Knitting Project Bag

The other day, while looking through "Mason Dixon Knitting", I came across a photo of some knitting bags in
the front (p. 13) of the book (Gardiner, K. & Shayne, A., 2006. Mason Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter's Guide. Random House, Inc: New York, NY). It reminded me how I did not ever buy The Bag and it is now probably too late.


Years ago, I pined over a Susan Todd birch cloth bag--The Bag--for my knitting. It was a small tote, of yellow-ish birch cloth . . . amazing. It had a little button closure and a fabulously long handle that did not put the bag in your armpit.

This was one of those purchases that I had committed to "someday".

I found Susan Todd online somehow . . . (long story shortened here).
SHEEEE'S MAKING ME A BAG!!!

Garden Bling

The other morning, as the sun was coming up over the house, I went out to the flower garden to capture some morning dew.

I found this spider's home in the grass.









And some sun flowers that had finally come out to show their faces.

Humming Bird

The other morning, My Husband was looking out the back, sliding-glass-deck door and saw a hummingbird in the flower garden. I had to take a closer look, so went out onto the deck.

The hummingbird flitted over to another side-area garden and did his/her flitty flying into the flowers there. It then LANDED ON THE CLOSE LINE and sat there looking at us on the deck. Then, IT FLEW UP TO THE DECK RAILING AND FLITTI-ED WITHIN A FOOT OF OUR FACES! It was looking at us looking at it!

This is nothing a camera could capture (otherwise I would post the photo on this blog entry) especially since the camera was inside and we were outside. This is one of those photos that will have to be captured in our memory. I'll be old(er) and remark "remember the hummingbird on the closeline" and it will cause a smile.

Chrissy Gardiner Class (aka: My Sock Summit 2009)

I went to Textured Colorwork (really a sock class) today with Chrissy Gardiner. She just published this book:

We learned stranding techniques, colorwork and the phrase "whatever works" (as a good reminder that sometimes there is not a "right" way to do a technique). Reinforces that we all come to knitting (or whatever) with our own skill set. We know stuff. About stuff. Now, I know more stuff. We studied Bohus design. Amazing.



I took this learning opportunity to go shopping. I bought Chrissy's book. NOTE: I can call her Chrissy as I have met her in person. I think she'd be okay with that. She's originally from Minnesota, which makes us almost related.

And some nice yarn in mini-hanks that will make their way to The Sock Blanket.





And a VERY nice Project Bag from the Yarnery. It is crafted by their own talented "Sarah". It's kindof a green thing to do. Nice bag, too!














Afterwards, I had a nice lunch with a nice friend. Good day!

Anniversary

I got these nice flowers for my anniversary today. When My Husband asked me out for the very first time, we celebrate that day. It is the Saturday night of a local antiques market that we do. This year, we did not get to go out for dinner and spend this time together.

He is a sweet man.

Bohus-Inspired Sweaters

I keep thinking there should be a Ravelry Bohus group discussion on Bohus-inspired sweaters. Or maybe Bohus-inspired objects. I have found several during my thinking about starting my REAL Bohus. Like here:

Enid Cardigan (http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Patterns/Enid-Carigan.html)

and here on Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Crory/bohus-two
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/trollenwol/bohus-cardigan (Trollenwol's Cardigan)

And this one at Classic Elite:

Caitlyn Pullover (http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/9/Issue9.php)

And, this one in Handknit Holidays:

Sugarplum Pullover (http://savannahchik.typepad.com/photos/handknit_holidays/yokesweater.html)

And this yoke cardigan (Freya) in Interweave Knits, Fall 2009.

I have misplaced some socks somewhere . . . Chrissy Gardiner? I better go look around s'more!

Where is 2006?

I keep all of my knitting magazines . . . you never know when you might need to pull out a back issue to consult for a stitch or a pattern. Or for somebody. I am looking for Interweave Knits Fall 2006 and Winter 2006. I have "lost" all of 2006. I keep most magazines in the same place, in chronological order.

Except for 2006! Aaargh!

So, what happened in 2006?

Goodli-ness in the Mail

Getting a package in the mail is good . . . even if you really already know what it is.




