Friday, May 15, 2009

The New Bag

Do you ever just decide, "heck, I deserve something nice!". Well, that was my conclusion about mid-April. So I shot my our lys owner an email since they carry Namaste products. It just so happened she was putting in an order so my special request for a Laguna bag could be tagged on.

I had a little trouble deciding between peacock blue and the olive green. I decided to go with the olive because somehow I felt like it might be a little more timeless.

I have had this bag for about two weeks now and I must say it doesn't disappoint.





I can fit just about anything inside with room to spare. When I first got it I was finishing my Sedum sweater and was able to fit the whole thing inside (with all my purse stuff).

This is definately not a shopping purse (too heavy), but it I am really liking it for travel. When we were in Estes Park I really liked having my knitting, purse stuff, journal, and snacks all handy (yes, snacks, sometimes I'm like a toddler, ha).

I have also made two project bags to go inside and I love them. I plan to take some photos for you very soon and link the tutorial.

I am glad I treated myself, but there shall be no more nice things for quite awhile. With treating myself to this lovely bag, a trip to Santa Fe, a trip to Estes Park, and still yet another trip to Springs next week (oh and trip to PA in June) there shall be no more knitting treats until the funds replenish. That said, there are some days I almost hug my new bag.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Cozy Leg Warmer Pattern

Here it is, just as promised, pattern number 3.

Today I published this pdf pattern on Ravlery so it is now available for download - you can see the pattern page here.

This evening I am teaching a session for a community course about online selling and durning that session I will also list this pattern in my Etsy shop. (It is going to be my demo listing.)

That's really all the excitement for today. Although, I am reading Cita con la Muerte by Agatha Christie and that has me on the edge of my seat! I'm mainly reading it to further my Spanish, but I think it would be a good one in English too.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

FO: Sedum Sweater

As I typing about this finished sweater I realized I had accidentally kept it a secret. It was kept a secret because I never remembered to get any photos of it. So now, the great unveiling! Tah dah!

Sedum by Jane Richmond. Knit with Cascade Ecological Wool, I thought the color was "coffee" but now I don't know for sure (I'll get back to you on that), on size 10US needles.

It is a very simple knit. I enjoyed doing the seed stitch, it kept me attentive. I did make a it a little larger around the bust than the original pattern, but I'm not sure I would have needed to (now that all is said and done).

Let me just say this wool is amazing! So so light and soft and a bargin! Also I like that it doesn't look extremely bulky. I mean I really love bob, but he is bulky.

It took me awhile to find buttons for this cutie. Well, actually it took me many locations. There weren't any I liked here in town (not really a shock), and I also looked in three or four shops on our trip up to Estes Park but no luck. I did find a shop on Etsy that is fabulous, but then we went to Shuttles, Spindles, & Skeins Inc. and finally I found some! I still feel they could be a bit larger, but I am definately not unhappy with them.

I'm planning to cast on another one of these for my friend, Julia, but I need to get to my local yarn shop and see if they have some more brown. I'll probably get started knitting this weekend!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Breaking the Blog Silence

Hello all! I have many things to share since my last post so let's start with what's on the needles. I continue to be addicted to sweater knitting so my current project is a light weight cardigan for an up coming June wedding.

I'm using a double strand of lace weight yarn to knit the Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig (it is on Ravelry here) .

I just completed putting the arms on waste yarn and am knitting the body of the sweater. I'm surprised at how "quickly" it is knitting up - I've been working on it about a week. I am bit concerned about how large the arms seem to be, but in the end I may be surprised.

In other news, last weekend David had the annual Colorado Habitat for Humanity conference in Estes Park and (like last year) I got to tag along for some R&R. I spent some time knitting at the local yarn shop, reading in a local coffee shop, doing a little mountain biking, a little shopping, and some snow shoeing.

Yes, that's right. It may be spring where the rest of you live, but our mountains still have snow. To be fair the weather has been a lot warmer lately, mid to upper 60's, but some of the mountains do have a fair bit of snow. (That orange spec in the photo on the right is me.)

Also this weekend we spent some time with old friends visiting Boulder. It was a great day spent catching up on life, eating delicious food, and relaxing.
Oh, and I stopped in at Shuttles, Spindles, & Skeins Inc. to try out the Lendrum DT (the spinning wheel I am saving for). Good news, my saving has not been in vain. The wheel was just as wonderful and beautiful as I had imagined! I'm half way to getting it!