lots of pictures

I think I have picked a project from my new book, boutiqe knits. I'm still not sure which to start first because I have the yarn in my stash for both of these. The first one uses two skiens of manos and has this totally cool handle. It's a horse tackle "thingy" and these really cool "chigaco screws". Thoes items might take some looking for so I will probably go with this other bag first.



This one, I have some cascade that matches some really pretty beads that I have. I think this will be fun to work on.

I am also making a hat for my husbands birthday. This is the habitat hat from brooklyn tweed. I love the yarn, it's kathmandu aran.

So what about the giant felted shoulder bag ? Well, it's no longer giant but it's still VERY large.
Here you get a prefelted picture, and before you ask me if I was drinking when I took the picture, yes I was. I can't seem to get it to rotate and then stay rotated when it's posted?

After felting.....5 times...it's still large. I need to trim the threads and insert the zipper. Check out my super cool crocheted strap.

Stefanie Japels new book is out, it's called glam knits. If you were a fan of her last book, fitted knits you will remmeber that in the bag of the book is a picture of Stefanie wearing the coolest sweater. That sweater is in this new book. I love that sweater but I was still not sure if I wanted this new book. I made about 1/3 of the projects in the last book but still I wasn't sure about this book. Why? Because the few pictures that have been posted from this book were not anything that I wanted to wear. I don't like the cover, at all. I don't like the color, the way she's posed so you can't see the garment and the way the garment appears to look. So I didn't preorder the book from Amazon like I do with so many knitting books. I did get a chance to look through this book today and was surprised to see I do like several of the projects. I do not however like the layout or the photography in this book. I might be picky or even cranky today but I fell like it's really hard to see the garments.

That said I do have some fabvorite projects .
This one, a shrug in a worsted weight yarn. I like the back. So often when you see a shrug pattern it either has an odd sag thing happening or it's super short. This has a nice back, and the texture is really pretty. Can you see this knit up in a lovely alpacca worsted, yea I know alpacca stretches but ohhhh wouldn't it be lovely before it stretches out.

This one is interesting to me. I like the sleeves and the ribbing at the waist. I would love to see her standing straight up and I want to see the back.

This one I would make, not just because it happens to call for my favorite yarn in the whole world but because I think it looks like a nice cozy but fitted hoodie. Again though ,I can't see where it really hits her because she is all tilted and twisted. I like the color of this one as well.

This is the Stefanie sweater, from her first book. I love this sweater. I think the collar is funky and the style is different. I love the buttons on the sleeves. The pattern calls for cascade tweed. I'll probably use the taupe/brown cascade I have in my stash.

I won't be started it anytime soon but it is in my que.

I was planning to start Rambling rose from Ik winter 06 but the pattern only comes in size way too small and size enormous. I was trying to cheat with gauge but It's causing lots of stress. So that may not happen.

The fantastic bag on size 2 needles is moving along. I'm only doing a row or two at a time but it's decreasing on every row so I should be able to pick up the pace.

That's all for now, Happy Halloween, Don't eat too much candy.

Knitting, pumpkins and buying stuff

It looks like I have become a once a week blogger. That's because my little part time job has turned into a 40 hour a week life style. This 40 hour a week thing has left me with very very little time for knitting. It's also making me cranky. Thursday was especially challenging so after work I decided to go in to the yarn/fabric shop and have a look around. I needed a zipper for the shoulder bag. while I was there I came across this new book by IK. I know...I really don't need any new books but I really liked the projects in this book and several would be good Christmas presents ( for me). It has lots of bags, hats, scarves, gloves...that sort of thing. Most of them look quick.
This sock yarn followed me home from that same shop. Sorry the photo is so blurry but really its the colors that are important. If you need the details it is:
Regia, design line. Kaffe fassett's exotic color Ember.
But you have a really hard time finishing sock...yes I know ...lets not talk about it.

So because of all the work, the only project getting worked on is the one I keep in my car. This is the shoulder bag I talked about before. I think at this point it is too big to be a good car project.

It is so big infact that I contacted the designer to make sure I hadn't misunderstood something. I know things shrink when felted but DUDE look at this thing. The designer was very friendly and even sent me a picture of her 12 year old daughter standing inside the prefelted bag. Well ok..carry on then. If you feel the need to make a bag that takes a sweaters worth of yarn, this is the project for you. I am using up my left over cascade scraps from other projects. So, I'm really exciteded about the amount of yarn it takes.

Wondering what happen to the pumpkins? Keep in mind I have a

teenage daughter. Teenagers have a certain way of thinking. You have to admit it's creative.


