Tweed Shoulder Bag

Yesterday I cast on, and cast on, and cast on, and cast on, and finally (for now) cast on the final project I have for this Christmas. The project is from Debbie Bliss' Fall Winter Magazine

I have to admit, there are a lot of projects in this issue that caught my eye. But the Tweed Shoulder Bag is one that I'm going to try and get finished for the 18th of the month.

I've chosen Bliss' Donegal Chunky Tweed, the recommended yarn, in the denim colourway. The gifty has demonstrated an interest in denim coloured bags recently, so...

I chose to make two tweed bags for my friends gifts this year. Now, I didn't realized I'd chosen tweed as the yarn for both until I was in Romni purchasing the yarn.

The first bag I made, the Folded Tweed Bag was very straightforward and simple. This Tweed Shoulder bag, as you might have noticed from the fact I had to cast on 5 times, is not as simple and straightforward. There are 3 patterns within the front and back panels. It will be interesting to see how this goes along. I'd never make comments on the personalities of the giftys, but I am wondering if I chose pattern that suit their personalities. LOL

Organizing and Updating

I've been trying to organize my knitting projects, needles and stash. As a part of this project I'm also trying to up date my stuff on Ravelry. One reason is I love Addi circular knitting needles. I've heard they are reusable and that I don't have to have a new pair for each project, but I don't know what I own so I sort of keep buying them.

Check out my beautiful organizing system. These are just a few of my bins. We have a problem in our basement with periodic flooding incidents during the summer. We've had 3 floods in the past 5 years. Because of the possibility of water in the basement we try to keep everything off the floor and in plastic bins. I've found that shoe boxes work really well for my knitting projects.

The flood in the summer of 2005 brought raw sewage with the rainwater into the basement. Out went my stash and all my needles. It sort of gave me a fresh start and an excuse for overindulgence. But come on already.

I think at this point I have 2 sweaters, 3 summer tops, 2 scarfs, 1 pair of fingerless mittens, 2 shawls, 2 bags, 2 baby blankets, 2 afghans, and a cowl in various stages of process. Oh my gawd, I've just realized that I have ADHKD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Knitting Disorder)

Some, like this top are hibernating because I goofed some how and I don't have the heart to frog the entire left side. I must have changed the gauge because the left front is less than 1/2 the width it should be.
This beautiful Angel Shawl has an error as the stitches are out. Both these projects will take some concentrated time to figure out what's up and what's to be done next. I might even need professional help.

On the other hand, this top is perfect at the moment. I just need time to figure out what to do next. The point I'm at now is written with some of the instructions already given and some new instructions. I have to go back and figure out how far along I'm with the first set of instructions and then and the new instructions. Confused? Well, so am I.
The instructions for the center decreases were set much earlier. I need to decrease for the shoulder now, but continue decreasing for the center. I'll figure it out one day, again when I have a working brain.

At the moment I'm working on 3 projects. The Tweed Folded Bag that is giving me conniptions with the garter stitch border. Have I ever mentioned I hate picking up stitches or counting over 100. This project involves both picking up stitches and counting to 400 or so. Argh!

In addition I'm finishing the second of these Drops Alpaca fingerless mittens. Good thing the weather's been so mild as I've not needed them yet. These are my purse knitting as I carry them around in my purse.

And I'm working on this cowl. It is the Hobnail Wrap designed by Penny Ollman and shown in the Fall 2009 issue of Knitter's Magazine. I was actually 5 rows from finishing when I discovered I had 4 extra stitches and the bobbles didn't match up. So I frogged it and now I'm on the second row of bobbles. Only 8 more rows of bobbles to go.

The bag, and cowl are Christmas presents. I also want to make another bag. They all have to be finished by the 18th of December. I better get at it.

I'm not allowed to purchase anymore yarn or start any more projects but, the last time I was in Mary's Yarn store in Unionville I saw the most beautiful silk yarn. It was a variegated purple/silver colourway and only $35 a skein. Hmmmm, if I sort my projects and finish some, maybe I can buy some for my Christmas present to myself. Don't you think?

