Singer Sewing Saturday

for the Knit Sock Kit Swap. On to the second kit! Inspired by the many varieties of bags everyone is making, thought that it would be fun to try something new.

BTW, Jeane received the first kit which included a felted bag and will soon receive an additional surprise in the mail. Shh! Am sure that she doesn't read my blog!




My Singer Featherweight has been stored in its case in the closet for quite a few months, unused. Although I like to quilt and sew, knitting and basketry have taken up my free "hobby" time. Time to bring it out!

So, in between the usual (and unexpected) Saturday happenings, I sorted through numerous fabric, and tried to figure out what would fit the receipient's (R) taste and personality. It would seem if one were to read someone's blog, it would be easy to figure out, but not for me! Wonder if my swapper is having an equally hard time?

Finally decided on a tote bag with shorter handles and reversible. Yes, I'm being a bit of a coward; what are the chances that R will not like either one? :0

Finished the bag on Saturday and assembled the main portion of the kit for the picture. Did not include R's favorite candy in the picture, as it would spoil the surprise.

Sorry Dad, I'm still working on your socks! I promise!

Brown Cable Socks

Completed the brown cable socks in the Regia wool & silk blend. The cable pattern shows up better on a solid color. Brown is one of my favorite colors for work, while blue is my favorite color for casual wear. Here they are, relaxing on the back porch, before I drag them (kicking and screaming) to work! Just kidding! I LOVE my job!

Sister to Diamond Felted Bag

was finished on Monday. It's finished with different buttons than the first. Decided to go with a decorative spiral black button in the middle and two matching black buttons on the side. Took this picture in the evening, and even with the flash, it doesn't come out as well.
Have been toting around Dad's socks, but have been working on them mostly at home. Initially, I had cast on 80 sts, but it looked much too big. Gauge, bah! Looked at the gauge on a pair of brown cabled socks (same yarn, different color) recently finished, and discovered that it was 7 sts=1". The socks would have been HUGE! Ok, tore out about 3" of ribbing to start again! Chose the correct sts this time at 72 sts. The yarn is really nice, a Regia fingering weight of wool & silk blend.

Joined a new group of knitters

who are knitting very tall black socks (army regulation color) for our soldiers overseas. It's a bit like the Red Cross knitting circles, where groups of women knit the dark olive green socks for the men. There are some interesting vintage patterns on this site. Now, there are both women and men in the military who are receiving the gifts of socks, and women and men knitting them. Hoping that this will also bring a bit of comfort to me as well, as my son Kevin joined the Army, leaving home in the early morning hours of July 5th.

While I'm waiting for the black yarn to arrive, am busy working on Dad's medium blue socks. Sorry Dad, this is only my second pair of "Man socks", I'm hoping that they fit!

Organizing............

knitting patterns. Have always found it helpful to step back and organize things, even with knitting. It's so frustrating not to be able to find something! One of the ways I organize patterns found on the web or purchased, is to place them in a binder, in the plastic sheets, using the "post-it flags" that can be written on for the categories.

Projects:: Currently finishing up the toe on a pair of brown cabled socks. Have to finish up the socks in order to free up my favorite circulars for some medium blue socks which I promised to make for my father. Looking forward to starting them. :)

Summer travelin'.....for the Knit Sock Kit Swap

The felted bag has been mailed to my KSKS kittee, Jean, from Utah, and will arrive in the mail today. Instead of a zipper, I used some rounded cherry colored buttons, along with a chain stitched loop to fasten from the other side. The buttons were selected to coordinate with the purse and to look like my pal's favorite candy, the atomic fireball. Legal disclaimer: not intended to be eaten, not by child or adult! Included also some colorful sock yarn, Cherry Tree Hill, which is one of her favorites. The sock pattern which was included was Wendy Johnson's toe-up, a new technique my pal wanted to try.



Just agreed to be an "angel" and make another kit. Very uncomfortable with the term but happy to do the kit. More kittin'(not to mention my own knittin') to come.

Love to see what everyone is making! :)

Posted a few pictures

of some completed knitting projects. One of the pictures added to flickr was the french market tote (from knitty.com). Made it in a two color- dark & light blue combination. Am not a big fan of the tote, it's too large on the bottom. Made an accessories case which I like better than the tote. Can't like every finished project!

The KSKS kit.....posting pics and identity of secret kittee........soon......
Plan to mail the completed KSKS kit on Wednesday. When it reaches its destination, I will post the completed kit, and the identity of my kittee.

Thanks for the comments and the kind words about the diamond felted tote! :)

Shhhh.....don't tell anyone.......but

this is one of the places where I stash my yarn. Have been making baskets for a year or two, with the idea that baskets and yarn go together. The problem is, the baskets are multiplying faster than the yarn stash! The picture gallery contains some of my favorite baskets, some filled with yarn.

Recent purchases are hiding here.............

Where do you stash your yarn? Would love to know! :)

It's fuzzy!

....and felted! Just placed it outside to get a better picture, but it's drying inside. I must admit something, however. The first bag I felted, was by washing machine. It took forever and plus, the washing machine was needed for laundry.

So......instead, I felt by hand in a pan in the kitchen sink, using hot water and dish detergent. If the water is super hot, I use a spoon to agitate the item. Yes, beat it with a spoon! It takes less time, honest! It does seem that I'm breaking some sort of rules; can't find anyone who does it this way.

Hi, I may be your mysterious kitter! The sock yarn is ready to go, and there are some fun extras to pick up. The bag may take a few days to dry, then it will be on its way! :)

Prefelted bag

Finished knittin the bag!! Yes! And the sun is finally out (on the weekend even)! It's an incredibly beautiful day. Finished the bag early in the morning, then completed an errand, washed two cars, watered the garden, and swept both decks. The house is a bit of a mess, but decided to clean the house from the outside in, and enjoy some sun.

Thanks for all the comments! :) I'm overwhelmed as a newbie blogger! In response to Cayli, the pattern is the Kristina Bag and was created by Julie Anderson of Black Sheep Bags . She has some great patterns on her site. The directions were well written. Her Booga Bag directions are free, the rest are reasonably priced.

Have already purchased yarn to make a clone (to keep!) with a different (color pattern) Noro yarn while keeping the black Cascade.

On to the felting! :)

On to the messy house? :P

Out of work for four days ..........Whoopie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! spelling?? Whooppee! spell check? help?