Detail shot of her creativity. Its acrylic paint incase your wondering.

Hope everyone is knitting more then me. Have a happy and safe Halloween if I don't talk to you before then.

Pumpkins and knitting

This weekend we went to the Avila farm to get a pumpkim or two. It's a great place, they have homemade ice cream, fresh baked pies, roasted corn served hot. Of course they also have fresh fruits and vegatables.Of course they also have several pumpkin patches. After having corn and ice cream we went in search of the perfect carving pumpkins.

Ginna wanted a good size pumpkin but because she knew I would make her carry it back to the car she picked wisely.

While showing off this nice round happy pumpkin she spots another perfect pumpkin a little ways away.

End the end we came home with 4 pumpkins, some apples, peaches, potatoes and corn.

For thoes of you who are only interested in the knitting, I give you a close up of the

Shoulder pack. This is a Jennifer pipps pattern. This is the project I carry to work and leave in my car. I wanted to bring it in this weekend to take a picture. The colors look nothing like this in person. The bag is gigantic so it better felt a BUNCH!!
In other news we bought books this weekend. Ginna got a really pretty book of photographs of the architecture or Italy. It was a good deal for only $9. The man bought the latest hardback by one of his favorite authors Neal Stephenson. Anathem. I got Alterfelts by he Author of Alterknits. One of the first projects in the book is a white felted bag that I love !

thinking out loud

I finished the side panel of the bag. The colors in the picture are way off. It's night time and the lighting makes everything look yellowish. . So far the pattern is really well written. I also have to say I really like this yarn. It's called palette and it's 100% Peruvian Highland wool. It's a fingering weight wool. The colors are very pretty with subtle flecks here and there. I'm really enjoying working with it. It's slightly fuzzy but not much, just enough to help fill out the stitches. The kit came with 17 colors but I believe the yarn comes in 63 different colors.

The next step is to make an icord type ridge by working in rev st st and then picking up 240 stitches from 5 rows down and knitting the two rows together. Now because I'm sure my family does not want to find me sitting in the dark closet muttereing to myself I will be doing this another way. If you pick up each stitch one and a time with a crochet hook and knit the two rows together you get the exact same thing without having to pick up the 240 stitches all at once.

So I'm thinking this is going really well butit is small yarn on tiny needles. You could get the same idea by using cascade 220 or another worsted weight yarn on size 8's and then felt it when your done. It wouldn't have the same "oh my look at thoes lovely tiny stitches" look but it would still be a fantastic bag. You could probably simplify the side by using one solid and one varigated yarn. Just thinking.

Not done but almost

I didn't finish the sweater but it's close. I need to finish the hood, seam the arm pits, weave in the ends and block it. It really needs to be blocked. I haven't been very gentle with this poor sweater. I have crammed it in bags, stuffed it in drawers and even thrown it across the room. So a good blocking will be needed.

You gotta love a child who is willing to put on a nearly finished sweater with the needles still sticking out and pose for a picture.

So what's my excuse for not finishing? I didn't feel like working on it. That's as good a reason as any.

I worked on the bag though. I am now on row 7 . YEAH!!! Now before you say row 7, is that all keep in mind that I have 240 stitches on a size 2 needle and I am doing color work. 240x7 is 1680 stitches.

The bag, and a book

I wanted to answer a question or two about the Sipalu bag and then show you my progress. I know, it's only row 2 but I'm showing you anyway.

The sixe of the finished bag is supposed to be 10 wide by 12 high and 2 deep. So it's a good size bag. It's knit on a size 2 needle and has 17 colors. The cast one took some time, its a provisional cast on with 240 stitches. The kit comes in 3 color ways and I picked the warm tones. It's really not that pricey when you look at how much yarn you get.
If you read my blog you know that I love to knit socks. Not pairs of socks just socks (singular) I can't seem to get excited about that 2nd sock so I have lots of socks that don't match.
well this book calls for single socks. It's a crazy cool Japanese/american craft book for making fun creatures out of socks. I haven't really checked it out too much. I've been busy trying to finish the Vogue sweater.

I am working on the hood. I was feeling bad about starting the bag with this sweater sitting there looking at me. So I decided to finish the sweater before I get too involved in the bag.

Keep your fingers crossed that the next picture posted is a green gable Vogue sweater.

I have goosebumbps

I am sooo excited. I totally forgot I ordered this kit. It came today while I was at work. I can't wait to get started. The only problem is that. It's going to take me years to finish it. Why? It's knit on a size 2 needle. What was I thinking? A size 2 for a bag. A bag in 17 colors. OHHH but won't it be the most perfect bag you ever saw. People will stop me on the street to say OHHH MY what a wonderful bag you have. The kit actually has enough yarn to make 2 bags. 2 bags on a size 2....hmmmmm yea, lets just try to knit one for now.
I'll have to go buy some needles for this. I am really excited.