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop

During the summer, I picked up a copy of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop. Two weeks ago I really began reading and knitting along with the book. I'm loving it. Her instructions are so straight forward and easy to understand. I definitely will be picking up her other books and her daughter's books in the coming months.

By the way, November 30th will mark the 10 year of EZ's passing.

The book begins with instructions that include cast on, knit, purl, increase and gauge. I couldn't believe that after all the years I've been knitting that I could learn so much about the basics. I've changed the way I cast on and increase.

The hardest step to follow from EZ's book is the instructions on determining gauge.

DON'T test it on a 2 inch square, but on a decent-sized cap. Why do you suppose I'm having you make a cap?
TAKE IT off its needle, lay it out flat, dab at it with a steam-iron, perhaps, and place two pins in it EXACTLY 4 inches apart horizontally.

Taking knitting off needles and measuring was the hardest thing I have ever done. It makes the most sense, but I still don't trust my skills in being able to get the stitches back onto the needle. I'd have to frog it and start from the again.

Now I am dyslexic, so I frequently misread instructions, so somewhere along the line I missed the hat measurements, and the first attempt was a little long.



I left too much space between the ribbing and the beginning of the colour work. The other mistake was in not reading the "Important Note" on page 30 that stated that the decrease as stated on page 29 would make the cap "come to something of a point". Well, as you can see it did. So my first attempt at the hat was TOO BIG

I decided to try another hat, but this time with more colour work.



I've been afraid to try the two hand throwing of the wool. With EZ's instructions, the continental knitting method was so simple. I looked at the picture on page 29 of the beautiful colour work of the crown of the hat, I decided to try that for myself.


Unfortunately, I became a little tight in my tension and the hat ended up being TOO SMALL.
So, of course I had to try it again. This time I switched the main colour to the darker of the two. This time it was JUST PERFECT.



Now I have three hats. I think of them as my 3 Bear Hats, one was too big, one too small and one just right.



I made all three with Ecological Wool by Cascade Yarns of Undyed Peruvian Highland Wool. I bought the wool at Mary's Yarns in Unionville, my favourite yarn store.

A Shawl if a Beautiful Thing

I've worn my Champagne Bubble Wrap twice since I blocked it. I feel so regal while I'm wrapped in it's pretty pink and blue triangles. I specifically purchased a dark gray turtleneck sweater to show off the colours of the wrap.

I've learned that a very finely knit garment looks like buckess until it is blocked. I've read that somewhere, most likely in that exact language, but until I've seen the results for myself I could never believe the difference.

Folded Tweed Bag Update

I HATE PICKING UP STITCHES!

I've been working on the edge of the bag for the last 10 days. The bag was finished ever so quickly, but the picking up stitches is driving me crazy.

I even drew a plan for myself so I could see where the stitches would be in relation to the 4 stitch holders I was suppose to be using and the 408 stitches would go around the rectangle. Since making the plan, I've lost it. (Deh, I have the pad of graphpaper, but no plan). And, I can't seem to be able to count up to 408. I'm going to try again tonight and use the split stitch markers so I can divide the counting up.

The worst thing there are only 6 rows of knitting and then the bag is finished.

Oh, and I broke my own rule about not buying new yarn until I finished something I've already started. But I found a really cute pattern in the Knitter's Magazine Issue 96, Fall 2009. On page 26 of the magazine they have a beautiful a Hobnail Wrap, which is a large cowl. I decided to make one for Christmas for the elderly mother of a wonderful man from work. This gent is a member of my building security and is a one of those people who make you feel good every morning when you arrive in the building.

I found a beautiful cranberry coloured yarn from Kertzer. It is the new Northern Chunky in Cranberry Cocktail (0409). I chose the yarn in acrylic as it will may need to be washed frequently, and I know this gent does the laundry. It isn't my goal to make his life harder.

It is almost half done yesterday evening, even after it took me half a row with bobbles to figure out how to make the bobbles (oh, it's knit together, not knit. It's going so fast as you knit with 2 strands of the chunky yarn together on size 9mm needles. Hopefully I'll have it finished tonight.

