another bag for felting

Yay! I just finished another Sophie, and like the other one, it will have to wait to be felted. I used my kool-aid yarn, in the Black Cherry colorways. For the strap, I braided 3 pieces of i-cord. Unfortunately, halfway through the grafting, I realized that the braid was too tight (no room for shrinkage). I had to undo the grafting and rebraid. I just hope that it is loose enough to felt properly.

Blue Raspberries, Green Watermelons & Black Cherries

Dyeing is certainly addictive. I spent yesterday morning with my Kool-Aid, and I sent some of my pink yarn back through the Black Cherry. I was finally able to get the color I wanted. I also made a second attempt at a variegated skein, which came out but much better than the first. Black Cherry Grape.

There is one thing about these Kool-Aid colors. The names are completely misleading. I had leftover grape, and I was planning to make more of the red/purple colorway, except that the Raspberry Blast is bright blue and the Watermelon is bright green. Thus, this colorway was created.

I think I'm ready to try and find more Kool-Aid colors. I found a great search on the Kool-Aid website. It locates the available flavors at the nearest store. I'm currently on a quest for Green Apple and Pina-Pineapple.

kool-aid-Sophie.jpg

I didn't realize I posted this, so much for the email photo blogging. Anyway, it's the beginning of another Sophie, this time in my Kool-Aid Black Cherry.

Katia Shawl

Knitting in the car. I'm getting used to it. Today, as I went along for a road trip, I was able to make some headway on my Katia Shawl. The yarn is Katia Velour, a bit fuzzy, like a chenille.

It' doesn't strech very much, so I have to make sure that my stiches aren't too tight. But I really like the way it's coming along.

Completed Scarves!!

I've finally found time to finish up some projects. My Noro scarf is complete and blocked. My giant chunky scarf is also done.

When I was putting my scarves away, I found my Sophie. Still un-felted. I think I'll wait until I have other items to be felted, before I get it in the wash.

As for my other scarf, the Pearl Beaded one, I finally making progress. 80% complete. It doesn't photograph well, but here's a closeup...

I have more Kool-Aid, so I think I'm going to try and make my pink yarn a little bit darker. Although the humidity is back, and I might not get much done this weekend.

Dyeing at Midnight

Last night, I couldn't sleep so I thought I try my hand at Kool aid dyeing. So after running around the house looking for my little packets of Kool-Aid, I set up shop in the kitchen. Near the microwave.

After surveying all these little packets of color, I realized that I didn't have enough of any one color. The goal was a nice variegated skein of purple and red. Well, the grape ran into the mango and then into the cherry, and I ended up with something that looked akin to the raw umber in the crayola packs. Not a very pretty color.

Looking back at my rainbow of flavors, there were more Black Cherry than any other flavor.

So here it is....

and here's a close up...

and another...

It's a nice kind of peachy pink, but I think I'd like it a little darker.

Rip, Rip Rip.

I am so frustrated. Yesterday I had to rip out a large portion of my Noro Scarf. Stupid me, in the middle of my project, I switched needles. Even though they both say US9, it doesn't make them equal. I noticed that the scarf was becoming a bit more narrow, but I thought I had hit the thin part of the yarn. I finally realized that it was the needles.

Just when I thought everything was coming along so nicely.

Noro Scarf

I love the freak weather change we had this past weekend. Perfect for knitting outside on the deck. It's absolutely fabulous, and I'm quite ready for the fall.

I'm knitting a scarf from the Knitting Yarn Store UK. I love the stripey triangles and it knits up pretty quick. After an afternoon of knitting, I went inside to get my camera. When I came back out, the dog had taken over my place on the chaise and went to sleep on my the beginnings of my scarf. Isn't she cute?

Here's a close up of the scarf...

Hopefully I'll finish it tomorrow, then again tomorrow is a Monday ;-(

more pics (another test post)

I'm still trying to decide which photo blogging site I like best. Flickr.Hello.Photobucket.

Byzanz Bag (& testing Flickr email blog)

I finished sewing on the handles late yesterday. I like the way it turned out. I just hope my sister likes it.

It's the first time I've used such a chunky yarn. The Byzanz certainly knits up quick on the 15 needles. Finally I have another FO!! Yes!

Byzanz Bag: Part 1

I'm almost done!!

I'm using the handles I bought for my organdi bag. (As I'm still disgruntled about the price markup, I've decided to order smaller handles for that project.) Anyway, I've finished the body, now all I need is fabric for the lining. Just what my craft budget needs, a trip to G-Street ;-)

Here's a closeup...

this yarn is so soft and fluffy, I think I need to get more....