Work In Progress: Knitters' Handy Carry-All from Knit Picks

I've been knitting away at my new bag. The first picture here is of the outside of the bag. It looks sloppy now, but will be much more sturdy and happy looking when I have the interfacing in. The second picture shows what will be the pattern pocket. I like the idea of using fabric to line the pockets. It will just make the bag that that much longer to make. I'm excited to actually finish it. The instructions are pretty thorough, except for the part about making the welt needle holder pockets.

Reading the instructions again I think I see what the author intended with using two needle sets for the welt pockets. I don't have a second set that size, and I didn't get why the instructions said to use the second set when I started knitting the welts. I just kept going on my one circular needle. When I finished the welt and went to reattach the 15 stitches, I ended up with a hole at the back of the work. I sewed the first one closed but came up with a better way for the rest of the welts. I picked up stitches from the beginning of the welt and knit them together with the end of the welt stitches. I think the end result is the same as if you left the 15 stitches on the needle to start with.

Here you can see the difference between sewing the welt closed or picking up stitches to knit it closed. The bottom one is sewing and the top two are knitting it closed. The knit ones look much neater.
This is me, showing you what I did. That light green stitch on the left needle is the stitch I'm picking up from the beginning of the welt. Then I knit those stitches (light green from the body and dark green from the welt) together.
While the sewn welt isn't as neat at the knit ones, it is only noticeable from the wrong side, which will be inside the bag facing the interfacing when complete, so only I (and you blog readers) will know its there.

More Mugness

I really liked the mug decorating challenge, and when I bought my mug to decorate I really bought 4 because it was a really good sale. One of the first things I thought of to write on a mug was "We gotta go to the crappy town where I'm a hero", by Wash in Firefly (Jaynestown episode). A close runner up was "This must be what going insane feels like" by Simon when the towns people start singing their Jayne song!

Since I made a Wash mug I had to put another good Wash quote on the other side! "What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing? Oh right, that would be me, uh back to work."
No power in the verse can stop me.

March 15 Blog Carnival is Published

Here's a blog carnival with a variety of topics: Spring, Women's History Month, Nutrition Month, and Irish American Heritage Month:
http://madebymelissa.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-15-etsybloggers-blog-carnival.html

Finished Item Cabled Purple Scarflette

This item was first seen in this post. I really like that yarn, and those buttons! The buttons are from Ginpins. I'm telling you because she's super cool, but if you buy buttons let me get some too!
That post was back in January! I can't believe it took me two months to finish this!!! I tend to have multiple projects going at the same time, so that should make it not sound so bad. It did seem like it was taking extra long because of the small gauge.

Featured Etsy Blogger For March

Each month the Etsy Bloggers choose a member to feature. This month's featured blogger is ... DizzyDragonflies!

She has some very pretty yarns!

You can find her blog here: http://knittingdragonflies.blogspot.com
and her Etsy shops here: http://DizzyDragonflies.etsy.com
http://KnittingDragonflies.etsy.com

This shows a few of the things that are in her shop!

Spring Time Blog Carnival / March Free Shipping

Ah, is warming up for spring and I'm liking that! I do wish I got more skiing in this winter, but I'm ready for spring. Soon it will be time to trade the winter coats for lighter jackets. Neckwarmers or scarflettes are perfect for when there is just that little bit of chill in the air.

I've decided to offer free shipping on my neckwarmers/ scarflettes in the month of March to those to mention this blog post. (Free shipping to the US, buyers in all other countries get $5 off shipping)

Mug Challenge and Women's History Month

The Sweets did a second challenge in February to decorate mugs with pebeo pens. I covered my mug in some of my favorite feminism quotes! I would have done with without March right around the corner, but how timely.


This quote tops my list!

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a door mat or a prostitute. ~Rebecca West


Another favorite!

"Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
—Eleanor Roosevelt

It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony

The only jobs for which no man is qualified are human incubators and wet nurse. Likewise, the only job for which no woman is or can be qualified is sperm donor. ~Wilma Scott Heide

"Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings". ~Cheris Kramarae

"I will love, honor, cherish- but not obey." ~Rosalie Slaughter Morton

Crochet Challenge

The Sweets are doing monthly challenges and one of the February ones was crochet. Several girls who never did crochet before did some cool scarves. I've done a lot of crochet, but not many patterns.

Shout out for Sherri Crochets , where I got the pattern.

This bear is crocheted in pieces and then stuffed and sewn together.
The finishing may have taken just as long as crocheting the individual pieces.
Then I had to sew on the face. It just looks off without one. :pI used the same yarns for the face, but for the eyes and mouth I used two of the four plies to better control the color placement. Ta Da!

It turned out super cute!