Champagne Bubble Shawl

Before I begin documenting my works-in-progress, I thought I should document my finished projects.


First off I have my Champagne Bubble Shawl. I call it Champagne Bubble Shawl because I knit it this July when my sister Kathryn was home for her week vacation. When Kathryn is in the house, Lawrence Welk is playing on the t.v., ergo the name of this shawl. It was knit to the soundtrack of LW.



Yarn: 3 hanks of Cadenza Hand Paints by Estelle, 80% Superwash Merino Wool and 20% Tussah Silk in colour 966 (Verigated pinks and blues), 350m to 100g
I have 60 grams left over.



The pattern is from the Lace Live article by Jane Sowerby in the Summer 2008 issue of Knitter's Magazine, Page 28. The pattern was called Midori Green Shawl




I finally got around to weaving in the ends and blocking it today. With the change in weather I'll be able to use it as soon as it is dryed.

Blogs: How many can I manage?

Blogs have been SO important to me as I've learned about the adoption process in Kazakhstan and in keeping me sane as I wait. I also, along the way discovered knitting blogs. They are a wonderful way of sharing my love of knitting and learning about this comsuming hobby. So it seemed natural to begin both a blog about my adoption journey and my knitting. However, somewhere along the line I started a third blog about my house. I guess somehow I'd separated my life into boxes and created blogs for each of the boxes.
Well, I've decided to do away with my home blog and I've deleted it. It's now gone. Hmmm, maybe I should have saved the entries first, oh well, it's not really gone for the next 90 days and then it will be really gone.
From now on I'll have a blog to keep track of my adoption and homelife (they are one and the same, right) and one for knitting.

Let the edging Begin

The body of the Folded Tweed Bag is finished. Now I begin the picking up stitches for the edging.



I will be using the light beige colour, the one called Autumn, to do the edges. The edges are done in garter stitch.

I'm really pleased with how this bag has knitted up and I love the feel of the yarn.
The colours of the yarn seem to be working too. I love the pink and the blue shades, and I love the MC, the dusty rose colour.

As I've been working on this, I keep thinking of all the lovely sweaters in Debbie Bliss' Fall/Winter 09 magazine that are in the tweed section. My mind keeps saying, 'Hmmm, maybe I could knit that sweater". Then I remember that I promised myself that I'd actually finish a bunch of my works in progress before I spend another penny for yarn. One day I should record all my works in progress. I don't know if it would encourage me or depress me entirely.

Actually, as I've been knitting all weekend, I kept hearing a voice in my head talking about an afghan that's unfinished. I really wish my brother would be quiet when I'm trying to knit, I'm sure I'll finish his afghan sometime in the next couple of years. It's not my fault he's soooooooo tall!

Folded Tweed Bag

As promised, pictures of the wool for the Folded Tweed Bag. It is knitting up very quickly and I'm liking what I see.



The pattern came from this book by Interweave Press. I bought the book because I want to knit one of the baby sweaters. However, since getting the book home, I've started on the cover mittens and now the Folded Tweed Bag. The book has a pattern for a knitted hobby horse, I'm sure that will make it to my 'work in progress' one day. Oh, and no, I haven't started on the baby sweater (YET).

This is what it is suppose to look like when it is finished. Finding the perfect buttons will be a lot of fun.


I've already have this much knitted (I cast on Thursday night after making a huge pot of Beer Chili, mmm it was delicious). So far I've done the front, bottom and about 1/3 of the back. When I've finished I add a border around the entire rectangle in garter stitch. The border will be in the Autumn colour which is the colour of the band I've just finished.

Romni Wools

I went to Romni Wools today. I'm still recovering.

I've been told how big the place was and I've heard about all the wool they have...but I was completely shocked by the place. I'm just slightly claustrophobic and I was a wee bit uncomfortable in the store. Luckily it is a yarn store, another kind of store and I would have been back out the door the minute I looked inside.

