For many years of being a knitter/crocheter, I used to be appalled at felting.  Why would I spend a long time knitting something just to destroy it by throwing it in the wash!

Well last year, I saw the Market Squares Bag in the Bags: A Knitter’s Dozen and I was entrigued by the chance to try out entrelac as I always thought it was an interesting way to create a multicolored knit with a unique angle.  Well it is felted.  I thought further on it and realized that this would be a great way to learn entrelac and if the picked up stitches didn’t look quite right then it wouldn’t matter much because the stitch definition would be pretty much gone after the felting.  So I gave it a shot.  (2 new techniques in one project! )

Entrelac is done by casting on making triangles with short rows and making small squares by picking up stitches along the edge of the initial triangles.  This is what makes the squares look like diamond shapes.

After making the Market Squares bag, I found a pattern called Booga Bag on the web and I altered the pattern a little in order to make it big enough to carry my large projects in.

The entrelac bag was knitted with 5 different colors of Paton’s Wool on size 9 needles.  It is started at the top edge with a hem and each row of sqares gets smaller and smaller until you end up with a small ring pulled closed at the bottom.  Handles are 6 stitch i-cord.  All thrown in the wash in a mesh bag with an old set of sheets on hot with high agitation and then within a few minutes (really just 5-8 minutes) pull it out rinse and block.  I had to shave the bag after it was dried, because I put a towel in not knowing that towels will shed.  SO NEVER PUT FELTING ITEMS WITH TOWELS IN THE WASH.

The striped bag was actually really simple once I’d done the entrelac bag.  It is knitted on the bottom and handles with Reynolds Lopi and the body of the bag knitted in the round with Noro Big Kureyon.  Bottom was knitted on size 11 needles in garter stitch and the body on size 13 in the round.  I bound off the top with an i-cord edge which gave the bag a stronger border.  I don’t recommend the Lopi yarn for felting as the fibers really loosen up and make a mess in the washer.  The Kureyon is fantastic though!  Especially since it is self striping and you can make a great multi-colored item so easily with a great look.  After making this bag, I bought the Big Kureyon in 3 additional colors as I think these will make great gifts in the smaller size Booga Bag.

I’m working on a summery colored one now with Crystal Palace Iceland yarn but I will keep you all in suspence until I’ve finished knitting and felting it. 

Have you tried felting yet? Try it out with a small swatch and see what happens!

I completely forgot that I had pictures of this project which I made for my mom for her birthday this past spring.

This bead crochet project was made on silk thread, with freshwater pearls, amethyst, rose quartz and amazonite.  It is approximately 18″ with a beautiful sterling silver ball clasp and 9mm cultured pearls on the sterling bead caps.

This project was interesting to thread as the rose quartz looked nearly clear which was unexpected.  Both this necklace and the turquoise one are 6 beads around in the pattern. 

I plan to try and make another one of these, however with half the number of flowers.  I think it will string faster and look better. 

I’ve taken some additional photos of recent projects.  I’m still horrible as a photographer, sometimes taking 20-30 pictures before something is in focus!  It’s a good thing that I have a day job….

This bead crochet rope necklace was done with silk thread, white jade, turquoise, and onyx 4mm beads to a pattern I got out of Patterns & Graphing for Bead Crochet Ropes by Judith Bertoglio-Giffin.  This very nice abstract design along with the turquoise reminded me so much of the trips we took to Santa Fe with the black etched pottery and turquoise jewelry made by the Native Americans in the region.

I don’t tend too wear much silver jewely so I opted to use the turquoise toggle clasp instead.   I think it adds a bit of interest to the piece.  Its approximately 18″ and it took about three 16″ strands of the semi-precious beads which I bought at NewYorkBeads in NYC.  It took me about 3 hours to actually crochet, however, many, many, many hours of stringing time due to the fact that I took this project on a plane trip to California and the strung beads ended up in a tangled mess during the security checkpoint and I spent many hours on that trip untangling the strung beads.

This other project, really started out as an effort in swatching. 

