Tote Knitting Finished!

Here is the finished tote before fulling. It has been fun working with this pattern. I plan to full it tonight & then I'll have the real finished photos!

More Progress

I managed a couple hours knitting time, last night. On the cardigan, I finished about 2 inches, and on the tote, I knit through another pattern repeat (about 2 inches.) All in all, I'm pretty pleased with myself! Both projects are so much fun and are keeping me interested, fairly easily. I wasn't sure how it would be, as there is no change to the pattern on the bag, once the checkerboard section is started. And, on the cardigan, almost all of the garment is worked in basic stockinette stitch. This one remains interesting because of the color work.

A Wedding and Knitting

This weekend, my oldest, younger brother was married. Since I needed to be there 3 hours early to be in some of his pictures, I took my tote along to knit while waiting for my turn & then to wait for the main event. I did get quite a bit done, see?

I think that I have about half of the knitting done, then there will be felting, adding hardware & a lining and then to top it all off with some decorative felted knitting! I am so excited for this and am really enjoying watching it take form. I may even have to make one of these for me. I'll definitely knit myself a bag at some point, though maybe a different pattern, as I do get easily bored on the second of anything. (This is why I often take forever to finish both socks! Right now, I have 1 sock done in a pattern, but have not even cast on for the second, yet.)

I've also realized that I love working with this yarn. I see a sweater or shawl knit in it, at some point in the future. Being half alpaca, half wool, it felts beautifully and is sooo soft and warm. Like I said, "I love it!"

Another New Project

Last night, I went shopping for yarn for the Tote Exchange III. Getting to spend an hour in the store looking at everything and talking to the store keeper, was very relaxing and exciting at the same time.

I started a swatch. Since this will be felted, the swatch needs to be, too. And, I have some elements on the bag that will be cut from the felt, so the swatch is usable...I think that's great!! I hate wasting yarn to swatch felt.