Tag: yarn

Knitting

Home Again, I Hate Dementia, What’s Next

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OFF THE NEEDLES

Nothing, absolutely nothing.  This is not to say I don’t have projects in varying stages of completion, I have tons of them, just none even close enough to pull an all nighter to have something to post.  But, hey, the day has just begun and I do have 24 hours to finish something.  Totally within the realm of possibility.

MOM

Thankfully, my mom was discharged from the hospital early yesterday afternoon to go back to her nursing home.  Her doctor has recommended that she be placed on hospice so Mr. Iknead and I have meetings today with both companies that work within her nursing home.  I’m not ready to lose my Mom, though her dementia has erased my “real” Mom and I’ve been grieving that for a long time.  Dementia kills the person within long before it kills the body without and I hate it, but it is what it is.  To be continued……..

YARN

Newest yarn acquisition in my favorite teapot

Another two skeins of Premier Yarns Wool Free Sock.  Mr. Iknead’s socks using this yarn in a blue colorway are still on the needles, but I’m totally loving the way it feels and how it knits up.   As soon as I get something, anything, off the needles, I’m starting myself some socks using this.

Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.  Napoleon Hill

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Knitting

I’m Not Believin’ This ****, Trying Something New and A New Bowl

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FROM THE I’M NOT BELIEVING THIS FILE

You know the feeling you get when you’re working on a project and honestly, the instructions just don’t seem to make any sense, the shape of the project is odd and the whole thing is just …..you know, wrong?   You know how it feels to just continue knitting according to the pattern, because sometimes you just have to trust that it’s going to be OK and everyone will live happily ever after?  Well, yesterday, I’m flying high with the Quick Shawl Collared Shrug, bulldozing on because, like I just said, sometimes you have to trust the designer, no matter how wonky it seems.  My inner knitter kept repeating, “this just doesn’t seem right and this doesn’t make any sense” until I finally (for the umpteenth time) read back over the pattern, somehow noticing, this time, the page order.  Yep, you guessed it.  I knit the entire thing without noticing the pages were out of order.  Page 3 was entirely missed, never noticed it, except that, again, I thought the whole thing was just odd.  Nope, operator error.  So, I sucked it up, frogged the entire thing and restarted, with the pages in the correct order.  Dang, the whole thing makes sense now!  Did I mention that I’m now so paranoid that I’m now obsessively checking page numbers?  Live and learn and remember to check page numbers.

No photos of this debacle, it’s too fresh.  😦

SPIN

Over the last few months, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about spinning and drooling over the beautiful yarn that’s produced.  I watched a few YouTube videos and decided to give it a try.  I went to Hobby Lobby and found a nice sized round wood thingy, a dowel and some cup hooks, brought it all home, had Mr. Iknead drill a hole in the wood thingy for the dowel and BAM, I have a drop spindle!  I’d bought some roving a while ago with really no plans for it, I thought maybe about doing some felting, but nothing concrete.  This was a good thing because I’m heavily into instant gratifications and always want to do things RIGHT NOW, if not sooner.   Being the proud owner of a drop spindle AND roving, here is a photo of my very first attempt, I’m sure horrendously overspun and whatever else beginners tend to do, but I’m proud just the same.

First Ever Handspun!

I haven’t mentioned to Mr. Iknead (yet) that this is only the beginning of a new obsession, although I suspect he suspects and that my next acquisition may be a sheep, you know, for the wool and all.  Besides, we love animals and it will keep the grass clipped, right?  Oh, and the fertilizer!  I almost forgot about the fertilizer!

LOOKY, LOOKY

I Made This, See My Initials??

Class starts again Monday morning and I’ll be so happy; I’ve really missed the studio and the friends made over the Spring Session.  My head is full of ideas, can’t wait to get back into class and try them out!   I love this stuff!

Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.  Mother Teresa

Knitting

Passing It On

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AS PROMISED

Like I posted yesterday, I spent pretty much the entire day with the Papoose and the Sprout.  The Papoose is always fascinated by my knitting, she will pick up a piece of yarn and run it through her fingers, saying “I’m knitting”.  She also has a toy that is big wooden beads on a string that can be strung and unstrung and she’ll put them on and take them off, all the while saying, “Look!  I’m knitting!”  In keeping with my belief that you’re never too young or too old to learn something new, I fixed her up a real, live knitting bag with some old, wooden, blunt size 13 needles and three balls of some scrap yarn – pink, green and blue.   She was so proud!  Like I said, never too young.  I cast on a few stitches for her and she played around with “knitting” most of the day.  Here’s my favorite photo from yesterday –

Proud Papoose

Sweet Hands!

and while we weren’t looking –

Another Knitter Is Born

Seriously, I get a warm, fuzzy, lump in the throat feeling looking at these, thinking about sharing my love for knitting and fiber with the grands and then their sharing it and hopefully, loving it as much as I do.  The more (ehem) mature I become, the more I crave continuity and this makes my heart and soul sing.

JUST A COUPLE MORE

Angel

Babydiva And Babydaddy At The Lake

I love that she loves the water, I see a lot more pool/lake time in the future!

I can be changed by what happens to me but I refuse to be reduced by it.  Maya Angelou

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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 6/12/13, Eek!

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ON THE NEEDLES

Granny’s Grab Bag is still growing, slowly for sure, but growing all the same and since it’s done with leftover sock yarn, who knows how big it will end up?  (I have a seemingly bottomless leftover sock yarn stash).

Then, Mr. Iknead’s socks, using Wise Hilda’s Basic Ribbed Sock, with wool free yarn that I can’t remember the name of right now.

Last up is Heidi Kirrmaier’s Medano Beach bag, if you look closely, you can see where I’ve finished the body and made a teeny tiny amount of progress on one of the straps.

LOOK WHO’S HERE!

Our new, beautified beyond belief front flower bed has a new resident named David (of course), standing guard over some important plumbing feature, keeping it safe during my occasional uncontrollable bouts with rakes and shovels.

BY THE BOOK

I’ve finished The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, not the most uplifting book ever, but it had an interesting backstory and kept me engaged and started Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian, which I’m loving.  In accordance with Mr. Iknead’s austerity plan, these are library books and I have to admit, because of this, if I don’t like a book, I can put it aside and start another without feeling guilty.  I’m liking that.

EEK!!!

There’s A Mouse In The Pool, EEEKKKKKK!

Great swim up until then!

I’m linking up today with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams KCCO, don’t forget to pay them a visit!

All books are divisible into two classes; the books of the hour and the books of all time.  John Ruskin, Sesame and Lilies

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Knitting

FO Friday 06/07/13, Yarn, The Sprout

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First things first –

OFF THE NEEDLES AND INTO THE SOCK DRAWER

Sunday Swing Socks

Shubui Sock

Poodle Skirt Colorway

Finally got colorway and pattern to play nice in the sandbox and I’m loving the almost candy cane color changes!

ALMOST ON THE NEEDLES

A little while back, Mr. Iknead requested a pair of blue striped socks, so off and on I’ve been scoping out different yarns and patterns, thinking maybe something with little or no wool (way too hot for our Arkansas summers) and chanced upon this yarn yesterday at Hobby Lobby.  Blue – check, no wool – check, sock weight – check, price – $4.99.  All systems go.  Label says 93% acrylic, 7% PBT (whatever that is).

These are destined to be plain vanilla, quick knit, ribbed socks.  All that pretty lacy stuff is lost on Mr. Iknead. 🙂

THE BIEBERSPROUT

Cutest Sprout Ever!

Annabelle at 8 months

Linking up with Tami’s FO Friday blog and Frontier Dreams KCCO blog.  Pay them a visit, OK?   They’re always brimming over with FO goodness!

