I'm back!!!

I know I've been MIA in the blogging department lately, and I apologize to all of you who faithfully follow me here.

I've been pretty busy with knitting, felting, crocheting, and all things yarn related - getting ready for my first indoor flea market on Saturday and Sunday, June 23 & 24 at the Funky Junk Northwest Indoor Flea Market in Bellevue (located at 13310 Bel-Red Road, Suite 103, Bellevue). I hope to see some of you there.

You can come by and check out some of my newest market bags:

Grrlfriend Market Bag designed by Laura Spradlin of Sugar Bunny Blvd. These versatile bags are great for carrying groceries, books, knitting projects, and all sorts of things you need to tote around with you. The bag starts with a square bottom knit from the center outward using double pointed needles. When the square gets big enough you switch to circular needles. It's an easy design and fast to knit. I knit these within two to three days just doing it while watching TV in the evenings. I've already started on another one in this really great turquoise color.

Let's see what else have I been working on...hmmm. Oh yeah, I've been trying my hand at felting and I can only say that once you start, it's hard to stop!

I call this one Too Funky to be Square, my version of
the All Square Bag  (on Ravelry) designed by Eva Wiechmann
from Pursenalities

I call this one my Ruby Red Sparkle Bag
a spin-off of the Vintage Bubble Bag (on Ravelry),
another design by Eva Wiechmann from
Pursenalities

This too is a version of another of Eva Wiechmann's
designs - the Lagoon (on Ravelry) that can be found in
Pursenality Plus

I've done a bit of crochet as well, I tried my hand at some other types of bags, such as this drawstring beach bag:

I call it my Beach Blanket Bingo Bag
my version of the Lace Tote by Ruth Sheppard (on Ravelry)
found in Enviro-Totes (on Ravelry)

My version of Ruth Sheppard's Bucket Tote (on Ravelry) also
can be found in Enviro-Totes (on Ravelry). This
is still a Work-In-Progress (WIP)

I've been trying out some new designs for slouchy berets as well, here are a few:

My version of the Gwen Slouch (on Ravelry)
designed by Lauren Nell

My version of the Because of Love (on Ravelry) 
designed by Janel Laidman

My version of the Spring Beret (on Ravelry) 
designed by Natalie Larson (on Ravelry)

As a very special gift for a friend's mother, I made this shawl called the Monarch Shawl designed by Denise @ Lost City Knits.

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So as you can see I've been a very busy knitter.  I hope you will continue to follow my blog, even if I am a bit of a slacker when it comes to blogging these days.  I'm hoping to get a new blog up soon with my new Knitter Mama logo and this blog will be moved, I will keep you all posted about it, but until then, Happy Knitting!

Thursday afternoon - last official day of vacation!

It's raining today, what's a knitter to do on a day like today?  Well go visit the shops that were closed on Tuesday of course!

And I was not disappointed by the two shops I was able to visit, they were lovely and well stocked.  I saw a few yarns that I don't see back home - like at Trumpet Hill, located on New Karner Road in Albany, just a few miles from the Albany International Airport, I found: Frog Tree Pima Cotton/Silk - 85% Pima Cotton and 15% Silk (155 yds/50 gms/1.75oz), suggested needle size: #5 - gauge: 5sts/inch. Can't wait to make some baby booties and hat from this yarn, I'm sure I can find some great patterns on Ravelry. It is so very soft and it wasn't very expensive either, $6.10 a skein - of course I couldn't resist so I bought four skeins in this really great goldenrod color. Celeste was very nice and helpful, answered all my questions and was very pleasant to talk to.  Can't wait for my next trip home to check them out again.

