Rose Bag for Lou

Spring Felted Bag Exchange Questionnaire

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR FELTED BAG EXCHANGE

1. How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn.
My sister taught me to knit about 35 years ago. I knitted for a year or so and then off and on whenever someone needed new booties until about 3 years ago. When I picked up my needles this time, I kept knitting.

2. What are your favorite yarns to knit\crochet felted bags with?I haven't tried a great many yarns for felting. I have had very good results with Brown Sheep's' 'Lamb's Pride' and 'Nature Spun' wools but they take a bit longer to felt than some of the others. Cascade 200 knits up and felts quickly but doesn't give as steady a bag as some of the other yarns. Patons Classic Merion Wool makes a nice weight felted bag, felts rather quickly and holds up well but can pill. Knit Picks Peruvian Wool felts well and knits up nicely but can't speak for it long term. Elann's Peruvian Highlands Wool comes in lots of gorgeous colors, knits up well and felts well but may take an extra cycle in the wash – and – there isn't an extra inch in their balls so make sure you buy at least what a pattern calls for and an extra ball is not a bad idea. Overall I'd probably say Brown Sheeps, Elann's, and Patons are my favorites.

3. What are your favorite needles to knit\crochet with?
I am probably more of a needle snob than a yarn snob; I love good needles and like to try every kind available. Suzanne's Ebony Circulars is one of my favorites, then the Skacel Addi Turbos and Crystal Palace now has a very fine bamboo circular needle out. But, I must say, one of my very favorite is one of the most inexpensive needles on the market and that is the Bylene needles put out by Boyle. They have a sharp point, are lightweight and somewhat flexible, good for arthritic hands and arms.

4. What are the last 3 bags you knitted\crochetted (include URL for Yahoo! or flickr album or your blog if you have them!)? You can also link to patterns if you don't have pictures of your finished objects!
Gosh, the last bag I knitted was for my two year old granddaughter, an Easter purse out of white eyelash and acrylic yarn, no pattern, and it is posted on my blog, http://agardeningknitter.blogspot.com/ . The week before that I knitted a bag for my niece which I haven't posted yet but will post on my blog this week as well as on the Bag-A-Holic's web site. The third bag back was for ITE-III and it is posted on by blog on March 28th, as well as the Bag-A-Holic's web site. There are some this and that bags also on the Bag-A-Holic web site at http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bag-A-Holic/photos/browse/5ce5?m=l listed in June's album.

5. Do you carry the bags that you make, give them as gifts, or both?
Both.

6. What is your favorite felted bag that you have made for yourself?
Probably the first one I ever made, it is pictured on my blog. I still use it.

7. What are your favorite colors? Do you like bags in these colors or choose other colors? I love color and I also love a combination of two complementing colors such as black & white, grey & white, and navy & white put together.

8. Chocolate: White, Milk, Dark, or not so much?
Not so much. I'm more of a 'fruity' person, coconut, peanut butter, etc. Of the chocolates white, milk, or dark, I probably like them equally.

9. Coffee, Tea, or Milk?
Coffee, tea, then milk. Just plan good coffee, no flavors and Earl Grey or English Breakfast type teas. I do like Jasmine tea but I don't care for the herb or flavored teas.

10. Do you prefer sweet or salty treats? What kinds?
Oh, salty most definitely. Cheeses, nuts, crackers, chips, and mixes; you know, the fattening kinds of snacks.

11. If you went into Bath and Body Works and could only come out with one item, what would it be and what would it smell like?
Probably a good soap, lotion, or shampoo. I'm not into wearing fragrance very much. The smell would be fresh and clean and not heavy at all.

12. Do you enjoy any other crafts or hobbies? Do you collect anything?
I knit, garden, and read. I enjoy baking and cooking and I crochet, cross stitch and sew a bit.

I have a collection of Waterford crystal and use to collect teacups and teapots, and the Byers Choice Christmas Caroler Dolls. Now I'd rather give these things away rather than collect them.

13. Are there any bag patterns you have not yet knit, but hope to someday?
Lots of them. The Plentiful Pocket Tote, http://internationaltotexchangeiii.blogspot.com/ (March 21), and also one of the entrelac bags.

14. What is currently OTN (on the needles) for you?
Chris Bylsma's Crayon Box Jacket, and Lily Chin's Central Park Ribbed "CONVERTIBLE" Coat.

