Craft-a-holic

It's not really ready yet, but I want to start the transition. . . so. . .
Here is Booga J. Stop by, change your links, check it out.

What am I doing? No posts since 12/3! Well, I am working on a new blog to replace this one. I'm creating all the graphics from scratch and trying to spruce things up with a little Javascript, but I hope to have it up and running soon. The template on this blog just never really worked for me. I've also made another felted bag and I'm working on a scarf for Maddie -- pics soon!

I finished the Koigu socks! And let me tell you -- they are soft and comfy. My husband tried them on and decided that he wanted a pair (although in a more "manly" color -- brown-ish, of course!) I love my Regia's because I can throw them in the washer and dryer -- can anyone recommend an easy way to wash koigu socks?


This will give you a better idea of the color. They are much more beautiful in person! The color is P118 and I bought it at Thread Bear Fiber Arts. I can truly say that I can HIGHLY recommend them. I dealt with Rob there and he was just wonderful.

Thanksgiving is almost here!

And here are some helpful, crafty and fun links for you to check out!

• Butterball Turkey Info - Includes a turkey calculator and FAQ. And don't forget the turkey hotline - 1-800-BUTTERBALL - open from 6AM to 6PM on Thanksgiving!
• Crayola - This site has tons of free ideas and fun crafts for the kids. Make sure you check out the Educators section too! You can even sign up for the online newsletter when you register. They send activities for every season such as free coloring pages to print. One "junk" mail I like to get!
• Scholastic -- Here is a great website if you are interested in the historical perspective. Quite educational.
• Martha Stewart - Just click on "Learn" to avoid some of the merchandising going on here! There is a whole section on Thanksgiving -- lots of good info.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Okay! Here is the soap before cutting:


And after:


First I took some clear glycerine soap base and melted it in the microwave. Then I added about 2 drops of red soap dye and 4 drops of yellow. I also added some grapefruit essential oil. I poured this in the mold (just one of those disposable gladware containers) and put it in the freezer. After about 20 minutes I removed it and cut it up into little cubes. I threw these cubes back in the "mold" and put it back in the freezer. You need these pieces to be really cold because in the next step you melt white soap base and add your fragrance -- I used mostly grapefruit with a little peppermint and some bergamot -- then you pour it over the pieces. Still with me??? Then I froze it again and sliced it up after it was hard.


And here is an experiment. This is lavender/peppermint soap. I first made the leaf shaped soap in a leaf mold I have using the white soap base and green dye. I froze this and then tried to suspend it in clear soap. The bottom soap was re-melted because the leaf started to disintegrate when I added the hot clear soap. Even if you freeze the suspended pieces, it doesn't always work!

And just to prove that I am still knitting too:

Here is the little washcloth that I made for Maddie with super cheap Sugar 'n' Cream that I got fot less than $1 at the local Michael's. No pattern necessary. I just cast on 40 stitches and knit a few rows (on size 8's, I think), then switched to stockinette (keeping a border to prevent curling) and knit 6 rows, seed stitch for six rows, etc. Quick, easy, cheap and Maddie liked it!

Today I decided to make some soap. It's hardening right now -- pictures later. I bought Melt & Pour Soapmaking a while ago and I refer to it whenever I make soap. If you are looking for a fun, inexpensive and easy Christmas gift then you should try it too!

And for more origami fun -- check out Origami Museum. This incredible site is perfect for beginners because it has little step my step "movies" for the models. Just click on a model, scroll down, click on play and grab a piece of paper so you can fold along.

Like origami? Check out Oriland. You will NOT believe this website!

Yesterday's search for knitted cat toys resulted in this Swirl Ball. I had some kool-aid dyed wool laying around in the stash that wasn't as beautiful as I had hoped it would be, but it is just perfect for a colorful cat toy! It knitted up really fast and the instructions were very clear. Before I sewed up the seam (It's knit in one piece -- so clever -- so there is only one seam) I stuffed it with a hunk of fiber-fill stuff and put a wrapped up piece of batting in the middle that was filled with cat nip. So, am I giving this to the cute kitties for Christmas??? Nooooooo. . . I, of course, couldn't wait and gave it to them today. Here is Fancy taking a look at it:


Then Maddie grabbed it and started walking around, clutching it to her chest saying -- "I love the ball!" When she was momentarily distracted Spike got a hold of it and was having a good time though, so I think it is a winner!

