Caboodle

Caboodle is an informal way to talk about an entire bunch of some item or category, frequently within the phrase “the whole kit and caboodle,” which has the same meaning. You might say you love everything about movies — the whole caboodle — or buy all the ice cream from your neighborhood shop, the entire caboodle.

I grew up using the phase: “The whole kit and caboodle”. I am not sure that I ever knew what that really meant.

Apparently, the phrase began as “the whole kit and boodle.” Kit meaning collection and boodle is thought to have derived from the Old-English word for bottel – meaning a bunch or bundle. Researchers believe the phrase morphed to “kit and caboodle” for alliterative purposes.

If spelt with a K, there are several Urban slang definitions that are too offensive to write here.

Now I find out that there is another definition for the word Caboodle. Apparently, it is used as a term for a train case.

The Caboodles Voyager train case is an ideal bag for those who like their luggage to have a touch of pizazz and glamor. Robin Raven, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021

Over Thanksgiving, I had my new leather knitting case at my daughter’s house. She told me that she liked my Caboodle. I was not sure where that term came from, although she swears that I used the terms in reference to a case. In any case, this is the Caboodle that she likes. Me too.

And inside my Caboodle on that day was the shawl that I was making with Gauge Dyeworks yarn, Colorwheel.

Blocking out

And finished, this has become my favorite “shawl de jour”. The bright colors keep me happy on these short dark days.

I used the concept from Boneyard Shawl by Steven West. He had a reverse stockinette every 12th row, I opted to do this every-time the color changed. When I got toward the 1/2 way point in the color change, I just knit the shawl in garter stitch. Unlike many shawls, this looks great either side.

#GuageDyeWorks

#Colorwheel

#BoneyardShawl

#StevenWest

Travel bag

I finally got around to using my new beautiful Muud Lexi travel knitting bag on a recent trip.

Lexi Case

Knitting bags

I these photos of how I was going to use the case, it was the perfect size for bringing on the plane as my carry-on. It even fit my book on the top and closed up nicely.

It was great for knitting, as my yarn stayed snugly in the case and I could keep it in my foot space on the airplane. However, the bright idea to put the needles in the lid did not work as planned. I lost abut 1/2 of my Rosewood size 1 needles on the way out, I am not even sure where they were lost, probably in the waiting area at the airport. At first, I thought that it was because they were so thin.

On the way home, I put the remaining size 1’s in the zipper area, and thought I was good. Not so. Each time I opened the lid, one or two of the other needles came out and rolled onto the floor. Luckily, nobody was in the seat between us, and my husband was able to rescue them. Their website shows DPN’s in there, but larger sizes than what I use.

Now this is how I am using the pockets, seems to be much more secure with a pencil, nail file, and crochet hook(s).

For the trip out, I had wound up a large skein of Guage Dye Works Colorwheel. One of my absolute favorites, as I love a rainbow as much as my Granddaughter.

I had ordered the larger skein with the intention of making a shawl. The pattern had to be really simple, since the color changes were so beautifully dramatic. I ended up choosing Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boneyard-shawl

Here is a preview of where I am on this. The shawl pattern calls for a reverse stockinette stitch every 12 rows. I opted to do it every time the color changed. Since I am getting closer to the grey section, so I am now on all garter stitch. This is turning out really pretty. The back side is just as beautiful as the front.

#GuageDyeWorks

#Colorwheel

#Boneyardshawl

#StephenWest