15. What is your most recent finished object before that?
Besides the purses I was working on, a ladies vest .

16. What's cutest: Puppies, Piggies or Pixies?
Puppies, I love them, especially Lhasa Apso's and Spaniels.

17. Do you enjoy reading? Books, Magazines, or both?
Both

18. Do you have any children? (kid-kind or pet-kind apply!)
A daughter, married with a daughter; a son, unmarried; and a Lhasa Apso named Maestro.

19. What are some of your favorite yarns for other projects?
I love soft and not scratchy yarns. If I'm going to wear it, I prefer it to not be wool or heavy cottons. I love trying any of the new fiber yarns.

20. And for the final question, one I see debated all over: Novelty Yarn: Love it! Hate it! or It depends!For the most part I don't like novelty yarns although I do think they have their place as an accent or way to embellish an item in some cases. I wouldn't say I hate them but I don't care to use or wear them much.

This is an early post, 3:15 a.m., but I finished my sleep and saw no need to stay in bed. I thought I'd get up and knit but decided I was hungry so made coffee and a bacon biscuit to share with Maestro; I want to not disturb Mr. Rō. If you are wondering why I am up so early, it's because I went to bed at 5:30 pm yesterday - all because of knitting. Actually what happened is, I received my partner's name for the Knitter's Treat Exchange yesterday afternoon and realized I should get the package in the post before we leave on Sunday for GA. We'll be away a week and I'm afraid the treat package might not make it to my partner on time if I wait. I don't want this to happen and have my partner wondering if I've forgotten her. These exchanges are wonderful fun but for anyone that hasn't experienced having a partner that doesn't interact with you, it's frustrating. Anyway, I took off for the local gift shop and the village yarn shop. This is Monday and we are a small village, so the gift shop was closed meaning I would have to drive into the city to get what I had in mind. I skipped the LYS and made the 17 mile drive, bought the items I had in mind (I won't tell what they are in case I'm found out) and took a walk around the mall. This is the first time I've been to a mall since I had started chemo and even though I'm not in treatment right now, I still don't have a lot of energy. Earlier in the morning I had cleaned the bathroom's linoleum floor, this was also a first time and without realizing it most of my energy for the day had been used up. By the time I got home I was totally exhausted and after trying to knit for a few minutes I decided I'd take a rest. Instead of a rest, I went to sleep and slept the night away.

I left a message on my downstream partner's blog and my upstream partner has made contact with me. Thank you Partner, for posting to let me know you are there.

Our weather is still very cold and we've lost the buds on some of the iris that had begun putting out in this pre-season warm weather. Hopefully they will recover and our bloom will still be good this year. My bleeding hearts were beautiful and they seem to have held on since they are in a sheltered area. The Helleborus of course don't mind the cold and look none the worse from the snow. I haven't been out to the vegetable garden where we had just set out another 25 strawberry plants and 25 'sweet onion' plants mid-week. Mr. Rō says the strawberry plants look okay but the onions are a bit droopy. I bought dahlia bulbs last week hoping to get them in the ground, perhaps its best that I wait another few weeks.

Think I have another cup of coffee and sort through my knitting for the trip.

Seedlings up for transplanting in another few weeks.

Easter 'Pocketbook'

This is a picture of my precious grand daughter in her little Easter dress and the 'pocketbook' that Grandmama-ma made for her. Isn't she cute, we adore her. I knitted the little bag and added a pink lining with kitty cats printed on it and filled it with candy, some change, and a bunny pen. I used velcro as a closure so that she could open and close the bag easily. Her mommie and daddy were taking her to the Easter Parade on the Avenues today to let her strut along with thousands of other people and their dressed up animals. It's a yearly event and always lots of fun with imaginative outfits (costumes), the Easter Bunny, music and dance, and of course lots of food vendors. I know she will have a grand time.

We had snow in Central VA, yesterday and it is so cold again; 21˚ at eight o'clock this morning. The sun is bright but it's mid-afternoon and still cold. The Easter Bunny won't hide too many eggs today I don't think.

I received a skein of yarn from my mystery swap partner this week and now have to figure out what to knit for her from one skein. It is Cascade wool so perhaps I'll knit something and then felt it. I love felting or fulling as some say, which is really the correct word but most people understand the word felting while not always understanding what fulling is. I 'm afraid the yarn I sent her isn't so forgiving as wool. I hope she won't mind too much. I sent a beautiful ball of On Line's Linie 11 Alpha yarn which is a DK weight. It was so soft and peachy I couldn't resist it.

