Where does the time go?

Wow it seems it has been awhile since I've posted anything here.  I've been having fun knitting and felting but other then that the creativity just doesn't seem to be flowing.  Sure I have a bazillion ideas floating around in my head but that is all they are ... just ideas.

 Felted Knit Bowl

I took a step outside of my comfort zone and signed up for Peace Felt but I'm feeling a little intimidated seeing some of the items that have already been posted.  I fear my partner will be disappointed.

This past week I've also picked up the hook again to try and learn crochet. Using a children's book I was finally able to pick some of it up.  I'm confident I can chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, increase and decrease.  But that's as far as the book went.  My purpose in learning this is to help a friend finish a sampler blanket she has been working on.  Shhhh it is a surprise, a few of us will be giving her our squares in a few weeks.  So I have some books on hold at the library and hopefully I can crochet a few different pieces to add to the blanket.

 My first attempt at single crochet.

Also this past week I've felt the urge to get back to doing something creative.  I follow Helga's Blog and decided that it was time I jump in on a challenge,  Inchies!  How hard can it be to make a 1x1 collage?  Harder then I thought I guess ... the start of my project still sits on the table, unfinished and today is the due date.

 Turquoise inchies in progress ...

I was going to include some pictures but blogger is not allowing them to upload "failed" is what I get.  Yup that about sums it up, ironic, huh?

Edited to add the pictures, I guess "never give up" is the lesson today!

Felted Knit Vase

I recently made this felted knit vase using Patons Classic Wool in Rosewood. This was my first time using this yarn, it was all they had available locally.  I'm not so crazy about it, I've been spoiled learning to knit with Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride wool.  Still good to try new things!

Felted Mini Totes

These fun little totes knitted up quickly and required me to learn a new technique as the bottoms are square. I learned to pick up stitches!

I think they would make a great little gift bag. I can already see holiday colors and maybe embellishing them with decorative buttons and/or gems. If I start now I might have enough for myself as well as a few to sell since some of my online friends have expressed an interest in my felted knits.

 

I did learn a valuable lesson from this project. I made four bags in total and felted them two at a time, the first two came out great (at least I think so) while the second two were a tad to "fuzzy" and looked worn. What caused the difference in the final result when everything appeared to be the same? The first two were felted in separate pillow cases and the others were felted in separate mesh laundry bags. I tried the laundry bags after spotting them at the dollar store, I remembered reading in a book that this is what the author used. I honestly believe that the bags are better protected in the pillow cases and will be using them from now on, maybe the mesh bags could be used inside one laundry bag - keeping them separate from each other but still protected.

Playing with Yarn

Yes, I'm still playing with yarn and having lots of fun with it. I recently made a drawstring bag and a small bag. The small bag was just made from the left over yarn from my first project, I wanted to make a test piece as I have never felted anything on my own. It was a success!

Feeling confident that I could do this on my own I decided to try a drawstring bag. It required me to knit button holes for the drawstring which was a new technique for me. I think it turned out okay, would have been better without the "fizz". Time to move on and get over the fizz!

Before felting...

After felting ....