International Scarf Exchange!!!

Back Home Again?
We made it home from the beach...and it is 15 degrees cooler here which means I am very unhappy!

Actually, for more reasons than that - the sunset in this photo takes my breath away. It may be the incredible memories associated with it - all of the kids were there (which meant much dissention) and the bugs were biting even with the skeeter stick - it was still truly incredible!



The Scarf Exchange is coming, The Scarf Exchange is coming!!!
In catching up on e-mail, I ran across the International Scarf Exchange beginning very soon - jump on the skein and sign up! Seriously, I've wanted to participate in an exchange but the timing has been off. Plus, there is the memory left from my 6th grade gift exchange where I got the crud gift and the really cool present I really wanted (the one I brought) went home with someone else... not to scare off my pal!

This is an opportunity to participate for a minimal investment - I can't wait!

I've submitted my questionnaire and am looking forward to finding out who my pal will be

Knitacation

How could a vacation be better?

Sand
Surf
Family
Knitting
...Not in that order!

FAMILY
Ok, all parts of vacation aren't EASY...how often is it that you spend 24 hours a day with your family members? Sure, you love them, but you discover those little nuances about each other's personalities that you've forgotten that you love (and those you forgotten because you don't).

The weather has been fabulous - I LOVE it hot and humid, Mother Nature is cooperating! The doggies are not heat tolerant so they've been enjoying the air conditioning a lot and go out for their walks in the evening. Lucy jumped into the pool immediately upon arrival. Apparently, she can swim, but Bugg fished her out and she has not chosen to go swimming again. Sadly, no pic of that

SURF
Bugg and I sat on the beach and were lucky enough to see a pod (is 'pod' the right word?) of Dolphin playing just off the beach. They stayed for quite awhile - some swimmers stayed and others made a beeline for the shore. Fins are fins and after a small shark swam up in inches of water a few years ago, I rarely go in above my ankles. I was finishing up Deb Macomber's A Good Yarn that a friend sent on vacation with me and missed a Sting Ray jumping up out of the water, but Bugg enjoyed seeing it.

SAND
...Dare I say more? Sand is nice when it is on the BEACH, not when it comes to you on shoes, in cars, or hidden in swim suit creases

KNITTING

Of course, I brought knitting! Bugg's Lucy bag went into the washing machine as soon as we arrived - We love it, but thought the strap could be longer.

I dug out the yarn for an Entralac sweater for the littlest princess and have finished the back.



Needing a break, I cast-on Debbie Bliss pure silk for the Branching Out pattern from Knitty. I had made this pattern out of some cream-colored alpaca last year (Christmas gift). It turned out well and I thought the melon colored silk would be interesting.



Bugg's bug (yarn bug, that is) has continued - I haven't purchased yarn for myself, but we took time to put together yarn for Periwinkle by Louisa Harding - a cute wrap that she will start soon.


OTHER
I finished A Good Yarn AND my re-reading of Steinbeck's East of Eden. Dad slipped me a book by Lawrence Block that I will read next - Dad said it had some 'dirty parts' and a little smut is always good when you are on the beach. I found it interesting that on the dedication page, Block indicated The Earth is Flat - this book was published in the '70's. I read John Friedman's recent The World is Flat, I wonder if there will be any similarities in Block's publication (not likely). Just a closing thought, we'll see where it goes.

Evolution of Dance Link

This link is funny - no, it's not my husband!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

Will road trip for yarn!

Finally! I finished my Sea Shell Bag - It does look like the picture on the pattern, but the pattern required too much construction for me to LOVE it. It is also a bit big. I found the shells at Bead Haven. WOW! They have a lot to choose from.

Bugg has caught 'the bug'. She is metamorphosizing in front of my eyes - becoming a yarn-a-holic (like me).

It wasn't difficult to talk her into going with me during that week of driving I mentioned a few posts ago. We planned to leave early on a Friday morning - we would drive a couple of hours, get the work finished, and hit a canoe livery well before lunch. We stuck to our plan and finished in plenty of time, but it was 68 degrees! I was willing to dredge forward with the plan, but even Bugg thought it a bit cool to be getting into the water.

We fished out the Shop Finder from Knitter's and headed out on a mission! By the time the day was through, we had explored 3 1/2 yarn stores - I will explain.

