Knitting Passion

While looking for a new bag to knit, I found several that I either like for myself - or for others - you see if you can figure out which is which. (hahaha)

The person who was knitting the bag at the conference Tuesday - said something about wishing she could find one with a skull and crossbones - but lamented that her son would not want a handbag. So, maybe a book bag could be done with the following graphic???

Here’s a skull and crossbones bag Not in pink for a guy, probably. You know, I really like the shape of this bag - and the handles. I might just make it WITHOUT the graphic!

Here’s another she might like to work with - fair isle skulls.

Awhile back an online friend mentioned that she was working on a booga bag - don’t know if this was the pattern or not - but, here you go.

These next few - well, I just thought they were cute, you know? And, who doesn’t need a (quick, felted) clutch purse, after all?

or a round bag

Now, this one is just CUTE. I love the accent!

And - in the “ain’t easy being green” category . . . here’s a way to use up all of those plastic grocery bags you have littering up your house: recycled grocery bag purse

bags, felted purse, recycled plastic bags, knitting, boiled wool, felting, fun

We’ve all played the game in the car . . . “slug bug yellow, no slug back!” . . . my granddaughter (the Pup) is a great one for this game. A nearby dealership has had a bright yellow bug on its lot for months - we pass it on the way to church each Sunday. A little finger sneaks its way from the back seat through the space between the front seats and - poke, poke, poke . . . “slug bug . . .” chortle, giggle, tee-hee.

So, in looking for some new dish cloth patterns tonight I was tickled to find:
the Love Bug cloth. Oh, my goodness! She will love the idea of it - if not the dish cloth itself. lol

And, here’s a pattern for the upcoming Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)
You could change to Purple and make it for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (also October)

And, of course, my favorite - the Moose cloth.

If someone you love is moving - send them with a piece of your heart.

or a cuppa

not enough? Try this page of dish cloth patterns

And, as always - have fun with it.

btw - I’ve heard from two people interested in the Christmas mini-sock exchange. If you are interested, email me at: prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net.

It’s all about fun!!!

knitting, dish cloths, patterns, mini socks, Christmas exchange, fun

I’ve been added . . . to the Alaskan knitters ring. Thanks - I am looking forward to reading and learning more about some of the knitters who live here in Alaska. I know they’re out there - I just don’t always get to visit with them.

Tuesday was an exception. It was the last day of the forum I attended for work - I spoke Monday, but Tuesday was pure learning for me - a nice break.

I noticed one of our speakers - as she waited her slot on the agenda - sitting quietly knitting. During lunch I asked her what she was working on and she brought over the most luscious felted bag - deep burgundy with a gray band around the top - and a very cool and sparkly funky yarn banded in the body of the bag and in the gray.

Gorgeous!!!

A coworker of mine and I oohed and ahhed and, of course, we asked where she had gotten the yarns - one came from The Knitting Grounds and the other was from Far North (doesn’t seem to have a web presence). I’ve never been to Far North and only recently found the Knitting Grounds - I am sensing a need for a visit to Anchorage for yarn . . . oh, it’s a sickness, I tell ya.

At any rate, should she be peeking in, I’d like to give a shout out to the woman with the gorgeous felted bag - I don’t have permission to share her name, so that will have to do for now.

My coworker is a sock knitter - she has made some gorgeous pairs - so a shout out to her as well since I also shared the address to this site with her.

Since I wrote about not taking needles to the first day of the forum, and since I knew I did not have to speak Tuesday, I decided to take along a project. Yup - the squares - I popped them into a bag with some labels and scrap yarn and during the first hour I attached labels to 29 squares. I made enough labels for 40 squares, so when I got home I started to work on the remaining.

Shelly, I should be getting them into the mail to you by Friday - unless you would like me to crochet the black edge around them - then it will be someday next week. What say you?

Have a wonderful hump day, everyone. Leave a note so I know you’ve been by.

knitting, felted bag, anchorage, local yarn store, charity, granny squares

Spent all Monday at a conference - will spend all day today there as well.

My biggest wish? That I’d taken my needles and a project along with me. Sigh. But, as I was the first presenter of the conference - and then was called upon in the afternoon to help with another presentation - AND - I was totally into the subject - I guess it wouldn’t have worked to have had something with me.

However, during my first presentation at one point I had to get everyone up on their feet to do a ginormous stretch - and a noisy yawn. It was an early, early morning for many who had flown in from outlying areas of Alaska late last night to take part today. I saw several nods and yawns - so got everyone up.