I had just prior completed a bead knitted purse in cotton and size 11 white beads when I spotted these lovely colored blue iris beads and thought how pretty they would look on this royal blue thread I had from a lace knit project.  The thread is 10/2 Tencel www.halcyonyarn.com and I hadn’t seen or heard of anyone doing a beaded knit bag with Tencel before so I decided to try it out to see if it would hold up.

The smaller picture although out of focus gives you a sense of the size of the purse.  When I finished knitting the purse, I checked www.lacis.com for a very pretty 2″ silvertone frame which I think works perfectly.

This was quite a fun project to knit.  I wasn’t so worried about screwing it up the way I did with the project before as I kept reminding myself that it was only a test.  The project was from the BagLady Press book http://www.baglady.com/PendantEtc2SUM.htm; the Sundance pattern.  This bag is about big enough to put a lipstick or a key in. 

My plan is to use these beads and thread in another project, so I bought 1/2 kilo of beads and already had the 2 spools of thread on hand.

As you can see, for the past several months I’ve been on something of a bead phase in my knitting.  I’ve certainly made many other things without beads which I’ll continue to post. 

I’m currently working on the Karabella Feather and Fan Top which has a modified Feather and Fan pattern using k4tog and k4togtbl.  Boy is that tough on the fingers.  I’m working in a 100% silk 2/5 Gemstone Silk dk weight yarn.  (Coincindentally also from Halcyon).  I’ve finished the front and I’m now working on the back.  In order to not jinx it, I won’t post pictures until its finished.

Until next time ……

I’ve been a pretty awful blogger of late.  Much too busy with all my projects and such.  I thought I would put my latest up here since I finally got a new camera with really great resolution.  It doesn’t make up for the lousy photographer I am, so please excuse me for being out of focus! 

Here is my just completed project.  It is knitted with 26 gauge gold filled wire and 5 different kinds of Swavorski crystals.  It was knitted on a size 4 bamboo needle across 3 stitches using garter stitch.  I purl when knitting with wire instead of knit as it is much easier to wrap the wire around the needle with purling.

It is actually the second necklace with wire and crystals which I have done in the past 2 weeks.  The other one was in rose, pale green and deep rose.  However, that one the beads were all the same shape.  I think this one is a little too dressy for work so I may make another one with more “casual” beads. 

I have completed many projects in the past six months which I will be posting over the next few weeks.  Now that I have the new camera, I’m going to try to get pictures of all these things and document how I made each item. 

Until next time…

An open letter to my stash:

Stash,

This is very difficult for me to bring myself to discuss this with you.  When we first began together, you were no more than a few skeins of grey/white rag acrylic destined to be a boat neck sweater.  Look at you now!  All grown up and blooming out all over. 

A small box on one shelf in the bedroom closet used to be enough for you.  Now, that closet is completely full, you’ve moved into and taken over my office closet and there are boxes and bins piled high in almost every room I occupy. (except the kitchen, but I know you’ve been eyeing those cabinets over the oven and refrigerator!).

So now, we need to get real. 

It appears that exercise alone is not working.   No matter how many patterns, magazines and books I buy thinking that one day we’ll turn you, my growing stash, into garments, felted bags, afghans, pillows et al, …. you’re still getting bigger.  Even with knitting 2-3 hours a day and completing countless projects for family and friends on holidays and birthdays, …. you’re still getting bigger. 

It may be time for a diet along with the exercise.  We are just going to have to cut down your intake of merino, silk, mohair and other fibers because you just don’t know how to control yourself.  Of course, I’m not helping you much by getting you a fix of lace mohair, fingering weight alpaca and others every week or so, but I’m willing to accept some responsibility for your gluttony.  

I know how hard it can be to rub up against the soft, silky cashmere and not be able to stop holding it.  I know how difficult the beautiful hand painted colors are to turn away from.  But we just need to put some self control in place to prevent you from getting any bigger than you have.  If not, it may come to us having to take drastic measures, like sending you away for help. (aka donating).

So what steps can we take? 

Should we block the web sites, lose the directions to the yarn shops, and throw away the debit card until you’ve gotten down to a reasonable size? (like maybe only a single room?) 

