Serious Blog Neglect

Well, the red Turtleneck Tube pattern from Fitted Knits is finished but I didn't have enough yarn to make it long enough. So, I bound off and I am going to give it a girl from work who has a smaller torso than I do. I think it will be great looking on her. Well, I did start the Crisp Rectangle tunic again from Fitted Knits. I also started Sizzle. I finished the entrelac bag, well I finished the knitting and felting part but I still have to sew the lining and attach the handles. I was a little resourceful and used my swatch from the bag and made a little eyeglass case.

Project Progress

Several projects at one time. I love it! Okay, above left is my Turtleneck from Fitted Knits. Above right is my French Market bag (looking very diaper like) The original pattern calls for a total of 200 stitches around the bottom, I increased mine to 250. I wanted a slightly bigger bag. Bottom left is a felted swatch for my entrelac bag. And last, three hand painted skeins of sock yarn. I am very happy with how well my dye projects have come out. The one on the left is variations of greens and burnt orange/brown. In the middle, deep reds and very light turquoise. Last, variations of purple. So exciting.

Entrelac Swatch

This is the pre-felted swatch for my entrelac bag. I plan on it being fairly long, and not so deep. I am going to put a top edge of just straight stockinette stitch to form vertical rows of color. The handle I have in mind is some sort of bamboo handle. It will be lined, and will have a zipper closure. The sides and bottom are going to straight stockinette stitch. Currently the swatch is felting...Got to go check on the progress. We will see what happens.

Whats Goin' On...

I get so excited to Dye yarn. The one above is going to greens, blues, and some brown/orange. I am going to design a pair of socks with a bamboo theme and I think these colors will be great. The most of the colorway is the greens and blues with small accents of the brown/orange. I am very excited...didn't I say that already?

Also I am working very hard on the Turtleneck. I on the rib portion of the bottom. Just for the record I am not fond of doing ribbing, it slows me down so much.

I am have also been working on the French Market Bag. I am going to change size by increasing to the bottom stitches to 250. Which will work out to 62,63,62,63 on the four needles. I will bind off differently also, but I am very happy with myself because I figured out the math all by myself. I suck at math normally, but Yeah I did it!

Overwhelmed Much?

This post is more about getting stuff out of my head, so it stops swimming around and not letting me concentrate on much. I have things on the needles and in Q.

On the needles:
1. Turtleneck Tube Vest. I had the body joined and about an inch down, but tried it on and it was not tight enough, I was afraid the chesticles would fall out. Visited the frog pond and ripped it back about 2". Rejoined the body and instead of adding 9 stitches as stated in the pattern, I did a 3 stitch purl. This still looks good and will give better coverage.

2. 2nd Anastasia Sock. Finished the first sock. It is a little too tight around the cuff even though I used an elastic bind off. I think I will rip it back and redo the cuff on size 2 needles.

3. French Market Bag. Working on bottom. Found another set of size 7 needles. I bought 2 skeins of brown and 1 of turquoise. I think that was a mistake...but I have a solution. I am going to work the bottom in brown, then do a wide strip of turquoise, then again with the brown and finish with the turquoise handle accent. I think that will work out well.

In Q:
1. Crisp Rectangle Tunic. Need to swatch.

2. Entrelac Felted Knitting Bag. In process of designing.

3. Paul's Sock. My own design. I have dyed the yarn. It came out really pretty. Plan to do a mock cable/rib pattern. Cuff down, because of the thicker heel flap...not because I like them better. I really am digging the toe-up designs.

Now...that's better!

No more yarn...Seriously!

Damn, what a weekend. I will not be going to a yarn store or online shopping for a long while. I am on yarn overload. Okay, so here is the run down. First up, from Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Crocus, to make the Crisp Rectangle Tunis Top from Fitted Knits. Next, Brown Cascade Heathers and Turquoise Cascade 220 from Knit n' Knibble. I am going to make the French Market Bag from Knitty. And finally, Noro Kureyon again from Knit n' Knibble which I am going to make some sort of entrelac felted bag of my own design. And as you can see, I used my wonderful ball winder to make the skeins very pretty.

Just a note about Knit n' Knibble, I am so excited I found this place. Granted I have to drive about 1 1/2 hrs to get there and through Tampa traffic no less, it was well worth it. I don't know if anybody else has had this experience, but the one other yarn store I have been too (there are few yarn stores in central Florida) was kinda snotty. I have heard this from others that some LYSs are snotty. Well, this was not the case with Knit n' Knibble. They were very friendly and very helpful. I walked in and was greeted and offered a shopping bag. I am not going to give a play by play, but great experience, if you are in the area...Go!