Be in the Moment #48

I recently realized that one of the aspects of knitting that I really love is when I am following a pattern that I have to pay attention to...like a lace repeat that can be memorized....and I am just repeating that over and over in my head and something about the rhythm and looking at the yarn color and feeling the texture of they yarn...and even better with music, or a podcast, or a book on tape in my ears...and I am so at peace and IN THE MOMENT...must be all right brain stuff...none of that left brain chatter. Well maybe the memorization of the pattern is left, but everything else is right.

Please please follow THIS link and watch this amazing video of this persons experience of having a stroke. Neuro-anatomist Jill Bolte Taylor talks about how when she was 37 she had a stroke and realized it while it was happening. Talk about being in the moment...this is really fascinating. Be oatient it takes a minute to open....take a breath or two and chill out.

The ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/design-your-own-toe-up-socks


HERE is Stitch Studs Blog and on the right is a link to toe-up sock tutorial booklet that you can preview part of and a link to purchase it. It allows for your own yarn choice needle choice etc.

HERE is the direct link to purchase the sock tutorial if you are on Ravelry.

If you like to look at

knitting blogs....
and you like to look around Ravelry.....
and you like to keep up your own blog and write coments in other people's blogs and talk in the Forum (especially the Sheknits Circle)
how do you EVER have any time to knit......I'm serious

#47 Try try again- She-Knits Podcast

I have never spent so much time knitting a few rows and frogging completely...over and over...for 3 hours one afternoon, then 2 more hours that evening...unresolved. The net day my brain and needles reconnected and all is well. Have a listen to the latest episode for more details.

I am a so nervous .....

40 minutes more. I just finished knitting the project for Interweave Felts...and now I have just put it in the washer...and I am so afraid it won't work out how I want it to. The thinkg with felting is it is not an exact science. The thing with this project is the amazing yarn that we agreed upon my using is vastly different then what I created the original project in. I had to do multiple swatches and wanted to do another but was concerned that I wouldn't have enough left for the actual project. I know this sounds weird but sometimes when I am designing and doing the knitting part, I get these little feelings that come out of nowhere i.e. "this is the last row" or "add another few sts."...almost like voices "if you build it they will come" kind of voices. I did have some of that while knitting this project but there is just this unkwn factor of it still being an unfamiliar yarn to me and that i never actually knit a swatch with the exact dimensions but rather guessed form what I did and didn't like on the swatches as to how to proceed. 34 minutes more.

The skip in my step still has not left!

Maybe because I am still in process creating project #2 for Interweave. I realize as I am doing this, I need to continually be sketching (which I am) and casting on for new designs. It needs to be an ongoing thing.

I am so wanting to continue the Central Park Hoodie, and alse the Drops Eskimo pattern keeps calling to me. I can not have anything else on the needles...I just don't think I am a sweater knitter during this design phase in my life. It pretty much takes up all my time...and I am fine with it on the one hand, however feel somehow out of it in the Circle as I don't have anthing to talk about but bags bags bags. I do keep up with everything everyone is doing and I do know alot of what is out there...jsut not knitting it myself.

I have a bunch of bag ideas......and I want to get a solid newbunch of patterns up and for sale!

FREE Sheknits for Knitters purse pattern

Bunnies Got Back - a knit and felted Bag Pattern great for beginners interested in trying out intarsia!

By Sharon Dreifuss -

For more of Sharon's knitting patterns + kits
visit www.Sheknitsforknitters.com

I know spring is here when I see an abundance of those fluffy little white tails hopping away from me as I make my way back to the outdoors. When it warms up outside it means I can size down to a small on the go bag which can be worn on my wrist, or thrown in my ever present big bag if need be. What shouts springtime more then bright pink, green and white? About the sweet and silly pom-poms, well, spring makes me feel giddy. The bunnies aren’t the only ones showing there tails in the sun.

SIZE

One (perfect for cell phone, i-pod, keys, bills, mints)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Before Felting
Height: 7 inches (from below small loop)
Width: 7 inches
Wrist Strap Length: 14 inches

After Felting
Height: 5.5 inches after assembly
Width: 5.5 inches
Wrist Strap Length: 10 inches

After Felting

MATERIALS

[MC] Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky [85% wool, 15% mohair; 125yd/114m per 113g skein] ; M-38: Lotus Pink; 1 skein (or 80 yds)

[CC] Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky [85% wool, 15% mohair; 125yd/114m per 113g skein] ; M- 11 : White Frost; 1 skein (or 50 yds)

Embroidery yarn for bunny detail:

Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted [85% wool, 15% mohair; 190yd/173m per 113g skein];

[A] M-05: Onyx (used to outline bunny) 2 yds;

Pom-pom yarns;

The two Pom–poms are made in Lamb’s Pride Bulky yarn.You will need approximately one yard of white for bunny’s tail, and one yard of green for bag closure pom-pom.

