Free Neka Bags Pattern Available

Check it out!
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Over in the sidebar is the pattern for the Neka Bags. Enjoy!

Did I ever mention one of the reasons I named the bags "Neka" bags. (In case you are wondering it is pronounced "Nee-kah"). Do you remember the candy called Necco wafers ? I used to have a thing for them as a child. Strange little wafer candies that came in a whole bunch of colors. The variety in the color of my bags reminded me of a pack of Necco wafers. They aren't pronounced the same but for me its a strange form of word assocation.


I'll be back tomorrow with updates on "The Hat that has yet to be named" and my Project Spectrum project.

See ya!

Shooow.... Me.... The MEDDDDAAAAAL!!!!!!!!!

That's right. I'm going all "Jerry Maguire" on ya!

I want my medal people. This isn't the time for modesty. I deserve the gold and I want to see it.





Pattern: Martha Cardigan - Rowan #37
Yarn:Knitpicks Dye-your-own sock yarn - 3 skeins
Dye Mix: Kool-aid Cherry/Black Cherry Mix
Needles: US 2 needles
Additional: 7 LaMode Buttons (1/2 inch)
Started:
February 10
Finished: February 26

(I tried to take a picture with me modeling it but the tripod,lighting, and I can't seem to come to an agreement right now. )

Now to recap.... The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

The Good: I now have a cute cardigan for the spring. After thinking about it, making this sweater was equivalent to 3 pairs of socks which isn't too bad. It was a well written pattern and not confusing at all. The button band is worked at the same time which makes for an easier "first button band" experience.

The Bad: Putting a extreme deadline on a project such as this does not allow time for working on anything else. If you didn't know, I am a member of the ADCD Club (Attention Deficit Crafting Disorder. See El Presidente for the club rules), and this almost drove me batty. While a interesting test of my patience and determination, I think I will retire and refrain from any future Olympic games.

The Ugly: The overdying process didn't totally fix the dyelot issue and in fact made the overall color a little blotchy. Now ask me if I really care??? The thing cost me $22 after kool-aid and buttons. It can be blotchy.

What's on your table?

One Ms. fpea has issued me the "What's on your craft table?" challenge. This challenge was started Jay . I guess you can call it a meme but I like the word challenge because the word "meme" is getting a little overused lately. Never the less, I accept your challenge fpea, and I shall now bear my messy craft table to the world.




Here is my coffee table which doubles as my knitting craft table. I have an actual craft table but I never really sit at it unless I'm sewing. Here's what's on my table:

• Craft store receipts
• Dale of Norway Svale and the start of my next Magknits submission
• Cascade 220 superwash and one finished wristwarmer
• Rowan Calmer and the start of another design idea
• My design notebook
• My stripey needlecase & my various Bryspun straights & circulars
• My notions case
• A stack of magazines & catalogs - Winter VK, Spring IK,
  Patternworks and Knitpicks catalogs
• And my ballwinder
• Random stuff: yarn ball bands, candy, swatches, family pics, and Henri Bendel candles(the greatest candles in the world!)

I challenge all that read this to flash their craft tables. If I can show my mess, you can show yours too.

And now........

Ta Da!!! Introducing the Neka Bags


I would like to show you what will be the newest addition to the Free Pattern section. They were originally a submission to Knitty but were turned down. Nevertheless....





There are 3 different sized bags in this design, the "Pocket", the "Mini", and the "Clutch". When I'm running errands or going out for the evening I don't like to carry a large purse. These little babies are the perfect fit. The Pocket for keys, a few bucks, license, and a tube of lipstick; The Mini for those slightly larger essentials like your cell phone; and The Clutch for those evening when a little extra style is necessary.

They only take 1 skein or less of Berroco Cotton Twist, which comes in a lot of great colors and have just enough shine to give the bags a snazzy look.

The pattern should be up by Monday.

Everyone have a great weekend! The Olympics are over Sunday but that's just in time for the start of Project Spectrum. YEA!

In The News

First let me say that I love the ladies that come out to SnB knit nites. I just realized last night how much REAL unadulterated fun I have when I'm around them. We talk about some of the most interesting and off-beat things. Last night, Jo Ellen and I had an interesting conversation about the fashion stylings of Lacrosse and Field Hockey uniforms. She plays lacrosse and I used to play field hockey.

Last night I also had the pleasure of meeting Marcy Rice, who is the writer of the Notions column for the local newspaper. She said that she was blogging about the Knitting Olympics but it took me a second to realize that she was going to put things I said in her blog and possibly in her column on Saturday. I was a little worried about people at work realizing that I have a social life that doesn't involve reading technical papers but I'm over it now. (Hello. My name is Saun and I'm addicted to yarn.) Marci also has this alter-ego doll that looks just like her and puts in all her pictures. It's really cute. Take a look. She even got me to pose for a picture.

I'm still working on the last sleeve but I don't have a picture up yet.

I also have a new addition for the "Free Pattern" section but I'll save that debut for tomorrow.

Bless her soul...

