Recycled bags mat

One of the projects I'm currently working on is knit in the same stitch as the scarf I just posted about, except this is on #10 needles, and the yarn (or "plarn") I made from 1-1/2" strips cut from plastic bags that newspapers come in.
I like this plastic because it's thin and pliable, and the clear bags (when used as yarn) read white, while other bags become a metallic silver.
I'm working this in two halves that I'll stitch together.
The one pictured is in green tones (plus a few yellow and white).
Another one is in blue tones (plus some grays/silvers).
My plan is for this to be a welcome mat.
I'm almost finished with it, but I'm waiting for more green and more blue bags.
Basically right now I'm out of yarn!

Second Knitting Project Finished!

Yay, I made another scarf.
This pattern is called "The Magic Scarf" in Crazy Aunt Purl's book Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair.


I used #11 wooden needles, and Filati FF Funky yarn, color #46, a wool/acrylic made in Italy.

Here's detail of the stitch.
It looks complicated, but it's just a knit 5, purl 5.

Knitting and Cocktails!

Every first and third Sunday afternoon at The Whistlestop.

Voila!

Yay.
Other than embellishment with either embroidered flowers or knitted flowers, my first knitted scarf is DONE!

I mentioned earlier that I had learned to knit a few months ago, and that I was working on this scarf.
I got the idea from Stitch 'n Bitch's "Ribbed for her Pleasure" scarf.
Because I found all these great wool/acrylic Amity yarn colors at Tuesday Morning, I decided to make some stripes.

I finished the edges with a blanket stitch, but (seeing as it was my first real project and all) it had some problems.
The ends splayed out, and the first few stitches I did were incorrect, making a diagonal pattern. Oops

Maybe those stitches shouldn't have bothered me, but they did.
One lady in my knitting club suggested I fold up the bad side and stitch the ends up... making muffs for my hands.

Doing that made the natural yarn and the heather yarn about the same width, so it was pleasing visually.
Here's the underside, showing the stitched seam.

I think this was a nice solution.
The knitted length was just over 5-feet, so I figured it was way long enough to wrap around my neck a few times.
(pic taken pre-blanket stitch)
Surprisingly, it works best just hanging down straight.
Oh well, overall I think it's a great first project.

View Stick

Now that I've learned to knit, I keep looking at new yarns, patterns for hoodies or tops or hats...
I signed up on Ravelry.
And I just bought this nifty gadget called a View Stick.It's a clip-on magnifier that you place on your pattern, and the text is not only enlarged, but a red line indicates which line you're on.
Meaning this gadget would also be great for other uses--crocheting, cooking, etc.
I mean really, how freakin' cool is that?!

They're available on several sites, but I bought mine on
Annie's Attic.

First knitted dog toy completed

I switched from the yellow twine to a hemp cord, and...ta da!
My first dog toy!


Funny, it reminds me of that wood you find in the desert--the kind that's hollow with holes in it.

I think it will be fun to give clients gifts that I made myself this year.
If I have time, I'll bake some "gift cards" of bone-shaped biscuits with their names piped on in carob.

My new project

I have knitting club on Wednesday nights.
I'm still learning--I haven't even finished my first scarf yet.
But I started a new project tonight anyway.


That's not yellow yarn--it's nylon twine that I bought at Harbor Freight.

I'm knitting tube-like lengths, then three lengths will be braided together.
Have you guessed what it will be?

A dog chew toy!

I found the idea/pattern in the book
Knitting for Dogs, by Kristi Porter.

I'm not sure if any toys will be completed in time for Christmas gifts, but they'll definitely be "just because" gifts later.
I also bought some glow-in-the-dark polypropylene rope, but now I'm wondering if maybe there could possibly be a chemical in what makes it glow, that might be hazardous to the dogs?
I need to investigate further before I use it.
I think I'll try making a toy with thick hemp cording also.

I still have so many sewing projects to finish too.
It's so nice that this semester of classes is over.
I only had two classes, but they were really taxing on me.
So much so, that I'm completely stumped on gift ideas for my three closest friends.
Usually I have ideas months in advance, and everything is super personalized.
This year...nothin'.
I think all that planning for debs' party, and then the classes...my brain was on overdrive, and now my batteries need to be recharged.

What I'm working on...

My first knitted project!

I recently learned to knit, and made a swatch in garter stitch.
I ended up not having enough yarn to continue, so I switched to a bulky multi-colored yarn, and started to garter stitch a length of that.
The yarn ended up being too stiff for a scarf (and my needles too small), so I decided to re-use that yarn for a future project (probably a hat).

Then I learned how to purl, and followed the advice from Stitch 'n Bitch, and am making a ribbed scarf.
I love the yarn at Tuesday morning, but quantities are limited, so I chose three muted colors that I thought worked well together and am doing a simple stripe.

The effect is somewhat masculine, so I intend to finish with an edge stitch all around in burgundy, and embroider some flowers (also with the burgundy yarn) on the taupe.
It's fun!

The yarn is a wool/acrylic blend, so the scarf should be nice and warm.
I'm about to the half way point right now.
Then the pattern will reverse so it matches.

#1

Last night I took the first step toward checking off things on
my bucket list.

The first item on the list (not that I have to check off in order...it just worked out that way):
"Learn to Knit".

Last night I took size 13 needles and a ball of wool/acrylic yarn to the Knitting Club at the county library in La Mesa.
They meet Wednesday nights from 6pm to 8pm (when the library closes).
They have been meeting for one year so far, and are all ages.

I was a little scared, but was instantly welcomed, and one of the ladies was kind enough to set her own needles aside and show me what to do.

At first it felt really awkward, and I kept wanting to hold the needles from beneath instead of placing my hands on top of them.
Finally, I got the hang of it a bit, though there is still lots to learn, like purling, and reading a pattern.
I'll get there.

At one point, when we were all talking, the lady who was teaching me leaned over and whispered, "I hear the needles clicking, and I can see out of the corner of my eye that you're going to be a knitting fool!"
Said with a wink in her voice, it was definitely a pat on the back.

Slow progress, but I can already tell this is going to be fun