I was there on a mission to buy wool to make two bags. I found the patterns and wanted to make the bags as Christmas gifts. The first is the Folded Tweed Bag by Kathy Merrick in Interweaves Knitted Gifts. The one in the book is made with Plymouth Yarns, but I learned that no one in Canada imports Plymouth yarns. So instead I bought Jo Sharp's DK Tweed. The bag will be a bit smaller than the one in the book, but it is a bag, all sizes fit, don't they. The main colour will be Paper Rose (406) with Autumn (414), Celestine (401) and Treasure (424).

The second bag is from Debbie Bliss' Fall/Winter 2009 magazine. It is the Tweed Shoulder Bag. Now, I didn't realize until I was in the store that I'd picked two patterns that use a tweed yarn. I just liked the patterns and knew that they would work for my friends. For the Tweed Shoulder Bag I bought the recommended wool, Donegal Chunky Tweed by Debbie Bliss. I found a denim blue tweed colour that should be perfect for my friend. While I was wandering around the overwhelming yarns on the first floor, I came across a beautiful chunky alpaca yarn. It was ever so soft, unfortunately it would not have the stiffness for making the bag.

So, tonight after I make dinner, I'm going to cast on the Folded Tweed bag. It was suppose to be a light worsted weight knit up on 4.5mm needles. But, as I said, I have the DK weight and I'll be using 4mm needles. Hopefully, I'll find my camera and get some pictures. I also have to update my internet provider so that loading pictures doesn't take an hour a picture.

Off to make dinner. It's chili tonight. Mmmmmmmm. Perfect for a beautiful fall day like today.

Pink Cardigan

Moving Along on the Baby Blanket

I have 2 blocks done and I'm on block number 3. I only have one skein of each of the five colours, but I'd read on Ravelry that the blanket can be done with 5 skeins. If I need more I can certainly order more, and as there is a block of it done separately I don't really have to worry about dye lots.

I know my blog would be ever so much more interesting if I were to include some more pictures. I got the camera back from my brother who borrowed it 2 months ago when he took his students to Quebec City. But now I've lost the do-hickey that plugs into the computer to allow for down loading of pictures. One day I will know where everything is in this house...actually, no, I already know where everything is in this house, they're all in a very special place. You know that place, where you'll always remember where the thingy is, but in my case I know I put it in a special place, I just can't remember which special place I put it in.

Moderne Baby Blanket

Now I know I said I need to block and sew up my cardigan, ...but I need something to knit. And instead of going for something in hibernation I started something new.
I read on the Yarn Harlot's blog that she is doing the very boring garter stitch afghan. I went onto Ravelry to look at the pattern and decided it was perfect for using with the Knit Pick Shine Sport that I bought earlier this year.
I asked JB for his input in the colour selection. I do not have the eye that he has. He is so much better at putting colours together. I read online that Shine Sport works best at 3.5 mm. So I've cast on and I've started.
Okay, I have to make a confession. I cast on and sort of did the first block last night. But when I began the second block it didn't work. The new block was like a ruffle. Hmmm, so tonight I reread the instruction. Oh, I'm suppose to knit 36 garter ridges, not 36 rows. So I'm actually suppose to do 72 rows.
And that's where I am right now. I'm on row 46 of 72. Let see if block 2 actually comes together properly.

Nearly Made It in Time

Well, Friday was the Loretto Order dinner and I did NOT wear the pink sweater. It is all knitted, but I need to block it and sew it together. I tried to sew it together without blocking as the instructions suggest, but it is too hard to get it together. It needs to be stretched out because it has a lot of k2p2k2 sections and in the picture these stitches are flat not ribbed. So I'll block the sweater and then sew it up. I have this real fear the sweater may not fit, especially the arms. So the question becomes do I try and loose weight or redo the sleeves??????

I have a plan

I've never done this before, but I'm going to give it a really good try. I'm going to try and finish a cardigan to wear to an fund raising event.

On the evening of June 5th I'm attending a fund raiser for the IBVM sisters, the Loretto Sisters. I attended the Abbey for high school and was taught by many a Loretto Sister, but I'm really going because one of my mother's very favourite friends ask if I wish to attend with her.