When the voices of children are heard on the green

And laughing is heard on the hill

My heart is at rest within my breast

And everything else is still

                                                    William Blake

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Knitting

FO Finally!

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OFF THE NEEDLES AND INTO THE SOCK DRAWER

Crocus Vernus in Shibui Sock

I had several setbacks with this project, but am glad I stuck with it.  They turned out really well, I think!  The Shibui color is mystery pink, found two skeins in the sale bin at Yarn Mart which had lost their bands.  Excellent find!  Will be making another LYS run sometime this afternoon, probably on my way to the Art Center for some clay play.  With the holiday Monday, I’ve not been able to get to the pottery studio in a week, I’m having a little bit of withdrawal.  I had a couple of things that were ready to fire.  Hopefully, they were included in the kiln and since with clay and glazes, what you see is not usually what you get, the suspense is killing me.  I might even remember to take some pictures!

Don’t forget to drop in on Tami’s FO Friday blog to catch some amazing FOs.

Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction. Pablo Picasso

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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’…….)

IMG_2162

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

WIP Wednesday and HBD To You

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WHO’S ON FIRST

Leading off is the Karma sweater, which I’ve made progress on even since taking this photo.  One sleeve is finished, left to do is the other sleeve and a bit of stockinette around the neckline to make is roll even more –

This sweater has been a joy to knit!

Next up – A huge granny square using leftover sock yarn, with no particular effort to match yarn color or even coordination.  I’m calling it Granny’s Grab Bag Blanket.

On third base – Crocus Vernus Socks, with heel flap begun, from The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet:

You’ll just have to trust me regarding the heel flap.

Last up is another granny square, trying to coordinate colors this time, that may end up as a scarf.  Who knows?

THE GRANDS

Tell me this is not the cutest baby ever!  The Sprout being her lovely self –

Today is a special day in Pawpaw and BeBe World – The Papoose turns three today!  Look how much she’s grown!

Hot off the presses!

Three years later….

Happy Birthday, Papoose!

I’m linking up, as usual, with Tami Ami’s WIP Wednesday blog.  Come check it out!

Problems are only opportunities with thorns on them.  Hugh Miller

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 05/08/13 Short n Sweet

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ON THE NEEDLES

I think I have more WIPs than I ever have, due to a terminal case of startitis over the past month or so.  I’ve been working steadily on each of them and so far project boredom hasn’t set in, which is a good thing, because that’s how my startitis starts.  So, here they are, in no particular order:

Crocus Vernus Socks from Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet

The yarn is a mystery Shibui Sock that I discovered in the sale bin at Yarn Mart.  I think it’s perfect, don’t you?

Sunday Swing Socks

These are also knitted using Shibui Sock, colorway Poodle Skirt and are sharing the stage with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee‘s newest book.  I’m linking up with Ginny’s Yarn Along this week, so don’t forget to drop by and check out more projects and current reads.

Last, but certainly not least, is a simple, top down sweater I’m calling Karma as it started out as the Imagine Sweater, morphed into the Yarn Formerly Known As Sweater and is now born again.  Instant Karma, anyone??

100% cotton Yarn Formerly Known As Sweater in Periwinkle

Don’t forget to check out Ginny’s Yarn Along and Tami Ami’s WIP Wednesday blog.

Well we all shine on

Like the moon and the stars and the sun

Well we all shine on

Everyone, come on

John Lennon

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Knitting

Knitters, Flipping Out, It’s A Bird!

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OMG!  IT’S HER CONTINUED

A little bit more about the Fiber Arts Extravaganza.  Did I mention how awesome it is to be in a room full of knitters, most of whom don’t know each other, all knitting, talking, laughing and admiring?  Or, how completely normal it felt to go up to a total stranger (though anyone who knits I don’t count as a stranger) and fondle a piece of her clothing or her project?  Gotta tell you, it felt pretty darn good!  And if that isn’t cool enough, I won a door prize!  Yay!  A set of Annie Modesitt Flip Knit books which are really neat, like a tiny knitting movie!  If you haven’t see these, you’re missing out on the cool factor alone!

