Huckleberry Bag finished

Ta da!
the finished Huckleberry Knitting Styx Bag...
a close up of the front so you can see the heart button and little beads
and of course a picture of the back (reverse st st)
and now the cute lining inside... with a pocket, of course!
(yes, I did have help with the machine sewing of the lining... the hand sewing part I did on my own. So I only have myself to blame for it being just a tiny bit off center. BUT, I didn't let my OCD make me take it out and re-do it, HA! maybe I'm getting better about being such a perfectionist?!)
And now the details:
Yarn - Lion Brand Wool, colorway 1 skein Ocean Blues and 1 skein Black
Needles - bag front knitted on US size 10 1/2, back knitted on Bond Knitting Machine
Pattern - Modified Knitting Needle Knitting Bag by Pam Allen (or find it here)

Mods:
For this bag, I CO60 (instead of the required 80). I did make it shorter by 1 1/2" and did not decrease. The back was knitted on the Bond Knitting Machine and I used the purl side out. The handles were Tunisian crochet and folded in half and sewn closed. The bag was lined and decorated with a heart button and some metal beads.

I hope the birthday girl likes the bag! She will be surprised that her presents were mailed in time to get there BEFORE her birthday (unlike the usual lateness)

Disappointing yarn

Yep, I'm disappointed with the Brown Sheep Lanaloft yarn.

Last week I started another Berry Stitch Bag using Brown Sheep Lanaloft in Turquoise.
The back is done on the Bond Knitting Machine so I didn't notice anything. BUT! when I started hand knitting the front there was blue dye on my hands!!

I thought, hmmm.... it can't be from the yarn and put the project away. But when I knitted a few more rows last night and saw my blue hands I was upset. I can't have the dye coming off! and I don't plan on felting it. I don't want to frog it, wash the yarn, and then start over. Also, I don't like the thick and thin places throughout the yarn. So the yarn is in a bag while I ponder what to do with it.

I still want to make this bag as a gift and I need to get it done soon. So I got out some different stash yarn.

Lion Brand Wool in colorway Ocean Blues. I also have some Ebony that I plan on using on the back and maybe for the handles.

So far NO dye on my hands!!
and a close-up of the berry stitch pattern
As much as I like the Turquoise colorway, I am liking this yarn much better.

Progressing Along...

...even with startitis, knitting progress is being made.

This month's Fingerless Glove Fanatics kal is "purple." You choose what pattern you want to knit but the yarn has to be purple or a variegated purple or striped with purple or handpainted with purple (you get the idea).

Nathair Mitts by Dianna Morgan (Knitasaur)

I'm using Debbie Bliss Alpaca (80%) Silk (20%) Aran (worsted weight) in Purple on US 8 dpns.

A lovely cable pattern. I have the thumb to do on this right mitt and then I'll start the left one.

I am finding it hard to think about giving these away but I am suppose to be working on Christmas presents. I love this cable pattern and will definitely have to make myself a pair!


The FGF: the Sock Group is having a Green kal. Knit any pattern in green.

I am knitting a basic sock with a K2, P2 cuff, a three inch leg, and to change it up a bit, I've knitted an Eye of Partridge heel flap.

I'm using Plymouth Yarn Rockin' Sox in Green/Teal/Purple on US 1 1/2 dpns.

This sock is my traveling sock. And, since we are traveling this weekend, I hope to finish it and start the mate.





Here is another berrystitch bag. This one is definitely a gift and I need to get it done soon.


The back was done on the Bond Knitting Machine. The front is the Knitting Needle Knitting Bag

I am using Brown Sheep LanoLoft in Turquoise on US 10 1/2 straight needles. I'll pick up the stitches for the back and add a few rows before sewing the side and bottom seams.






And definitely NOT last (but the last one I'll mention today) is a sCrapBag. It is part of a kal with SuKnitWitty.
I am using (what else) scraps!! Well, since I don't have many scraps, um... they're mostly um... from SuKnitWitty. She is kind and generous to share some scraps with me.

They are (so far) Red Heart worsted weight yarn.

The back was done on the Bond Knitting Machine (did I tell you I LUV that machine?!) (I am going to get one of my own... soon... so I hear)

I then picked up the stitches and proceeded with the hand knitting of some delicious ribs.


So that is all I'll mention for today, don't want to give away all my WIPs (hehe) Some are worked on a few rows at a time and some are sitting patiently for their turn.

"When life throws you scraps, make a scrap bag!" (you can always use it to carry a new project)

What have I done?!!

I told myself, "no new craft projects!, you will not take up quilting, you will not start spinning, and no, you may not start rug hooking!" "You do enough other crafts to keep you busy for a 100 yrs!"

And then...
I was seduced by the Bond Knitting Machine...



It is wonderful! It is quick! and I can think of soooo many knitting projects to do on it and still have some hand knitting as part of it.

It all started when I mentioned She-Knits Mystery Bag KAL to my friend, SuKnitWitty. We immediately signed up!

And then a few days later, SuKnitWitty shows me her Knitting Styx Bag she made with the back having been knitted on the Bond Knitting Machine. Well... I had never heard of a Bond and asked her about it. She then explained, she knitted the back on the Bond and then knitted the Berry Stitch on the needles. Well, I thought how wonderful it would be to knit the backs of sweaters on the machine (time saving, yes?) and then hand knit the front in whatever stitch pattern I wanted. I might even be able to figure out how to knit the sleeves on the machine (again saving time!)

A week later I was visiting SuKnitWitty and she showed me her bond machine. She showed me how it worked. She even let me try it out (bad idea), I was hooked!! I machine knitted the back of a bag for myself. I came home all excited and chatted endlessly about how great this machine is and all the wonderful stuff I could make if I had one.

I hand knitted the front of the bag, stitched it together, and SuKnitWitty helped me with the lining ('cause you all know I know nothing about the sewing machine).

Ta da... the Blueberry Styx Bag

front
back knitted on the Bond machine

inside lined (with what else?... butterflies of course!)
and the handles done in Tunisian crochet and folded in half and slip stitched closed.

Yes, I have asked Santa for a Bond Knitting Machine. Now if I can just wait that long.