Knitting Passion

I love, love, LOVE this idea! You know, people toss their old keyboards and typewriters without thinking about it. And, here is someone who is making use of the things - recycling at its best. Right?

I am secretly lusting after those many keyboards out there in hubby’s space - okay, not really, but everytime I see these chokers I get to thinking about all of the various pieces of computer equipment out there.

I could knit something around them, right? Right? Heh - yup, just as soon as I find the extra time to do that. LOL

And, from keys to buttons - look at these vintage buttons! I’m thinking a cardigan with these . . . yummy!

And, while you’re in etsy land - mosey on over to check out the “upcycled” hats and clutches. Who among us has NOT accidentally felted a favorite sweater? Yeah, I have one in just that color of pink, too. Sigh! I wore it home after our wedding nearly 40 years ago. I think it is still in my hope chest.

What? You didn’t have a hope chest? You’re too young to know what a hope chest is? They don’t do hope chests any longer? Oh, my. You all do make me feel my age some days.
Not really, but it’s fun to poke fun at myself sometimes.

I have been thinking about how much fun it might be to felt up some sally’s sweaters and making some bags or hats from the results. Had no clue I would be an “upcycler”. I just thought of it along the lines of the 3 r’s (reduce, reuse, recycle). Fun to do my part.

I’ll have to keep my eyes open.

So, awhile back I talked about my Lucy bag - and then forgot to share pics of the finished project. Sorry about that. This picture is of the bag in progress.

and, this pic is of the felted bag. I haven’t lined it yet, nor have I put the pin on it. But, it is finished to at least this point.

My only disappointment was that the “shoulder” strap is not at all long enough to go over one’s shoulder. I made it to the pattern - 40 inches long - but it felted up too tightly, I guess. If I’d realized it was going to be so short, I would not have made a shoulder strap, but a shorter strap just to go around my wrist.

So - lesson learned.

I have some gorgeous purplish wool that I am thinking of making a bag out of - not sure if it will be another, bigger, Lucy bag or not. I kind of think not, but we’ll see. That will wait until I get back from Juneau.

Oh, I do have the camera here, by the way, but I did not bring the laptop or the cord to download pics - so that will have to wait until my return.

You’ll also have to wait for the story of whether or not I ran into any fellow knitters while hobnobbing with the legislators . . . orrrrrr . . . if I found the yarn shop where it was supposed to be. See, mysteries just waiting for you to untangle.

Also - will she or will she not be allowed to board with her knitting needles? Ahhhh, another mystery waiting for me to spill the news in answer to when I return.

Got you hooked now, don’t I?

Hahahaha

Those of you old enough to remember those words, raise your hands. (me, me, me! My hand is WAY up there) heh.

Of course, that would be Dezi Arnaz calling out to his wife, Lucille Ball on the I Love Lucy show. Yup, good old black and white tv from the 50s and 60s. I was little, and so was the tv screen, but I remember watching that show (dee, dee, dee, dee DEE, dee, dee . . . are you humming the theme song now?) and also the Honeymooners - although, the Honeymooners always bothered me because Ralph was so abusive. (and, of course, it was so close to home - my dad was very much a Ralph Cramden)

But, this is a KNITTING blog, so what in the world does I Love Lucy have to do with knitting?

Not much, I guess . . . but I AM working on a Lucy bag - niice segue, huh? I’m making the smaller bag this time, but plan to make a larger one sometime as well.

and what, you might be asking yourself, is that little critter there in front of the work in progress?

Why, it’s a PurpleMoose, of course, you sillies!

Not just ANY purplemoose, either . . . but one made by my very specialist, oldest, granddaughter, Ms. Thang! Thanks, baby girl! I love my little purplemoose - she made him in class - her mama got a turtle.

Now I’m sure it’s a very NICE turtle . . . but I got the PurpleMoose. Heh.
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It’s completely finished now! Yay for me. What??? Oh, you have no clue what I am talking about? Ahhhh - that is what my family says all the time. Ha ha.

The bag, of course! I felted it up last weekend, but just put the finishing touches on it tonight.

I used leftover yarn from last winter’s sweater project, by the way. The same friends and I decided we would do felted bags next. I’ve actually completed several - one I use often, another I gave to a dear friend. Then, I made a couple of mini bags and I’m still not sure what I’m going to do with those.

But, then I made three more - my friends and I are going for coffee Saturday morning to show off our finished objects. Well, we are going to have coffee and chat also . . . but the intended purpose is to show off our finery.

So . . . . here is the completed bag:

This is after the felting has been completed. Isn’t this a great color? I love it and I’m looking forward to carrying it. It’s a bit on the smallish side - I guess you would call it a clutch. But it is big enough to hold checkbook, wallet, and other necessities.

I then decided to add some embellishments to it. Now, I’ve had these beads for quite awhile. I don’t even remember anymore why I bought them. But, I thought they might be perfect as a little “bobble” for the clutch bag.

Next I decided to check the fabric box to see what I might have to line the clutch. I haven’t lined any of the bags before, but I really like the idea and thought I would give it a go - if I could just find the right piece of fabric. Tell me if you think I did a good thing here.

Oh, now really - just how perfect could it be? PAISLEY!!! Yup, just transport me back to the 60s and drop me onto the disco floor.

Okay - so it wasn’t disco in the 60s, but we DID go clubbing - complete with black lights and the like. There was that week down in Florida . . . erm, never mind.