In a Jiffy!

For the past several years I have become enamored with fingering and lace weight yarns. I am drawn to them. I spin them. I crave them. I buy them, and buy them, and....you get the point.

Recently I have learned the joy of bulky weight yarns. The speed with which a project can be completed. INSTANT GRATIFICATION! The following clutch and coin purse are done in Lion Brand Jiffy in the Blossom colorway. One skein created both projects in only a few hours. The pattern is the Quick and Classy Cabled Clutch (Ravelry.com link) by Sarah Marie Fuchs. The pattern can be found in the book, One-Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn-Shop Favorites. I love this book for quick gifts.

I placed the decorative button on both the front and back of the clutch over the black 3/4" grosgrain ribbon. The handles are 1/4" wooden dowels. I have not yet lined the purse and I am not sure if I will.

The coin purse I improvised, so I thought I would share the simple pattern for this Easy Peasy Coin Purse. It easily holds coins, cash, debit card and my license. . 

•  make a 3 inch chain
•  sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each ch to the last ch, 3 sc in last ch, sc up other side of chain to beginning ch 2 sc in beg ch, sl st to 1st sc.
•  ch 1, sc in each st around to beg, sl st in beg sc
•  repeat previous rnd until piece measures approx 2.5".
•  working back & forth on one side of piece only, sc from one end to the other, ch 1, turn.
•  sc2tog, sc to last 2 sts sc2tog, ch1, turn
•  repeat previous row until only 3 sts remain, ch 5 and attach to other side of point for a button loop.  Sew on button, weave in ends and enjoy!

 

Test Knit

I just received a package containing a test knit that I did for designer, Donna Druchunas. The pattern is Monedero from her book, "Ethnic Knitting Discovery: The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and The Andes". She said that the photo shoot is over and included a copy of the book in the package for me.

I must say that this was a little challenging, simply because I had to change the way I knit. This pattern is from the Andean knitting section of the book. They tension the yarn around their neck and then purl from the inside, working in the round. It seemed almost backwards, but as you work along, it becomes a much smoother transition when changing colors in stranded work.

The book is set up in a workbook style and encourages you to learn to work without a line by line pattern. Instead it sets up guidelines and charts, so that you may knit more intuitively. The only thing I would like changed in the book is that it does not have photos, but is illustrated by drawings. Perhaps, having it spiral bound would be helpful too, but I think that of all craft books.

So here is a picture of the drawstring purse, Monedero, made in Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport.This is a picture of the Monedero with my Mom. Thanks for posing, Mom!

Computer hiccups

I haven't been online for a little while because my computer decided it needs a vacation. I don't know what is wrong with it, but hopefully one of my ever so talented and kind brothers will take a look at it and see if it is salvagable. Until then, my very generous mother has lent me a cpu that she had in storage and I am getting by with that. I miss my bookmarks!!!!

With all the down time I had, I was able to get some crocheting done. The Sweet Sweater that I have been working on is almost finished, except.....I have run out of the thread I was using. I need about another 4" of crochet to make it long enough for me to be comfortable with the coverage. Since this is not a retail fiber, I will not be able to purchase more. I am in a quandry as to how to proceed from here. This will take some thought.

While I was pondering the previous problem, I made Pam Gillette's "Hot Pink Bracelet Purse". This is such a handy little thing. It holds my license, debit card and keys, while leaving my hands free to shop or whatever.

Now I am whip stitching together some granny squares that I made several years ago and left in my craft closet. There are enough for a lapghan that I will donate to the nursing home that my mother works in. I should have that completed tonight.

I have decided that I am not allowed to start another project until I finish my sister-in-laws afghan, which I promised to her ages ago. She is recuperating from surgery on some disks in her neck and I wish I could be there to cheer her up. I keep stalling on this project because I am afraid that the cross-stitch motifs that I have designed won't be good enough, so all the hard work and hundreds of hours will be for nothing. I have to stop letting the fear of failure keep me from trying. I have done that all my life and I guess this is going to be a life lesson for me. I just don't want to disappoint my sister-in-law.

Well, that is all for now. If this computer is willing I will post again tomorrow.