Bless this baby's poor Kimberly-Stewart-tortured-soul. She's been taken hostage as Miss Stewart's newest accessory. (I'm not sure who's child it really it is.)



And while I normally protest pictures of tortured children I can't stop looking at the kid's hat. I'm loving that hat! I need it. Want it. Gotta have it. I may never get to wear it because the weather here is never stable but I will make it anyway. Now I just have to figure out the pattern.


Can I just say that figure skating is the most nerve-wrecking sport to watch. All I do is watch hoping that no one falls. After a little distraction (I went and bought yarn for the hat. Yup, I really want the hat), I settled in to finish one of the Martha sleeves.



Now let's talk about this sleeve. I had a a little dye lot problem. The problem being that I dyed this yarn back in September and I don't think I dyed it all in the same pot so my colors are a little off in two of the skeins. Can you see it in the picture? I've decided that I'll have to over-dye the whole thing when I'm done. Rip back you say...HA! I refuse. Reknitting will take a day or two. Overdyeing takes 20 minutes.

Oops...I gotta go. Sasha Cohen (sp?) is about to skate and I need to start this other sleeve. I hate to rush but I know you understand.

Oui Oui!

I joined Team France for a few hours while I made this beret from my G-ma (grandmother). I made her a few hats for Christmas two years ago and this year she "eluded" to the fact that she would like another hat. I just remembered this weekend and after the guilt set in I went through the stash for some suitable yarn. This is made from Mission Falls 1824 superwash. I laughed for about 10 mins trying to take this picture. I always feel goofy trying to take my own picture and it didn't help that I kept saying "Oui Oui".



I still owe G-ma another hat. I think I'm going to copy MMMMMrissa's version of the Coronet hat from Knitty . She added a brim and I think that G-ma might like this funky-cute version. I want one for myself but I need to make G-ma's first. I'll start them after I finish this sweater.

I've just realized that Haloscan wasn't keeping me updated on all of my comments and I forget to just check the site. If I haven't replied to your comments lately you can blame it on Haloscan. I promise to do better in the future.

Quick update

Hey Evvvverrrrryyyybodddyyyy!

I'm a little delirious right now because I've had no sleep. I stayed up until 3 talking on the phone with my sister about the " woot-off " . I've talked about it before so if you haven't checked out woot! , you've been missing out.

I finished the back and one front piece for the Martha cardigan. If I can get the next piece done by Saturday then things may be looking good for finishing in time. The one thing I have learned from all of this.... I will never knit another sweater on size 2 needles. You can quote me on that!

At last night's SnB, Fawn tried to sell me on the concept of top-down knitting. We had a nice little discussion about it. She says I may actually like it if I read Barbara Walker's book. We'll see but right now I'm not sold on it. I may try it one day soon to see if I can learn to love it as much as she does.

Sunday's episode of Grey's Anatomy will re-air tonight at 9:30pm EST. If you missed it, then you need watch it.

That's all for now. Ta ta!

Why I'm dateless

You see this right here....




This was waiting at my door for me after work and this is the reason I'll be without a date on Valentine's Day. I have the greatest father a girl could ask for and because of him my standards are a tad bit high. I have received a gift from him on every holiday probably since I was born. I'm talking even on Sweetest Day (which is Midwest holiday thing. They don't really celebrate it in the south). Last year he gave us Vermont Teddy Bears. This year, the cutest stuffed dog ever and some candy. My mother always says that no man will be able win me over just by buying me something, I've been getting good gifts from a man all my life. And she's right. A man would have to do better than my Pops to win my affections. Losers need not apply. Me and the girls are going for manicures and pedicures later. Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like clean fingers and toes.


Now let's see....onto other things.

Did you see Grey's Anatomy? I won't ruin it for those that haven't seen it but I am truly tramatized. If you can imagine seeing the most tramatic thing and then sitting with your mouth open for 5 minutes, then that was me.

I've also joined another team for the KO.



I'm still working on the back of the cardigan. Hopefully it will be finished today.

Look at this

If you didn't know, Wannietta is the fastest knitter in North America. This is a fact that I have known for some time but now it is possible to see it in action.

Krista captured Wannietta's fingers at work and you have to see it. It's crazy. Check out the video. (It's in real-time and it is not sped up in any way).

Live from the Village

Life in the village has been hectic for this Olympic knitter. Things got off to a rocky start but are progressing nicely now. Here is a quick recap so I can quickly get back to the main event.

Pre-Event Planning
I signed up for a free trial with NetFlix at about 11:30pm Thursday night. "War of the Worlds" and "Breakfast At Tiffanys" should arrive Saturday for Olympic viewing. The Tiger Footies were finished so that the toes could be toasty and pretty while I knit.



Day 1
There was a cast-on around 4pm EST and after 3 inches and a misread in the pattern, I had to rip it all out. I took a quick break to stock up on grocery store sushi and Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. Knitting was further delayed to go to a viewing of the Raleigh production of the Vagina Monologues. It was a great show.