Our first stop was at Apple Tree Lane in Clare, MI. The shop doesn't look like a yarn store. They offer many gift-type items and other craft materials. Tucked into a side room, we discovered a very nice selection of fiber. Bugg finally found the colors she was hunting for the felted Lucy bag.


The owner's daughter was very helpful and interactive, AND she had just finished her first sweater!

Next up, Midland, MI. We were hunting for The Granny Square (more on that in a moment), but ran into some problems with directions. After a call to work for clarification (thank you, TH and BW) we arrived at Lily Lane Knits. The shop was small, but had many brands to choose from. The Debbie Bliss Pure Silk tempted me, but we left with a link to Layla and Bugg plans to make it in the future.

Feeling adventuresome, we headed back toward The Granny Square...this is how I KNOW that Bugg is hooked:

Have you ever gone to a shop and, through the extremely rough exterior, discovered a wonderful array of offerings that you didn't know how you lived without? The Granny Square is DEFINITELY not that for me! Remember, I am a self-professed yarn snob...I didn't want to even touch anything in the shop. It was small, crowded (not with yarn), and felt dirty. The front of the store contains used stuff - maybe antiques, I wouldn't get close to it. Bugg was browsing and touching and happy just being near any fiber. When she was finished, I dashed to the car to make my getaway!

It was getting late and we had time for one more stop and honed in on Yarns & Such in Freeland-we never found the shop.

Summary:
Apple Tree Lane - Two knitted swatches
Lily Lane Knits - Could get by with swatch
The Granny Square - Don't buy the yarn to knit a swatch
Yarns & Such - N/A

Part 2: Crochet 101


My crochet lesson from Stitcher Bomb last week was a success! Many thanks to SB for the help and the company. This picture chronicles my progress (or lack thereof) after 2 hours. Not to worry, The stitch is repetitive and I have been zooming along ever since.





I quickly decided that I really wanted the RY Cashcotton for my picnic rug soooooo - this one will become a Christmas gift for a very lucky someone (I hear the bantering begin, everyone will want it). The colors are kind of masculine, don't you think (hint, hint).

2nd Place Felted Foo Foo Bag

The Yarn Garden held a felted purse contest and this bag (my first official design) came in 2nd. Bugg immediately claimed it and carries it often. Queen Moo (Ma) snagged the first one I made and a pic of hers is at the end of this post. The Queen's purse has the 'D' ring detail.

FREE KNIT PATTERN
Materials
10 ½ Circular Needles
700 Yards Worsted Weight Wool
40 Yards Eyelash
1 - Large ‘O’ Ring (or bauble of your choice)
4 - ‘D’ rings that coordinate with bauble (if desired)
Coordinating fabric for lining (if desired)

About Gauge:
I don’t know any knitter that likes to swatch, so jump on in and start knitting. Relax and keep the stitches a little loose. This bag will be felted and small differences in stitch size will not be apparent in your completed masterpiece!

If you must compare, my gauge with Cascade 220 is 14 sts and 19 rows to 4 inches

Directions:
Create the bottom of your bag:

Using waste yarn, cast on 50 stitches
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
**Switch to yarn for your purse**
Rows 3-47: Knit (garter stitch)
**You will have 22 ridges across your knitted piece**

Begin the sides of your bag:

Round 1: Knit the 50 stitches on your needles; Pick up 1 stitch in the corner; Pick up 21 stitches down the side; Pick up 1 stitch in the corner; Cut away waste yarn and transfer 50 stitches onto spare knitting needle (or the other end of your circular needles); Continuing around the bottom of your bag, Knit the 50 stitches that came from the waste yarn; pick up 1 stitch in the corner; Pick up 21 stitches down the side; Pick p 1 stitch in the corner
**You should have 146 stitches on your needles**

Place a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of your rounds. Bag is worked in the round from here.

