Felted Crochet Bag

Here's the picture of the crocheted bag after felting.



Considering the amount of time that it took to make this, I'm really happy with it. The sides were 13" tall before felting and they're now 11" tall. So it didn't shrink nearly as much as knitted bags do. Next time I know not to make it so tall, although I do like the shape of this one. It has plenty of room for lots of yarn.
I tried to mimic the handles on the Marsupial Bag but I think I made them a little too large. On the other hand, I could have made them even longer and then the tote could be carried over the shoulder, more like a shoulder bag. I think I'll experiment with the handle length a little further. The thing I like the least is that it's easy to see where one color ended and the other began.



I've not noticed this so much with my knitted bags that I've felted. I suppose I could minimize the jog by using single crochet instead of half-double crochet. But, that would involve a lot more stitches. Maybe I'll just learn to love the jog.

New Button

Do you like my new button?


Laurie made it for me. Thanks, Laurie!

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Read Me

Teresa had a link to this site on her blog today and I think it's making the blogging rounds. I think some of it is a little sharply worded but the underlying points are relevant. I'd like to elaborate on the section that reads,
"Never assume a writer owes you any response. They may receive from a few to hundreds of messages per day. Some will gladly write back immediately, others will never reply. Try not to take it personally, because chances are it has more to do with their schedule than anything else."

Lots of people either leave comments on my blog over the course of the week or email me. It's sad but true, I simply can't respond to everyone; especially with almost 400 members now in the Six Sox Knitalong. So, if you read my blog, please continue to leave comments--I read them all--and please don't be offended if I don't respond. It really is only because I'm usually very far behind in everything. And, I do visit your site if you leave the link.

Don't Try This at Home Boys and Girls

For the second time in as many months I came dangerously close to running out of yarn while making a pair of socks. This time was even closer than the last.

This is not a set-up. I really had only 1 yard, 36 measley inches, left in this ball of yarn when I finished the second sock. How cool is that! Here's the pair after blocking.

More FOs

I actually finished three projects this weekend. Yup, and I even had company in from out of town, too. The first are the Gull Wing Lace socks (above). I also finished my Cloverleaf socks for the knitalong

They sure are orange, aren't they! I was thinking of giving them to DD, but I'm kinda attached to them now. I'll wear them when college basketball season starts since the color for my alma mater is orange.

I also finished a felted bag that I started last weekend. This one, though, is crocheted.

I felted it after this picture was taken but didn't have a chance to take the "after" picture. It looks pretty good though. The best part, of course, is that I made the whole thing in only 3 hours or so. I'll post a finished picture and a little more details tomorrow or Wednesday.

With so many FOs, I just couldn't stop myself from casting on a new project. I don't have a pic yet, but it's a shawl. Stay tuned.

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New Button

Laurie made this cool button and I "stole" it.

Thanks, Laurie.

I'm going over to the Utah Arts Festival at lunch today. It's a hit or miss kinda thing. One year I got an awesome pair of hand-painted leather shoes; the next year, rien. Of course, it's like a million degrees here today. "Yes, but it's dry heat, Susan." Oh, yeah, I forgot.

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Blogging Fun

Ok, I think this actually kinda looks like me.

Portrait Illustration Maker

Warning--Not for the Faint of Heart

This could be the most disgusting thing I've ever read:

US Judge Faces the Sack for 'Immodest Conduct'

The only funny thing about this is the title of the Smoking Gun article on the same sorry incident.


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Poncho Postscript

I mentioned to DD that I was thinking of making her a poncho. She looked at the pattern and said, "But where will you get waterproof yarn?" Ahhhhh, I think DH has taken her camping too many times.

Yarn Acquisition

I got a package the other day containing the most amazing yarn. It's called Anna's Yarn and it's hand-dyed by Merike Saarniit. There are no color cards; you just write and tell her the color you have in mind. I told her I'd like a blue-green ocean color and look at the fabulous skein I got:



Not only is the color gorgeous, but the yarn itself is simply wonderful. It's a blend of wool and mohair. Now I just need to find a pattern to do it justice. Margene suggested a small wrap or stole and I'm leaning in that direction. The skein has almost 450 yards so I should be able to make something that would fit me.

New Sock

I started a new sock on Monday night.



Yeah, yeah, I know I still have to finish the Cloverleafs for the knitalong. But, there's a time crunch on these so they moved up the sock queue.




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Why Am I The Last To Know

I just cruised over to the Threadbear site and see that Rob and Matt are no longer carrying any yarns distributed by Knitting Fever. One of our local LYSs has also stopped carrying Noro, Araucania, and Debbie Bliss yarns and the owner was cryptic about the reason. She'd only say, "It's too hard to get."
What gives? Is there some obvious answer to this question which is known to every knitter except me???

