Knitting bag

I need a knitting bag. I've been keeping my knitting in a big plastic salad bowl, but it isn't very portable. I'd like to be able to take it with me... to the park, in the car. You know. To keep my hands busy so that my mouth doesn't get me into trouble!

I'm compiling a list of bag patterns here.

Felted Basket - Bag with Bobbles
Knitting tote
Stripey Strap Bag

More knitting

I decided to test-drive the shawl pattern I am doing next. I had two skeins of brightly coloured boucle that I bought to make SOMETHING for my daughter, and I thought it would make an adorable shawl. She doesn't know I'm knitting for her - so far, I've given all my knitting away.

This is the result of about an hour of knitting. It is big enough that I could finish it off and turn it into a knitted kerchief for her, but I want to make the shawl, so I'll keep going.

I alluded to a problem with my beautiful handpainted yarn yesterday. Well, here's a picture...



The background is the yarn I got originally, knit into the prayer shawl. It is hard to see the problem in this picture, so bear with me for a moment... The original yarn contains grey, green, and maroon. The new yarn is grey, green and a much lighter shade of maroon. It also has some rusty orange in it. I have to say I'm disappointed. I knew I was taking a chance on the dye lots being different, but I didn't expect the yarn to be so far off the original. The yarn is still lovely, but I'm changing my plan. Hopefully the shawl I want to knit will only take the original 3 skeins, and I can use the other 2 for something else.

Knitting project madness

I admit, I'm a new knitter. It's been less than a year since I picked up the needles, but I've found a love for yarn and sitting with my husband with the TV on and knitting in my lap. It is a portable craft, so it is great to take along with you on holiday.

So far, I've done fairly simple projects. A baby blanket. A headscarf. I'm working on a prayer shawl that is destined to be torn apart (more on that in a later post).

Things I've fallen in love with...

2 hour wrap
Easy triangle shawl
Another easy triangle shawl
So right sarong
Butterfly shawl

Why shawls? I've just always loved them. I get cold at night, even indoors in summertime, but sometimes a sweater is too much. And there's something cozy yet feminine about a shawl, especially one that has a fringe or some openwork. I am planning on doing the first triangle shawl I posted as my next knitting project. I can have it done in time to wear it this fall/winter, I think.

As an added bonus, Michael's is having a sale this weekend. They've got Lion Homespun on special. Methinks I'll be buying my yarn on Monday. My rayon boucle shawl can wait since it is more of a summer shawl and summer is drawing to a close, even in California. The weather here gets weird. Mildly hot, then really hot for a short time, then it cools right off. Nights are always cool. Anyway, I can knit the rayon boucle over the winter.

Shiny and new

I'm resurrecting this blog. I've been doing a lot of crafting, and not a whole lot of writing about it, so I figured I'd give the ol blog a facelift in hopes that I'd get off my behind and write about my crafting pursuits!

I found a really cool blog today... The Anticraft. There are lots of cool, witchy projects there, which I'd love to try, but unfortunately, I have lots of other crafts to finish first.

Oh, and I finally finished my skirt.