Day 2
If I were in an event for speed skating or bobsledding I would be disqualified for my second false start. I cast on again but realized that a change from an Addi Turbo US 2 (3.00mm) to a Plymouth Bamboo US 2(2.75mm)changed my row gauge drastically. Remember people, your equipment is everything. I ripped it out and cast on with a slightly larger Bamboo US 3 (3.25mm).

The NetFlix movies arrived and I proceeded to scare the crap out of myself by watching War of the Worlds. You can claim it is fiction if you want but who's to say something like this couldn't happen. Trepidation also set in with regards to my ability to finish this sweater in 16 days.



Day 3 The world awoke to the news that darling Michelle Kwon would not be skating for Team USA due to injury. It's sad but understandable. This fact helped to cast away all my fears and inspire me to work harder to finish this sweater. After another equipment change (back to the Addis) for speed and a quick run for fuel (Krispy Kremes - yum yum) I've settled in for some speed knitting and a little Breakfast At Tiffanys.

I'm now half way through the back piece of the Martha Cardigan. I will try to make the rounds later to all of your village locations to see the progress in your main events. Good luck all. Go Team USA!!!

Knitting Limbo

I've discovered that the true challenge to this whole Knitting Olympics thing is to resist the urge to cast-on early. With the recent demise of my past projects there was really nothing to sustain me until Friday's Casting-On Ceremony. I could just finish my sock but it's not really doing it for me. I've cast-on and ripped out about 3 things already. This is just a weird place to be. I have a project to start but can't start it. UUUgggghhhh (I'm channeling Charlie Brown here)

La suggests "likker" and chocolate. Since "likker" gives me hives I've resorted to stalking out Whole Foods for bars of organic dark chocolate. HMMMMMMMMM chocolate... lovely chocolate...how I love thee...oops.. I forgot where I was for a moment there. Sorry bout that.

I've also distracted myself with a whole lot of TV. It seems that all of the ladies at SnB last night are obsessed with Grey's Anatomy so I'll get caught up tonight when they rebroadcast Sunday's episode. We plan to knit and discuss it next Wednesday.

So how are you keeping yourself busy until the start of the KO?

Monday Night Massacre

Why the sweater had to die...



Post editted. In summary the deleted stated I had a crappy day at work.



So after that crappy day I had to take my frustrations out on something and it was the Rebecca Lacy Sweater. I seamed it up Saturday and it was just sitting there mocking me in all it's ill-fitting glory. The fact that it took me over 3 months to finish it should have been a sign not to finish at all. The sleeves were to short and the sweater was too tight and I really don't like the color. The pattern only had one size and I tried to adjust the gauge because I wasn't going to use the expensive cashmere yarn it suggested. That didn't work. I was considering frogging it but after my day I couldn't stand to even look at it.

There was also another casualty. The piece I finished for the Erin sweater didn't look good to me. While I was on gauge, it was just too big. I'll have to restart at a smaller size but I'll save that for another day.



I'm going to just finish my socks and wait for the start of the Olympics.

Olympic Training

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thanks for all of your nice comments about the Trellis & Vine Shawl and my other new patterns. If you make them, I would love to see some finished pictures.

Now onto the new stuff.....

I never really understood the ability to look forward to something and dread it at the same time until now. I'm really excited about the Olympics and the Knitting Olympics but after some pre-Olympic "training" I'm a little skeptical.


I swatched for the Martha Cardigan I'll be working on. I luckily got gauge on the first try but the fact that I'll have to do an entire cardigan on size 2 needles is the craziest thing I've ever considered. Will you still talk to me when I'm huddled in a corner babbling to my Rowan pattern book and needles??? I was using Addi's but they're just to slick. Today I visited the LYS to look for some bamboo needles. (I resisted buying any new yarn ...YEAH! ...but I did walk out with 2 of the Barbara Walker Knitting Treasuries ).
If I finish this thing in 16 days with my mental health semi-intact I think I'll treat myself to a massage.

I'm trying to clear the decks. I'm almost done with the Lacy Sweater. All I have to do is seam it and work the neckline. I should have some show& tell on Monday. I've also turned the heel on the second of my Tiger footies so I should have those done soon too.

I tried really hard not to start anything new before the K.O. but I couldn't resist. I cast-on for the Erin sweater from the Rowan 30 mag. I've wanted to make this sweater for a few years now and since I have some Cotton-Ease in my stash I figure there's no time like the present.



It seems that some groundhogs saw their shadows. That's supposed to mean 6 more weeks of winter. Since I've barely seen one good week I'm a little skeptical of this bit of folklore. If it does come true then this sweater may come in handy.

Another Debut

Attention Ladies & Gents! For your knitting pleasure, I present to you ......


The Trellis and Vine Shawl




This shawl was actually inspired by a few things. One being Orlando Bloom and his love of big scarves. The second being that I don't really like triangular shawls. They're pretty but I never know how to wear them. And the third is that I had this obsessive desire to use Cotton Fleece. I have a thing for the cotton blends.

The result was this beauty.

Stop by the latest issue of MagKnits and check it out.

** UPDATED
There was an omission in the pattern. The suggested needle size is US 6 (4.00mm).