I know this can be difficult and statistics for diets are never good.  After all, most dieters grow back all their size within a year. (You know we’ve tried that before!)   Therefore, this diet needs to become a way of life for us.  Like most addictions, cold turkey doesn’t necessarily achieve the goal.  So, we need to control your intake by consuming in moderation. 

Now moderation doesn’t mean cutting down to 10 balls of handpainted worsted wool a week, but to think more closely about whether or not I’ll really find the time or a project that’s already planned to use it.  Or to be clear, whether or not you really need it!

So let’s begin this year with a resolution to at least begin by avoiding the annual Cherry Tree Hill Yearly labor day sale on everything in stock knowing that the darn Jumbo Loop Mohair sheds like crazy and I’ll probably never get to making anything with that before the weather gets warm again anyway. We also need to keep away from the Yarnmarket.com latest additions page, because you know you can’t bring yourself to pass up those Italian cashmere desserts!  Also, don’t forget!  You need to stop clicking on “Add to Cart” when you’re browsing elann.com’s latest monthly specials on Peruvian alpaca because you just can’t walk away from a great deal!

Remember, we’re in this together!  I’ll do my part to help you with your willpower.  We’ll get through it!

Your devoted knitter,

CAT

It seems like 2005 was the year of baby things.  I guess after so many years of shawls and adult items it was interesting to learn baby sizing and a chance to make lace for sweaters without it taking 2 years!

Here are pics of Natalie’s christening outfit.  I didn’t get good shots with the baby in the outfit so maybe the family will send me theirs if they got any good ones.

The designs were my own.  I love the horseshoe lace pattern and the edging pattern is one of my favorites so I put them together for the blanket and then used sweater wizard to use horseshoe for the sweater.  I used the Lion Brand Microspun again for these.  Completely machine washable and the softest acrylic I’ve ever used.

I also just finished a pair of socks for my father-in-law with some of the last balls of lion navy sport weight.  All packaged up and just about to send them off for his birthday.

My knitting group has invited me to teach the beaded crochet techniques so I’m hoping to take pictures of the groups progress next month to post up here.  Beading was also a big thing for me in 2005 and given my now overwhelming bead stash, it probably will be for 2006 as well!

Due to the Christening being so close to Christmas in December, I really didn’t get a chance to make any gifts for the holidays except for a bracelet I made for my sister, knitted with silver wire and garnet beads similar to the one earlier this year. 

I’ve got several projects all going on at the same time right now. Including some tiny beaded crochet ropes which I am making earrings to match the rope necklace I made this year and man’s vest in alpaca/silk.

To play along with my knitting commute, I’ve been listening to knitting podcasts from www.knitcast.com which has interviews with some of my favorite knit designers and bloggers/authors.  These really get me in the mood.

Here’s the little angel Natalie in her outfit

Here are some other recently completed projects:

A sweater coat made with a space dyed angora/silk/blend by Noro.  This took me several months of on and off knitting.

This next picture is an original design top down cape which I knit in Cherry Tree Hill’s Jumbo Loop mohair.

This other wrap is from a Prism Yarns pattern knit in “Wild Stuff” and a teal chenille.

Since May, I have been keeping myself busy with some baby gifts for the expected birth of the first girl in the next generation of the Susch family.  I’m going to be an aunt!  Perfect opportunity to get to learn about knitting for babies.

Here is a set which I knitted. The sweater and bonnet were from the cyberclass on baby knitting which I took.  I designed the blanket myself using the same lace pattern from the sweater and bonnet.  These were made in vanilla Lion’s Brand Microspun acrylic yarn.   It is very, very soft and machine wash/dryable.  Perfect for a new little baby.

In the meanwhile, when I was working on the blanket, which was obviously not a good travel project, I took another cyberclass on beaded knitting.  The pattern called for making an amulet bag, which quite frankly is not the least bit practical so I doubled the size to make an eyeglass case.  It was knitted with bronze Rowan Lurex Shimmer and size 8 beads on size US 3 needles. 