Then I told them that at my other workshops (the ones that I am the chief facilitator for - this one was done by someone else) I put small toys out on the tables and make sure everyone has a notepad so the fidgeters have something to do. I told them that I even encourage attendees to bring along knitting or other handiwork projects.

Some people just learn better when they have something in their hands to occupy that part of their brains while the other part is learning. ’struth!

I don’t think that I play any major part in the conference today (other than learning) so I may take along some yarn for some mini-socks. We’ll see.

SPEAKING OF MINI-SOCKS!

Nobody has taken me up on the offer from yesterday. Okay, I know that it has only been one day - and I am sorta new here and all . . . but, golly, folks - even if you don’t want to do the project drop me a comment and say so - okay?

Yeah, I know - there’s still time.

—————–
(another change in tone) I have crocheted about 25 more granny squares. Maybe I will take THEM to the conference! And, I have just printed off the 6 inch square knitted pattern. So, maybe a few of those, too.

Printed off the labels to attach - Shelly has asked that EACH square come with its own little lable so that the child who receives the finished afghan will realize just how many people cared enough for him/her to make all of those squares. I think that is a lovely idea.
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So, are you thinking ahead to Christmas and what you want to knit or craft for your loved ones? Yeah - I am thinking that it is getting awfully close for handcrafting gifts for everyone.

On my home blog I talked awhile ago about doing a knitted Christmas exchange - and got some interest in it. I think I will set that out as a possibility both here and there. This will be my first time to do anything like this - organizing it, that is. I’ve been on the participant side in the past.

Now, as you all know - sometimes these things can backfire - someone who says they want to participate has all good intentions - then life gets in the way and the project gets set aside and the recipient goes without. I’d hate to see that happen.

So - if you want to participate - and you have the time to do so, please leave a comment here - I will be taking sign-ups until the end of September - or until we hit 50 participants, whichever comes first. (is 50 too many for a first time thing?)

What shall we exchange? I had thought about knitted scarves - and may do that with the small group that expressed interst on the other site - but, how about something different for this site?

Let’s do a mini-sock exchange!!! That keeps it inexpensive, both in the making and in the shipping. You can use up some of your leftover sock yarns - and shipping can be done inside a Christmas card.

Takers???? Leave your name in the comments below - and email me with your name and mailing address information so that I can mix and match you up with another knitter.

Ground rules (coming off the top of my head - feel free to chime in if I have missed something or you think something should be added)


1. Sign up (duh!) Deadline: September 30th or when we hit 50 participants -whichever comes first - (did I already say that somewhere?)
2. Email me your name and mailing address: prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net (you know what to do with the AT and the DOT, right? and no spaces)
3. Pick your pattern (suggestions below - but feel free to expand on the idea)
4. KNIT!!
5. I will ask my granddaughters to help me with the matching of the donors/recipients and email you all individually so as to keep the surprise.
6. Deadline to send to your selected recipient: November 30 (to give it time to arrive before Christmas)

I will close the registration (how fancy does THAT sound?) September 30th and put a list of all participants with their blog addresses here shortly after that. Feel free to write about this at your blog - invite your friends to participate, too.

PATTERN SUGGESTIONS

Here’s one mini-sock pattern - and, hey, once you get started and see just how much fun they are, why don’t you make some up to send in for the project that the pixie mentions?

and another(CUTE!)

one in worsted weight

beads and bells!

no needles - use a loom!

Well, as you can see - there are a LOT of patterns out there - so experiment and have fun with it. Okay, ready, set KNIT!!! Leave a comment and let’s have some Christmas fun.

mini-socks, knitting, knitting exchange, Christmas exchange, Christmas knitting, FUN!

That was just so very neat . . . I opened my mailbox today to find an envelope all bulky and squishy and special . . .

How very cool is that? Thanks, Robin! Really, the pleasure is all mine. I was happy to help.

And, thanks to all of YOU who helped Wendy meet AND beat her goal of $5000 - she sits at $5380 as of Thursday night.

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Sometimes the question is not so much what CAN I knit - but what SHOULD I knit?

There are so many patterns, so many different sorts of yarns, and really and truly - so little time. (note to all - I can find as much time as the next person to do what I want - yeah? You, too? Thought so)

Here’s a link to an online version of a print knitting magazine, INKnitters with lots of informative articles and links to patterns and such . . .

. . . like this one on Short Row stitches (Learn to Love Open Loops) instead of binding off.

So, you’re just like the rest of us - dyed in the wool (heh, punny!) knitters, right? You have boxes or bags or rooms full of leftover yarn and you’re wondering just what to do with all of it. Have you asked yourself if you should/could knit a floor covering?

Well, if so - here’s your chance. Pretty cool ideas, I’m thinking.