I also bought some of Crystal Palace's Bamboozle this week thinking I would knit the socks on two needles with the whoduknit-knit-along. I haven't had time to start them so far but maybe before months end I will be able to begin them. The instructions for materials says Plymouth DK which I was unable to find in my area. I could have ordered, but needed to go by and see the women at my old LYS and of course that means buying something. The Bamboozle is beautiful and very soft. It is 55% bamboo, 24% cotton and 21% elastic nylon. Yum, not scratchy wool socks for me. Can't wait to use this yarn.

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire Posted Below on March 29th

Knitting, Gardening & Maestor, the Lhasa Aposo

I've almost finished knitting the items that go with me to visit the family; I have about 15 rows left on a triangle shawl I'm knitting out of Crystal Palace's yarn, Shimmer. The drape is very pretty and I think it will make a nice wrap to wear with almost anything and anywhere. I hope my sister will like it. It's hard for me to know what my older sister will like because they are quite a bit older than I and we've not lived close enough together for the last 40 years to visit often. On the other hand, I feel very close to my nieces and nephew. I am the youngest child of 10 and there is a nephew and two nieces older than I. Knitting for the family has been a lot of fun. As soon as we return from the GA trip I will knit a bag for the friends we will be visiting in NJ at the end of May and then I'm going to be knitting for myself for a long period of time. I have several projects that need to be finished that I'm anxious to get back to. And oh, I almost forgot, I have the Whoduknit project to do for my partner which will take precedence over the others. Have to come up with something rather wonderful to knit from one skein of yarn.

The last couple of days have been beautiful here and we've taken advantage of them. Yesterday after we returned home from having another Pet-scan, Mr Rõ got the tiller out and worked in the vegetable garden for a couple of hours. I sat in the garage with the doors up and sorted through a few more un-packed boxes. Why am I doing this? The boxes have been setting in the same spot for two years, since we moved, and I haven't needed anything in them in all this time. Why do I need to go through them again; I should just pitch everything.

Today Mr Rõ tilled some more and I actually raked a few leaves from around the potting bench out behind the shed. I don't have the energy to do very much at a time but it feels so wonderful to be outside and watch my plants (which are still in pots from the move) putting out. Surprisingly they have survived two hot, dry summers in their little pots. I do hope to see them in the ground this year. We have a SDB (standard dwarf bearded) iris (photo of Plum Wine on side-bar) in bloom. This is really early for central VA and oh how 'The Head' has swollen. He took pictures and ask me to e-mail them to a couple of his male friends – bragger! These men are so funny when it comes to their iris, always wanting to beat the others at being first, having the most, having the last, having the only one. What fun.

Later this afternoon we setup some chairs under the cedar trees and I knitted while Maestro teased his dad. Maestro would pretend he to walk over to the property next door and wait for his dad would call him back. Of course Maestro pretended he didn't hear so his dad would get up and come to him. This baby is so like a child, sweet, smart (I think he has a college degree), and cunning. Tomorrow he goes to the groomer for a bath and haircut. He doesn't like the idea of going but once he is back home he is wild with excitement. What a charmer.

My ITEIII Bag Came Today

Today the postlady brought me a package and what a delight it held when I opened it. The long awaited bag from my partner in the International Tote Exchange. Her name is Jill and she lives in Manhattan Kansas. She made this wonderful felted bag for me after the first one she made took a dive on her in the washing machine. This one is a perfect size and shape for me, I love bucket bags. Inside the box with the bag was a 'heap' of nice things, great yarns, a pattern for knitting and felting a birdhouse, wool wash, a bookmark, a craft organizer, knitting needle holders, yarn bras (they hold balls of yarn, not boobs), and good things to eat. Chocolate covered sunflower seed, 20 flavors of jelly belly, a great big chocolate egg, pez, and microwave popcorn on the cob. Doesn't all this sound like fun? Thank you Jill for the great swap box you put together and most certainly for the extra effort it took to knit the second bag.