WEBS is having a summer sale . . . so I ordered a box of grey goodli-ness!

Sock Summit KAL

This is my Sock Summit KAL sock . . . since I am still trapped in the house. I bought this yarn when I ploy-ed my daughter to go to the yarn store after our grocery store excursion. I seem to be able to get to a yarn store from just about anywhere!

The yarn is Happy Hands Hand Dyed Yarns Toe Jamz Sock Yarn (superwash merino 75% and nylon 25%; 450 yd per 4 oz approximately) at happyhandsyarn.com or available at Knitter's Palette in Lakeville, MN.

Very nice yarn . . . it's a bit Harry Potter-like.

Butternut Dye Bath

I tried some natural dye-ing at home. Allbymyself (well kinda, with e-mail support and with the kindnesses of My Husband).

I purchased some natural yarn (both skeins, top one dyed-- with butternut, one natural--bottom skein) from Hickory Hills (located in Nelson, WI) at the Eagle Coffee Shop (not it's real name, but Eagle Something) in Wabasha, MN. This yarn shopping was whilst on girls retreat in Stockholm, WI.

I dyed with butternuts (top brown-ish) we collected at our retreat rental home--amazing. When readying, My Husband helped schlep the water and the hot plate and the hose, and the tubs. He watched me checking the temperature and asked important questions like "is it getting warm?" and "is it warm-er?".


In the same dyebath, I put this grey wool (undyed on the right) and out came a nice brown-grey.



I am pretty pleased with this allbymyself dying effort.

Now, what to knit?

Oh, and did I mention I know The Mayor of Wabasha, MN? And, that they have a nice store where to purchase Swedish Fish? It's actually a chocolate store, but I like Swedish Fish.

Community Knitting

(from The Yarnery e-newsletter, August, 2009):

Promise Blanket 2009
The Promise Blanket is a charitable project that began last year. You may remember that together we created and auctioned off a blanket made of sock yarn squares. This year the project will have a few changes.

We will still be asking for the help of all of you to knit (or crochet) some squares - this year in worsted or DK weight. Instead of making one large blanket, we hope to make many smaller blankets to donate to KidsCan of Minnesota.

KidsCan of Minnesota is an organization created by families for families who have been touched by childhood cancer. KidsCan recognizes the unique needs of the entire family as they journey through and beyond pediatric cancer. Because of this they put together resource totes for these families. Please feel free to check out their website at www.kidscanmn.org.

How can you help? We would appreciate any of the following:

• A 7 inch square made of machine washable worsted or DK weight yarn.
• Donate any of your left over machine washable worsted or DK weight yarn to The Yarnery. We will be making that stash available to anyone who would like to knit squares for this project.
• Check out the KidsCan website at kidscanmn.org for a list of other items that can be donated for the resource totes and add one or two of those items with your square.
• Mention our project on your website, blog, store, class, etc.
• Drop off or mail your completed square to The Yarnery between August 10 and september 14, 2009.
• Join us at The Yarnery Sunday, September 20, 2009 from 6:30-8:00pm for an "old-fashioned" sewing bee to seam the blanket together.

Questions about the Promise Blanket can be emailed to Sarah at incaknits5@gmail.com
Thank you for your support and good will.

sokkgirl plans on being part of the "we" this year . . . hope you will, too!

Sock Summit 2009

I ordered some Sock Summit yarn . . . (and a pattern) because I just have this notion that "sokkgirl" should be at Sock Summit. So, instead of going to Sock Summit, I went Sock Summit shopping!

I visited the Dye for Glory Voting on Ravelry and pre-ordered this:
here:
http://www.threeirishgirls.com/catalog.php?item=275

I had to look up "estuary" in the Google "dictionary". Just think, new knowledge AND new yarn!

Happy almost Sock Summit . . . there should be a KAL for those of us sock knitters at home--like Tour de France or Olympic Knitting. This all has to do with Yarn Harlot and Tina (my sock yarn superhero).

Oh, and The Yarnery cool people will be there!

Pee Ess: This is cool . . . a whole Sock Museum!