theraineysisters knitting and so much more

November 25, 2007

From Susan — Tote à Tote

Filed under: Modular Purse — lv2knit @ 2:46 pm

I promised a picture of my side by side Modular Totes and voila:

November2507002.jpg picture by lv2knit

I now love my new purse ;).  Felting is an amazing phenomenon — it transforms an ugly duckling into a relatively ::beautiful:: swan!  Even DH said he had held out little hope for the purse and now thinks it’s great.

Lettie wants to use it as a knitting bag for smaller projects:

November2507005.jpg picture by lv2knit

The original pattern can be purchased as a pdf download hard copy to be mailed* from the Yarnery for $4.50.  The changes I made to transform the large tote into a purse are written in this file: Modular Purse Modifications, which can be found in our Free Patterns section — upper righthand corner.  You will need to buy the original pattern.

June asked what I did in the blocking process to prevent the flap from getting “wavy” — answer: nuthin.  I think the firm i-cord edge may have prevented the ruffling effect, but other than that I did nothing special.  Now, I will go forth and use my lil spring-colored bag — woo hoo!

*Please note correction!  The Yarnery will send you a hard copy of the Modular Tote Pattern, not send an electronic pdf.

November 24, 2007

From Susan — FO Squared

Filed under: Completed Projects,Modular Purse — lv2knit @ 1:50 pm

Well, I did finish two items the last couple of days — BUT, they were 1) already started, b) not that difficult, and 3rd — not that fantastic.  The thing is, even if you just get a base hit instead of a grand slam homer, it still counts as a hit, right?

The two things I finished are the Lopi Cardigan and the Modular Tote Purse.  Both were lots more work than I anticipated — isn’t that usually the case?  By the end, I wanted to cut them both up and throw them away. 

Let’s start with the purse.  This project became the “Thing That Would Not Die.”  I have worked on it off and on for what seems like months. 

Give this thing a haircut: look at the ends!

November07003-1.jpg picture by lv2knit

Here are some pre-felting pics:

November2407003-1.jpg picture by lv2knit

November2407007.jpg picture by lv2knit

I made a major mistake on the front flap, but did not discover it until way too late.  I would have needed to re-knit 3/4’s of the flap and that was not an option, especially since I had already joined it and finished the i-cord around the entire thing!  In shaping the flap (rounding the lower corners) I rounded the wrong squares!  So when I joined it to the bag with the rounded corners down, the flap was 90 degrees off.  It would have lined up perfectly if I had shaped the correct corners!  But, like I said, too late!

Here is the felted bag drying, front view:

November2407012.jpg picture by lv2knit

Back view:

November2407013.jpg picture by lv2knit

The second FO is the Lopi Cardigan.  This is a bulky knit, wooly-wool sweater.  I still need to find buttons, and truth be told, it’s still damp! 

November2407008.jpg picture by lv2knit

As Surly would say, “It is A sweater, not THE sweater.”  It is wearable, it is kind of cute, it is very scratchy, and it looks kind of blah when it is on.  Here is Lettie trying to model it:

November2407005.jpg picture by lv2knit

And a close up:

November2407009.jpg picture by lv2knit

So that is why I knew I could get two projects done.  The potential third FO has no hope of getting done this weekend as I had hoped.  It took me too long for the above items.  I am going to finish my Kauni Cardigan next.  I really want that off my plate.  I also have an additional Hemlock to make for a shop sample for the Yarnery.  I’ll be teaching the Hemlock this winter.

So the good news is that I finally got some projects done — I have not worked on Lyra for several days now, so I want to get back to that one as well. 

Hope all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday.  We spent the day with family and ate, ate, ate!

PS — Here is the Reynolds Lopi Pattern #82273 for those who missed in past posts:

LopiPattern.jpg picture by lv2knit

PS Squared 😉 — When the felted purse dries, I’ll take a picture of it with the regular Modular Tote so you can compare the two sizes.

September 30, 2007

From Susan — Bottom Knitter

Filed under: Back Story,Modular Purse,Susan's Kauni Cardigan — lv2knit @ 5:55 pm

I am knitting the bottom of the barrel modular purse.  My knitting is as exciting as licking stamps.

ModularPurseBottom.jpg picture by lv2knit

I am plodding along on this project to have something to do.  It is not the most exciting fish project in the sea.

I did finish the 7th Harry Potter book.  I am in shock and awe.  It was amazing.  You are driven to get to the end, but you do not want it to end.  There is a sadness about its finality.  I must say though, placing my beautiful Hemlock across my knees while snuggled up with Harry P. made me very happy!!

I did a lot of swatching over the past few days and nothing has clicked, so I will be returning some yarn this week.  I would rather waste one skein and move on than sit on yarn I do not think I will use.