At BeauKnits Ltd. in Cohoes, I met Barbara Hildreth, a lovely lady.  When I told her I was originally from Troy, she was very informative on the changes and happenings in the area.  It was nice to just sit and chat with her about the LYS's, yarn, and patterns.  She had a lovely shop as well, located in downtown historical Cohoes and if you ever get a chance to come to New York, you have to stop in and say "hello" to Barbara. At Barbara's shop I came across Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles which were totally in my price range - sizes 5-15 US, makes circular lengths from 17" to 58", they are airline safe and travels easily in it's compact carrying case.  Barbara was using a set, making a double roll brim hat from Fiber Trends - AC53e School Colors Hat and she swears by them.  So I had to get myself a set. I can't wait to give them a try.

Well my only regret, and I can't believe I did this, but I completely forgot to stop in to the Lion Brand Shop in the City yesterday.  Will just have to wait for my next visit I guess.

And I do highly recommend visiting both Trumpet Hill and BeauKnits Ltd., if you ever find yourself in the Capital District (upstate NY). They are fine shops and worth the visit.

What Are Your Warm Weather Projects?

Warm weather is on its way (hopefully soon) and I was wondering what will you be knitting/crocheting for the warmer weather?

My first warm weather project is the shawl that I want to finish before my sister's birthday in August.  It's made from bamboo and acrylic, which to me is a perfect light-weight yarn for the warmer weather.  In between the baby projects I have been trying to work on this shawl, which is coming along much better than the knitted version I initially started, if you remember from a previous post: A Story About a Shawl.  I can't wait until its finished.  I'm loving it so much, I may have to keep it for myself - just kidding...I will be giving it to my sister.

Some of the wonderful light-weight yarns that are coming out are absolutely lovely, like for instance from Cascade, their Ultra Pima Cotton.  I fell in love with the colors they have available like this one here:

Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton

This picture really doesn't do it justice, here it looks a little reddish pink, but its really this beautiful dark eggplant color with a luster that will look great knitted into a summer pullover, but I've already decided I'm going to knit a shawl out of it for myself. Haven't actually decided on what design I will be using, but I've come across so many lovely designs.  I just would like a little something that I can throw around my shoulders when I'm sitting out on the deck after the sun goes down when I need a little warmth as the coolness of the evening settles around me.  One of my favorites so far is by Emily Ross, the Haruni Shawl, which is a free download on both Ravelry and Knitpicks.
  

Isn't it a beautiful design. It's one of my must haves and one day when I can understand the charts better I'm going to give this bad boy a go!  Wish me luck.

If you haven't decided on a summer project yet, go check out Knitty Spring-Summer 2011 edition, they have some great patterns to choose from like the Julia, a sleeveless pullover - reminiscent of the roman-style tunics made with linen. 

Now many of you know that linen isn't always fun to knit with but after a few washings it becomes quite soft and it is just the right yarn to make this stylish summer must-knit.

Or maybe you can keep cool this summer in more ways than one with this Crochet Summer Top. The lacy top is oh-so-pretty and feminine for the office, parties, or any occasion made from Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton:

Some of the wonderful yarns to choose from are coming out too, bamboo, linen, cotton, silk, and many blends of these yarns just to name a few.  You have so many options to choose from for your warm weather designs, go to to your LYS and check them out!

Like going sleeveless during the hot weather, well it looks like you have a lot to choose from in the sleeveless designs then. Check out DROPS Design's 128-25 Top:

Wow, look at that beautiful textured crochet design along the skirt of this tunic. Don't you just love the warm weather designs?

But if you are like me and don't want to show off the untoned arms (due to months of not working out!), there are some nice lace designs with three-quarter lenghth sleeves that are sure to please. Like this crochet Chevron Lace Cardigan by Milobo, a free download from Without Seams:

Or this knit Lace Cardi by Kennita Tully, a free download from the Coats and Clark website:

So many patterns and not enough time to make them all.  Well I hope you will share what you are making for the soon to be here warm weather and I will keep you posted on what I'm working on! So, drop on by and leave me a comment, would love to hear from you.