Boy, am I hooked now on beading!  I went a bit overboard and bought some semiprecious beads and other beads and I’ve started knitting, crocheting and stringing beads.

Here are some examples:

The silver bracelet was knitted with 4mm semiprecious garnet beads.  It’s a simple pattern, but quite a look when adding the silver findings and clasp.  This took about 2 hours to make.  The bangle bracelet was bead crocheted with size 6 seed beads.  I wasn’t very happy with it as the cotton thread made it difficult to keep the beads firmly together.  Then I switched to size 8 seed beads and silk thread to make the necklace with the 2 colors (light blue, white) in translucent glass.  This came out more even and smooth and I finished it in about a week!

Now I’m hooked on beads!  Imagine what I can do with lace and beads!    

Here are a few recent completed projects.

First up, an afghan for a shower gift to my new sister-in-law.

This was made with Paton’s Allure and Carmen on size 35 needle.  A quick sideways garter stitch aghan.

Here is a shawl for my Mother-in-law:

Christmas 2004 was quite a busy knitting holiday for me.  Of course all the planned gifts did not get completed.  I was lucky to get done what I did.  The projects not completed were sent after Christmas or I’m holding until another gift giving opportunity.

Firstly, for my Dad, this year I knitted a vest from “Men in Knits”.  I haven’t knitted something for my Dad in a while so this was a great new challenge.  Sizing was interesting, the stitch pattern was fun and I learned how to knit on a button band.

This vest was actually for his birthday.  It was knitted with Svale from Dale of Norway.  A cotton/silk/ramie blend which is the softest cotten blend I’ve ever felt.  It was knitted on a size US 6 needle.

The next gift was kind of a last minute cheat effort due to the fact that I couldn’t get the project done in time.  I’d planned it for a year, had the yarn in my stash, however, by November I realized with all the other things going on, I wasn’t going to get it done.  So…..I knitted it on the machine and finished it by hand.  

This gift was for my mother-in-law.  Last Christmas I admired a knitted red metallic sweater which she was wearing.  She said she loved it but would have preferred a long sleeved sweater as the one she was wearing was sleeveless.  I said that I could make her one easily.  Well easily if I had time…. So, during my week vacation prior to the family visiting on New Year’s weekend, I dug out my Brother Home Knitter and designed a sweater to fit the yarn that I’d been holding onto all year.  Here I am modeling the sweater minutes before wrapping it up and the arrival of the family!

It is a funnel neck, modified drop should sweater made with Lion Brand Glitterspun.  I hand knitted the cuffs and bottom in a seed stitch which gives a bead like affect due to the metallic threads in the yarn.  I haven’t knitted with the machine in more than 10 years so I really had to relearn things like tension, correcting mistakes, etc.  After completing it, I came up with another list of projects I could make with yarn in my stash which would be great knitted up on the machine.  (Knitting machines are great stash reduction tools!!)

Next up was the afghan.  Well, I worked on this from March until June, pausing for the summer due to the heat and picked it up again in September and I still didn’t finish it in time for Christmas.   In fact it’s getting delivered as I write this!!  It certainly was an ambitious undertaking. 

My Mom had asked for an afghan to fit the new decor of her house in Florida which has a soft mauve color scheme.  She of course placed her request right after Christmas of 2003 knowing this is a big (non-traveling) project.  Something warm she said. 

Well I love lace so much that I tried my hand at creating an afghan from a shawl pattern using worsted weight yarn.  The pattern is the Kilimanjaro Kat Shawl designed by Joan Schrouder.  This was knitted with Caron Simply Soft acrylic yarn.  Even though it was a shawl pattern, it is still only 60″ square.  The pattern is designed to use a fingering weight yarn to create a 40″ shawl. 

Here it is on the blocking wires.

Here it is draped on my chair.

(Remember all pictures can be viewed at full size by clicking on them) 

 I know I waited far too long to post anything recently, however, I will try to catch up with all the projects from 2004 in the next few weeks as soon as I get pictures taken of everthing.  Since all these were gifts, I took pictures of these prior to giving them away!