Felting a companion

I have started another project from the Knitters Stash book. I love this book. It is full of patterns from the owners of yarn shops around the country. The layout is lush, with great pictures and delightful narratives about the shops. Everytime I crack open this book I want to yell "ROAD TRIP", hop in the car, and visit every shop.
I am making the "My Constant Companion" from the My Yarn Shop in Coos Bay, OR. I can't wait to felt this bag and put a knitting project in it. I haven't felted in a while so I am itching to shrink some wool.
I am using my very favorite felting yarn, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, in Cobblestone Heather. I will use Wine for the contrasting color on the pocket. I will also make an extra pocket to attach on the inside for extra organization.
The Rambling Rows afghan and Henry scarf (both Christmas gift knitting I am working on) will have to go in the back seat for now while I knit something for myself.

A couple of finished objects

I finished the seed stitch stripe washcloth - don't you just love a FO? Here it is in a sweet grass rice fanner basket made by one of the wonderful artisans in Charleston, SC. I finished the vase below a while back and thought I'd add it to this post. The pattern is from Knit Picks - Felted Petal Bowls by M'lyn Walther and knit in Wool of the Andes Bulky Hand Dye Spumoni. I really like the finished product but the pattern was a bit challenging. I had to try and keep the color way in the same place as I went around. I would make this pattern again but in a solid color so I wouldn't have to fuss with the color matching.

They sell yarn in Key West

Just returned from a trip to south Florida where I scored some great yarn. I stocked up on some felting yarn on sale at half price. Huge skeins of Paternayan at $8 each at Idle Hours in Ft. Myers. Nice shop – the owners are very helpful. I don’t have anything specific in mind for the yarn, but I’m sure some felting project will emerge.
I bought this aqua Euroflax to make a washcloth for myself at Knit Wits in Key West. We were just walking down Whitehead St. and I spotted the shop across the street. I gained major points with my 2 Ohio BFFs (the same ones that forced me into knitting, God bless them).
Speaking of my 2 Ohio BFFs, they very nicely let me take pictures of their projects to post here. Ohio K is working on a sweater for her daughter-in-law. The pattern, Trina, is from the Fall 2007 Adrienne Vittadini book. The yarn is Trina and you can see for yourself how fantastic (and complex) the pattern is. Ohio K is a master knitter.
Ohio D is making a baby sweater for a new grandson coming all the way from Russia. The pattern is Handsome Blue Cardigan from the Baby-Soft Sweaters book by Lois J. Long. The yarn is Plymouth Dreambaby DK. Lucky little boy, to be entering this family. They are the best. Ohio D is also a master knitter. I keep good company… I am working on creating my very first pattern. Prototypes 1 & 2 are complete and I think #3 will be the winner. More to come…

I felt fine, thank you very much

I really like to felt. I may be out of control, but who’s to say? How many felted objects are too many? Fifteen, twenty? Some were gifts so I’m not sure they count.

Here is my latest FFO (felted finished object). This is the one JennyAnyDots was guarding. I started this little bowl over the New Year’s holiday weekend, and started, and started. I must have ripped out the stabilizing ridge and sides three times.
The first time I forgot to flip the base over before starting the ridge rows. Rip. I am using variegated yarn and wanted the stockinette side to be the inside of the base, not the underside of the base.

Then I changed my mind about the ridge color. Rip. Then I forgot to flip the base again – caught that mistake quickly, but still - Rip. There may have been another rip in there somewhere, but it was a holiday weekend and there was college football and wine involved.

This is a great pattern although it’s a slow process picking up a purl bump from the first ridge row and knitting it together with the last ridge row. Once that is done, knitting in the round moves quickly. The top is bound off in a 3 stitch I-cord. It takes about an inch and a half to see the I-cord emerge. It looks pretty messy and wierd at first. Try not to freak out for an inch and a half - it will work.

I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky Hand Dye in Yukon, Wool of the Andes Bulky in Sky, and Wool of the Andes Worsted in Spruce. This yarn felts up so great. It’s not too fuzzy and the colors stay true. It’s my favorite felting yarn. And felt again, I will...

Hail to the Victors

Happy New Year, everyone! I’m starting off 2008 with lots of pictures.

The University of Michigan Lola Bowla (pattern by Vyvyan Knitting in a Happy Camper) has been felted and celebrates the Wolverine’s victory over the University of Florida. GO BLUE!

Before felting…

I felted the bowl in the kitchen sink in about 20 minutes.

I have been felting for about 2 years and like felting by hand. It is good exercise and it’s fun to feel the yarn bind together to make fabric. I prefer felting tightly – until all stitch definition is gone.

JennyAnyDots is guarding the beginnings of a Nantasket Basket (pattern by Susan Pierce Lawrence).

I’m going to modify the pattern to make it bigger and shorter and maybe with no handle – I haven’t decided yet. Its mission will be to hold toiletries in a guest bathroom.

I have made five baskets following the pattern – two of them were Easter baskets for my two granddaughters.

Spread the love in 2008 – teach someone to knit…

Felting a Trellis

I finished this felted

Trellis Tote a while back. It was fun to knit and the pattern introduced me to a couple of new techniques. The use of a triple wrap for the slipped stitches to create the trellis effect is very creative. The slipped stitches just float in front of stockinette rows but magically attach when felted.

It is knit in the round and the flap is the result of binding off half the stitches and decreasing.

And such cool decreasing it was – the stair-step pattern emerged so easily I amazed myself.

I used a Malabrigo worsted recommended at my LYS. Just like everyone else that has knit with the lusciously soft Malabrigo, I kept petting the yarn. It’s hard to see in the pictures but the background is a variegated blue. I like the subtle color change and the overall unified look.

I felted the tote by hand, which I prefer over machine felting. I like controlling the process and I like the exercise. My reward is a glass of cabernet.