Saturday, September 27, 2008

Bags, bags, bags...

This week, I got the cutest little bag from here on etsy. She let me customize the photo, so my bag is my house... FUN!

So for a while I have been thinking about market bags. I have been arranging and sorting my studio, organizing my stash - only about half is listed on ravelry, so I need to work on that - and thinking about holiday gifts. There are two see through yarn cabinets in the studio - one holds all my cottons/flax/hemp, one all my felting wool. So as I am looking at all this hemp - and quick, easy projects are appealing, since there is more time dedicated to moving then knitting still - so I have been back into market bags...

The first market bag I knit is this green one. I love the bag, but the pattern (which came with the yarn) was a disaster - the strap was so long and the bag so large, the first time I used it, it was hitting my ankle as I walked to my car... That cured me of knitting bags for a while... I did finally take the handles apart, tie a knot for the join in the straps and it is now getting a lot of use.

The next one, the small green hemp bag, was an experiment to see if I could knit a small but functional bag, for when I walk to my garden and harvest just a few veggies... The hemp that I used was pretty scratchie - but with the hempathy bag pattern (not their yarn, though), it came out quite well. This yarn is weird though, the bag has been washed several times and seems to be felting a little... Since the knitting is far from perfect on it, I am not worried.

So as I have been staring at my cotton - I picked up this tan cotton that was already rolled and made a produce bag off the top of my head. It is knit from the bottom up and I used an alternate stitch pattern from my green bag - k1, k2tog, yo - the bottom and the handles are garter stitch. I haven't used it, as I think I am going to give it as a christmas gift....

Since the produce bag turned out so well, I decided to do a
compagnion market bag off the top of my head. I changed the bottom to stockingette, straps as well. I changed the stitch pattern slightly - p1, k2tog, yo. I would have like to have made it deeper, but it actually works quite well. I ran out of yarn for the strap, however, the length appears to be perfect. I have not used this one either - although I have stuffed it and walked it around the house a bit. I don't want to give away a bad bag... It could used to be blocked, as well.

I bought some hemp from my LYS a while ago, and they gave away a free pattern, I think it was for earth day. I found the pattern a couple days ago and have started that bag in a dark brown cotton - so far, I love it, but it is still only about 4" tall.

Finally, yesterday, while cleaning out some knitting from my nightstand, I found a strap that I made with the remainder of the first hemp bag and decided that I should used my last skein of the green wierd hemp (200 yards) and some pink
flax that I bought for $0.50 a 65 yard skein and make a bag. I found an old pattern from knitty for the stitch pattern - easiest one yet - yo, k2tog - and was off to town while watching the debates... I have one more skein of flax, the bottom will be the green hemp - should make a good bag.

I am teaching a market bag class for our staff knitting group on Wednesday - probably the next few. By the time class is done, there should be a whole arsenal of knitted bags for my grocery use, and some for gifts.... And I will feel really good about getting rid of this cotton (and flax) that I have been holding onto for at least 3 years!

Happy KNitting!!


Monday, September 22, 2008

I have been a bad blogger...


I have had so little time lately. My grandmother fell and broke her other hip last week - so there has been lots of stress and trying to work out schedules. I am supposed to go on Friday to see her for the weekend. If she does not move into a care facility, I will have a weekend of travel and knitting.... I am already rolling yarn in hopes of that!

These two shelf brackets were my awesome vintage finds of the weekend. They will hang in my studio holding up the knitting books. Now I just need two more sets... The studio is coming together. I have opened an etsy destash shop for all those things I was sure I was going to use, and now know that I never will.

There will be knitting to show soon, I just need to weave in the ends...

Off to overnight Dad's birthday card...
Happy KNitting!!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Rudolph

I feel like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer - and we are not even close to Christmas. This cold has been kickin' me around for the past four days - but now I feel like I might be on the upswing! Finally!

The really sucky part is I haven't even felt like knitting!! However, there is some knitting that hasn't been shown here yet. I love my stripy hat - and its actually been cold enough here on a couple nights, I have gotten to wear it! Okay, it may have been overkill, but with my cold, I had the best excuse... And nothing makes me happier then fall and winter clothes!

And the beginning of X-mas knitting - a small cotton grocery bag. I like this bag - but its pal in the next picture is turning out even better! Now I just have to get back to it - and finish that second spectrum scarf!