Poncho Anyone?

When I went to Stitches West in February, it seemed as though every other person had on a poncho. At the time, I wasn't sure what to make of it. Were we just completely isolated in Utah (OK, don't answer that) and somehow failed to notice that every woman in every other part of the country was wearing a poncho? Or, were ponchos just easy to knit and, thus, the project-of-choice for a newer knitter? Well, maybe the answer is just a little of both. There certainly are lots of ponchos being knit (but are they being worn??). At least they're not the huge, bulky kind that my mother knit for me and my two sisters 30 (cough, cough) years ago. I'm almost ready to get on the poncho bandwagon; not for me, of course, by for my DH11. So, I hunted down this pattern which looks extremely easy. Two rectangles sewn together; I can do that. I even have some Choo-Choo yarn. Well, probably not 6 balls, but I can alter the pattern and use two or more types of yarns. Does anyone know if there's a poncho knitalong that I need to join or am I too late for that, too?

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Here's the Faroese shawl I mentioned earlier this week.

It's for my mother, who's only 4'11" tall, so I altered the size by knitting it on size 6 needles instead of the size 8 needles called for in the pattern. It's my first "real" lace project! What do you think? Not bad.

After DH saw it all pinned out, he said, "Oh, now I understand why you couldn't talk while you worked out that project." Ah, better late than never.

The pattern was written by the lovely and extremely talented Meg Swansen and is from a Knitter's Magazine that was published in the 1980s. It was re-published in the book, The Best of Knitter's: Shawls and Scarves. I know that because the instructions in the magazine of how to work the last few rows were extremely confusing. So, I checked the book out of the library and discovered that the directions are different (and clearer) in the book. I'm still not completely happy with the last few rows, but the blocking made it look much better.

I've also been working on my Cloverleaf sock for the knitalong. But, I've been stuck here:


for a week now. Just too many other projects and diversions.

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SLC SnB

I really need to remember to bring my camera to our weekly SnB sessions. Several people were working on noteworthy projects last night. Barbara is almost finished with a French Market bag made out of Noro Kureyon. She was cruising right along until I gave her some erroneous pointers. When I left, she was still tinking her last round. Sorry again, Barbara. Andrew was showing off two Marsupial bags. He had added dividers inside one so he can carry several beer bottles but prevent them from clinking against each other. Brilliant. I do believe he gave Steph credit for the idea, though. Speaking of Steph, she showed me the cuff of her Cloverleaf sock for the Knitalong. She used my instructions for the braid cast on. It's just fabulous; better looking than the one I did. Don't turn back, Steph, you can do it!! Valoree was working on the sleeve of a beautiful Aran sweater that I know she'll be happy to finish. And Margene was trucking along on her Oakley shawl. Our fearless leader,Laurie, had her cables and lace sweater, although I can't remember if she actually worked on it. She did arrive armed with an ice cream cone, which everyone else eyed longingly.

I've been wanting to take this Quizilla quiz since I saw it on another blog. But, I was afraid Laurie would kick my butt if I scored poorly. Well, here are my results. Whew.


You are a GRAMMAR GOD!


If your mission in life is not already to
preserve the English tongue, it should be.
Congratulations and thank you!


How grammatically sound are you?
brought to you by Quizilla



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Another Felted Bag

Here's a picture of the Marsupial Bag I made last week.


I altered the pattern according to Steph's suggestions; she posted them on her blog a few weeks ago (May 24th entry). Basically, you continue working the right twists all the way up the bag (including the handles). Because you bind off fewer stitches, the handle is shorter and sturdier. I'll definitely make more of these. The pattern was really easy and the finished bag is the perfect size to carry a sock project. I used a single strand of Lopi to knit mine and I'm very happy with the thickness of the finished bag. Thanks, Steph, for sharing your pattern alteration!!

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I'm Back

My blogging hiatus is over. And what do I have to show for it? Well, there are almost 325 members in the Six Sox Knitalong. The number of new members is finally waning although the number of daily posts is considerable. If you want to join, there's still plenty of time to knit the first sock. I think 10 members have already finished and the majority seem to be happy with the way the sock is knitting up. I have to say, it's a very enjoyable group (and not just because I'm the list mom!). Really, all the members are interesting, clever, and helpful to the other members.

I also finished moving everything back into my newly remodeled kitchen. Dang, what a chore that was. Only a couple of minor things remain and it'll be 100% complete.

I actually got some knitting done, too. I finished a Marsupial Bag, a couple of pairs of socks, and a Faroese shawl that I've been working on for 2 months! But, I won't have pictures 'til Monday.

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