Bursting Forth

Fall is just about upon us. The weather has been OUTSTANDING! Cool, sunny days, brisk nights for excellent sleeping. The mums are especially beautiful this year. Here's a futher sampling of mine.











































And there has been some knitting going on. I'm working on the Slant Pocket Bag, which is a free pattern at Jimmy Beans Wool website. I have the body done and have now started on the strap. The slant pocket part is going to be made from a coordinating bit of varigated wool. Then it all has to be sewn together and felted and then lined. The pattern calls for the bag to be knit with Size 9 needles -- I used 10 1/2. It's the usual size I use for felting worsted weight yarn. Also, the pattern calls for the strap to be knit 16 stitches across. That would be too wide to match with the bottom strip of garter stitch. So, I'm doing 10 stitches. (It will save yarn too, because I'm down to the end of the skein.) The yarn is Lion's Wool that was purchased to make slippers. I was trying out a new felted slipper pattern and it was not a good thing. I spend two evenings frogging the one slipper that I made and I'm recycling. Much better use of the yarn!

I also took the opportunity to practice a bit of continental style knitting. With my wrist and elbow problems, I think it's good to learn different ways to knit. There's a great video that I heard about on the KnitList and I learned a lot. And I believe that I can actually knit faster continental style. Goes to show, you can teach an old dog new tricks!















My DH won a poker tournament, that was the culmination of a series of poker tournaments, and it entitles him to participate (for free) in a big poker tournament in Las Vegas!!! So, we're hoping that we can swing being off work, coordinating the plane tickets, and can be lucky enough to get one of the discount room deals at Binion's where the tournament is being held. We were to Vegas about 16 years ago and just had a blast. This would only be a quick weekend get-a-way, but I think it would be great fun. I've already picked out the knitting that gets to go! (Socks, of course.)

Knitting Lite

I've been really taking it easy with the knitting lately. I have tennis elbow, which I think comes from a combination of knitting, computer surfing, typing, and my court reporting job. And knitting really seems to irritate it. So, I'm knitting in moderation. I've got about 40 rows done on the new felted purse. And I every day I get out the sea silk and pet the OTN scarf. It's so nice to work with. Oh, I'll get back to it, slowly but surely.

I have some lovely hardy mums that are just about to burst forth. I never had any annuals this year, which is something that's never happened for ten years. For a lot of reasons, it was a busy summer. But, I really wanted to cash in on some fall color. Pretty nice, huh?

Christmas is just around the corner

With the thought of Christmas being right around the corner, I've been also working on a couple of ideas for gifts. I ran across the free patterns at Jimmy Beans Wool. They host a contest and the winners are offered on their site. It started out with my interest in the Pondemonium child's sweater pattern. Very cute. I have a new great-nephew who is nine months old and needs a nice hand knit sweater for Christmas. Now, I just need to find the right yarn.

But I also ran across a pattern for a felted purse that has a great double pocket on the front. Ah-ha! Definate Christmas gift material. I have yarn in the stash to use and fabric to match for the lining. So, it's on the needles. It's called the Slant Pocket Bag. Click here for the link. Also be sure to check out the other free patterns listed on the right side of the page.

Sweater knitting

Progress on sweater sleeves. Second attempt.















And you might check out my new counting device. Works like a dream. And I made it myself.