The Reusable Market Bag

When the local grocery stores were announcing that they would charge for the use of the plastic bags, I started buying the reuseable bags that most grocery stores sell anywhere from $1.00 - $2.00.  I thought this was getting a little expensive and some of them weren't even that sturdy.  So I decided to make my own reusable market bag with the thought that I would make a bunch of them to use in place of plastic bags at the grocery store.  After seeing a pretty cool looking one at the Farmer's Market last year, I was inspired by the one I saw a woman using that looked like it was made out of some really stiff material, which I later I found out was hemp.  I'm not really into knitting with hemp, for one it's very stiff and I knit very tight and working with this material would be hard on my hands.

So I searched the web and came across a market bag - Green Living Tote, on Lion Brand's website, that used their cotton yarn, an aran weight that isn't as stiff but is just as sturdy. It's also an easy design that knits up fairly quickly.  I haven't made many, but the ones I have made have become widely popular with my friends and family.

My first attempt at this bag, I thought, 'wouldn't it be nice to add a little texture to it?' Something that would break up the mesh a little. And so, I searched my stitch books for a pattern that I could add to the market bag, and this was the result:

Bag #1: added Horsehoe pattern at
top of bag with two rows of
purl stitch and then start the
handles portion of original pattern 

Horshoe Lace Pattern working in the round:
Worked in multiples of 10
Row 1: *k1, yo, k3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1, repeat from *
Row 2: knit
Row 3: *k1, yo, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, p1, repeat from *
Row 4: *k9, p1, repeat from *
Row 5: *k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2, p1, repeat from *
Row 6: *k9, p1, repeat from *
Row 7: *k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3, p1, repeat from *
Row 8: knit

I brought the bag in to work with me to show to my friends and I got requests right away to make them bags too!  I was a little taken aback by the response.  But, I couldn't say "no", because they were so stinking easy to make.  So below are two more versions of the bag that I gave to two friends, but I got a little fancy with the detail and added a Honeycomb pattern to break up the mesh in the middle of the bag and to keep the bag from stretching too much.

Bag #2: Honeycomb and Vine Lace Zigzag pattern

Honeycomb with Dainty Chevron added to top

Honeycomb Pattern:

Honeycomb stitch chart

I used the chart to the right for the Honeycomb pattern, but I modified it for the round by reading the even rows from right to left and reversing the stitch (for example if it said to purl, I would knit) because you are working in the round instead of flat (back and forth).

The following is the pattern I used for the Vine Lace Zigzag portion of bag #2, which I found in my copy of The Knitter's Bible by Claire Crompton:

Vine Lace Zigzag pattern:
Worked in multiples of 10

k = knit

ssk = slip, slip, knit (slip two stitches knitwise, insert left needle through front of two slipped stitches on right needle and knit).

yo = yarn over

k2tog = knit two together

Row 1: *k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, repeat from *
Row 2 and all even rows: knit

Row3: *k2tog, k3, (yo, k1) twice, ssk, k1, repeat from *

Row 5: *k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1, repeat from *

Row 7: *k2tog, (k1, yo) twice, k3, ssk, k1, repeat from *

Row 9: *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k1, repeat from *

Row 11: *k2tog, (k1, yo) twice, k3, ssk, k1, repeat from *

Row 13: *k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1, repeat from *

Row 15: *k2tog, k3, (yo, k1) twice, ssk, k1, repeat from *

Row16: knit

Dainty Chevron Pattern: (Also from The Knitter's Bible)

worked in multiples of 8
Row 1: *ssk, (k1, yo) twice, k1, k2tog, k1, repeat from *
Row 2 and every even row: knit
Row 3: As Row 1
Row 5: *yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, repeat from *
Row 7: *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, repeat from *
Row 9: *k2, yo, sl2tog-k1-psso, yo, k3, repeat from *
Row 10: knit

My fourth bag I made for a friend who needed items for her Relay for Life auction.  Her team is raising money for the American Cancer Society and of course, again, I couldn't say "no". My Dad, my son's grandmother on his father's side, and my favorite Aunt all died of cancer or cancer related complications, so I felt it was my duty to contribute to this worthy organization.

