No pictures...

There has been little knitting going on around here. A lot of that has to do with the TV-ban I've imposed on myself.... Except for a little So You Think You Can Dance (which we all know I can't knit while watching), I'm not watching much TV at all. Hubby is gone tonight for a band practice, so I think I'll settle in with some good Food Network shows (love me some Alton Brown!) and knit away!

I started on my cousin's Coachella tank top - I only have about 2 inches done. This has been a good learning experience for me already. I've done several new things with this. I SWATCHED!!!! yes, I did! I've never made a swatch before. The swatch itself was a disaster, because, for some reason, I didn't want to knit it on the size 9 circs that I'm actually knitting the piece with. Instead, I used some horrible plastic straight needles. I've used plastic before, but these were really bendy, and I couldn't get a tight, even stitch on them. I can't remember where I got them, or what I used them on.... But back to the swatch.... the stitches were loose and floppy - but I plowed ahead and decided that the bamboo and metal circs that I'll be using would provide the gauge needed. And I was right, so far!

Also new: I did the Long-Tail Cast On. And I LOVE it! So pretty, so neat! Much nicer than the knitting cast on I've been doing.

There was something else new that I've tried with this, but I can't remember what it was right now. Hmmm.... completely gone. If I remember, I'll post it. Geez, now that's going to bother me...

Once again...

I apologize. I really do have the best of intentions... I've kind of been holding off on a blog entry because, as of this morning, I can show you.... drum roll, please.... a FO!!!!

It's the Om Yoga Mat Bag from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation.... and it feels like it's been in process for far too long. And it's definitely been a labor of love! Here's the full story....

As you might know, my friend's present started off as the Namaste Yoga Mat Bag. I shelved that after a couple of repeats of the cable pattern. It just wasn't doing it for me.

The Om Yoga Mat Bag was a fun knit. As I said earlier, I had to pay attention while I was knitting, or else I would forget to psso and I'd wind up with way too many stitches. But once I got the hang of it, it knitted pretty fast. I have no idea how long it actually took me, because the knitting was pretty sporadic.

See the lace pattern? It's so nice and neat on the diagonal! At least, it was at the top of the picture. The bottom of the picture show how wonky it is from when I first started knitting. I also don't know what caused the line through the pattern about 3/4ths the way up the picture. The good thing about all of this is that you can't tell any of these things in the FO. The wonky part is on the back, beneath the strap.

Then, earlier this week, as I was approaching 13 inches (the amount you're supposed to knit before binding off), I took the unused needle, thinking that it might be about 13 inches long, to hold it up to the knitted portion to approximate how much further I might have to go. I glanced at the needle to see if, by chance, the length of the needle was imprinted on the side, along with the needle's size. The needle's size?!? Um, the needles that I had been using for the past 9 inches were not an 8, as I had thought. Nope - there, on the side, plain as day, it said "7." Grrr. I decided against frogging the 9 inches I had done, because I thought if I did, I would never finish this thing. And the lace pattern is nice and stretchy - it still would fit the yoga mat. So on I went with my size 7s. I finished knitting it Thursday. I sewed the piece together Friday. And this morning I made the pretty green tie and wove it through. It is finished!

It is knit with Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Charcoal. The tie is the same in Lime.

I see my friend this week - I hope she doesn't mind that her birthday gift is 2 and 1/2 months late!

I got the Berroco Suede yarn for this amazing top to knit for my cousin. Another knit with a deadline... this one I hope will be done on time!!! We're leaving for St. Thomas August 17, so I can hand deliver it, but only if it's done! I think this will work quickly - the yarn is scrumptious! Not at all what I expected. I eyed Lion Brand's Lion Suede at Michael's the last time I was in there, and I thought there would be no way I would give a gift made of that. But the Berroco Suede isn't what I'd called "suedy." If it is, it's a finer suede than I've ever felt! I got it in the Dale Evans color, as shown in the pattern, because I think it would look beautiful on my tanned cousin, with her blond-hair-blue-eyes!

Last week, Hubby, Big Boy and I all went to a conference that the fellowship we attend puts together. It was an amazing time - the Lord spoke to me in many different ways, and I am looking forward to seeing how He works in me, and in us as a family. One thing I wish I had done was bring my knitting. Once Big Boy went to bed, Hubby and I got to sit and talk, but neither of us brought a book or anything else to work on. So after 9:00pm, it was pretty much just lights out for us. But it was a wonderful week of the Word and fellowship. Plus, I didn't have to cook any meals!