Life with Cats

 I was making a yarn basket but things do not always go as planned. This basket uses yarn scraps. Using a large crochet hook, I hold five yarns together. When one of the yarns runs out, you just add another. You can make it as large and tall as you want.

However, Wookie decided the basket is for her. She didn't even wait for me to finish it before trying it out. Both the basket and Wookie are on my lap.

Guess I'll have to make another basket for my yarn.

Even Omi wants a basket.

It's not only bags ... Potholders!

Since I have this gigantic stash of cotton yarn, I have also been knitting dishcloths, dish towels, pot holders, and scrubbies. I will be posting pictures of several of these over the next few days as well. 

But these three are my favorite. My friend wanted some potholders "with a southwestern theme" for her RV. So I found the pattern for these, and I think they came out beautifully. My friend liked them so much that she hung them on the wall instead of using them as potholders. 

These are made with double knitting, so they have the pattern on both sides in the opposite number. I am an experienced knitting, but for some reason, have only discovered double knitting in the past couple of years. I am making bundles of potholders for gifts for the holidays. And yes, I need to start now in June to have them done in December.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solstice-sun-tribal-spiral-motif

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/southwest-potholders 

But wait, there's more!

Continuing my obsession of knitting shopping bags:

 

Even More Bags

 I have increased my cotton yarn stash over the last couple of months. This is in addition to the multiple skeins of yarn of other materials, but not cotton has my attention right now. I still plan to write up my pattern for these bags and post it, so don't give up on me yet.

So here are some more bags for your viewing pleasure.

Shopping bags galore!

 I have been knitting. Lots of shopping bags. You will be amazed how much they can hold!  Although there are many patterns on Ravelry, I will be posing my modified pattern -- for free -- in the next few days. Stay tuned!

I gave several away to friends, and many of them have come back and asked for more, willing to pay. Ha! Here is some of the bags.

No More Paper or Plastic, Part 2

 We went to the grocery store this morning and I am tickled pink! (or beige or yellow or green, depending on the bag). My shopping not only worked great, but held more than any plastic bag. The clerk asked me where I got them, and when I said I made them, she called other clerks over to see them. I was so honored. Ken's only comment is that I should made the handles shorter. No problem! I thought I was making them too short. So now I am doing one in lime green and another one in shades of blue. Stay tuned!

No More Paper or Plastic in Colorado

 As of January 1, Colorado started charging for plastic bags at stores, including the grocery store.

I have a big bag of cotton yarn that I collected in anticipation of this. However, I really didn't like the feel of knitting with cotton, so the bag just sat in my craft room for the past several years (yes, years). So I finally decided to start using it up. I am on my third bag now. I seem to like the feel of it better now since there is a necessity. 

I am using a basic pattern. There are several free patterns on Ravelry for shopping bags, and they are very similar.

I cast on 24 stitches with size 9 circular needles and knit back and forth in stockinette (or garter stitch, your choice) until it is close to a square. Then I pick up stitches along the sides and bottom. I don't really count the stitches because exact numbers don't matter. 

I continue knitting in the round, increasing two stitches at each corner two or three times. Then just knit in stockinette for a couple of inches. 

I change to a larger needle, in my case size 11 and start the lace pattern:
Round 1: YO, k2tog for the entire round.
Round 2: Knit

I continue these 2 rounds for 12 to 14 inches. I then go back to stockinette for another couple of inches. 

Divide for handle. This is the first time (and only time) I actually count the stitches. I take the total stitches and subtract 24 stitches (handle is 12 stitches wide). I divide that total in half. 

Such as:

  136 total stitches
  - 24 
  112
/    2
   56

Next round: Knit 12 stitches. Bind off the next 56 stitches. Knit 12 and put those stitches on a holder and remove from needles. Bind off the next 56 stitches.

Change back to size 9 needles. Work in garter stitch back and forth (knit every row) until you have the length you want for the handle. Use a three-needle bind off with the stitches on the needle. Weave in the ends.

As you can see, it is pretty much "seat-of-your-pants" knitting. It's pretty forgiving and after you have made a few, the pattern is "in the bag!"

Basic Cowl for a basic guy

 My husband Ken is a simple guy. He has the same clothes he had when we met 41 years ago. Once he liked a shirt so much that he bought three more like it. So when I made a cowl for him of basic K1,P1 in green wool, I thought he would like it. He now wears it all the time, even to bed! He has stretched it out so much that it is now doubled, on its way to being tripled. Home Run! (wish I could rotate this picture though)

Merry Christmas to all!

 

Dane's Guitar Mitts

 I designed this one on my own for my son for Christmas. Sorry, I really don't want to write up the pattern. I used a guitar motif that I found in my massive index of patterns. It is doubled knitted so you get two mitts in one!

My son Dane graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in classical guitar and sound engineering. Since there were not many jobs listed on Craigslist for classical guitarists, he went back to college an got a masters in accounting. He is now a CPA, but his first love with always be guitar. He is really, really good too, but being good at something doesn't mean you will be able to make a living at it. At least he can keep his hands warm.