Quinn Cable Bag - Progress

shows one pattern repeat

I finished one pattern repeat a few days ago and another last night. I'm using Vanna's new yarn because I really liked the color, the price was right, and I wanted to see how it would work up. It's working fine but wonder if I should have used wool so it could be blocked.

So I can keep track of my place in the pattern, I color coded the odd rows orange and the even rows green. I cut and taped the chart symbols to just below the pattern so I could refer to them. I placed the pattern in a plastic sleeve so I can use my orange and green! dry erase markers to mark of each row as I knit them.

So far so good. Oh yeah, you can find the pattern right here.

Moaning Meme

I did my best not be to be influenced by others moaning lists although I agreed with many! The only one I read was Tracy's


4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth.

• racism
• rape
• chiggers - mosquitoes can stay for now
  
• Gift Giving - As much as I love receiving things and let's be honest I like getting things I like but that happens so rarely. So do we need all the things we get or give?
  

3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently.

• When people ask for links to information that is already clearly posted on the blog or forum or they ask for info w/o ever trying to google it for themselves
  
• Fear mentality
  
• Over protective parents
  

2 things you find yourself moaning about.

• That there is never enough money or if only we made ______ (insert amount needed at the time) at the time more a year.
• housework - especially the dishes
  

1 thing the above answers tell you about yourself.

• With the exception of racism and rape which ridding the planet of it would be a very good thing. After reviewing the rest of my answers I probably should get over my dang self and go do the dishes that are stacked up in the kitchen.
  

RULES

• Link to the original meme at freelancecynic.com so people know what it's all about!
  
• Be as honest as possible, This is about letting people get to know the real you!
  
• Try not to insult anyone - unless they really deserve it or are very, very ugly!
  
• Post these rules at the end of every meme!

Consider yourself tagged if you want to moan and let me know and I can commiserate with you.

New stuff and not so new stuff

Last week I spoiled myself with lots of knitting tools and accessories.



I don't know when I will get to the lovely cables sweaters in this book but some day. This book was worth it on eye candy alone. I picked it up at Half Price books for a pretty good deal. The designs are outstanding but the sizes in the books are outdated. So to make a sweater that will fit me and not look like a tent I will make the smalls! I bought the doily booklet with a %40 off coupon at Hobby Lobby.

I tried casting on for the doily but kept losing the needles form the work and the wrap kept disappearing so I plan to use the magic loop method for this and see how it goes.

Along with the doily book I got all of the goodies below, they were all on sale %50 off. I love getting a deal. Now, I have enough double pointed needles to make anything I want. I also purchased: needle point protectors that's those little things that look like socks. The little things that look like sweaters hold your needles together when you aren't working on a project. I also picked up a row counter and cable needles.



I knit this book mark a while back ago using #2 needles and #10 thread. I found the pattern for it here. I think it's pattern #2.



The last few days I have not picked up my needles or my hooks. Yesterday, I gave finger knitting a try. Check out this you tube video here of a little girl finger knitting it's a great tutorial for the process. I didn't take pictures yet but I made a few boas using some left over fun fur type yarn I had around. They could be a great way to get in touch with you inner diva.

Then after reading yet another post about Hairpin Lace I finally picked up my hairpin lace tool and loaded up this video tutorial here and started. It took a few false starts but I got the knack of it and like how it looks. I really want to make the Seafoam Skirt here. You will need to scroll down to see it.




I plan to make a scarf with this. As long as I have enough left over I will also make a hat to go with it that will have a band or two of hairpin lace.

Bags!

Finally, some finished objects to share.



This is the Exchange Bag from Happy Hooker.
F hook
Omega Nylon N018 thread. I have some left over and think I will make a coin purse to match.

To be honest it's not officially done, done because I still need to add a snap for a closure. It's pretty enough to take a picture to share right? My daughter has adopted for herself.






