Knitting for Our Troops

If you are a beginner or an expert knitter please consider knitting or crocheting one of these patterns for our troops. Toe Covers used with leg casts can be knitted and donated to your local hospital using this free online pattern http://fibergypsy.com/pmkn/toecover.html. Helmet liner patterns (crocheted, handknitted, or machine knitted) can be found at www.geocities.com/helmetliner. If you are interested in an online Knit-a-long, consider joining the yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/helmetheadskal/ Thanks for helping to provide comfort to our men and women in the Armed Forces.

It was great

The day started out stormy and ended up steamy!
Saturday at the Market was quite a potpouri. We had a nice site--right next to Curzio The Garlic Man. Learned alot about garlic and free range chickens. Talked to some fabulous folks that have become regular visitors. Sunny and Jim. We learned of their story together and how they were high school sweethearts. For whatever reason their lives took separate paths for a good number of years. Not long ago they met again for the first time in Florida wher he lived and she was visiting friends. They were married 11 months ago and look like the happiest people in the world. Well that isn't knitting related, but knowing them has added richness to my world and I hope to incorporate their story in a bag someday.
In the mean time.... I am furiously catching up on some felting. Tonite I re-felted a Mercury bag that my "stranded sister" in Minnesota sent to me, In hopes that it will fit her son's laptop. Never fear--it will look great. YOU did all the hard work!
I also felted a Man's Satchel (photo to follow), a mitered square bag in Kureyon- also photo to follow, a quiver for needles (a Cat Bordhi thing) along with various straps and pockets. Whew! Time to give my washing machine a break, and for me to get to some reading. Currently it is Alice Walker - Possessing the Secret To Joy. Maybe it's about felting, hee hee.

Cross your fingers

There is a really GOOD chance of rain tomorrow. That will definately put a damper on the Harbor Market Place, siff, sniff.

And here they are...some FO's (Finished Objects)

A couple things here that have reecently been finished. Just in time for the market tomorrow. This blue bag can be seen 'pre-felted' just below. I took a picture of it on the picnic table in the back yard and "ta-da!" it is done. The buttons are kind of military-like. They are old silvertone buttons that have a crest or sheild design on them . It reminds me of Great Brittan.



I really like the striped one. I call it "Beach Baby" Bag. It has an obscure hint of a beach scene. Grass, sand water and sky. I might just do some needlefelting or shell embellishments on this one.

A Fair Isle Forest

Well here is a post felted feature! The Fair Isle bag is drying, yes, my lovely new refrigerator is in the background. I plan to finish it with a magnetic or snap closure. This is a great smallish sized bag that nestled comfortably under your arm.

Pre-felted UFO's (Unfinished Objects)

Here are soon to be handbags and fish.
The blue bag was knit with one skein of Patons Classic Merino & Eros Glitz as a compaion yarn. This bag was inspired by a pattern in the Pursenalities book by Eva Wiechman. Her's was called - Gray Flannel and used some obscure yarn. I am hoping that this will felt well. I am expecting some kind of psuedo-metallic look. The Eros just might be a 'scale' alternative for the gefelted fish...see below





This next bag is called Kristina. My 'Senior Stranded Sister' aka Mom knit this little ditty. Really not so little. The tiles behind it in the picture are 12 inch square. The main color is forest green and the design is knit with Noro Kureuon.

You may recognize the yarn as it is the same that is used in the infamous Gefelted Fish, seen here in it's pre-felted state! These really are adorable guys, and again the floor tiles give you and idea of the pre-felted size. It fits nicely inside one 12X12 square.

I am expecting some 'eyes' on Tuesday to finish up the fish. My 'stranded sister' in Marshfield is making the glass cuttons that will give a world of character to these guys.

Stay tuned to see the final results after felting!!!!

I know I can hardly wait!

All kinds of stuff!

Okay this stuff is just WAY too much fun. Here are two versions of the same bag. It is from the Flap Dash Bag pattern. The black and turquoise and coral and lime bag is made mostly from Peruvian wool that I was able to get from a good friend in Marshfield. The black is Patons Classic. I found a book finial that we had here and drilled a hole through it and threaded in through the I-cord on the flap. Now deemed 'Book Bag'...and it works well as one! Good and sturdy, adjustable strap, gotta love it. My favorite 'senior' Stranded Sister (my mother) made both of these gorgeous bags. The other is made from Lite Lopi--yes, we got a deal on some Smileys Yarn. $2.50 a skein! Yeay! On the flap of this one I drilled a domino for the flap weight. How fun! As a side note, my beautiful new fridge is the back drop.








The domino theme continues, as I finished and finally lined (yuck!) the drawstring bag in Wildflower DK. It's lined in a nice blue/black cotton. The straps are long, but can be adjusted.















Lastly, here is the now complete mitered square bag with the lovely dragonfly button that was goven to me by a dear 'at-work' Stranded Sister. I think it's perfect. The photo doesn't do it justice. (As a side note, my beautiful new counter is the backdrop-yeay!)

In-Laws are coming to visit today, we'll be going to the Pike Creek Rendezvous and Shedd Aquarium tomorrow. More inspiration in the works, I can feel it.

Busy Day!

It's been a very busy day. I called it 'Finished Object' Day. Or "FO" Day as they say on the knitlist. Did some dreaded lining of a bag that isn't felted, but is a drawstring type. Looks fine, I just hate sewing linings. Also worked on some closures for wallets that are needlefelted, and a purple bag that is in the line of the Red Hat society. But the cooooolest thing was a mitered square bag that I knit in Lopi Lite.


It turned out quite hairy, but I think it looks great. Here are pictures of it drying. Soon to be embelished. The colors are very fun, the green isn't too electric. I was afraid that it might be too strong of a contrast with the other more natual colors. The size is nice. It stared out just under 16 inches square and is not perfect for a small day bag. What do you think.

TA DA!!!

Ta Da!!
Here is the finished bag! YEAY! I am pretty
happy with how it turned out. It is a good size for toting "what-nots". Here are a couple views...







The yellow and purple side is the side with the inside pocket. A success story there! I wasn't too sure how that was going to felt, but it turned out smashingly, if I say so myself. The ring is just for interest, doesn't serve a pupose, unless anyone can think of one? It's too thick to hook car keys on I think. I don't know, suggestions????