Christmas is coming and I am starting to think about gifts for my furry friends! (That's Mud, Spike and Fancy from left to right.) I think knitted toys filled with a bit of the 'nip will be just the ticket. This led me to Knits for Pets (and Those Who Love Them) and Knitlist gifts -1995-2002 Pet Accessories and Toys.

Okay -- two goals for today.

1. Document all UFO's - I have decided that I can't start any new projects until I finish at least half of what I have started.
2. Start working on Christmas cards - I own an online rubber stamp store so I have a lot of rubber stamps. This means that I feel like I should personally make all my Christmas cards. Last year it went pretty quickly once I came up with the design -- which always seems to be the most difficult part for me.

These goals are in addition to my other regular tasks -- I need to go to the bank, place a Longaberger order for my friend and do lots of laundry. (Oh yeah, I also sell Longaberger.) I think that should keep me busy, don't you??

Over the weekend I took an all day class at Paper Source and made this cute little box of books. And here are the books:


It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot too. My crafting buddy took the class with me (she also took the photo album class with me). It's great to have someone to do these things with!

And here is the little one on Halloween:

Note the lovely shade of blue that her lips turned from eating the lollipop.

While surfing around this morning I came across this Medieval Egyptian Knitting page. They even have a pattern so you can make it too! And since I was on the subject of socks, I decided to search for a toe-up pattern for my next pair of socks and I found one here at WiseNeedle.com. Although I still have four pairs in progress right now, so I'm not sure when this will happen.

I found this Halloween Hot Pad pattern on the web and this Pumpkin Pencil Topper pattern, and don't forget the Pumpkin Dishcloth!



And here is what we did last night -- yeah, mine is the happy firendly one on the right. Mine never turn out evil looking -- always happy and grinning. And what about this here pumpkin -- talk about big!

I added a Book Review section today. I am an avid reader and have always wanted to keep a record of the books that I have read. Now I have a convenient place to do it. I will be adding books as I finish reading them -- probably 1-2 a week. I also plan to add knitting book reviews as soon as I get a chance.

I finished the little Lorna's Laces "Child's Play" socks for Maddie this weekend -- not the best picture, but she doesn't want me to take them off! Listening to her say "Pretty socks!" with a big smile on her face made it totally worth the effort. She will be getting another pair of socks soon -- I have some Regia left over from my socks, so I might try to stretch that out with a little filler yarn (on heels and toes?). Now I am working on a pair of socks for Pete -- they are from the Knitting on the Road book. More details later.



But the big excitement of the weekend was a trip to the pumpkin patch. Here is Maddie with her Daddy (above) and with me (below - not the best picture of me - ugh).

As you can see, I am carrying my felted "City Shoulder" bag and wearing my "Cozy" scarf :) The weather has been pretty nasty here - cold, grey, rainy -- so we were glad to get out of the house on Sunday -- even went for a nice walk around the neighborhood to checkout all the trees. I think we are at peak color right now.

Well, I brought back tag board and the comments now that the template is pretty much in shape. Leave me a comment!

Okay -- this is a little better, more understated. I think I'm addicted!

Okay -- I know it's annoying, but I am learning how to make animated gif's. My next one will be better -- I promise!! If you want to know how I did this -- just email me!

The Cozy scarf is done and I am wearing it as we speak. It really didn't photograph all that well, but it sure turned out great if I do say so myself. It was knit using "Cozy" by Thaki Yarns and 19US needles (actually a circular -- cheap plastic Susan Bates. Worked like a charm and got it for 40% off with one of those great Micheal's coupons!) I used a simple K1 P1 rib after trying about 10 different patterns and 3 different needle sizes. Who says a simple scarf is easy! Only complaint -- the Cozy yarn had joins or shall we call them knots. I expected to have each skein be in ONE continuous piece since this is somewhat pricey designer-type yarn. Other than that, it was a very satisfying project -- very quick.



And here are the oh so cute socks that I am knitting up for my little almost two year old! I'm using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Child's Play. They are coming out really cute and I have gotten over my misery of having to rip the first one out. They are so quick (gotta love kid's projects) that I may even have them finished for her birthday on Wednesday.

What have I been doing? Well, over the weekend I painted my bathroom, put up new towel bars, bought fabric for a new curtain, made the curtain, bought a curtain rod, installed it and hung the new curtain. Whew. Didn't leave much time for knitting, but I am feeling proud of a big job accomplished.