I Shoud Be Busy Knitting

I should be busy knitting since I've fallen behind with my knitting schedule. None-the-less, I wanted to post since its been a couple of weeks. I still don't have pictures of work in progress; perhaps I will get them ready to post in a couple of days. Gardening has been taking some of my time recently. The new bed is made for the strawberries and the plants are ready to go in later this afternoon. The iris beds are weeded, spots cut off the foliage, and bone meal and Snap Shot applied. Mr. Rō pointed out to me this morning that three bloom stalks were emerging from Eleanor Roosevelt, one of my all time favorite iris. This iris grows strong and vibrant in our garden and re-blooms for us in the fall. The warm days have really pushed the plants out of the ground. I noticed the dicentra (Bleeding Hearts) has a good growth start already and also the heuchera (Coralbells). The helleborus (Christmas & Lentne rose) have nice blooms on them. I lost a few of those plants last fall and was afraid I wouldn't have any to survive because they have not had proper care and are planted in heavy clay soil. How I long for my old garden now that spring is here. It would be popping with spring bulbs, the redbud, camellias, and the hardy clematis would be about to break into bloom...oh what a sweet fragrance as you turn into the driveway. It breaks my hear to think about leaving that wonderful garden.

I didn't receive good news from my Dr. on Tuesday. I was finished with my chemo-treatments in Feb. and just had a body scan to see if everything was ok. The cancer is not gone and I will have to have some additional treatments. Also, a problem has shown up in my lungs caused from one of the chemo medicines, that has to be dealt with first. I was so in hopes of being strong by spring and being able to create a beautiful flower garden. This is the third summer in this home and the landscape is still almost bare. I do get to knit and read more than I have in many years so I guess I shouldn't complain too much.

I will go now search Amazon for a new mystery for my WhoDuKnit partner and find a ball of yarn to send her to make something wonderful for me. These swaps are fun, could become addictive, I must watch myself.

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire:

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire:
1. What's your favourite type of yarn?
I love natural fibers and want to try some of the newer fibers that have recently hit the market like corn, soy, bamboo, banana, and hemp.
2. What's your least favourite type of yarn?
There are too many fabulous yarns on the market to have a particular favorite but I do love soft fibers, nothing stiff or scratchy.
3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?
Look and Listen. I want to see what they stock, the amount of variety, and the pricing, but probably more important to me is the people who work the shop. I want to see a knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly staff if I going to give them my business.
4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?
I crochet, cross stitch, hand embroider, sew, bake, and live flower arranging. Do you count baking and flower arranging crafts or hobbies?
5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?
I tend to change every year or so depending on how well I enjoy my subscriptions. At present I receive Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Interweave Knits, Knit n Style, and Knitter's
6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:Knitting / Crochet / Other Craft / Food / Home / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip / Garden Knitting, Garden, Home, Food, and Crochet, Fashion, Other Craft, Celebrity Gossip.
7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?
I love knitting and felting hats and bags, love to knit and wear shawls, and enjoy knitting cardigans and pullovers. I have never knit a pair of socks or gloves but have knit and mittens.
8. Are you allergic to anything?
So far, no.
9. What do you like to* smell of?(*This is not a typo. The question is: What do you like to smell of) Nice clean smelling soaps.
10. What's your favourite way to relax?
Sitting in front of a fire or on the patio with husband, good friends and a good glass of wine.
11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?
The dainty tea room.
12. What do you come out with?
A satisfied and relaxed feeling.
13. Where do you go next?
Home or on to whatever else is on the agenda. I wouldn't feel I needed any more food at this time.
14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?
My motto is perseverance. It has served me well throughout life. I was taught this little poem in middle school and have often recited it to my children, nieces, and nephews hoping it would encourage them to never give up, but to keep going after what they wanted to accomplish.

Perseverance can you spell it
And it's meaning can you tell it
Trying once and twice and three times
Yes, a hundred and even more times
I can spell it, I can spell it
And it's meaning I can tell it.

A Busy Saturday

Winter has returned to VA.
On Thursday we had 80˚ weather, today we had 30˚ weather, what a change! When I awoke this morning my plans for the day was to felt the kitchen mitt I knitted last night and to finish attaching the handles on a purse that's been hanging around for awhile. Not either was accomplished. I decided to drive into the city to find a pretty button for a purse I knitted on Sunday and to buy material to use for a lining. The button I found, the material I didn't. Next a stop for lunch at a wonderful Pakistani restaurant before stopping at the craft store to buy some Patons Wool yarn. How I love Indian and Pakistani foods.