And - don’t forget the charity knitting sites I’ve mentioned in the past - granny squares for kids with cancer - mini socks for kids who have profound hearing loss - chemo caps and the like - they are out there if you want to take some time to help out a cause that is (or becomes) near and dear to your heart.

Let me know what you’re doing.

knitting, knitting projects, charity, granny squares, chemo caps, mini socks

Shelly writes in the 8/21/07 update that the squares I sent have arrived! I borrowed her picture of the squares as my camera messed up that day, if you remember. Glad that she put the picture up so I could do that. (fifth photo down - look for the PurpleMoose on the tag)

So - any of you folks who might be reading this AND who live in Texas near Shelly? She could use some help putting the afghans together. Drop a line to her and let her know you are ready, willing, and able.

And, it looks like she could still use granny squares - so get out those scraps of yarn and get busy crocheting. I still have quite a few partial skeins that maybe could be done up - I’ll see about getting some done in between rows on the granddaughter’s shrug.

The weather is cooling down in Alaska - we are having fall weather with rain and leaves changing color. There is nothing nicer than curling up with a book on a day like today . . . unless it is curling up with a skein of yarn and a project for a favorite person. (the bigger projects are nice on chilly days because they cover your legs as you progress.)

So - drop a note/comment and let me know what project is on your needles today . . .

knitting, crochet, granny squares, fall projects

So, hubby and I made it back from the big city today - two trips up in (essentially) one week will just about do me in. Traffic - and construction - and anxiety over his surgery (successful cataract surgery, thanks) - and joy over seeing old friends from Ohio who were on their honeymoon. Add to that - staying in a b&b with great folks, but on beds that are not our own.

Well, it just makes for a long week.

But . . .

I did buy yarn while there! This time I did what most of us do - I shopped for the yarn in the big box stores. It is not the high end cost yarn, but sometimes you just have to do what you just have to do - right? Right.

At any rate, I have begun to make the shrug I posted about awhile ago for the oldest granddaughter for school. I bought a really pretty shade of purple yarn - and also a skein of pink. I’m thinking about doing the ribbed edging in the pink. We’ll see if I like it or hate it when I get to that point. I bought enough of the purple to do it all in that color if I hate the pink.

That’s what grammas are for - the spoiling of said grandbabies. I love my job.

At any rate - I wanted to remind myself - and you - of a great page to pick up knitting tips - Annie Modesitt.

Sometimes I just need a refresher course - a do-over of sorts - that will help me from froggy mania. I do so hate to rip it all out. I’d MUCH sooner just keep on knitting. I think we all would.

knitting, knitting lessons, anniemodesitt.com, knitty.com, blackberry, pattern

Two Dolla did it - the hair has been buzzed. Thanks so much to all who contributed to her efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research!

I was hoping that with your help we could see Wendy go over her goal by $100 - instead her total now stands at $5230! You all Rock! And, so does Wendy/Two Dolla and all of her friends.

Yes, I know this is a knitting blog.

What, you might be asking yourselves, does any of this have to do with knitting? Well, I found Wendy and Robin and others because of the auction they held to raise funds. Remember the green and purple bag I won? Yup, knitted.

And, Robin knits socks!!! See, knitting.
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So, Robin wrote and asked about the mini socks I’ve been knitting. My original post about the mini socks is here. I learned about the project from Sock Pixie here. There is even a simple sock pattern there in that post. I am using a different pattern, but similar in size.

There are now 25 little socks

so I am going to crochet up the strings (you might see them in the picture) and get them mailed off today or tomorrow.

Aren’t they just the cutest little things?

I like these so much I am going to do some up in Christmasy colors for my co-workers for Christmas. I always like to leave a little something in everyone’s mail slot for the holidays.

Next project? I am thinking about socks made out of the tofutsies yarn I purchased at the Knitting Grounds last month. My youngest daughter is horrified at the cost of the yarn - while it makes me gulp, too, I am getting used to the price of the nicer yarns. And, doggone it, my feet deserve a nice, warm and toasty, new pair of socks - right? right!

Hubby and I are in the big city (Anchorage) today. He had cataract surgery on his right eye yesterday afternoon. (I can’t really tell you how it went because I am pre-posting this article - due to the fact that we are IN ANCHORAGE!) heh!

I hope you all read yesterday’s post about matching me to get Wendy over the top on her $5000 goal. You didn’t??? Hurry on back to yesterday then and read it, please. Then, pony up a buck or two - I’ll pull a name out of a hat and someone will win the ever popular purplemoose and purplemoose socks.

It could be you!

What do you have to lose?

