Happy (belated) Birthday and a Greek Festival June 23, 2007

I finally finished Lara’s belated birthday gift; Knit 2 Together’s Doctors bag. Here’s a picture of of the finished project product and the recipient.

 

 

I must say, while I think the bag came out pretty well I’m not completely happy with the overall results; it’s really my own fault. I didn’t really concern myself with gauge so the bag is a lot smaller than it was supposed to be. I used 3 and about 1/8 skeins of Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Blue Flannel (I really wanted Lamb’s Pride Bulky but I couldn’t find the color I wanted), 2 pairs of Susan Bates size 11 24inch circular needles, 1 pair of straight bamboo handles, 1 pair of bamboo handles, 3/4 yards of fabric and a 2 inch button.

Here are some more detailed pictures:

 

I would make this bag again but I would change a few things: I would definitely get a bulky yarn and check my gauge 🙂

On a non-knitting note, last night my friends Lara, LuAnne and I went to a Greek festival in Watertown. Despite the rain, we had a lot of fun and some really good food. Here are some pictures of us and and really good Greek food we had:

 

I have more knitting news but that will come later this weekend.

Weekend purchases and making progress June 10, 2007

Wow-it’s only been a week and I’m slacking already. I think I’ll use knitting as my alibi.

So, first things first:

I made some purchases this weekend (actually it was Friday, but I had the day off 🙂 ) Here’s what I got:

-An Amy Butler pattern for the high street messenger bag. I think I’m going to make it for my brother’s birthday in August. He goes to music school and plays heavy metal guitar so I think I’ll do a solid on the outside and do something really funky and loud on the inside.

-Berroco Booklet #258 I bought it to make Bonnie for my god daughter, Gianna. Here’s what it looks like:

-5 Skeins of Classic Elite Four Seasons cotton. The pattern calls for Love It, but the LYS I was at didn’t carry it. Gauge-wise and weight-wise I think I’ll be fine. I can’t wait to start it. I’m going to make the bottom blue and the smocking white. My cousin is trying to consciously not dress her and head to toe pink and her eyes are beautifully blue; perfect!

 

-2 yards of fabric. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the butterfly fabric; probably use it for a gift for my friend, Angela, but it was only $2.98 a yard so I couldn’t resist. The other fabric is for the lining of the Doctor’s bag (which by the way is almost ready for construction).

 

 

 

Finally, my progress, here it is:

I’m still plugging away. Yesterday was the birthday the bag was for but I’ve spoken to the recipient and promised her present is forthcoming.

Alright, that’s all for now. I’m off to enjoy the rest of this beautiful afternoon.

In the beginning… June 2, 2007

There’s nothing worse than a knitting blog without pictures (or at least I think so).

I decided I would begin with my current WIP, just a couple of things I’m working on right now-and that have a due date!

Recently (January) my god daughter, baby g, was born. Immediately after I found out my cousin was pregnant, I setup to find the cutest baby knits EVER. I started at my LYS and eventually (after months and months) came up with this:

I really love how it came out, eventhough it took forever. It’s from a Dalegran baby book. Here’s the thing, it seems everyone else likes it too! My mom was showing it to someone at her office, who is about to have a granddaughter, and HAS TO have one for her. So, naturally, my mom volunteered my knitting services.

For a moment, please indulge me in a rant: It seems that people who request knitted items never realize just how much work goes into something. This dress for instance took literally months, it’s knit on size 2 circulars and the CO for the skirt is 278 stitches. Needless to say, after I finished it, I wasn’t planning on making another. OK, rant complete.

This soon to be grandmother wanted the dress in white and pink and she wants it for July. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

Needless to say, I’ve got a loooooooooooong road ahead of me.

In the meantime, my best friend from college’s birthday is next Sunday. For my birthday, back in February, she gave me Tracey Ullman’s Knit Two Together, which I not so subtly hinted about 🙂 When we were looking through it, she mentioned that she really liked the Doctor’s bag, so I thought, hey, that’s the perfect thing to make her for her birthday.

Now here birthday is a week away and not only am I behind but I just realized I’m going to have to frog the bottom and start again. For the sake of price, I sacrificed gauge and I miss calculated the bottom length.

Alright, I think that’s it for today. I need to get some knitting in before I go out tonight (for a Bachelorette party, YAY!)