That's the quick update - there will be more with prettier pictures soon!

Happy KNitting!

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

PRGE questionnaire

1. Why did you join PRGE?
I love this swap - everyone treats each other so well (punk without the attitude...)

1.a. Have you done other swaps? Are you doing other swaps right now?
I have done bunches of other swaps - the only other one that I would consider right now is the coffee swap that starts again in October, I think...

2. What are your five favorite things? (these don't have to be knit related)
Creating, finally having some space, good food, good hugs and my husband

2.a. Do these things allow any hints into your personality for your punk pal?
probably...

3. What are your three favorite things that you have made with knitting/crochet?
stockings for the whole family last year, Hush dress, Monster knucks

3.a. What do you tend to make with knit/crochet?
I tend to make a lot of hats and fingerless gloves... oh and socks are running close behind...

3.b. What do you hope to make (or complete that you have started) someday?
My Secret of the Stole 3 shawl - I love it, but it really takes concentration for my to work on it and I haven't had any lately...

4. What five things would you love to see in a swap box someday? Why?
I love new patterns that I have never tried with the yarn, great project bags (since I won't purchase them), chocolate - self explanitory, something that I cannot get in Denver, anything with thought behind it!

4.a. What do you hope to never see in a swap box again (or ever)?
acrylic yarn, silly yarn books, and anything melted...

5. What are your three favorite yarns? What are your three least favorite yarns?
My three favorite yarns are any handspun sock yarn, black wool or cotton yarn, yarn to knit latvian mittens with in colors and any yarn that is pretty, natural fiber and pretty to look at...
Least favorite yarns are acrylic, scratchy, and mohair.

5.a. Do you like solid, self-striping, or multi-colored yarns?
I don't mind self striping for socks, but I don't like yarn that doesn't strip but has color flecks (learned that one the hard way about 15 times), generally though, I really like solid color yarns, I find I actually wear what I make out of them.

5.b. What are your favorite colors? What are your favorite colors to knit with?
My favorite colors are purple, burgandy, gray and black - I will knit with most any color but grey, black, olive, creme and taupe are the projects that I wear... The others tend to get donated...

6. What are your five favorite delicacies?
Good steak, good wine, good french fries, veggies from my garden, and good friends

6.a. What yarn do you hope to one day try and why?
I am not sure... I tend to love whatever I am currently knitting with...

7. What are your three favorite guilty pleasures?
Bad TV, chocolate cake with white frosting, and driving to work

7.a. What are your favorite tv or movie charactors?
I only rarely see movies, though I could be convinced to see the new Cohen Bros. film - I love Chuck, My Name is Earl and The Office

8. What are the five things you look forward to every week?
Going to work, seeing my husband every night when I return home, knitting during staff meeting, cooking on my day off, getting more settled into our new house

8.a. What do you do during your week (ie - work, take care of three kids, race walk)?
I work at a daytime drop-in shelter for women and children experiencing poverty and I love every second of it - great staff, great clients - I also try to commute by bicycle - knit a little - cook a couple days a week - garden and sleep

9. What do you collect?
Everything - but I am trying to quit collecting so many things.

9.a. What collects you?
Yarn

10. When is your birthday?
July 31st

10.a. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas - I love giving and receiving gifts! Halloween is a close second - its just so fun to dress up!!

11. Do you have any wishlists?
I have a wishlist on amazon.com

11.a. Do you have a "favorites" collection anywhere that your pal should know about?
I do have a favorites list on etsy.com

12. Do you have any allergies or health related conditions that your pal should know about?
I am allergic to wheat - however mr.sunneshine benefits from anything that I do not eat, so I never worry about it

12.a. What drives you nuts?
Not much - I am really laid back...

13. What do you do for work and what do you do for fun?
I am the director of programs at work - coordinating programs in health, jobs, education, and art -- for fun, I garden, sell things on etsy, teach knitting, knit, and read...

13.a. What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
I am not sure - I think I would try to sell my art

14. What would you like your pal to know that is not covered here?
I am super laid back and love swaps - I will love anything that you do as long as there is a little thought to it! That is why I love this exchange - its all about the people! I know that what ever you do, it will be great... Thanks for playing!

14.a. Are you excited for the contests or will you just pretend that they do not exist?
I enjoy the contests - its so fun to see what everyone does - the entries are generally so diverse!