Okay, now here's my plan. I'm knitting Sirdar's Cardigan #9005. I started it late Wednesday evening when I ran into trouble with the Purple Polka Purl Dots top. I've already finished one sleeve. It is really knitting up fast. So all I have to do in the next 3 weeks is the other sleeve, two front pieces and the back. Oh and block it and sew it together. No sweat. Let's see how I do.

Oh, did I mention I can't think of anything else I own that might work that night, hmmm, I'll be so busy knitting that I'll never have time to shop, so I had better get this finished. Good thing it's a long weekend.

I'll try to post some pictures soon. I don't have my camera right now, my brother took it with him when he took his class to Quebec last month and I still don't have it back.

Lost Within PurplePolka Purls

Yesterday I finished the back of the sweater, so today I wanted to start on the fronts of the top. I picked up the pattern and began decoding it for myself. I read and read and re-read the instructions. I even read the instructions out loud to my brother (not that I really expected him to understand anything I said). But I couldn't figure out what I was suppose to do.

The top looks wonderful so far. I love the way it's coming together. I just wish I knew what I have to do to get it finished. Thank goodness for the Internet. I'm going onto Ravelry to ask if anyone can help me decode the pattern.

Yarn swift was an expensive experience

I went back to my favourite yarn store as they let you use their yarn swift to wind a ball of yarn. I'm about ready to join my last ball of Butterfly Super 10 for my beautiful Purple Polka Purl Dots summer top. So, instead of hand winding the yarn as I've done for the past 2 hanks, I decided to treat myself and use the store's swift. It turned out to be an expensive experience.

Why, do you ask?

Because I could resist purchasing more of the beautiful Butterfly Super 10.

I am utterly enjoying knitting with this beautiful cotton thread. It is very easy to knit and feels wonderful. I bought 5 hanks of 3446 Cotton Candy to knit a beautiful 1 button lacy cardigan (pattern by Sirdar #9005) and 3 hanks of 3475 Geranium to knit a sleeveless top (pattern also by Sirdar #9155)

While I was in the store I wound 2 hands of the lighter colour, the cotton candy. I told Lynn that I should have wound them all as it would be less expensive that way. She was confused until I told her the cost of winding my one ball of 3928 Plum (4 patterns and 8 additional hanks of yarn).

I bought another Sirdar pattern (#8400) of another sleeveless summer top. It has a sharp zigzag pattern going up the front and back. And I also bought the Naturally Yarns pattern FC 46 of another sleeveless summer top. This one is knit in 4 ply.

Oh, and I didn't' mention the shipment of Shine Sport I received today from KnitPicks, did I? Well, I save that for another day. Maybe the day I have to pay the credit card?

Right on Track

I'm in a celebrator mood tonight. I'm making the Polka Purl Drops, pattern by Veronik Avery. I just completed the 56th row of the shaping of the front and waist with lots of decreases and making stitches, not to mention the 14 rows of purl polka dots. At this row I should have 63-2-108-2-63 stitches, the twos are seed stitches for the fake seems. Well, as surprised as I am, I'm perfect. I feel like screaming and yahooing all over the place, but it is after midnight, I might wake my neighbours.
Now on to the next stage, getting ready to divide and shape armholes.

Felting Amanda Squatty Sidekick

I'm felting my little purse again. I felted it back in March, but the hot water in my house isn't quite hot enough to felt properly. So, I used boiling water this time and it looks so much better.
I love the colour of this purse, but the picture in the pattern was done in a very pretty pink. Hmm, I could always do with another purse, right?!

I'll post another picture of the purse when it is dry and has a pretty button to finish it off. I'm thinking of getting some pretty cotton or silk to make a lining.

