Here's a nice picture of the completed Lucy Bag. It is not meant to be felted. That's good since I don't know how to felt yet. It is a nice small bag to carry a small project in. It is 8 inches wide and 8 1/2 inches high (without the straps).

Here is the sock I made with Merie's basic sock pattern. It is cast on 64 stitches and knit with US #1's. I love the eye of the partridge heel. The ribbing helps them stay up and works with my swollen ankles.

This is the first pair of socks I ever made. Even though I have a 9" foot, this sock is even too big for a bed sock. I keep them cuz they are a good example of how to make a sock.

Irish Hiking Knitalong

I joined the Irish Hiking Knitalong today and just started working on the scarf. I'm having so much fun! I mark the last row of the repeat with the coiless pin. I used stitch markers to remind me that the cables are coming up. The needle is an old set of Boye interchangeables that my Mom gave me. The only problem with them is that I have to keep tightening the one end. I put a button on the sidebar if you want to see what the others are doing with it.

Knittingfool Reference Site

The Knitting Fool is the most delicious web site. There is so much great information on this site that it will take a while for me to absorb all of it. I know I'll be there all day clicking all the links and see what all I can find.

Napoleon watches me wind yarn

Napoleon was product controller while I wouind yarn. I sure hope I did a good job. Otherwise he withholds those precious lap sessions. Now his sister Josephine is easy! Just give her a rub between the ears and she's with me all night.

Tearing out ribbing rows

Well, I bit the bullet and tore out that extra row. I tried to live with it and just couldn't do it. So I ripped out til the row that was correct. I picked up the last correct row of stitches on to a #1--16" Addi circular needle. (Takes all the stress out when you know the stitches are already on a needle.)

WHEW! I feel so much better. And now I am almost back to the top of the cuff. It says to knit about 4" of cuff using the double sandwich technique. That makes it about 2 rows too many but then I'd rather finish the "sandwich" and have it look right. Besides, John has a large sweater and it will look right with his size.

Tools I added to by knitting bag for this project:

extra set of #6 pearl DPN's I had laying around for picking up stitches and acting like stitch holders.
#1 16" Addi circular for picking up the stitches.
Plain old scissors to cut the yarn.

Mistake or learning a lesson?

Last night I proved once more that I am not perfect. I was trying so hard to get the cuff right on knitting the PW sweater. Thing is no one ever told me that when you knit rows of color that it doesn't show up until you already are knitting the next color. Example:

knit 3 rows of color A
(see 2 rows of color A and the loops for the 3rd row of color A on the needle)

Knit 1 row of color B
(see 3 rows of color A and the loops of color B on the needle)

Which now leads me to my dilemma. I was proudly looking at my almost done cuff and realized that I had 4 rows of a color that was supposed to only be 3 rows. Do I rip down and re-knit or just leave it and do the other cuff to match? The perfectionist in me says rip... The tired of ribbing self says just leave and match.

I know myself! I will rip it out and learn from my mistake. Whew! I sure hope I don't make these mistakes with the pattern...

Here I go a winding...

Today I wound balls. The last one is on the swift and others are in the chair. I don't have a permanent table so I put together 2 TV tables. That way I can put them away when I'm done.

I love the swift that I got at Patternworks. It's such fantastic quality workmanship and really solid. Well worth the money.

Met Eugene and Ann Bourgeois

I just came home from a wonderful but exhausting time with Merie. We went to Threadbear Yarn Shop in Lansing Michigan. Just getting there was quite an adventure. The weather was awful! The fog started in the morning and only got worse. By noon it was like soup. The radio kept saying if you don't have to go out - DON'T. Well, I really wanted to meet Ann and Eugene and find out about their sweaters. I called Merie and it was still a go to meet at the book store in Novi.

I gave myself plenty of time to get to Borders and wait. Turned out I got there in about a half hour with a half hour to wait. So I turned on the ham and commercial radios and listened. Just about 3:30 pm I heard that I-96 was closed due to a 50 car pile-up. WHAT!! Merie and I were supposed to be on that road right now!! Well, Merie was late and I was never so grateful. I had time to call Matt at Threadbear and get alternate directions. As for the wrecks? It turned out to be a 200 car pile up with 2 fatalities and several went to hospital.

I pause to say "Thank you G-d for protecting us!!"

We ended up 45 minutes late but it was great. They told the story of how they make the yarn. They had a trunk show with all sorts of wonderful sweaters, ponchos, shawls and tams. They have a special for the kits and you got a Philosopher's Wool bag free if you bought yarn or kits. They are such a lovely couple. Eugene put together a kit for me to make a sweater for John (DH). It is the Black and Blue colourway in the garden path pattern. Eugene made sure I got the needles and everything so I could start right away. I got a kit for myself with the "colour your own" pattern and muted pastels. I love it.

Now to watch the video again and reread the book. Speaking of which, Eugene signed it for himself and Ann. I can't wait to get started on the sweater for John.

Will I be sick all Winter??

I feel like I've been sick all winter! I haven't been knitting. I'm too exhausted! Mom has been here and feels like all the time she's here I've been sick. Not much of a visit with her that's for sure. I hope I don't make her sick. This all started as a head cold and just moved on down the road (so to speak). Now it's back to a cold. I've been in constant contact with the doctor just to make sure it's not anything I need to take an antibiotic for. When I got my new hip, they told me to make sure I get antibiotics if I have an infection. Believe you me, I am making sure!

I actually looked at the socks I'm doing and I have maybe 1/2 a foot and then the toe to do and be done with that pair. Then they'll be on my feet. ;-)

So back for more tea and then rest. I am looking forward to going to see Ann and Eugene from Philosopher's Wool on Wednesday.

Lucy Bag done

I finally finished the Pamela Lucy Bag that I was knitting. I used strawberry colored (#9237) Crystal Palace Deco Ribbon. I just love how it feels and it is a strong sturdy little bag. The closure with the large loop going through the small loop is just wonderful. I can't wait to try it out. I'll post a picture as soon as I find my camera... I know it's here somewhere.