FO: French Press Felted Slippers

Pattern: French Press Felted Slippers by Melynda Bernardi

Yarn: 2 skein Cascade 220 Wool in Lime Green

Needles: US 15 circular needle

Started: August 13, 2010

Finished: August 15, 2010

This project was on and off the needles so fast I didn't have time to do any work-in-progress posts. I started the project out of hopes to have something to wear to the Friday Night Pajama Party at Stitches Midwest. The PJ's you see in the photo are my newly acquired awesome Peace Frog pajamas that I got special just for the occasion. I didn't win a prize for wacky pj's but that's okay;)

While in the market on Friday I also lucked out and found the perfect buttons to go with the slippers, phew!



Overall I loved the quickness of the pattern and it was easy to follow. I did however run into a few hiccups that would make me do adjustments for future pairs.

I would go up a size on my next pair. On average I wear a 7.5 - 8 shoe, so I figured going with the 7-8 pattern size would work. Yet, when I started the felting process the wool wasn't reacting like I hoped. The overall fabric was still showing the lines from the rows and the seam was not coming together. I think if I doubled yarn for seaming that would take care of that issue. Ultimately I ended up reinforcing the seam edge for stability.

During the felting I kept putting it in for longer and longer hoping it would fix its self and the lines would go away… but I had to stop because they were becoming way to small.

Also the top flap should have different sizes instead of being one size for all slippers. The finished piece was a bit small or perhaps I have wide feet?

Falling Down at the Kauni Booth

We arrived at Stitches Midwest early Friday morning and were able to get checked-in first thing. We then made our way down to the market for which I had no plans besides buying buttons for a particular project. Discovering that the Ruhama's booth had Kauni yarn was just magical.

Yeah, it's crunchy yarn, but I kinda dig it. It's rustic and the colors, OH-MY-GOD, the colors!! So when I saw the Oakland Shawl hanging as a display I knew that I had Fallen and fallen hard.



The one that smacked me silly was the golden brown orange yummy one. I was then hitting a brick wall. What other color to mix it with. That is when a lovey lady attending the booth came over and helped me. She showed me this trick to seeing visually if the colors would give me the look I wanted. They have sample swatches that show off the full spectrum of colors. It's a little hard to see all the depth these balls have. You take the sample strip and start twisting it with another sample. Before long your seeing the magic happen. The colors blend and pop and BAM. You've then picked your next color and are heading to the check out.



I was so excited to get going on this project that when I made my way by the Signature booth it sealed the deal. I cast-on that afternoon and was happy to bring something pretty easy to the Pajama Party that night in the hotel lobby.

Side note: Vodka Fresca's in pineapple and coconut drinking glasses is killer fun!

Stitches 2010

Where do I even begin?

I suppose showing you the loot might give you some insight.



It doesn't look like much, but I didn't intend on buy much this weekend. It was more about being in the moment verses seeing my wallet burst into flames.

What you see (starting in the top middle) with the Knit Happy mug and Shepherds Wool from the Knitting Today booth. I picked up the travelers mug last year and wanted to add to my collection. The Shepherds wool will be for the Thermis neck-warmer pattern.

Next in the pile is the KnitWhits Mini Yarn Skeins, Opal mini Harry Potter skeins from the Sit 'n Knit booth and a hand full of Holiday Yarns bits. These are all going towards my leftover yarn blanket. It was fun finding all these little bits through out the market.

The remaining items are where I fell down hard, but I liked it. The Ruhama's booth was carrying Kauni, which is a very unique yarn that produces amazing color. You might have seen this sweater done by the Yarn Harlot. Stunning really. Well, I fell in love with the Oakland Shawl pattern you see in the middle of the photo buried under the goodies. I wanted to cast-on so bad that I bought a Signature circular needle to start my project right there!! Oh those needles are so awesome.

So? How many more days until Stitches 2011??

Just Keep Knitting...

The Every Way Wrap is still going... and going...



The wrap has reached 27 inches in length so far and only 32 more inches to go. What's even more exciting is that I've knit 10 inches since my last post. Not bad. So if I continue at this pace I'll be done in about 3 and a half weeks.



This spider (whom I've dubbed Harry) has been hanging out my window for the past week. Some moments in time when I'm feeling a bit silly, I picture him attacking the buildings. Chicago better watch out, because Harry is not just your average spider;)

Oh, yeah... I can't forget to also mention that this time next week I'll be kickin' it at Stitches Midwest. Time to printout the project list, find my lanyard because it's about that time!!

FO: Coraline

Pattern: Coraline by Ysolda

Yarn: 7.5 skein Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool

Needles: US 5 circular needle

Started: June 1, 2010

Finished: August 6, 2010



Adjustments: The pattern calls for knitting the length to a certain numbers of rows. I found that my row gauge was quite different then what is called for in the pattern. I added 40 rows to accommodate the difference. Very happy with the results.



I had intended on having 5 buttons, but when I found these they really looked better with just 3. It would have been to overcrowded if I put them all on. The process of making button loops using embroidery floss was a new technique for me.

Do You Think I Like Green?

I don't know what comes over me, but every time I see this color I just about loose all sanity.



Lime Green has my number and Citron is the pattern. I couldn't resist the 1000 yards of Cashmere Lace that I picked up at Midwest Fiber & Folk a few weeks ago.

That brown yarn you see is a life-line... even in this simple pattern I'm not taking any chances. If your wondering how I got the pattern to print that way... well my darlings, I design the pages for myself. I don't like how the pages printout from the browser, so I download all the critical information and design a printout. Funny how the pattern project is also in green.



I've also pulled out the Every Way Wrap from my knitting basket. I don't recall why I stopped working on this, but seeing a sample at the Fiber Festival made me remember. It was quite funny looking at the sample hanging in one of the booths going, "Wow, this pattern is cool! I wonder if they have... oh-hells-no!" doh! So out of the basket it comes and into my knitting bag. At least it's not lime green... other wise I think people might talk about me. Yet, maybe they already are?;)

I had a brief conversation with a gentlemen as we were waiting for the train to pull into the station. He made a comment about my Knifty Red bag... "Knifty Red, huh.. shouldn't the bag be red." I'm thinking to myself, no, not really. I then commented that the bag doesn't need to be red as I'm red enough. He gave me a strange look. I wonder why? hahahaha!

Count down begins... 14 days until Stitches! Woot!

Another Gift for the Tooth Fairy

Miss Mac has lost another tooth. When I told her that she'll need to put the tooth under her pillow, she then tells me "I want a donut." I told her we don't have any donuts in the house. She said "No, the tooth fairy will bring me one." I just about died.