On knitting. . . I started my alpaca/silk "throw" and I am finding that about 5-10 rows is my limit for one sitting. It's the type of thing that you need to concentrate on (which is difficult to do with an almost 2 year old running about). I have also been working on socks for this almost 2 year old -- but I had to completely frog that -- grrrrrr. I tried the first one on her after the heel turn and it was just too tight for her comfort, so I switched from 1's to 2's and it seems like this should work just fine. Her big birthday party is this weekend, so I guess I will have to curb the knitting in favor of cleaning the house and making lots of food!

I put up the beginnings of a gallery page today -- very basic. I hope to have a page for each finished item listing pattern used, yarn used, needles used, wip pics, finished pic, etc. But today there are just a few pictures. . .

They're finished! I finished up my Regia's this morning and I'm wearing them now. I made the cuffs rather short because I never made a pair of socks with Regia and I wasn't sure how much yarn I would have. As it turns out, I have a lot left over. Might make matching socks for Maddie! And here they are on my tootsies:


one last photo for the day -- my first yarn.


I made a single ply of the dark wool first and then a ply of the lighter so that I could ply them together and really be able to see what I had. I discovered that I spun it too thick, but I think that I am starting to get the hang of it.

Where do I start? This weekend my friend Theresa and I hit the yarn stores in Chicago and I was pretty good, but I did buy a bunch of Alpaca/silk to make myself a cute little wrap/scarf type thing that they call a "throw." I also picked up Rebecca and Jo Sharp 1. I haven't mentioned my recent purchase of massive amounts of sock yarn on the internet, but I have my work cut out for me. Pics still to come. I also got my spindle on Friday from the Bellweather. They were so great -- fast shipping and they included a second spindle for FREE. I started spinning Friday and the very first yarn I produced was nothing much to look at, but I was rather proud anyway.

I have been trying to finish the second Regia sock even though I have been quite busy (shopping Saturday and painting - yuck - my bathroom Sunday). Does the second sock always seem to take longer than the first? I'm also knitting away on my "Cozy" scarf, and with the weather that we are having I will be needing it soon! I also have a new scrapbooking goal -- a 2 page layout each week. My daughter is almost two and I haven't finished her first year album yet. I am proud to say that I just finished 2 pages and it is only Monday! Maybe I can get in another 2 pages this week.

Another finished object! It isn't blocked and the ends aren't all woven in (groan -- my least favorite part of knitting!), but I couldn't wait to try it on Maddie.

Now that the finished objects are starting to pile up I think I better start a gallery page -- maybe tomorrow.

Wow -- bag felting must be popular judging from the responses I reveived concerning my felted purse. It is all dry and I am searching through my stash for the right button/closure. Over the last two days I have been feverishly working on the cute little cardie for Maddie using the Elaine Yarn from Schaefer in Fragglestone colorway. I have it 85% finished and I think it's awful cute. Pics later today? Tomorrow? We'll see how it goes!

Okay -- I decided to put a plastic grocery bag around the boxes -- if you try this, I suggest you do the same. The damp boxes were starting to smell like wet cardboard and I didn't want my new bag to smell funny.

And here it is! It's still wet and I haven't added any kind of closure yet, but this is it! After you felt it, the bottom is sort of rounded and undefined. I just shoved (and I mean shoved!) two small boxes in there to help hold the shape as it dries (second picture shows this). I think I was supposed to wrap them in plastic first, but I didn't. The bag wasn't wet -- just damp, so I figured it would be okay. Can't wait to use it!

Here is the bag after the first wash -- still a little misshapen and big. Into the wash again!

Well here is the bag "pre-felting". I tried to give you an idea of its enormous size by photographing it with the armoir. Let's put it this way, when I hang it from my arm is hits the floor! As I write this, I hear the first wash cycle ending. They say it might take three wash cycles -- we'll see. Despite it's size, this was a VERY quick and easy project. Basically it is knitting (stockinette stitch) in the round on 10 1/2 US needles which is a great TV project. No thought required. I even found myself knitting "by feel" without having to look at the project while knitting -- kinda cool!

Post-felting pictures coming soon!

Well, I have read all the Knitty articles and I am digging it! If you haven't already -- check it out.

I haven't updated in a few days, but not for a lack of knitting. Sock #2 in the Regia is coming along and my felted bag project is almost ready for felting. I'm already up to the top shaping / straps. I also am half-way through with my scarf made out of the Cozy I talked about before. Don't be fooled -- I don't spend all my free time knitting - just most of it. However the last couple of days have been taken over by my business. I have an online rubber stamp store - Stamping Online - check it out if you are a stamper! A new line of stamps came in and I was swamped with website updates and new orders. This is good news, but I am tired anyway.

