Martha's Fuzzy Purse

I knited this purse with 2 strands of Cascade 220 wool and 1 strand of Moda Dea's Chi Chi. It is really cute and a handy size. The pattern is a free pattern from Interweave Knitting's web page.

Four Versions of the Same Pattern

Here are four versions of a pattern from the book Pursenalities.

I used Cascade 220 yarn and Lion Brand Fancy Fur yarn for the flap and the handle of the purse.

This was made according to the original pattern using two strands of Cascade 220 yarn and adding a strand of silver eyelash yarn for the flap and the handle.

For this version I used 2 strands of Cascade 220 for the body of the purse and added metal beads and a strand of kid mohair for the flap. I used the mohair on the handle also.

I used Patons Classic Merino Wool for this one. I added plastic beads to the flap and the handle. Each brand and color of wool felts in a different way, and this purse came out significantly smaller than the others.

I think they are all really cute. I need to make a purse like these for myself.

A Purse for Julie

This little clutch as made from a pattern in
Pursenality Plus: 20 New Felted Bags by Eva Wiechmann.

I used Cascade 220 Yarn for the solid color accents and Lion Wool Yarn-Flower Garden for the body of the purse. I worked in 40 lavender, pink and clear plastic pony beads. Glass beads won't do for felting projects because they may break in the felting process.

Knitting for the Trees

Here's an unusual story from the Associated Press . Fiber artists are decorating trees in Yellow Springs, Ohio with knitted sweaters. Well, it has been very cold in Ohio this winter.

A Big Tote Bag for My Sister

I gave my sister her birthday present a couple of months early because I couldn't wait for her to see this really big felted bag.

Two More Felted Purses

I made this little purple purse twice, once for my daughter and once for a friend at work. The drawstring pulls up tight. It's a nice little purse when you don't want to carry anything too big.

This is the big purse I made for myself. I carry it every day and get compliments on it almost every day. I love it.

Lots of Felt Purses

Since I finished "The Scarf Project" I've been busy with other projects. I've made two sweater vest for myself and many cotton towels for my kitchen. Since November I've been working my way through the book Pursenalities: 20 Great Knitted And Felted Bags.

I've made five purses so far. Here's one I finished Sunday. It was a birthday gift for a colleague.

The projects in this book are so great that I plan to make them all - some for myself and some as gifts. They actually look odd before they are felted because they're so much bigger than the finished product.

I highly recommend this book.

A Scarf for My Sister

This is a fan and feather pattern. The wool yarn is Andes yarn from Chile. This brand comes in variegated two color. I used this yarn in my sweater vest. I used size eight needles. The scarf took one and half skeins.

Cast on 29 stitches.
Row 1: K2, yarn forward, K 4 (K2tog) twice. K4. yarn forward. K1 yarn forward. K4 (K2tog) twice. K4, yarn forward. K2.
Row 2: K2. Purl to last 2 sticthes. K2.

Row 3: Knit

Rows 4-6 : Repeat rows 1-3
Repeat these six rows until the scarf is the desired length. End with rows 1 and 2. Bind off.

I also used this pattern repeated twice (cast on 58 stitches) using Lily Sugar'n Cream Cotton Yarn to make some handtowels. The towel in the middle and the one on the right are knit in this pattern. Each of these towels required two balls of Sugar'n Cream Cotton Yarn.


The towel on the left is in the same pattern stitch I used on my sweater vest - which is almost finished except for a neckband.

Multiple of 5 + 7

Row 1 : (WS) K3, sl1 wyif, (K4, sl 1 wyif) to last 3 stitches, end K3.

Row 2: (RS) Knit

Repeat rows 1 and 2.

I'm Knitting More than Scarves Now

I haven't been posting much recently because I've been busy knitting more complicated items. I'm almost finished with a ruana. The pattern came from a great book that helps you use up the yarns you have in your stash. It's called The Yarn Stash Workbook: Great Ideas And Dozens of Projects by Laura Militzer Bryant.

I finished this and actually got the sides sewn up and found that I hadn't measured accurately. So I have to add about three inches on one side. It will be gorgeous. I'll probably wear it as a coat in the early fall.

Pom-Poms and Ribbons for Cindy

Mary is modeling Cindy's birthday scarf (only ten days late!).

I used one ball of
Lion Brand(R) Incredible Yarn in the color "Copper Pennies" and two skeins of Patons Ci Ci Yarn - Carnival in the color "Carnival". I used size 13 circular needles.