My friend, Sibaha and I have had some great times teaching each other to cook our native foods. We have spent entire summer afternoons in my kitchen learning from one another. She, showing me how to cook a Pakistan recipe and I in return, teaching her to bake the American deserts her family loves so much. Sibaha cooks the very best middle-eastern food; better than any restaurant. She blends the spices and hotness together so well that you always want more. The most amazing thing she taught me was how to know when the spices and sauces were ready for the main ingredients to be added. When I ask her how could I tell when it was ready, her reply was "when it smells right". At the time she made the remark I thought it to be the most asinine reply anyone could give me but with her patients and good sense of humor, I soon found out that's exactly what you do. You nose learns to pick up the fragrance of the fully cooked spices and sauces to let you know its time to continue with the next step.

Today was our local Iris Society meeting and was the first meeting I've attended for some time. Mr Rō attended some meetings without me and was pleased to have me come along today. I was awfully tired when I returned home after a full morning of 'yarning around' and an afternoon of planning an iris exhibition. Still, it feels good to be getting out once more.

Tomorrow I plan to do the things I didn't get done today, plus see my daughter and granddaughter, Dariana. I have to make an I-cord and seam up the little purse that my daughter ask me to make for Dariana's Easter. It is so prissy, I'll have to post a photo once it is finished. I can't wait to hear Dariana say 'oh-ooh', then 'grandma ma, it's soft' What a joy she is!

Knitting Fun

What fun it is to share our knitting skills with others.
Having a stressful IT job I found knitting during my lunch break to be relaxing. Many people in my agency had noticed this and seen my work and 'wished' they could knit and so our Human Resource Div. arranged for me to teach a 'Learn to Knit for Stress' class during lunch hours. Because of shortness in time, I broke the class up into six parts over three weeks and what fun we had. Everyone learned to knit and finished a project or was on their way to finishing it by the last class. We decided to continue the group and meet twice weekly to knit, chat, and continue learning. Some of these ladies turned into wonderful knitters and although several of us have retired, there are still a couple of the ladies left to knit during their lunch breaks. Also out of this group came a couple of knit meets. I haven't been able to attend either but I understand that one of the groups in particular has a great time each week at their Knitting Laugh-in. But guess what, during my long winter of chemo-treatments several of these ladies have come to visit and 'sit & knit' with me during times when my resistance was not to low to have visitors. These ladies also made chemo hats for me and a prayer shawl and brought me books and Cd's to occupy my times. What a huge pay-off I've received for spending a few hours to teach someone a craft that I loved. Even more important is the friendships that have been established and having them continue even though we no longer work together. Knitting is like that, bringing people together. The logo we chose to use as a knitting group at work, 'K2TOG' has truly fit this group perfectly.

Iris Gardening

Today was a beautiful day, sunny, warm, a little breeze –almost perfect. Mr. Rō worked in the iris garden most of the day while I ran into town to buy potting soil and material to make a new raised bed. Our work will begin in earnest from now through the fall with first the iris beds, then the vegetable garden, and in-between putting in new perennial beds, adding some trees and shrubs, and keeping the grass cut.

When we moved to this property two years ago in June, there was a drought and while we waited for rain so the soil could be broken up and for amendments to be trucked in, our iris baked in the garage. We had dug over 500 varieties from our previous garden to bring with us to our new home. Each iris had its name written on the foliage and its garden marker was place along with it in a brown paper bag. The outside of the bag was then labeled and grouped into decades. What a lot of work went into building this garden but by the end of July we finally had all the iris planted and garden markers in place in plots of 10 year intervals. It was so hot and dry and my husband worried continuously if the plants would survive the digging in May, baking in June, planting in July and the long summer drought. He had taken particular care of some first year seedlings he had hybridized and was waiting to see if one of them would make the grade. For these a new raised bed was built and became their home while he monitors them for the next few years. We were thankful that the winter wasn't very cold and for the rain that finally came in late fall and again in late winter. As soon as the weather broke in March Mr. Rō was out weeding, fertilizing and worrying about rot. We had been without rain all summer and now we were getting too much for the iris to survive in our clay soil.