In my spare time I have decided to start a new craft -- SPINNING!! Does anyone out there spin with a spindle? I purchased a spindle kit and some fiber online and I can't wait for it to get here. Please email me with your tips and tricks all you spindlers!

KNITTY IS HERE!

Getting my knitting links updated. Also finished the sock pictured below and started sock #2! The mornings are getting chilly here so I am inspired to finish these cozy socks. Also making a trip to my somewhat local yarn store today. I need so many different needles to finish various WIP's that I might not have any cash left over for yarn :(

Working toward a better blog -- might not look too pretty for a few days.

Here is the progress on my Regia sock. The color is 5033 and it is really putting me in the "autumnal" mood. My WIP pic is rather sad and small so I tried to compensate with the nice up-close detail photo.


And here is my pride and joy of the week -- my photo album from the Paper Source class. Looks like class number two is in the future -- can't wait!

No pic of the photo album yet, but the class was a great success! My friend and I both had a great time making the albums and are planning on taking another class at Paper Source. As for knitting, I have been working away on a pair of socks knit with the Regia (pic below - 9/13). I really like this yarn -- soft, springy and lovely colors. I should have sock number 1 done this weekend.

Okay -- tomorrow I will have a non-knitting post! Tonight my friend and I are going to take a class at The Paper Source on book-binding. Should be a lot of fun -- we are learning to make photo albums. Pics tomorrow. Meanwhile I am starting to knit up the Regia and it is great to see the colorful yarn knit up - sunset style.

I've been working on the bag pattern that I got from "Two Old Bags" at Stitches Midwest and what a relaxing project! Basically you use very big needles and knit, knit, knit. It's knit in the round, so it's a wonderful mindless TV project. The bag looks HUGE though (pic coming soon!) -- so I can't wait to see how it shrinks when it is felted. Any tips on felting??? Please leave me a comment!

Installment #3. . .
Here is my first Regia purchase (I hear that once you knit a pair of socks with this you are hooked). I'm not sure what the pattern will look like, but I think the colors are great for autumn. If anyone has a good pattern for Regia let me know!

Installment #2. . .
Here is my "Cozy" yarn from Tahki Yarns. It's not really as bright as it looks in the pic. Basically it is a big bulky wook center in a verigated dark grey surrounded by this multicolored rayon eyelash. Very autumnal. I started to knit this up on my 10 1/2's and they were not big enough, so I switched to 13's -- same story. Now I am in search of some 20's??? I am attempting to make a big warm scarf, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to do it with only three skeins. We'll see.

Here is the fruit on my mini get-a-way on Saturday. I also got the new Vogue Knitting on the Go: Socks Two book. However, my LYS didn't have The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook: Dyeing, Painting, Spinning, Designing, Knitting yet. Speaking of my LYS -- I want to give a shout out to Jefferson Stitches! They were incredibly helpful and friendly. If you are ever in Naperville, IL visit them at 232 S. Washington.



Here is the first of my "What I Got" installments. This is Elaine by Schaefer Yarns in the color "Fragglestone." If is 99% Merino and 1% Nylon. As you can see, I already rolled it into a ball because I just couldn't wait to try it out. This yarn is springy and soft -- very fun to knit. One great big hank makes a cute little cardie for Maddie that will be bright and cheerful during the winter months. This knits up on 11 (US) circulars, so I think it might be a quick little weekend project. However, my LYS was out of the 11's so, I have to hold off for a while on this one.

I'm leaving Maddie with Pete and taking a yarn shopping trip -- yeah!

The linen washcloth project continues. Also planning a "get-a-way" this weekend. Maddie is going through the terrible two's and Pete has agreed to watch her this weekend while I get out of the house! Planning on some new sock yarn purchases. Hope I can find some of the New Opal Brasil colors. I have never knitted with Opal before, but I am longing to try some of the new colors.

Here is the linen washcloth that I have been talking about. It is coming along quite nicely, and although I hoped to knit it up in no time flat -- it is knit on 4's (US) so it isn't the quickest thing. I decided not to post a picture of the "blanket" yet because I realized that there just isn't enough of it yet. I do have this lovely pic though:



This is one of my many knitting bags. I slip-covered a bookcase for my family room with this great fabric from Ikea and I had a bunch left over, so I decided to sew up a knitting bag. It took almost no time at all and the bag is roomy enough to hold a big project. I love Ikea!