I’m counting on you, friends. You can buy that perfect skein of yarn you’ve been saving up for another day - today, put that money where it will do a lot of good - right? right!

—————
so - in my go to big city bag is some leftover sock yarn and my needles - I hope to keep my fingers busy making mini socks. I want to send them off this weekend.

Got the grannies (18 of them) sent off Tuesday - never did get a picture taken. I have no clue what was going on with my camera last night - maybe it was the laptop - maybe I need to defrag or something? Anyway - the pics were there so I deleted them from the camera and BOOM! they were gone from the computer, too. Sigh!

So, I started making some more. I crocheted three new squares Tuesday night while watching America’s Got Talent (go Terry Fator!!! You have GOT to love a ventriloquist with that much talent!)

I’m not sure how many mini socks I’ve got ready to go - but I’ll report back once we get back home and hubby is resting and such recovering from the surgery.

See you soon.

knitting, crochet, charity, America’s Got Talent, Terry Fator, ventriloquism, ventriloquist, 3-day, breast cancer, Wendy, Anchorage

A quick check over at Wendy’s 3 day update page shows that she still have $95 to go to meet her goal of $5000. AND - if she meets that goal - she shaves her head, too!

All monies raised go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.

We are REALLY getting down to the wire, folks . . . the 3 day begins on the 24th - that’s just 9 days away.

Now, what can I do to entice you?????

Here’s what I will promise to do - for each and EVERY dollar (up to $100) that any of you will donate to put Wendy over the top . . . I will match it. You donate $1 and I will give $1. My cap at this point is $100 - so if one person antes up the entire $100, that will be the end of it - but, HEY, you can up the ante yourself, you see. If you REALLY want to make a difference, write about it at YOUR site and offer to match funds up to whatever amount you can afford.

It’s what we all do together that counts in this world is what I’m thinking.

And, here’s just a little more to sweeten the pot:
Leave a comment here that you have donated - making sure to tell me what amount so that I can match it (if you are not comfortable telling here - email me the amount, okay?) - I will place all donors’ names into a (proverbial) hat and pull one out to win . . .

Yup - that’s a purple moose you see there - and a pair of socks with a purple moose on them as well. You see, I live in Alaska and I make my own fun!

There you go - you can donate to a good cause, have your donation matched, see Wendy go OVER her goal, see Wendy shave her head, AND . . . own a purple moose for your very own. What more could anyone want?

Let’s set a deadline, shall we???? The 3 day begins the 24th - so let’s set the 19th (Sunday) as our deadline.

Okay - fire away - let the commenting begin! Thank you, thank you very much!!!

breast cancer, 3-day, Susan G Komen for a Cure, Wendy, purple moose

Can you - any of you - in your wildest dreams ever imagine such a stash as this? Me, either.

First of all, I don’t even have a spare room big enough to hold all of that yarn. My stash is quite meager in comparison. And, here I was feeling a bit embarrassed about having several skeins of sock yarn waiting to be knitted up.

Thanks to Bunchkin for the link.

My latest project has been crocheting grannies for the project for children with cancer.

Imagine just how many squares could be made from all of the yarn in that stash. Of course, it would take a LOT of people a LOT of time to do so. But . . . still . . . can you imagine it?

So - I have 18 (I think) squares completed. Hopefully I can get them boxed up and into the mail tomorrow during my lunch hour. I don’t want to hold onto them for too long.

Hubby and I are going up to Anchorage Wednesday - he is having cataract surgery - and we will be gone overnight. I will maybe take yarn to do squares - or yarn to do more mini socks. Those need to be bundled up and sent off, too.

Okay, my friends. My camera malfunctioned or there would be a shot of the squares right here. Look for that tomorrow, perhaps.

Are you on the teensy, beautifully petite side . . . or are you a curvacious, big and beautiful woman?

No matter which end of the spectrum you might be on - you are definitely on the END of the spectrum. And - that can be tough when you are looking for a knit pattern to fit Y.O.U!

While going on one of my internet journeys (you know the ones - you click a link, then another and another and another - and pretty soon you have forgotten just where you started . . . but you’re oh, so glad you stopped where you did) I found Vermont Fibre Designs. And, friends, they have patterns from XXS to 6X!! Wowzers! How very cool is that!?

It looks like they only have ONE distributor in the U.S. Bryson Distributing, which in turn only sells to retail stores! (ack!) Okay - just took a peek and there are three stores listed in Anchorage - so, WHEW!

I really like this cable panel pullover. And, I even like the color it’s done up in. May just have to see if I can find this pattern.

So, there you have it, knitting friends . . . there ARE patterns out there for those of us who are either teensy or ample. Yahoo!