To our surprise, we had beautiful bloom starting in early May. In late May we flew to Portland, Oregon for the National Iris Society's Annual Meeting and had three full days of touring such wonderful gardens as Cooley's, Schreiner's and several other smaller, but very impressive gardens. We toured the garden in the rain, bus load, after bus load, after bus load of people tracking through the iris. What miserable fun! We extended our vacation and traveled into Washington Sate and even over to Canada to the Buchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. We returned home in June and were relieved to have enough rain during our second summer to keep the iris healthy. In August, iris were dug and divided from this first year garden, and given to our local Iris Society for their annual fund raiser. Everyone teased my husband that he had West Coast rhizomes because they were so large and healthy. The bottom of that drained fish pond scraped up, delivered, and spread in the iris bed had paid off and when fall rolled around our re-blooming iris surprised us by putting on a big show of bloom stalks. Sadly, most of them never made it to flower because of our early frost. Still, what a wonderful 'Iris Year' we had. Now we must work toward making the second year a success.
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Ramblings on Knitting & Gardening

I have lots of knitting to finish within the next month for my plans stay on track but I need a couple of days break to help Mr. Rō put the house back in order now that he has finished painting. I have curtains to hem and hang for the bedroom but that will have to wait a little longer, don't think I'm up to dealing with that yet.

Yesterday after going to the post and mailing the ITE bag, we stopped by our local feed and seed store. I wanted to buy strawberry plants but they didn't have them in stock yet. They did have seed potatoes, a few collard plants, and a few 'bushes'. It always tells me something to hear someone call shrubs 'bushes', but we do live in the country now (or somewhat the country). I bought peat cups and disk and plan to sew some seeds later today and have them ready for transplanting as soon as it warms up enough. Our last frost date is March 15, only a week away, but generally we have a few late frosts; the weather will still be cold. I won't set out tomato plants until sometimes mid-to-late May. My brother will have tomato plants for me when we visit him in GA next month. I hope I can manage to get them back to VA on the plane but who knows now security being what it is; don't misunderstand me, I am thankful for the security. I use to fly to GA for a visit and come home with a shopping bag setting between my feet, full of plants. I do want to bring back some plants from the 'old home place' and from my sister's yards to go in the new gardens we have to create. I had lots of 'family' plants at the previous home and it was such a joy to care for them and remember each family member that gave them to us as we walked through the garden.

Now that the ITEIII bag is out of the way I have started knitting on another bag, as well as a biscuit cover and will knit a felted mitt to go with the biscuit cover. I will post pictures when there is more time and as I am nearer completion. I'd like to post some pictures of pervious projects if I am ever organized enough to do that.
I love seeing the projects on other blogs and hearing about the despair and accomplishments of others. My husband likes to tease that I pull out as much as I knit. Actually that isn't quiet true but I do like to have a completed project that I am proud of, one that is wearable if it is clothing, or one that doesn't reside in the closet because it turned out to be a circle instead of a square. Besides, the cost of yarn is such that I can't afford to throw it in the trash or hide it in a closet. So, for now I am back to knitting on the bag to be used as a gift to a GA relative next month.

Internationa Tote Exchange Project Mailed

It's been awhile since I've posted and a lot has been happening. First and foremost, I finished my bag for the ITE-III and put it in the post today. It should arrive at its New Owner's door on Saturday, but no later than Monday. I paid an extra 50¢ to have confirmation of delivery, well worth that amount I think, since there seems to be some problems 'someplace' with deliveries.

The last photo I posted of the bag was at the completion of the bag's body. I ran into some problems with joining different colors of yarn at the beginning of a round in a slipped stitch and had to tweak it a bit; no problem (other than a good bit of time) the bag turned out beautifully as I expected it would. I added the button closure and a gorgeous lining and filled it with goodies that I hope my partner will enjoy. It was actually hard to give the bag up and I thought for sure my daughter was going to convince me to send a different bag so she could have this one; she gave it her best when trying to convince me. My husband took pictures and declared, should I want to participate in the next exchange I should go ahead and knit the bag and have it ready to go (as if I don't have a half-dozen other projects in progress right now).

The exchange has been fun and I've enjoyed reading the blog each day and seeing the excitement from other members as they give and receive their bags. I would want to participate in the next exchange using some of my own ideas for a creation. I'll stay tuned.

ITEIII Bag Progress

Almost finished with the knitting.

Body finished and it measures about about 16"w x 18"h. Actually it is a few rows short because I ran out of gray yarn. I purchased the required amount but ran out, and, I have almost two skeins of the black yarn left. Of course I still have the I-cord straps to make but go figure. Does it take two skeins to make I-cord straps? I'm thinking that the color amounts got printed incorrectly. Since I ordered the yarn, I can't run and exchange the colors so, the bag will be a bit shorter, but still a nice bag.