Bag #4: Large Openwork lace pattern and
added reverse single crochet around
the handles for reinforcement

Large Openwork Lace Pattern:
worked over multiples of 4 (you may have to reduce your number of total stiches by knitting two together in row 1 to get a multiples of 4 within your total number of stitches)
Row 1: knit
Row 2: *yo, k4, repeat from *
Row 3: *yo, drop next loop from left needle (yo increase from previous row), slip1 knitwise, k3, pass slipped st over all three sts, repeat from *
Row 4: knit

My fifth, and favorite bag so far, went to the winner of an auction we hold at work every year to raise money for our holiday adopt-a-family program.  Another worthy cause and I was more than happy to make a contribution to the auction. And the winner was very happy with her bag.

Bag #5: Wasp Nest pattern with reverse
single crochet to reinforce the handles in a
complimentary color.

Wasp Nest Pattern:
worked in multiples of 8
Color A:
Rows 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Row 9: knit
Row 10: purl
Row 17: knit
Row 18: purl
Rows 3, 5, and 7 (color B): *k3, sl 2 purlwise (yarn in back), k3, repeat from *
Rows 4, 6, and 8 (color B):  *k3, sl 2 knitwise (yarn in back), k3, repeat from *
Rows 11, 13, and 15 (color B): *sl 1 purlwise (yarn in back), k6, sl 1 purlwise (yarn in back), repeat from *
Rows 12, 14, and 16 (color B): *sl 1 knitwise (yarn in back), k6, sl 1 knitwise (yarn in back), repeat from *
Embellishment: Using Color B: I reverse single-crocheted around the borders of the handles for reinforcement.

Even though I only made one for myself, I really like that I've had the opportunity to make bags for worthy causes and for friends who are enjoying their bags.  I will be making more of them because they are very handy to have when you need to make a quick trip to the grocery store, or to the farmer's market, or even to the library, they stretch to accommodate a lot and yet are very durable.  I hope you will enjoy making these for friends and family or just for your own use.

Welcome to Knitter Mama



Small Market Bag

Welcome and thank you for joining me at Knitter Mama.  Here you will see many of the wonderful handmade knit and/or crochet creations that I knit for family and friends.  I learned to crochet nearly 20 years ago and have made crochet blankets for almost all my nieces, nephews, second cousins and friends' babies.  But crocheting was a luxury I couldn't seem to keep up with, so I had put away my crochet hooks and yarn for many years.

But a few years ago, I joined a knitting circle at work and after a lot of trial and error taught myself to knit, with lots of help from the wonderful group of knitters.  Within my circle I had over 50 years of knitting knowledge - and you can bet I tapped that knowledge every chance I got.

One handle market bag
with honeycomb pattern
center

Now four years later I have made many wonderful handmade items for friends and family and I was convinced recently to sell some of those items.  I thought to myself that selling my creations would turn it more into work rather than the relaxing stress reliever that it has become over the years.  But some friends just refused to take "no" for an answer and insisted on paying me.



So here I am wanting to share with others my passion and hopefully you will enjoy the handmade items as much as I enjoy creating them.



The market bags you see here are my first attempts at making these and as you can see they came out great.  The are great for shopping, library books, or just about anything you need them for.  I've used them at times as a purse when I go to the Farmer's market and don't want to carry a purse and a market back.  They stretch quite a bit and you can fill them with so much, you will really enjoy their versatility.



Felted slippers - ladies fun fur & orchid
men's dark purple

Now the felted slippers were a big hit last year for Christmas, all my nieces and nephews got a pair and they loved them!



Personal bath set: towel, washcloth, &
soap/bath salt pouch

The personal bath sets are great as birthday gifts - which I gave to two of my sisters and if you pair them with some handmade soap and bath salt you have a great gift basket idea.