Ribbon Yarn Purse is Complete :)

Ta Da!! I finished my ribbon yarn purse. It was knit in Lion Brand Incredible ribbon yarn. The color is Autumn Leaves. I like the color a lot and I like how the purse knit. The pattern was really easy to follow and it was easy to shape. I got it from the book Knitting with Ribbon Yarn by Tracy Chapman.

I used different size needles than the pattern called for. I used size 8 and 10 aluminum needles. There is something about metal needles that I really like. I think it is because I used them when I was younger.

I'm not sure that I like the twisted cord handles on the purse. They seem wimpy for the purse. If I ever knit this style again, I would change the handles to something more substantial.

This is a fun book...some really fun accessory projects. There is a cool flower pattern pillow I would like to try sometime. And, surprisingly, ribbon yarn was fun and easy to knit with (I was not expecting that).

Sunny Day

It was such a beautiful day today. Unfortunately, knitting took second place to gardening and other outdoor activities. No felting :(

But I did get a new tree, a Norfolk Pine. I think that's what it is called. It is beautiful and it looks happy in it's new pot in the front window.

I also checked on my outdoor garden: lettuce, basil, garlic, peas and such. Some seeds have sprouted, some not yet. I don't think that my lilac tree is going to bloom this year. That's a little disappointing, but all the irises are preparing to flower. I love growing things.

Also took a long bike ride this afternoon. I love to bike out in the countryside by my house. I get to see all my animal neighbors, the cows, pigs, dogs, chickens.... What a beautiful day. :)

The Frog 2

Just a couple of days ago, I finished knitting the frog. I think that the head was the most difficult part to figure out. I could not figure out what shape to use for the head. I settled on a shape with two eyes bulging from the top of his head. I will finish them with white and black circles to make them really look like eyes.













The head, arms and legs were all knit flat and then sewed together. The body I knit in the round on dpns.


Now the whole thing gets felted, then stuffed when he is dry. I am pretty happy with how he looks so far.


Meanwhile I have started a new project. I got a great deal on some ribbon yarn, which I have never knit with before. I found a book at the library all about knitting with ribbon yarn and chose a cute purse pattern. I am modifying the design just a little. The original design calls for beads that are knitted in the purse in a geometric pattern. I have decided to leave those out and add some beaded embellishment after the purse is completed. Here is a picture of how the knitting is progressing. I really like how the colors are coming out in the ribbon yarn. Its actually really fun to knit with.







I am looking forward to the finished purse.

Since the frog is ready for felting, this will be a felting weekend. I have a number of projects just waiting for felting day to arrive. I love felting, and I am excited to see how it all turns out. :)

The Frog

Well, here it is. I took some pictures of the frog in progress.

These are all the parts I have finished. The arms are already attached to the body. One leg is completely finished; the other is still in progress.

I think the body looks kinda fat. It might look better felted. I'm still not sure about that part. I will decide once the whole frog is together.

He still needs a head obviously. That will be the last part.

Here is another shot of the body and arms. You can see how fat it is. It looks like he has a big butt. By the way, I guess I have decided that my frog is a boy frog.

Here is a shot of the finished leg. You can sorta see my attempt at knitting a knee joint.

This frog is a total experiment. Before this I knit two other stuffed animals. One was a cat toy for my cat....pretty easy stuff. The second was a teddy bear, and I used a pattern I found online. It turned out really cute. Somehow I decided that that was enough to qualify me to design my own stuffed frog. I hope it works.

My first blog

This is my first blog. I wanted a place where I can share my various creations with friends and strangers around the world. I knit, I bead, and occassionally I sew. Accessories are my passion.

I guess I have been knitting since the second grade. I grew up in Ireland and learned to knit at school. But I stopped knitting for many years and only recently picked up my knitting needles again. Now I am addicted. I remember in fifth grade I knit a sweater with pretty cables going down the sleeves. Now I am nervous to even try knitting a cable, but I did receive the Vogue Stitchionary Cable volume for Christmas, and I am eager to test it out. I'm sure I'll let you know how that turns out when I try. Right now I am attempting to knit a stuffed frog...because I had a lot of green yarn :) Pictures will follow.

I have also been beading for many years....since high school. I love bead weaving of every kind. The smaller the beads, the happier I am :) If I ever lose my eyesight, I might go insane. Recently, however, my knitting has taken over. Knitting is a lot more portable than teeny tiny seed bead projects....and I am a lot less likely to lose a ball of yarn.

I do some macrame and some sewing, although I don't have a sewing machine right now, which frustrates me often. I have started to really like working with sculpey clay. I'd like to learn more. I am always looking for a new way to use my creativity. And that is me and my crafts in a nutshell.