And here it with a few rows of the red woven into the sides. I can't wait to see this thing come out of the wash. Will I be able to part with it? Oh, I already have a good start on the next one as far as the black yarn goes.

Knitting Around and Gardening Too!

I'm so glad I finally got my ITEIII partner's tote started. This morning I added the second color and I'm pleased with how its coming along. It took knitting a few rounds of the pattern to understand why some of the stitches are slipped, but now I can see it and its all coming together nicely.

We had a dinner guest last night which meant I didn't get to knit after dinner as I usually do. I tried to knit a bit before going to bed but didn't have the energy left for it. Today is cold and we have the gas logs glowing and my chair pulled up right beside the hearth, my Otto lamp beside the chair, and a blanket to go across my knees. I will get some knitting done today.

I've been knitting on a vest and it's almost complete, another couple of hours work and I can put it in the mail. I frogged the decrease rows on the sweater back and have to go back and knit that in again, still a couple of hours of steady knitting would wrap it up. It will be a sensible, comfortable vest to keep my elder sister warm.

I'm forcing a sprig of our Weeping Cherry Tree into bloom. Actually it was a broken branch that I couldn't bear to see thrown away so I brought it in to see if I could revive it. I don't know how long it had been broken but it had some buds on the stem and was still hanging onto the limb by a few tiny thread of bark. I made a fresh cut, then smashed the cut and placed it in a clear bottle of water and set it in the sun room. This was about three weeks or so ago and now that little twig of a branch has filled out with fresh green leaves. I hope to have it bloom soon and will try to remember to make a photo of it for posting.

I remember a few years ago 'Flowering Branches' was the title of the March horticulture exhibit for my garden club. My club meets the 1st Tuesday night of the month so its still cold in our area, but I was determined to have a fresh Flowering Branch to exhibit that night. Since the flowering quince was about the earliest thing to bloom in my garden I begin watching it closely in late January. As soon as I saw a peak of a bud I begin scrutinizing the branching to find one that would make a perfect specimen. I cut the branch early and prepared it for forcing. A week before our meeting the branch was still setting in the bottle looking ready to pop but not making any effort to do so. I decided I had to take action if I was going to have an exhibit, and I was determined I would have 'the one' exhibit in the 'Flowering Branch' category that night. I took the branch upstairs to the guest bathroom and set it on the vanity, pulled and fasten the blinds at the top of the window and turned the thermostat up. I left the vanity light on all night every night and turned the bottle every morning so a different side would absorb the days sun. If it was cloudy, I left the light on. On the 1st Tuesday night of March, I was the only member that proudly displayed a 'Flowering Branch' . Wad it worth all that babying? You Bet!

Bag for ITEIII On Its Way

I got the cast-on for the Tote Exchange III posted this morning. The post lady brought the yarn yesterday and I cast on last night. I can't wait to get this one felted and see the end results. I have the orange stripe tote felted and a layout of what it is going to look like finished. Think I'm just being lazy because it could and should have been finished long ago.


I finished the hat I started last week and have enjoyed wearing it already. I was a bit disappointed in how it turned out. I used the same pattern, colors, and yarn as the one I made for my niece a few weeks back, but, I decided to use a smaller needle and knit it a couple of rows shorter. My mistake. The colors didn't distribute as nicely on the smaller needle and I would have enjoyed having the extra rows since I used the smaller needle. Its still a nice hat and comfortable on my bald head.

It is still cold in VA, 14 degrees here again this morning. What a cold February we are having although we've not had snow and sun has been beautiful. The Meadow Larks have been to visit every day and it is such a delight to watch them out on the lawn walking around in their gray/brown suits, bright yellow shirts (breast) and black bow-ties. Last year was the first time I'd ever seen a live Meadow Lark and it’s a treat to have them come and visit. The Eastern Bluebird is another frequent visitor at our house and we sometimes see as many as six, three pairs, at one time. They love to sit in the crepe myrtles (which have to be removed) along the drive or on the fence out back. I think the Eastern Bluebird is the most beautiful color of blue in the world. We put out seed and suet for the birds so we have a variety of other species to visit the feeders. We will continue to feed them continuously throughout the winter and spring until there is plenty of food on the plants. In the summer we usually cut their feeding down and feed the humming birds instead. In the late fall when food becomes in short supply we begin putting out seeds once again.