Oh no -- first I take the weekend off and now a post sans pic. Well, I'll get to that tomorrow because I did start two new projects. First, the linen washcloth that I was talking about. When I first started with the linen, I though -- What did I get myself into. It is rather stiff and looked like it might be thinking about fraying, but I have to tell you that I really like it. It is knitting up beautifully and so easily! No snagging or fraying or "un-plying." Can't wait to finish it up and wash it because they say it gets softer each time you wash it -- and you can even throw it in the dryer!

I also started a blanket. I had some Mission Falls 1824 cotton laying around and I just started knitting it up -- plain old stockinette stitch. It is just a small throw and I know that I am going to run out of yarn and have to find some more, but I am doing a freeform stripe design, so dye lots that don't quite match shouldn't be a cause for concern. Pic's tomorrow. . .

It's all done! I finished the alfie bag yesterday and today I put in a lining as you can see from the second pic. I never lined a knit purse before, so I did have a little trouble. I think next time I will ditch the sewing machine and hand sew it in place. But I consider it a success for my first "bag" project. Now I have a place to keep my cashmerino glove project and the lining will keep those pesky dp needles from poking through. Next -- the linen washcloths from Knitter's Stash: Favorite Patterns from Americas Yarn Shops. I've been wanting to make these for a while, and if they are nice and fun -- more for Christmas gifts!

Okay -- so this isn't a completed project or even a WIP, but it is my newest kitty and as you can see she is also possessed by yarn. I have three kitties -- Mud (named for the band Mudhoney), Spike (we were thinking of getting a dog -- yeah right!) and Fancy (named by my little, almost two year old, girl -- this is HER kitty). So, answer this -- do all knitters have cats???

One of my favorite online yarn stores is The Wool Shack. Why? you ask. . . because they have Jo Sharp wool at good prices and they have a great pattern library which allows you to view many of the patterns that are in the books before you by them. Check it out!

Okay -- here are the mittens! I really love these mittens. Basically I took some yarn that I had laying around, found a basic mitten pattern that would work for the yarn that I had and decided what design I wanted to use. I added a long ribbed cuff using the Furz and there you go.

I am trying to make improvements to the website -- got the link page started last week and andded commenting today. Any other suggestions??

Feeling like a slug today -- maybe I will upload a pic of my mittens tomorrow, I knit them in my own pattern with Jo Sharp Wool and Berroco Furz. . .

Here you go Ellen! This is the Alfie Bag that I got FREE with my subscription to Rowan. The pattern that they sent with the yarn was a little disappointing because it was just a black & white xerox and the picture was barely worth looking at. However, the yarn was nice and it is knitting up quickly. As you can see, the side has a kind of striped effect. I thought that it was supposed to be plain ss from the terrible pic, but following the directions, it turned out to be a modified seed stich kind of thing.

So -- now for my report on Stitches Midwest. . .
I didn't find out about Stitches until quite late, so I missed out on signing up for any classes, but the market was quite wonderful and the vendors were all exceptionally friendly! Here are some of my favorite things from the show:

• Black Water Abbey Yarns - So friendly and they gave me a free swatch card with all their yarns! The yarns is gorgeous stuff from Ireland and I am planning on buying some to make up the purse pattern that I got from. . .
• Two Old Bags -- Great Bag Patterns of all kinds and a lot of felted projects. I bought the "City Shoulder Bag" pattern from them.
  
  They don't have a website, but you can email them at: Knagorney@aol.com. I also got a pattern for Christmas stockings at their booth and I am planning to buy the wool for these from. . .
• Arnhild's Knitting Studio - Arnhild was a delight to speak with! She specializes in Norwegian Knitting supplies and patterns. Check out her website for traditional Norwegian patterns and all the trimmings to complete the perfect sweater -- pewter buttons, clasps and ribbon trim.
• I also stopped by the Louet Sales booth to pick up the elusive Euroflax linen yarn that I have been wanting ever since I got Knitter's Stash: Favorite Patterns from America's Yarn Shops and saw the patterns for the washcloths. I haven't been able to find it around here, so I went to the source.

Of course there were many other great booths and great ideas, these are just some of the highlights! Gotta go start knitting!

Off to Stiches Midwest! Full report tomorrow. . .