My first knitted bag. I used Fortissima Cotton Sock Yarn, that's discontinued, double stranded and 4mm needles (I think). If I were to do it again I would have used slight larger needles. I combined two patterns to make it. A bag pattern on Knit Picks for the eyelet stitch of the bag and a spiral dishcloth pattern that's knit from the center out for the bottom. I liked the looks of the knit Picks bag but it called for knitting a bottom then picking up stitches and I wanted to avoid it. Then I finished up the top of the bag with garter stitch then worked the straps in garter as well.





My apologies for the blurriness. I'll try again later for something better. It does give a fairly good idea of the shape of the bag.

Reduce, Reuse, Recylce and ....

......organize my knitting and crocheting tools.

I made these two carry with you knit/crochet tool rolls from placemats I picked up at the thrift store. This one I kept for myself and did use a brand new button. The crocheted closure I used frogged yarn given to me by my Dad, so another reuse.



As you can see there is room for a gauge check tool (a small ruler), scissors, stitch markers attached with a large coilless safety pin, crochet hooks for hookin' or picking up dropped stitches, a pencil for making notes, sticky notes, and I think small calculator could fit in here as well.




The on below I made for a Knit and Crochet Goodie Bag on Craftster.



This can store all the same things but I also included a small mini m&m tube with needles for weaving in ends. I'd like to come up with some other additions to this design to create a pocket for needles. I used a crochet closure as well. The "button" is a glass bead I crocheted around with #10 thread and a #6 hook.



These are really easy to make.

Just go find the things you know you will put in your on the go project bag and fold over and pin together. I try to place things in such a way that it works easily to have it fold up like trifold book, which is why the larger pocket seem to work better on the outside and the smaller pockets on the inside

If you plan to add a pocket to hold needles take that into account when you layout how you want your tools to fit then sew that on first.

Then with a some kind of washable marking pin or even tape mark where you want the sewing lines to go.

I picked up the larger coilless safety pins at Michael's, I am sure you can find them elsewhere, to store stitch markers.

I crocheted the closure by making a chain then skipping several chains to make a loop. I just put it up against the button I planned use to make sure it was large enough. I used #5 crochet thread and fairly small hook maybe a D or an E. Then I crochet back down the opposite side and into the loop then slipped stitched to join.

You cab buy buttons for your closure but you can also crochet a cover of anything just the right size. It could be a great way to cover up a not so pretty button you have around. I use #10 thread and a #6 hook for that.

If you don't crochet I am sure you could find a way to use velcro, some kind of clasp closure or ribbons to tie.

I think more than one of these could be useful and a great gift for your fiber geek friends.

A Book Review: The Gaurdians

I'm finding it hard to do book reviews lately. Some people don't want a story line summary because those are all over on the web but some people do want that. Some don't want spoilers but sometimes it's helpful to share a bit of the story. So what's a gal to do? I think I will ignore it all and do my own thing except I will do my best not to give any spoilers but no guarantees, 'kay?

The Guardians by Ana Castillo describes the hard times of Mexican migrant workers and the Mexican American's living in a border town in New Mexico. The book starts our very slow to me. This might not be a fair assessment considering I read this after reading The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. Surprise, surprise there was a Harry Potter reference in the book and a reference to Garcia Marquez which doesn't seem as surprising.

Despite the fact that it started out slow after I got to know the characters of the book I enjoyed the story. There is a deep sadness that runs through the book. Underneath it is a sense of hope and love as well. The story touches on race, love, religion, politics, the history of Mexico, and life in general in a very real way. I recommend it.

Oh yeah, This was another free early review book I got from the Early Reviewer program on Library Thing. Maybe I have a chance at winning the lottery? I could use a few $100,000 but I wouldn't refuse a good mil' either.

Writing, reading, and gadgets

If you noticed my last post it's missing words, oh the shame. Well, maybe I should read more books so I can write better or edit better, but I don't think I will. If I'm ever famous I'm hiring and an editor.

I could also blame my key board. The space bar has been sticking and some of the keys as well. Now, I have a brand new keyboard and brand new color printer too, oh the fun but no more excuses, drats.

*this post has been edited*