Update on my 3rd bag

I had really thought to try to use just stockingknit stitch, make a very long/large rectangle and then fold it to make the bag body. However, since I'm not quite over my dislike of purling it is taking much longer then I had anticipated. So, I'm going to go back to the drawing board... and using cirular needles etc. I find them more comfortable anyways.

More on my felted bags

So I'm working on the handles for the brown/blue bag. I haven't decided what sort of handles to use on the first one. I think due to the amount the bags are felting in the washer that I'll hand wash the next bag to see how it turns out. I wasn't able to control the amount of shrinkage as I thought I was going to be able to. Better luck next time! I hope to make the Booga bag with Noro as my 4th bag. Since I found Noro at a great price on Yarn.com

Second felted bag!

I loved felting the first bag so I had to make another. This one had a bit of shaping to make the top portion tulip out a bit. Here are the before and after shots. I think I'll make Icord handles for it. The other bag may get a crocheted strap( then felted) or a leather strap.

First Felted bag!

I finally completed the bag I had intended to felt. I have put it throught the wash and it came out great. I still need to decide on what type of handles I'd like. I may go for leather. Here's the bag unwashed. I'll post another picture of it felted tongiht.

Projects... projects.. and more projects!

I was writing a list of all the knitting, crocheting or quilting projects I have yet to do and was a bit astonished that I had that many left to do by Christmas.

Knitting:

Wrap style sweater for my best-friend Martha
Baby sweater ( which has really turned out to be a toddler sweater) for Molly her brand spanking new darling daughter!
VW cap for John her husband
Cardigan for Grandma Dottie ( Martha's grandma - whom I've know since I was 8 years old!)
A Dr Who scarf for Jim, Marthas dad
A halter top for my friend Michelle, who happens to be Martha younger sister

Oh, and I can't forget myself. I have atleast 2 scarves in the works and a pull over sweater and then there's the cardigan I need help resizing the pattern and a corset pattern I saw on Knitty Gritty by Anne Modisett that was to-die-for cute.

Rastafarian hat for my husband Lyle - who is a football fan so it has to be the Philidelphia Eagles colors

A bag I keep meaning to finish so I can felt it.

Crocheting projects:

Husky blanket in bright purple and gold, on a p hook 2 strands together half-double and single crochet
Another blanket - same pattern but a variety of different worsted weight yarn. We have another blanket similar to this one but it isn't quite large enough for the two of us and our 3 cats.. so I get to make another one.
5 scarves to weave the ends in and fringe
2 hats to weave ends in and spif up


I can't forget the quilting projects.. whew... I fell in love with Amy Butlers fabric last year and spent somewhere in the neighborhood of 750.00 on just her fabric in the period of 3-4 months. To some people that doesn't seem like a lot.. but to me it was huge. I then completed 5 quilts over the coarse of 4.5 months during the fall and gave myself a bad case of carple tunnel and nerve compression in my shoulders. I haven't quilted since. I really need to start again. I have too many potential quilt/pillow/shower curtains started. The whole crocheting/knitting habit was taken up after I paused in my quilting obsession.

okay.. so I think that's the end of the list. I have to think more... argh... what a thought!

Irish Hiking scarf knit-a-long and first project pictures

I just joined an Irish Hiking Scarf knit-a-long and picked out my yarn. I'll probably make the scaft a bit shorter than the pattern says just to save time. Okay, and yarn. I only have 4-5 skeins of the Debbie Bliss yarn I plan to use.. what can you say.. "sale bin". We'll see how it goes.

Portland was wonderful!

As I had hoped Portland was wonderful! The yarn shops were sublime, especially the yarngarden. Lint had a great selection but the gals in the shop seemed a bit snooty.

I recently visited a few of the outlying shops in the Seattle and so far my favorite is in West Seattle. I believe its named the Seattle Yarn Gallery. Everyone I spoke with was very helpful and upbeat. I actually had one of the help me out with a little purling problem I was having and wouldn't you know it, I no longer have that problem. I can purl a way with nary a curse word! Who would have thought I didn't have to curse every time I attempted that dreaded purl stitch!

That kind gentleman has opened a whole new world for me, pattern wise!