Thursday, June 28, 2012

Felting All Around

Earlier this week I promised to show the knitting I have been doing over the last several months.  Here are two of the projects I have started and, more impressively, completed since winter. 
WVU Bag at yarnability
Snowflake Bag at yarnability

The WVU Bag pattern is Angela's Fabulous Felted Bag.  The pattern can be found on Ravelry.  I used Nature Spun Worsted Weight yarn in Navy and Impasse Yellow.  I started this at the end of May and finished it shortly after the end of school.  Just in time for West Virginia Daze at yarnability.

The Snowflake Bag was also a Ravelry find.  I can't find the ball bands to know what colors of Nature Spun Worsted Weight I used.  I was a little disappointed in the loss of definition that occurred when I felted this bag.  I think that I felted it a bit longer than I should have (aka didn't pay enough attention to it while felting).

Below are the rest of the pictures both before and after felting for both bags.

Snowflake Bag immediately after felting
 Notice the loss of stitch definition from the picture above and the pictures below

 
Front of Snowflake Bag

Back of Snowflake Bag (yes I reversed the colors in the pattern)

Side of the Snowflake Bag

The WVU Bag was by far one of the easiest felted bags I have knit!  Once I finished the bottom, I picked up stitches around the edge and just knit round after round. Some people would find this a bit monotonous. I however like that I can zone out while I was knitting this bag.  Made it a great project to take to the MANY social knitting groups I attend.

I love this bag.  For now it is still on display at the store.  I plan on using it to house my son's sports stuff in the car.  Hopefully this will contain the clutter that occurs in my car (I am not fully convinced this will happen!!).
WVU Bag while drying


WVU Bag at the halfway point
This bag measure in at 22 inches tall and 15 inches wide BEFORE felting.  After felting, it was 16 inches tall and 10 inches wide. 
22 inches tall before felting

I am now taking a break from felted bags.  I am working on the Lady jane wrap and the Jordan sweater.  Pics of these projects will be forthcoming.  

On a personal note, I am enjoying my Summer of Adventures.  I have chased several waterfalls, against the advice of a popular song.  I have spent many hours relaxing and knitting with good friends. I am spending each day choosing happiness.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Creative Thinking

Yes I am back after a LONG break from blogging.  I have been knitting.  However this post is going to focus on my other creative adventure.  I recently got my ears pierced. (They were originally pierced in high school and my ears are super sensitive to most earrings.  So I let them go closed.)  I digress.  Since I have started wearing earrings again, I have accummulated several nicer (read hypoallergenic) sets.  They were starting to take over my dresser.  So I was trying to figure out how to store them in a decorative way.

I headed over to Michaels with an idea in mind.  I grabbed a picture frame, some batting and 2 rolls of ribbon that match my comforter.  I pulled everything out yesterday - thinking this project might take me the entire afternoon to create.  Imagine my surprise when 15 minutes later I have this earring display.



First I removed the back of the frame and all the extras included with all frames.  I was trying to decide what to use for the batting.  I laid the glass on top of the batting to cut the amount needed.  Then I realized I could use the glass to hold the batting in place.  Next came the ribbon.  I cut strips of each color and placed them diagonally over the batting.  Finally I placed the glass, batting & ribbon back in the frame.  Yes it really was that simple!!

This picture shows the finished product with earrings included.  It is sitting on my dresser and looks much better than the earring boxes I was using before. 


As I mentioned earlier, I have been knitting.  I will share all my finished projects and WIP's in the next few days.  Right now I am off to enjoy another beautiful summer day!