Thursday, August 30, 2007

ITE4 Sent and Rec'd

I've been lax about posting the following (nothing new there...).

Here are the completed items I sent to my ITE4 partner Anni:

1) The Sari Silk recycled Bag. The pattern is the Soho Sling from "A Knitter's Dozen"


And the felted belt bag (FiberTrends):



And received? Anni sent me a great felted bag made from a variety of yarns and all sorts of goodies! I'm very spoiled!


The bag is made out of a combo of Noro 180, a yarn called Nature Wool by Araucania, and what I believe to be Noro Daria for the accents and strap.

Questionaire: Things I've Knit...and plan to knit to in future!

Mark with bold the things you have done, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest plain.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens:Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk (Does Recycled sari Silk count?)
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
CardiganToy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting(knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Olympic knittingKnitting with someone elses handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Monday, August 27, 2007

Fall Felted Bag Contest Questionaire

1. What is your favorite yarn for felting, and why? I like Patons Classic...good value, good results. I've used Cascade 220 and also like it, and the color range is HUGE!!

2. Name one person in the swap who is not from the U.S. and tell us where they are from, and link to their blog. Chrissie P. lives in Singapore. Find her on the net here~ http://ghostknitter.blogspot.com/

3. Find one person in the swap who has a dog, and let us know the name of their dog(s) and link to their blog. Kris W. has 2 dogs, Toby & Annie. Her blog is here~ http://knottyknitterkris.blogspot.com/

4. Find one person in the swap who has a child or grandchild and link to their blog. Nicola S. has three children, 2 boys & 1 girl. Her blog can be found here~
http://greengreenplanet.blogspot.com/


5. And finally, tell us if you like October or November more, and why! (Yea, I know part of September and November are technically fall, but for this question, only October and November matter!) October... generally still warm here (well, warm-ish), and still lots of time to get Christmas gifts knitted before panic sets in!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Fall Felted Bag Exchange Questionnaire

1) How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? or from whom? I have been knitting since I was a liitle girl. I became a serios yarnoholic a few years ago when I picked up the needles again. I learned from my Mom and my Nana, have developed new skills either self taught or through fellow crafters.

2) What was your first felted object, and why did you decide to try felting? My first felted project was a hat (pattern by Lewiscraft) and a Lucy Bag. I had been given this lovely wool Briggs & Litle from a co-worker who refused to allow me to pay her for it. She was off to school in Regina (very chilly winters!) so I madfe her the bag and hat combo as a "Thank you" for the yarn and a gift for school and friendship.

3) What are your favorite colors? Any you hate? I like all sorts of colors and combinations from the spectrum. I can either go very earthy and neutral or swing the opposite way and go with combos of ecclectic colors such as mixing browns with blues, oranges with burgandy...whatever the mood. I don't think I have any dislikes when knitting.

4) What are your favorite styles\types of bags? (Long straps? Short handles? Handbags?
Totes? Embellished? Plain? Include links to patterns or photos if you’d like – give your pal an idea of what you enjoy!) The only type of felted bags I'm not into for myself are 'frou-frou" type bags. I'm more casual and tend to lean towards totes and handbags that allow me room to either use for everyday or carrying a project. Handles are variable...I use both straps and carrying handles. Pockets are especially handy. I've never embellished a bag for myself and would love to have a bag that has that little extra. I'll add links to some patterns that I've made or have been drawn to in the next day or so...!

5) What handbag or bag are you carrying today? Do you use a separate bag to carry your knitting? At the moment, I'm carrying either my Booga Bag or my shoulder sling type backpack from Mountain Equipment Coop

6) What other things do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? Scarves, sweaters, felted slippers. I'm trying lace at the moment with a DK weight wool from Fleece Artist.

7) What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum) I like circs. Susan Bates are great with the black cable and smooth metal needles. I've knit with all types of needles and it really depends on the type of project and yarn I'm working with.

8) What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make?
A bowling bag http://www.theanticraft.com/archive/beltane07/bowlingbag.htm
I'd like to try socks some time.

9) What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? Sea Silk, Noro Silk

10) What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Gardening, walking my dog, internet games and searching, reading, crochet, machine knitting

11) Besides yarn, do you collect anything? Yup, I'm a pack rat! Serious though, I don't collect anything in particular.

12)What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? No allergies and yes, I live my snack foods of all types! I tend to stay away from hot and spicy. I love nuts and dried fruit, chocolate, and salty snacks.

13) Do you have any kiddos? (Furry kind count!) One son (17yrs), a dog (black lab x), a chinchilla, and a rabbit. I've been married to a wondeful guy for 20 years.

14) What kind of project best personifies you and why? I like immediate gratification where I can quickly see the results. If a project takes too long I get bored, put it down and start anther. Couldn't tell you how may WIP I have on the go right now! Felted bags are great, allowing my creativity and ability to add different elements...sewn lining, leather straps, etc.

15) What is your favorite part of Autumn? You can also share a special Autumn memory if you'd prefer! The changing of the colors. Nature sure is amazing! I love to walk my dog on those evenings when you still need a fleece, but it's not yet too cold, the autumn sun shining, and the smells of the damp forest.

16) Tell us 3 things you would do if you won 10 million dollars in the lottery. 1) Pay off all debts and put my son into chef school. 2) Vacation! 3) Buy property and build a home on either the Sunshine Coast or Vancouver Island.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Fall Felted Bag Exchange!!

My (partial) answers to the questionairre for the Fall Felted Bag Exchange. More details on this exchange can be found at: http://feltedbagexchange2.blogspot.com/

Name: Cathy
Blog Address: drowninginaseaofyarn.blogspot.com
Mailing Address: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Any major allergies: None
International Preferences: I'd like to recieve from someone international this time if possible.
If you were in the Spring Exchange: Nope, first time involvement with this exchange and looking forward to it!