Round 2: K50, K2TOG, K19, K2TOG, K50, K2TOG, K19, K2TOG -4 sts decreased, 142 sts on needle (marker is here)
Rounds 3-60: Knit with yarn for your purse
Rounds 61-63: Knit with yarn for your purse held together with Eyelash
Rounds 64-72: Knit with yarn for your purse
Rounds 73-78: Knit with yarn for purse held together with Eyelash
Rounds 79-96: Knit with yarn for your purse
Round 97: Purl with yarn for your purse
Round 98: Knit 10; Bind off 28 stitches (one stitch is left on the needle from Bind off); Knit 10 stitches; Place 1 stitch left from Bind off and 10 knit stitches on one stitch holder (#1); Bind off 21 stitches (one stitch is left on the needle from Bind off); Knit 10 stitches; Place 1 stitch left from Bind off and 10 knit stitches on one stitch holder (#2); Bind off 28 stitches (one stitch is left on the needle from Bind off); Knit 10 stitches; Place 1 stitch left from Bind off and 10 knit stitches on one stitch holder (#3); Bind off 21 stitches (one stitch is left on the needle from Bind off); Knit 10 stitches; Place 1 stitch left from Bind off and 10 knit stitches on one stitch holder (#4); Knit 10 stitches.

**You should have 11 stitches left on your needles**
Begin the straps for your bag

Strap 1
Knit 150 rows

If using ‘D’ Rings: Continue to knit for 6 additional rows.

**If NOT using ‘D’ Rings, you must be careful not to twist your strap while attaching it**

Attach your first strap:

Graft 11 stitches on needle to 11 stitches on holder #1

Strap 2
With right side of bag facing you, transfer 11 stitches from holder #2
Re-join yarn for your bag
Knit 150 rows

If using ‘D’ Rings: Continue to knit for 6 additional rows.

**If NOT using ‘D’ Rings, you must be careful not to twist your strap while attaching it**

Attach your second strap:

Graft 11 stitches on needle to 11 stitches on holder #4

Make your Purse Flap

**23 stitches are picked up in the middle of one side of your purse where you bound of 31 stitches**

With right side of bag facing you, go in 4 stitches from one strap edge, pick up 23 stitches

**You should see 4 stitches between the end of the end of your needle and the side of the next strap**

Rows 1-16: Knit
Row 17: Knit 2 stitches, SKP, Knit to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, Knit 2 stitches (2 stitches have been decreased)
Row 18: Knit
Row 19: Knit 2 stitches, SKP, Knit to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, Knit 2 stitches (2 stitches have been decreased)
Row 20: Knit
Row 21: Knit 2 stitches, SKP, Knit to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, Knit 2 stitches (2 stitches have been decreased)
Row 22: Knit
Row 23: Knit 2 stitches, SKP, Knit to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, Knit 2 stitches (2 stitches have been decreased)
Row 24: Knit
Row 25: Knit 2 stitches, SKP, Knit to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, Knit 2 stitches (2 stitches have been decreased)
Row 26: Knit
Row 27: Knit 2 stitches, SKP, Knit to last 4 stitches, K2TOG, Knit 2 stitches (2 stitches have been decreased)

**11 stitches remain on your needle**

Knit 36 rows

Bind off all 11 stitches

Felting your purse

Everyone has their favorite way to felt. This bag was painfully felted in a front-load washer and it took a few cycles to get it to the desired size. I do not like to see ridges in my felting and prefer to continue washing until the fabric is smooth and free of ridges.

Finished purse measured 11” tall and 10 ½ inches wide.

Once felted to the desired size, I pulled and shaped the bottom into an oval and shaped the flap. I always stuff my felted items with newspaper and continue to change it until the item is dry.

Finishing your purse

If using ‘D’ rings: Leaving ¾“ of the strap on the bag, cut the longest part of each strap from your purse
**You will have 2 completely separated straps and the body of your purse with ¾” ’nubs’ sticking up from the 4 areas where the straps were attached**

Using your leftover bag yarn, sew the ’D’ rings on by putting each ’nub’ through the straight part of the ring and attaching the ’nub’ to the inside of your purse

Re-attach the straps (being careful not to twist straps and attaching them front-to-front and back-to-back of your purse-otherwise, your arm will not go through the purse your correct way) . I used a sewing machine and stitched the end of the felted strap to the inside after threading it through the ‘D’ ring.


If desired, using a sewing machine with a decorative stitch and coordinating thread: Stitch along the long sides of the straps - this will prevent your straps from stretching

Wrap the end of your purse flap through the large ‘O’ ring and sew the strap end to the back of the strap. The end of the ‘O’ ring should hang about 3” from the bottom of your purse.

Cut a sturdy piece of cardboard slightly smaller than the bottom of the bag in an oval shape. Insert the cardboard and line purse with coordinating material.






Original pattern created by Kniterella 11/2005