Blue bag

Blue is my favorite color. I don't know what it is about blue that appeals to me, but I love it. Happy to be in the month of Blue.

I have a blue project going -- it's a purse based on the Fibertrends pattern called Fabulous felt totes. I've shown you the yarn before -- here. The color of the yarn is probably best seen in the picture in this post, not the one in the basket.

Both the yarn and the pattern came from The Stitch Niche in Lexington.

Victoria and Albert Museum

I was reading Mason-Dixon Knitting today, and Kay was talking about submitting her blanket to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Apparently the museum is collecting images and information concerning non-garment knitting projects and welcome submission from anyone. I looked through my finished objects and found my felted purse (which is not a garment, and is knitted) and submitted it. It is now part of the of the Victoria and Albert museum website. Go here to see all the submissions and here to see my submission. Isn't that cool?!

To submit your non-garment knitting project, go here.

Purse following felting. Still needs closure and handle

New purse prior to felting 

Felted purse done! 

Finishing and Flowers

The purse is finished. It took less than a week to knit, and then I felted it. It was my first felting project. I was so surprised how easy it was. It felted into a purse shape (which sounds obvious, but I was surprised). Thanks to comments from Knitters Review, I purchased a Clover Wonder Knitter at AC Moore to make the I-cord for the handle. I thought it would be something that the boys would think was "cool." They did, and I liked how it worked. They cord felted just as easily as the purse. Thanks again to Knitters Review, I knew not to felt them together. What a great forum.

Summary:

Pattern: Fibertrends pattern AC-9
Yarn: Miss Priss in Eleanor Roosevelt colorway; Schaefer Yarn Company. I used one skein and some left over.
Needles: Circular, Size 10 1/2
Handle: I-cord made with Clover Wonder Knitter

I started now on a clapotis using the Shimmer yarn that I have pictured below. So far, I like it. The colors are falling well in the fabric. I using two strands together which had me a little worried. The fabric is very soft and airy; it should be nice in warmer weather. The purl front and back; knit front and back; and knit in back gave me a few fits, but I went to Knitting Help. As always, it was helpful. I started last night, and I am on the second repeat for the increasing section.

Thursday is my birthday. Steve (dh) sent me flowers at work today, and they are wonderful -- beautiful. But not nearly as wonderful as he is. He'll be out of town on Thursday, and I miss him.

Grant has started running track. Yesterday he found out that he is on the "B-team," which, apparently, is good. He's running in his first meet on Thursday -- hurdles.

Image Happy

So, I've posted lots of new images. Most are self explanatory and have been mentioned before. The last one, just below this post, is a row counter from KnitPicks. It is actually pinned to the felted purse I've started, but I did a crop of the actual photo so that it could be seen. It works by sliding beads around the loop. I'm sure that the bead colors are different on each counter, but for mine, I slide 1 pink bead for each row. For the fifth row, I remove the four pink beads from the loop and slide a blue/purple bead onto the loop. This bead counts as five. The counting continues in this manner for up to 30 rows.

Row counter from Knit Picks 

Beginnings of Fiber Trends Felted Purse with Schaefer yarn. 

More projects on the Needles

I've finished one sock and have started on the other. The heel is almost done. What once was string is now a sock. Amazing.

We went to Lexington, KY this weekend and stopped at The Stitch Niche. Great store. I bought a pattern from Fiber Trends for a felted purse and yarn from Schaefer yarn Company called Miss Priss in the Eleanor Roosevelt colorway -- lots of blues, teals and greens. It looks like the ocean and so far the fabric look great.

My yarn arrived from Knit Picks. I ordered Shimmer in Stained Glass. This is 70% alpaca and 30% silk. I'm going to try to double it (it's laceweight) and knit a clapotis from it. I was reading a post on Knitters Review -- yarns to use for spring/summer versions of this popular scarf. Someone (Morgan) suggested shimmer. Here is her photo of her shimmer version: Morgan's clapotis. The yarn is so soft and beautiful. Love it.

I'll try to grab the camera tonight and post photos.