Buying yarn is addictive

I never realized before how addictive it can be purchasing yarn. Okay, I'm lying. I've always known, but I didn't face up to my addiction until now because I would stash my yarn all over the house and not in a one place. Now that I'm re-organizing the house I've been collected said stashes and consolidating them into one stash.
"Hi, I'm Michele and I'm addicted to purchasing yarn"
What is worse is the Internet for enabling me in my addiction. I saw the cutes knit turtle on someone else's blog yesterday (memory failure, the blog was a yarn blog and it is not remembered). So I went to find the pattern (on Knitty) and to purchase yarn to make a few for friends' children. I couldn't decide what colours to purchase so I bought one of most of the colours.
So when did I actually think I'd have time to actually make these cute little turtles with detachable shells. Maybe when I'm finished the 2 afghans, 3 tops, 2 sweaters, 3 hats, 2 pairs of socks, 3 shawls that I'm currently working on.
Oh, no, I think I'm addicted to starting knitting projects too. HELP

The trouble with DPN

DPN are driving me insane.

First they are instruments of torture, the 8 inch-going to gouge out your eye needles. I have a real problem with sharp things near my eyes. The typical DPN is SO long that I absolutely hate using them for socks as the knitting is so far away from the sharp point of the needles. I tend to take my glasses off which makes me quite blind so I have to bring my work much closer (like an inch or two from my eyes) in order to see anything. It's like those horrible 3 D scary movies of the past with the scary item flying back and forth from your eyes, except these would really hurt. Can't you just hear generations of mothers saying, "you'll poke your eye out!"

Secondly the bamboo needles bend. I found some really nice 5 inch bamboo needles, one sock down and I'd bent them all. I guess I really put pressure on them, but how do you get rid of ladders if you don't pull tight, and in the pulling I guess I put pressure. So for sock two I changed to 6 inch bamboo and they are also beginning to curve. And working with pointy, very sharp needles an inch or two from my eyes with a slight bend so the far point is not in the same place as the near point or where my fingers are holding the thing is driving me crazy.

I just hope my feet appreciate all the hard work and sacrifices my fingers and eyes go through to make these socks.

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick: Take 2

Well, I did decide to frog the purse when I got home yesterday, and I'm extremely glad I did. The shape of the purse is SO much better this time around. I had made an error right off - in fact, the error was in knitting the first row after casting on. How much early can you make your error. The base of the purse consists of 60 rows. You create the sides of the purse by picking up stitches, along the base of the purse. I realize that I wanted a knitted row for the last of my 60 rows so as to be ready to pick up the stitches knitwise.
I also decoded the pattern before knitting. When I say decoded, I mean I need to translate the pattern into both pictures and smaller units of numbers. The pattern clearly tells how many knits etc between M1 stitches, but I NEED to know how that works. So, before I start knitting, I figure out how the pattern works. My first time around I didn't do this, I just started knitting. As the body of the purse began to get wonky, I wasn't sure what was wrong because I didn't know how the pattern worked.
So yesterday, after frogging the purse, I figured out the pattern and saw how the increases and decreases worked within the sides of the purse.
Now all I need to do is finish the handle, make the closure and, yippee, felt it.

To Frog or Not To Frog

Yesterday I began Amanda Squatty Sidekick from Interweave. It is a felted purse. I knitted most of the bag last night and all I have left to do is the handle and the flap. BUT it doesn't look quite right to me. So all day I've been thinking about frogging the silly thing and beginning all over again.
Now, I know that the individual stitches will not be so noticeable when I felt it, but it will have a very much pronounced shape and that's what worries me. I don't think I made the increases and decreases in the right places. I'm so anxious to finally felt something, okay to felt something INTENTIONALLY, that I want to just finish it. But on the other hand, if I don't LOVE the silly thing I'll never use it. And, hey, I spent some very hard earned money for the beautiful green wool (Manos del Uruguay) (still think I should have bought the red instead).
Well, lets see what I decide when I get home.

Just what I need

Yes, this is just what I need, another blog. But when I go to write I keep thinking that what I want to write just doesn't belong in one of the other two blogs that I have. I'm a very organized person (not) so I must have organized blog entries too. LOL

So here is my knitting blog.
The title, knitting my life away, takes me back to high school. I believe that is one of the comments I wrote to go in the year book the year I graduated. I unfortunately stopped knitting for a couple of years, but since the fall I've been knitting like a fiend. It is one of the driving forces in my life. And one of the huge money grabbers, LOL.

Hopefully I'll add more to this blog than I do the other two.