I'm still working on the Rowan Alfie Bag. -- I've got one side and the front done. It went fairly quickly and I just love the All Seasons Cotton that they sent with it. So here is a colorful sock that I knitted with some yarn I got from eBay. The sock isn't very interesting, I know, but what I really wanted to tell you about is the pattern that I used. It is called Classic Socks for the family and is from Yankee Knitter Designs. It is a EXCELLENT resource for all you knitters who want to use up some yarn that is lying around but don't have a pattern that will work. This pattern has 5 sizes of socks! and three weights of yarn and it's only three pages long. There are also three different styles. I know this is hard to believe, but it was so easy to follow. If you need a good, general, all-purpose sock pattern, head out to your local yarn shop and get this pattern!

Working on my little "free project" bag from Rowan today. Hope to have a pic tomorrow. Today I will add a link page -- check it out and email me if you know about any cool knitting pages.

Another WIP -- this one is for my daughter. She's not even two yet and I am making the size for 3-5 yr olds -- you can see my confidence in completing projects in a timely manner! I am feeling good about finishing the back already. I never did any colorwork before and it went much better than I thought it would. I guess a fair isle sweater may be in my future. This sweater was supposed to be knit with Catania from Schenmayr but I had no luck finding that yearn in the colors that I needed so I used Plymouth Yarn's Wildflower D.K. and let me tell you that I will never knit anything with it again. The plys kept coming apart and unwinding -- it has been driving me crazy. Well, I guess the best way to learn is by making mistakes.

A work in progress. Hopefully I will get a WIP link going soon -- I have LOTS of these. These are ribbed gloves that I am making with some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. I have to tell you that I have fallen in love with this yarn -- it is truly wonderful. There is a great sweater in the Debbie Bliss Knitting Workbook (which is a great book btw) that I want to knit using this yarn. It is a great big aran type thing though and I think I will have to break the bank to buy that much Cashmerino! Although I found a great website called Halcyon Yarns that gives you a discount if you purchase in bulk.

But back to the gloves. . . these are knit on Brittany size 3dp needles and I am loosely following a pattern from Vogue Knitting Mittens and Gloves. It's one of those cute little collectible "Knitting on the Go" books that seem to be reproducing on my bookshelf. I'm knitting the "Three-Quarter Length Rib Gloves" but since I only bought 2 balls of the Cashmerino I didn''t think that I would have enough to make them so long -- instead they are going to be quite short. Wish me luck! I am just about ready to start the fingers, and while I have made several pairs of mittens this is my first "Glove Experience."

Okay -- day two and I'm sitting here wondering where to go from here. I have a ton of projects that I have done, so I am just going through and post them a day at a time. Today's project -- a knitted purse! I will give you the pattern for this too! Basically I just took some DK yarn in Superwash Merino and started to knit. It's kind of hard to tell from the picture, but I did this in a basket weave pattern. So all you do is figure out how big you want the purse and knit a swatch -- (k4 p4) X desired number -- to figure out how many stitches you will need across. Or you can do what I did and just cast on about 40 stitches -- make sure it's divisible by 4! The I repeated the (k4 p4) pattern for four rows and switched. Basically it's like this:
XXXX----XXXX----XXXX----
XXXX----XXXX----XXXX----
XXXX----XXXX----XXXX----
XXXX----XXXX----XXXX----
----XXXX----XXXX----XXXX
----XXXX----XXXX----XXXX
----XXXX----XXXX----XXXX
----XXXX----XXXX----XXXX
I'm sure you get the idea here. So, I continued in this manner until the piece was twice the height of the finished purse, plus a few inches extra for the top flap. I then knit an i-cord for the strap. This was quick and fun! Try it -- forget about patterns and just knit!

Here is my first post and I don't know where to start. You can see the knit beaded bracelet that I hade last night. I guess I will tell you how it's done! First you get a whole bunch of beads and string them onto some sock / lace weight yarn. I used Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn. Then you just start knitting! Well, it's a little more complicated then that. I spent a long time making mistakes before I got it to look like I wanted it to look. Basically I cast on two -- yes two -- little stitches. I then pushed over three of the beads and knit a stitch. Pull over three more and knit another stitch. On the next row do the same, but the two stitches are going to start spreading apart now! Don't fear, just knit the second stitch without moving over any beads when this happens -- every third row or so. Once it is long enough, snip your yarn and tie the two ends together. I found that you could notice where I did this, so I took one of the larger beads at one end and just shoved it through a knit stitch on the other end. It was fun -- try it out for yourself!

posted by Julie  # 8/18/2002 04:52:00 PM