Yessir, Yessir, Four Bags Fulled

Some time ago (I think it was Labor Day weekend?), I was handed a free pattern from the craft shop for fulled handbags and asked if I would like the pattern. Now, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, I know a broad hint when I see one. I planned to make one for SIL Faye, Nieces Jane and Lisa, and family friend Sharon, and originally intended to have these done in time to deliver them on Christmas Day. I must have been temporarily (?) insane, because I obviously came nowhere near having them done by then. In fact, I was still knitting on the second one right up to the moment Niece Jane put the roast beast was on the table. I finally got the last one done today and fulled all of them in the washer this evening.

Here's the pre-washer view:


And after they came out of the washer and dryer:

I think you can tell the size difference. They each lost about 25% in length and width. I used all my bulky handspun yarns out of the stash. I still have some of the dark brown and the greens left. I started with the Buttonhole Bag pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting; those are the ones on top. The other two are ones I just made up as I went along. I did sew on leather buttons to secure the braided handle on the gold/green/brown one, and magnetic closures on all four.

I haven't gotten much spinning done and even less knitting. This will likely be the last for the year. I do have a secret knitting project to work on for the next couple months, but you'll have to wait until at least spring before I can tell you about it. I'll try to at least have pretty yarn pictures to look at in the meantime.

ToolMan and I went to Niece Jane's for Christmas Day. She is an excellent cook and really outdid herself this year. There was Beef Wellington (made with a center-cut prime rib!), a cream sauce with green peppercorns, roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus and yellow peppers glazed with balsamic vinegar, and cherry pie with whipped cream for dessert. She may be "volunteered" to host Christmas every year. I told her she could have one of the felted bags, but she hesitated almost one full second before reminding me that she had asked for a set of the #!%$ Golf Club Covers like I made her dad. In white and purple, please. I tell you, that girl knows how to get handknits.

A Spinner’s Wish List

Oh Dear Santa bring me toys
To fill me with such matchless joy.

A drumcarder would fit beneath my tree
Beside a Lendrum, if you please.

And lots of bobbins, heads and wool
Would make my Christmas stocking full.

I have no need for an arctic parka
Please bring a Bosworth charka.

I don’t want new underclothing
Just some combed merino roving.

Finally, a Christmas wish from spinners around the earth
May our new lambs, kids and crias have safe births.

May our yarns be plied with holiday cheer
And wheels stay true in this New Year.

–Sue Meissner ©2009

I'm late! I'm Late! For a very important date!

Yep, like the White Rabbit, I seem to be perpetually behind these days. I had all the best intentions of getting lots of knitting done for holiday gifts. Then, somehow, everything went straight to hell. In a hand basket.

I did knit one cap. See?


Except I hated the way it turned out. So I felted it. Now it's a bowl. I don't know anyone who could really use a felted bowl, but there it is.

I did have a couple of requests for felted purses, so I pulled out a bunch of hand spun with intention of getting those knocked out quickly. After all, they don't have to be particularly well spun or knit, since they're felted. And that's as far as I got. Well, I SAID I was late; didn't you believe me? Here, look at some pretty yarn:

I think the only one I have definite plans for is that pink/purple skein on the right. I finished plying it on Thanksgiving Day and I am very happy about how it came out. That skein weighs about 12 ounces and is incredibly soft and bouncy! But I really can't talk about what it will become, because it's to be a gift. I know; I know!

I did knit a hat for Dave Daniels' Santa's Elf Hat Project; I was working on it last Westside Wednesday and everybody thought it was danged cute. I could hardly wait to get it felted; which happened yesterday. Twice through a hot wash/cold rinse with towels and it was sufficiently shrunken, overnight drying in front of the heater, and it was so stinkin' cute that all I needed was a cooperative model.

Well, he was cooperative, by not necessarily enthusiastic about modeling for me. It still needs a little more Fun Fur around the bottom, a Fun Fur pompom on the top, and maybe a jingle bell? Oh, and the label, which I got from Dave, and then I can deliver it to the mother of the kiddos who will be finding it.

Also, I talked to Judy about a big project she's got going and a little project that's been rolling around in my head for awhile. You know what they say about two heads. And that's about all I can tell you about that for now, except that there will be secret knitting after the New Year.

"You see, I'm overdue, I'm in a rabbit stew Can't even say "Goodbye", "Hello" I'm late, I'm late, I'm late . . . ."

Hand Outs

A few more hand knits were handed out last week. I had a handful of scarves and coffee cup snuggies. Alice picked a pink one; the color is perfect on her.

Christine picked a pretty lilac blue, and Katie liked the multicolor modular-knit one.

Felicia got a yellow green one scarf and I handed out a bunch of coffee cup snuggies but didn't get pictures of those recipients 'cuz my camera battery died.

ToolMan has been wearing his driving cap from last year, but we've been having high winds so he wanted a watch cap to keep his ears warm. I pulled out a skein my hand spun and whipped out a simple ribbed cap in just a couple of days.

It's 50/50 merino/yak, spun woolen long draw on the Lendrum; it's very soft so it won't irritate the skin graft on his ear but still has a lot of bounce so it shouldn't stretch out. It's also very warm; in fact, he said it was too hot to model for very long inside the house. There's just no pleasing some people!

I finished another watch cap out of scraps tonight; it's been washed and is drying now. And I did swatches tonight for more hats that are to be gifted but whether they're done in time for Christmas is anybody's guess.

I'm still spinning the pink/purple fluff; I'm on the third bobbin. It is a real joy to spin; very light and soft and still has just a touch of lanolin so it practically drafts itself. I think I know what I want to do with it, but can't say just yet. I'm hoping to have it finished in time for Christmas gifting. With just over a month until Christmas, I may have been just a tad optimistic in the knitted gift planning area. Or maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. . . .