1 set US # 13/9mm double pointed needles

1 set US # 13/9mm straight needles

Tapestry needle for embroidery and assembly

1 red seed bead for bunny eye (optional)

Small Pom-Pom Maker to make 1-2 inch pom-pom or cut cardboard pieces into circles to create your own pom-pom maker

Scissors

GAUGE

10sts/ 15 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (un-felted)

Exact gauge is not important for this pattern

PATTERN NOTES

Intarsia knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colors

i-cord When working I-cord, work is not turned. Instead of turning the work

around to work back on the WS, slide all sts to the other end of the needle, switch the needle back to your left hand, bring the yarn around the back of the work, and start knitting the sts again. After the first 2 sts, give the yarn a sharp tug. Repeat this row to form I-cord. After a few rows, the work will begin to form a tube.

kfb knit into the front and back of the same stitch. (This gives you 2sts.)

m1 make one stitch by inserting left needle, from front to back, under the horizontal strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on left hand needle, forming a loop on the needle, knit through the back of this loop.

Bag is worked from; the small loop closure down the front of bag following colorwork Bunny Chart from the top of chart, Row 20 (then 19,18, 17 and so on) down to row 1, then up the front of bag. Embroidery details are done before felting. Next bag is assembled and wrist strap is knit. Bag is then felted. Pom-poms are added after bag is felted.

PATTERN

With double pointed needle and [MC] CO 2 sts. and i-cord for 3 inches (10 rows) to create loop closure. Leave i-cord on needle. With other double pointed needle pick up 2 stitches from the first row of the i-cord (Figure 1 )
















The picked up stitches will initially be very tight however they will loosen up as soon as you knit across them. Connect those two sets of stitches by knitting the 2 stitches of your left hand needle onto the right hand needle keeping tension as even as possible (4sts.).

Next row: Purl back

You are now ready to begin your increases.

Row 1: *kfb, m1*; repeat from*-* across row, end kfb (11 sts)

Row 2: Purl back

Row 3: K1, kfb in next 9 sts, last stitch k1 (20 sts)

Row 4: Purl back

Switch to straight needles and continuing in Stockinette Stitch follow Colorwork Bunny Chart (see pattern notes regarding Colorwork Chart) from the TOP DOWN (Row 22, the 21,20, etc.) for the next 22 rows

Next: Continue in Stockinette Stitch for 7 inches ending with a purl row.

Next row : On the right or knit side , bind off all stitches.

Side seams

With right sides facing and MC sew sides seams together as close to edge as possible with whip stitch.

Wrist strap

Turn bag so right side is out. Pick up 3 stitches as evenly as possible directly over side seam where bag is seamed together. I-cord those 3 stitches for 14 inches (40 rows). Bind off and sew that end onto other side of bag over other side seam so strap is evenly attached.

FINISHING

Create 2 small (1-2 inch) pom-poms, one in white and one in green. Pom-Poms do not get felted so do not attach pom-poms until after bag is felted.

With tapestry needle and [A] work chain stitch around bunny adding an extra stitch to accent bunny nose profile.

Sew seed bead in for bunny eye if desired

Felt bag

Place your finished bag inside a zippered pillow case (not laundry mesh bag), add an old pair of rubber flip-flops or jeans (for extra agitation) to washing machine set on hottest temperature. Use a little laundry soap. Turn machine on and it will do the felting for you. If you are new to felting run machine on short cycle (15-30 minutes) and check to see felting progress. Felt the bag until it's the size and texture you desire. Under-felting leaves stitch definition and bag will be floppy with knit-like structure. Over-felting leaves bag over shrunken and destroyed so watch your progress until you understand how felting works in your machine.

When finished felting stuff with old plastic grocery bags to desired shape and air dry.

Sew on pom-pom bunny tail smack dap in the middle of bunny backside. Sew on closure pom-pom 1 inch below top of bag back so closure loops fits nicely over it.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Sharon knits, designs, podcasts and parents seven children just outside of Chicago. You can contact her, find more designs and purse kits at

SheKnitsforKnitters.com If you would like an earful of Sharon to keep you company while you knit go to http://she-knits.mypodcast

Contact: Sharon@Sharonbethdesigns.com

All content and photos are the property of She-Knits©.

#46 Konchiwa

I had such a nice talk with such a nice woman in Japan....THANK YOU Kathleen!!

Select someone you think could use a litlle (not so little) Omiyage! The thread has been started in Ravelry to place your nominee in there. In the end it will be the luck of the draw!

I am done knitting project #1 for Interweave yeah! I was told that the yarn that gave me the yarngasm just by the look of it on the computer screen shall arrive tomorrow ...I am beyond excited ...the best anticipation eva!

Have you tried the blocking puzzle from Coco knits? DO you think its good compared to big solid cumbersome well demarcated blocking board?