss” about blogging since Mr. Iknead and I returned from our vacation. I’ve intended to get back in the routine, but have found some sort of excuse every day to put it off another few minutes, which turns into hours, which turn into days….
ON THE NEEDLES
I think this is one reason I’ve been so lazy about posting – too many projects with most of them stalled for one reason or another. The Ruffled Tank is ready to block before starting the ruffles, I intend to get that accomplished today and I started the Botanical Cowl on Friday, using the last vacation souvenir yarn from the Destin Yarn Shop. Then there’s the Blue Day socks I want to cast on for the Blue Day KAL on Ravelry, which started last week. I love the idea of a KAL, but the committment? Not so much. I should go get dressed so I can get some pics of the abovementioned before it gets too hot. Doing it in my pjs doesn’t bother me a bit, but Mr. Iknead tends to freak a little when I go outdoors in my jammies for anything other than picking up the newspaper from the front door. My neighbors across the back probably aren’t nuts about it either, come to think of it.
Then there’s the attempt at destashing, asking myself to answer truthfully, “Are you really going to use this yarn/yarn remnant someday?” Sigh. Where do I draw the line? Sigh.
Botanical Cowl
I’m falling in love with Mini Mochi, I think!
Ruffle Tank before washing, blocking and ruffles.
ON THE BOBBIN
And then there’s the spinning. I’ve spun nearly all the fleece from last week, I’ve been holding a little back, sort of like for a rainy day, which I plan to card and spin sometime this week, if not today. I ordered some beautiful roving last week and am a little bummed that it hasn’t arrived yet and with today being a holiday, it for sure won’t arrive until tomorrow at the soonest. This is where the rainy day thing kicks in.
Simplicity is the key to brilliance. Bruce Lee
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A little about knitting and a lot about nothing...
Exploring the world one fiber at a time
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