I'ts done !!

I finished knitting the bag yesterday so I was able to felt it last night. This is the before felting picture. I measured it and it's about 13 wide by 14 tall. The pattern calls for a braided handle and I made the braided handle but I really didn't like it at all. So I crochet a handle instead. After It was felted and pretty much dry I sewes on the outside decorative button and lined my bag. I have the bag turned inside out so you can see the cool linning fabric I picked. I have the magnetic snap attached as well.

Then. TA DA !! The finished bag. Look at how well that giant button matches. It was in my button collection. It's so exciting when you can use the supplies you already have. I love the bag. I think it turned out great. I am really really happy with my handle/strap choice.

Ginna would have modeled it for me but she has a "deadly" cold. So your stuck with the dressform as a model instead.

So now I really should get back to the vogue sweater. It's so close it being done. Oh my goodness, it matches the bag. It seems like my projects always match.

I never do these but this one was interesting to me.
Saw this on the blog knitting like it's my job and thought it would be fun to do.
The rules:
Bold the things you've done.
Green the things you are currently doing.
Red out the things you've abandoned or will never attempt.
Italicize the things you want to try.

Afhgan
American/English Knitting (vs. Continental knitting)
Baby Items
Bobbles
Buttonholes
Cable stitch patterns (including Aran)
Cardigan
Charity knitting
Continental knitting
Cuffs/
fingerless mitts
/arm warmers
Darning
Designing knitted garments
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Drop stitch patterns
Dyeing with plant dyes
Dyeing yarn
Entrelac
Fair Isle knitting
Freeform knitting
Fullling/felting
Gloves
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Hair accessories
Hat
Holiday related knitting
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies.....)
I-cord
Intarsia
Jewelry
Kitchener Bind Off
Knitting a gift
Knitting and purling backwards
Knitting for a living
Knitting for pets
Knitting for preemies
Knitting in public
Knitting items for a wedding
Knitting socks
Knitting to make money
Lace patterns
Longtail Cast On
Machine knitting
Mittens:
Cuff upMittens:
Top down
Moebius band knitting (I have tried and tried I still hope someday to figure it out)
Norwegian knitting
Olympic knitting
Participating in a Knit-a-long
Pillows
Publishing a knitting book
Purses/bags
Rug
Scarf
Shawl
Short rows
Shrug
/bolero/
poncho
Slip stitch patterns
Slippers
Socks:
toe upSocks:
top down
Steeks
Stockinette stitch
Stuffed toys
Swatching
Sweater
Teaching a child to knit
Teaching a male to knit
Textured knitting
Thrummed knitting
Toy or doll knitting
Tubular Cast On
Twisted stitch patterns
Two ended knitting
Writing a pattern

Wow I've tried alot of things. I do wish spinning was on the list. I would like to try that.

felting a bag... soon

Is this not the funniest thing. I love it. It's a lip gloss container. My daughter got it as a gift from someone and I can't get over how cool it is. (Yes, my daughter has on black fingernail polish but don't worry she's a normal everyday teenager. )

I decided you need a picture of the bag I'm working on even if it isn't done. It's a super fast super easy project. The pattern is very well written and it takes very little brain power to read.

I still feel really confident that if you I had an entire day of knitting time I could complete it in one or two days. I am even further along now then I was when I took this picture.

The details

Pattern: The carie lynn bag by she knits. You can find it here

Yarn: I am using three strands of patons classic wool held together. The pattern calls for lambs pride bulky two strands held together but I really dislike that yarn and I don't want a hairy bag.

Needles: size 15's

Before felting the pattern tells you the measurements should be 13" tall be 13 1/2 wide and 6 inches deep. Mine is about 12 wide and 5 1/2 deep but looks like it will be at least 13" or more in height. I'll measure again when it's done.

Then it goes in the wash for felting so hopefully it won't shring too much. I may give it a light felting. I actually really like the way it looks now before felting.

back to knitting

I have recovered ( mostly ) from my injury and am back to knitting. Yea!! well I'd be knitting if I wasn't working. My part time job has turned into a 40 hour a week free time sucking life style. so I don't have time to knit or hang with the knit group. I did start a felted bag on monday and it's so super fast that if I had a full day of knitting I bet I could make it in one day. I hope hope hope to get it done this weekend so I can share it with everyone.