I cast on 15 stitches in Ci-Ci yarn and knit two rows. Then I simply alternated yarns and did a knit stitch. The reason I used circular needles is that I was able to slip the knitting back and forth to start each row with a different yarn. If I had used straight needles I would have had to knit two rows in one yarn before I came back to the other yarn.

The Incredible Yarn is a ribbon tape yarn and a little bit tricky to knit with, but with a little practice I got it to lay flat and not get twisted.

Here's another little trick I learned. I took a sandwich sized Ziploc bag and cut a slit at the bottom big enough to slip the tape yarn through, put the ball of yarn in the bag and closed it. This kept the tape from twisting as it came off of the ball. I have also learned to use snack size Ziploc bags for intarsia knitting.

Ed's "Broken Rib"

Lou is wearing Ed's scarf that I knit using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky Yarns in "Spice" and size 10 /2 needles.

It's a knit 4, purl 2 rib that is broken every fourth row with 2 rows of garter stitch. It looks great.

George's Scarf

I'm modeling George's scarf because he wouldn't. He was annoyed that I didn't get it done in October, but I made it with a cable stitch which took a long time. The scarves I make for men always take a long time to make.
I used 2 skeins of Lion Brand(R) Wool-Ease Yarns and size 8 needles. It's a simple four by four cable, but it took me a long time to figure out what I was doing. This was my first cable knitting in over 40 years.

I enjoyed doing it and plan to do more.

Fancy Fur for Wini

Megan is modeling Wini's scarf - finished only a week late for her birthday.

It's a simple garter stitch knit that alternates Lion Brand(R) Fancy Fur Yarn in "Tropical Turquoise" and Moda-Dea(TM) Gleam Yarn in "Blue Topaz".

I used size 12 neeedles, a bit small for the Fancy Fur and a bit large for the Gleam, but it worked.

Sandi's Very Green Scarf

I knit this scarf in garter stitch on size 13 needles with three yarns:
Lion Brand(R) Fancy Fur Yarn - "Spring Garden"

Moda-Dea(TM) Kickx Yarn from Moda Dea in "Swish"

and Lion Brand(R) Fun Fur Yarns - New Colors in "Lime".

A three yarn stripe is easy as pie : Cast on with the first yarn. Knit one row with the second yarn. Knit second row with third yarn. Continue to alternate until the scarf is completed.

We are all pleased with the results.

Learning Intarsia

This scarf is knit in stockinette stitch on size 10 1/2 needles. I used one skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky Yarns and small quantities of various fancy yarns that I've used in other projects. Lynn really likes her scarf.

I didn't have any yarn bobbins, and it was really difficult keeping my yarns untangled. Since I've finished this I've learned a little trick. Use zip lock bags for the small balls of yarn. Cut a hole just large ebough for the yarn to go through and keep the bag closed. Bobbins are probably better, but this helps a lot. There is a snack sized bag that is perfect for a small amount of yarn.


This is the chart I used from The Knitting Stitch Bible by Maria Parry-Jones . It's based on 16 stitches. I doubled it.

Mary's Shawl

This is so easy. I used size 10.5 needles and four skeins of Lion Brand(R) Homespun Yarns. The color is Colonial Blue.

Cast on 2 stitches.
Knit first row.
YO at the beginning of every row.
Knit every row until three skeins are used up. Bind off.

You will have a large triangle with lacey holes on the edge.

Use the fourth skein to preapre fringe. Fringe is attached to the lacey holes on the edge.

Raspberry Fizz for Katherine

This was another easy one. I used three balls of Lion Brand Fun Fur and size 11 needles. I cast on 22 stitches and knit every row. EXCEPT on this scarf I slipped the first stitch of each row, knit-wise. It makes a very smooth edge.

Patsy's Extra Fancy Fur

I made this really fun scarf using three balls of Lion Brand Fancy Fur. I used size 13 needles.

I knit every row. I randomly knit in some subtle stripes by adding a strand of additional yarn in coordinating colors for a row or two every dozen or so rows.

Sue's Fuzzy Lace

I made Sue's scarf back in April before I started blogging about them. She wore it to work last week because it's gotten cold here.
I made this out of a fuzzy yarn I got on sale. I don't remember exactly what brand it was, but I think it was Bernat Frenzy. If that's not it I know that it's the same weight an feel as Frenzy.

The lace is very basic : knit one, *yarn over, knit two together, repeat from *, ending with knit one. Even numbered rows are knit across.