By the end of this month I expect to see bare-rooted plants in the feed and seed stores and summer bulbs in the nurseries and building supply stores. I will become impatient with winter and want to purchase plants right away, knowing full well they can't be planted for a couple more months. I will start some seed in the sunroom in early March and have them be ready to transplant in the garden by the time of our last frost. Snow is in the forecast for next week – I'm ready for spring.

Burr....It's Cold Outside - Let our Iris Garden Warm You

Burr….it's cold outside, our high today was twenty-five degrees….I know it is colder in other parts of the country but I live in the south. Sunday was the first time I have worn a heavy coat in two or three years. I'm usually not a cold bodied person but chemo has taken a toll on this body and heat is a welcoming thing this year. Today I cast-on and knit the first section of a new hat. I didn't mean to start another project until after the tote exchange was completed but since I'm waiting on the postman I thought, why not? Actually I should be finishing the vest I'm working on for my sister, I do want to get it finished and in the mail so she will receive it for Valentine's Day. The hat is simple and will knit up fast and I will wear it on this bald head of mine. Actually I have already made one, ended up sending it to a niece knowing I wanted to knit another just like it, same yarn and same colors. I wear lots of hats this winter, even sleep in them.

I am anxious now to get the tote exchange bag made and mailed. I'm ready to go back to knitting on my Crayon Box Jacket designed by Chris Bylsma. I started it last year but somehow couldn't stay with it. For one thing I was knitting my husband a cardigan and wanted to get it finished before winter. I did and it turned out beautiful but a bit large. Of course he lost about twenty pounds after I started knitting it which didn't help. I blocked it to gauge perfectly but I should take it apart, block it again and re-seam the whole thing so it will fit nicely. I used Jamison' s Shetland Wool for knitting the sweater so I have enough invested in it to justify taking time to resize it.

To warm you up a little, have a look at our Iris garden in full bloom last spring.

Bags

This is the first bag I ever knitted, or felted. The pattern was designed by Debra Smith and the yarn is Lamb's Pride. I made a couple of changes to the pattern by knitting the flap in a solid color rather than the two I used for the body, and I added I-cord around the flap and the top of the bag. I added a beautiful matching button from Couture which really gave the bag a finished look. I've used it four winters and it still looks nice. And oh, here's a hat I knit to go along with the bag. The pattern is from Beverly Galeskas book Felted Knits and the yarn Lopi.

On the right side is a knitting bag I saw in one of my LYS and just had to make. Although I've enjoyed it tremendously, I hated knitting it. It is knit in seed stitch, which I'm to lazy to keep up with, and Trio yarn is so very stretchy (reminds me of the 1950's banlon) that I couldn't keep a gauge. Both the pattern and the yarn are Crystal Palace.

And here is a felted hat gone wrong when I tried to alter the pattern and give it a more masculine look. But – lookie, it turned into a beautiful felted purse with nice lining and button which I donated to a charity raffle. Just happened I had enough yarn left to make the straps.

I have almost finished a striped tote I decided on knitting to use up some the odd ball yarn in my stash. The yarn is from Elann, 100% Peruvian highland wool. The bag is now knitted and felted and waiting on the finishing. I have decided to use light color, lacquered, bamboo handles which blends nicely with the yellow, and I have a couple of flowers ready to go on. Still needs a lining and a clasp. Stay posted.

Which One Will It Be?

Today hasn't been a real good day for me. I had a chemo treatment on Tuesday and a Neulasta injection on Wednesday to help build white blood cells. Sometimes I think the injection is worse than the chemo - but - I'm thankful to be getting each of them and am looking forward to the time I am declared 'cancer free'. Meanwhile, I knit and rest, and knit and rest, and rest some more.

I was so hoping to hear from my upstream partner today, however I have not. I checked back with my favorite on-line yarn company to see if they had received another shipment of the yarn someone wringled out of my basket yesterday, no luck there either. Perhaps I'll have the energy to run into the villiage today and see what the LYS has to offer. I'm anxious to get started, but lordy the thought of going to my LYS is frighting, I never come out with just what I go for. Still, I haven't been in this year and there is lots of new stock I understand from reading the blog. There is always loads of fun going on at our LYS and they have been so wonderful to me, keeping in touch and sending me a knitting project while I've been ill.

Until I purchase yarn for the ToteIII project, I'll leave a photo of the books I've been searching for a pattern. I won't tell you yet which book I chose from.