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!

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.

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!

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 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.