Felted Tote Bag

This is the felted tote bag made from my original pattern which I use to teach beginning knitters. After the first class of learning to cast on, knit, knit two together, and yarn over, the assignment is to to make dishcloths and shop for supplies to make the bag. The pattern starts at the top with some plain rows knit back and forth on circular needles. Then they learn to do increases and join in the round. After knitting for about an inch (or sooner if somebody questions it) we discuss the difference between garter stitch and stockinette stitch. The section with the novelty yarn is purled. After a few inches, return to stockinette stitch. The bottom is shaped with knit two together and SSK decreases, then bound off. The bottom seam and the little garter stitch edging are sewn together and the straps knit and sewed on. So, all the basics are learned and because the bag is felted, most mistakes will not show up and they have a nice end product!

Again, I will be gone for 3 weeks, but when I come back, I already have some pictures of knitting I've done.

Saturday Sky June 16, 2007

My grand daughter's graduation party.

Row Counter

This is an easy way to keep track when you have to do an increase or decrease every so many rows. I can never remember to just count rows in my head! Take a piece of yarn and make knots leaving as many loops as the number of rows in your repeat. Every time you come to the marker, move your needle down one loop. In this case, I have to do an increase every fourth row. I have just come to the marker with the needle in the second hole, so I am ready to do the third row, so I'll move the marker to the third loop.

More Fiction with Knitting Theme

Since I love to read and knit, I discover there are more and more books coming out which have knitting involved in the plot. Most have been light, good summer reading.

Knit Two Together by Connie Lane is a Halequin publication and is a story about how knitting helps through a crisis. (Typical plot!)

Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber is the third book about Blossom Street and the people who live there, work there, or frequent the shops, with the knitting shop being the center focus. Some of the people we met in the first books return and their stories continue along with new people. I enjoyed this book even more than the first two.

Knit Fast, Die Young is the second knitting mystery by Mary Kruger. This book is a murder mystery about a knitting shop owner finding the body of a knitting magazine owner with a knitting needle stuck in her back at a Wool and Yarn Festival.

Saturday Sky June 9, 2007

This beautiful sky presided over a beautiful morning, but the wispy clouds have multiplied and now it is almost totally cloudy with a temperature of 81.

In Memorium

I received news of the death on Memorial Day of Sidna Farley. She is a knitting teacher, designer and author. Some of us local people remember her as she taught at some of the early MN Knitters' Days. You can read an article about her at www.denverpost.com/ci_6054179

Saturday Sky June 2, 2007

The morning started out with a clear, blue sky, but gradually became more cloudy resulting in some heavy rain showere later in the day. This was taken from Travel Friend's patio as we were enjoying lunch outside.

TOFUtsies Socks

What I did on vacation!

Yarn: Tofutsies made by South West Trading Co. Made of 50% Superwash Wool, 25% Soysilk Fibers, 22.5% Cotton, and 2.5% Chitin (fiber made from shrimp and crab shells. Claims to be naturally antibacterial.) The yarn was easy to knit with, but was made up of several strands which at times could split and be missed in the stitch. The socks are one of the softest I have ever felt!

Needles: Bamboo double pointed size 1 1/2 US.