WATCH THE BIRDIE

Mr. and Ms. Dove are still keeping house on the electrical box.  I can’t tell if the chicks have hatched, the nest is never unattended, but I haven’t heard any baby bird peeping so far.  What’s the incubation period for doves?  Don’t know.  Off to google….  Google says 2 to 2 1/2 weeks, so we should be getting really close to hatching, if they haven’t already.  Like I said, the nest is never unattended.  I think I’ll just check  on it a little more often.  Maybe I can catch a glimpse.

Smile, breathe and go slowly.  Thich Nhat Hanh

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Knitting

Harlot, Grannies and Sweater Karma

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OMG!  IT’S HER!

Yesterday was the long awaited Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka Yarn Harlot visit and talk at Mt. Magazine Lodge here in Arkansas and it was crazy good!  The subject was “This Is Your Brain On Knitting” and covered the how and why knitters/fiber artists are (usually) so calm, cool and collected.  Hint:  Theta waves.  Knitters and other fiber artists have known about the benefits of playing with fiber for probably centuries, but it was really neat and affirming to have actual scientific studies proving what we’ve known all along.  Besides being the consummate knitter and knitterly author, she’s a very engaging and likable speaker – someone you’d LOVE to be sitting next to at the next knit night.  Thanks, Stephanie, for visiting and sharing with us your humor and wisdom.  It was a blast!!!   By the way, she’s from Toronto, Canada and arrived with the first ever May snowfall in Arkansas; she joked that she was the first person to visit Arkansas in May and wish she were back home in Toronto warming up!  It was COLD – snowing and sleeting hard when we left the Lodge for the drive home to Little Rock.  More about the knitting fun in the next post – so onward and upward.

NEW SKILL

I’ve lately been sort of obsessed with crochet, more specifically, granny squares.  I know the basics of crochet, it’s just not been my craft of choice.  I can do it well enough to finish a knitting project, like joining pieces together or making a neat, sort of lacy edge, but that’s about it.  It’s not that I don’t like to crochet, it’s OK, I’d probably like it a whole lot better if I practiced and got better, I just haven’t – up until now.  I saw the prettiest crocheted scarf at my LYS last week, very light, very airy and very soft and, well, that lit my fire.  I don’t know about you, but crochet always brings to mind stiff, scratchy, thick and heavy (think out-dated and ugly acrylic).  Light, soft and airy were words I just didn’t associate with crochet but I’ll admit it, I was wrong.  So, I found a book that had nothing but granny squares, grabbed some leftover sock yarn and a hook that I didn’t know I had and gave it a try.  It will probably never replace knitting as my #1 obsession, but, there’s still something nice, rhythmic and satisfying about watching string reinvent itself into something more interesting,  all the time getting more comfortable with the whole hook thing and the way it all comes together to make a square.  Here’s a look at my first efforts:

I know the colors are funky – it’s leftover sock yarn!

SPEAKING OF REINVENTION

In The Knitter’s Life List, a book I’m currently hooked on, one of the things listed is to unravel and recycle yarn from another, not so cherished, project.  That idea has been hanging out at the back of my mind for a week or so, especially when I found a sweater I knitted lord knows how long ago that was so poorly knitted and put together that it immediately was relegated to a shelf at the back of my closet, never to see the light of day.  So, a sweater so ugly I never let a camera even share its space has been reinvented and has become this:

I call it The Yarn Formerly Known as Sweater

All I can remember about it is that it’s 100% cotton.  I’ve got my eye on a nice, simple top down sweater for its reincarnation.  Something with just a little shaping and minimal seaming that will be as happily worn as it was knitted.  Do sweaters have karma?

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.  Mahatma Gandhi

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