Final March Projects

Smoda's Kindermusik teacher had seen my "Popcorn Purse" and fallen in love with it. She asked me if I would be willing to knit one for her if she paid me for my labor. I have followed with interest various discussions on "what is our knitting labor worth" and realized that no matter what I charged I would be working for pennies, but I was willing to do it for someone who truly valued handmade items. We agreed on a price and she let me know what colors she would like. Much to my dismay she was a pastel kind of girl...she chose baby blue popcorn yarn and white for the body of the purse. Even when I tried to point out that this purse would not be washable and would show dirt very easily she would not change her mind. I finished knitting the purse today and have already felted it. The purse is sitting on the dryer waiting for delivery on Tuesday.

Heidi's Purse before felting.

A project I have been wanting to work on all month is this cute bunny pattern from Lion Yarn. The Lion Brand Yarn that the project called for was ridculously expensive, especially considering the entire project wasn't much bigger than a washcloth! I found a comparable yarn from KnitPicks (Twirl) that was mainly alpaca. The finished project is so soft. This was a fun and quick knit...now to just find a baby to enjoy it! I have enough yarn leftover that I could knit one more, I am thinking I may take them to a nearby hospital to hopefully brighten Easter for someone.

I need to work on the directions for the head on the next one. The process is double knitting and though I followed the directions exactly, there are some slight holes that can be seen in the face.

These projects complete my February/March Project Spectrum items. I must say I am very glad to get blue and white behind me. I am ready for bright and cheerful. I do still need to complete my other Dublin Bay sock, hopefully it will go quickly.

Final March Projects

http://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/04/smodas-kindermusik-teacher-had-seen-my.html

Project Spectrum - First projects

When I found out that Lolly was doing Project Spectrum I thought it was an interesting concept. My ideas started flowing on what I would create each segment. Of course most of my projects are socks, but at least I would have a plan on using my sock yarn as opposed to random grabbing. I made a list of blue yarns and patterns I would like to accomplish and anxiously awaited February.

When February rolled around, I had the Feather and Fan baby blanket that needed to be finished first. We also had miserable illnesses to wade through....so here it is February 15th and not much accomplished.

I started my blue cable sock in January and thus have one finished. It is a very quick pattern using worsted weight yarn and size 5 needles. I am using Lorna's Laces Sheperd Worsted. I love this blueberry color and the yarn is very soft for worsted weight.
This purse is the project I was mosted excited about starting. I have had the yarn in my stash since October or November and have not had the time to begin. It is knitting up so quickly. The pattern calls for two strands of Cascade 220 and one of the bubble yarn. It is knit with size 13 needles. I am almost through the first skein of bubble yarn, so I am almost halfway through the project. A new skill I will be learning with this project is making an I-cord. I am looking forward to attempting it.

Project Spectrum - First projects

http://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/02/project-spectrum-first-projects.html

Yarn, Yarn, a Swift and Winder Too!!

This has been such a fun week. The mailman has been at my house quite a few times...maybe too many?? See my beautiful new yarn? The big hank of solid blue is Lorna's Shepherd Worsted weight. I got it to replace the yucky, scratchy brown yarn that I was using for my Cable sock KAL. I was really enjoying the pattern and I have to say knitting socks in worsted weight is FAST! But I wanted good yarn. I ordered it from Angelika's along with the yarn I got for my Swap-bot "Yarn Snobs Unite" partner. (I wish I could show you that too, but my partner might see and I really want her to be surprised!)

The other two yarns come from The Loopy Ewe, that Beth recommends. I have to say I will use the store again! I ordered on Sunday, Monday was a holiday and I received my package on Thursday. Sherri included some fun freebies as well...excellent customer service, not bad prices either. The mainly blue one is Cherry Tree Hill, sock weight it feels wonderful....can't wait to use it. I think it will be done up in the Dublin Bay pattern. The other a Schafer yarn, Lola it is also a worsted weight. The boys are calling it clown feet...I just fell in love with the colors, clown or not. It will go in the stash for now. The two blue yarns (socks) along with a purse project round out my Project Spectrum items. Come on February!

I love my swift. I ordered it from Angelika's. It is a piece of art. I have always been a sucker for handcrafted items, this is all wood and turns like a dream. The boys are so excited, their arms will no longer have to hold my yarn as I wind it in a pitiful ball. I never got the hang of a neat hand-wound ball. Winding yarn has become a spectator sport. Just let me start winding and I have all three boys watching spellbound as well as one of the dogs barking at the flying yarn!
Here is the ball winder. Again from Angelika's. I got the jumbo winder, probably too big...but if I do a chunky yarn I won't have to worry if it will all fit.

Yarn, Yarn, a Swift and Winder Too!!

http://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/01/yarn-yarn-swift-and-winder-too.html