Kauni Update: I need to finish Sleeve #1.  When you knit a Kauni sleeve, you need to err on the side of too long rather than too short.  You can always rip back, but it would be nearly impossible to add length if you have already moved on to the second sleeve.  The colors need to stay in sync.  I am knitting my sleeves from the cuff up, so I will need to make sure the sleeve is overly generous before breaking off for Sleeve #2.  I also may change the way I am doing the shoulders.  I am considering a 3-needle bind off with a visible outside ridge.  Don’t know yet, still pondering! 😉

It is a rainey Sunday afternoon, so you know where I am headed.

PS — Daughter #1 got a job in a darling coffee shop!!  Woo Hoo!  Whip me up a latte, Baby!

August 18, 2007

From Susan — Does Susan Knit Anymore?

Filed under: Modular Purse — lv2knit @ 8:55 am

The answer: not much, apparently!  I have not been doing enough knitting to brag post about so Sally has been doing the heavy lifting.  I have done a little knitting on the Modular Purse I am working on for my class at Amazing Threads.  Here is part of the first large square:

FirstSquare.jpg picture by lv2knit

I did it differently this time and it is much improved.  I started with a provisional cast on and then joined the last small square to the first using a ssk (slip last st of the row you are working, slip corresponding provisional stitch and join like a[n] ssk). 

SquareJoin.jpg picture by lv2knit

In the original pattern, you do a knitted cast on and then seam the last square to the first.  It was bulky and unattractive (at least mine was!).  This join is seamless and when you’re done, you’re done!

I was very enthused about knitting the purse WHILE making the large Modular Tote.  However, it is not so enthralling now.  I’m not really in the mood, and I have many other things I would prefer to be working on.  Like this:

plisse.jpg picture by lv2knit

As mentioned in a previous post, Sally said she would get this for me for my birthday — I just could not pick a color.  Yesterday, I asked her to go on line with me and help me pick one out.  We pulled up the color cards and BOTH of us said immediately, “Color 98 jumps out at me.”  It’s called Lagoon:

ColorCard2.jpg picture by lv2knit

Since I really don’t care which color it is, just that it’s pretty, I ordered #98 on the the spot.  Thank you, Surly!!

Surly & I also ordered and received enough Rowan Calmer in off white for both of us to knit Whisper:

whisperpattern.jpg picture by lv2knit

This is a summer sweater so it will have to wait until Spring.  And, of course there is the Chinese Lace Pullover which I plan on making next in Cascade 220 in a Chinese lacquer red.

I am also working very slowly on my Kauni sleeve.  Nothing to show there as yet but soon — ???? ;)  So, I’m not making any progress on anything but I sure have BIG PLANS for the future! ;)  Am I biting off more then I can chew — but, of course!

PS to Marina: You are CORRECT!  I do have the Large Lace Collar kit from Sweden — that will come after Chinese Lace Pullover and will be my fall knitting project.

PS2 to Elizabeth: The jacket is a Hanne Falkenberg design called Plisse.  I purchased the kit from Cucumberpatch.  Sorry I did not include the details :).

 

August 13, 2007

From Susan — Made a Quick Left!

Filed under: Modular Purse — lv2knit @ 2:44 pm

I was ready to start the second small square which is part of the larger square on the Modular Purse and decided the Plum was a no go — too dark and too dull a color.  I wanted denim blue, but had to settle for this:

MiniModularBag006.jpg picture by lv2knit

I am not going to change it again — it is what it is!  I’ll post a picture once I get a square completed.

August 12, 2007

From Susan — Mini Modular

Filed under: Modular Purse,Susan's Kauni Cardigan — lv2knit @ 9:35 pm

Today I spent a grueling afternoon at the Mall of America — I know that many people travel from all corners of the world to shop there, but why?  It is NOT my favorite hang out, and I just may never go there again.  At least I can hope.

I did start a little take-along project.  I am reknitting the Modular Tote by Theresa Gaffey into a smaller purse version.  As I was knitting the regular tote I kept thinking that it would make a great purse.

I’ll be teaching the standard Modular Tote as a class at Amazing Threads and also offered up the purse as an option — I thought maybe I should knit one myself before “teaching” others how to do it ;)!!

MiniModularBag004.jpg picture by lv2knit

I had a very specific idea for the colors but could not find them, so I settled on these in Nature Spun 100% Wool Worsted (from left to right): Plum Line (#015), Limestone (#010), Hurricane (#001).  The class starts in September so I thought I better do my homework!

I have been very lax on my Kauni 🙁 .  It is not fun knitting the sleeves so I have been avoiding them like the Sleeve Plague of 1752.  Hmmmm, the Kauni Vest———??   I like the sound of that ———> N-a-a-a-a-h-h-h-h-h-h!   As I have often said to other knitters: this is a hobby, it is supposed to be fun — not like taking your medicine (OR doing homework), so pick up a project you LOVE!  But, I want to wear the Kauni and it will be more wearable with sleeves, so I will work on it again soon.

Enjoy your Monday!

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