Girl Who Knits

I am embarrassed to admit how long it has been since I have had a FO around these parts.  We're talking months.  Leave it to Chester to break me out of my slump.

I was thinking on my drive home tonight about what Chester's personality would be if he was a cartoon character.  I decided he would be the best friend of the really funny but sometimes annoying character.  Chester's best friend is small, maybe a raccoon or something.  I am not really sure what the movie would be about but I am sure that Chester would act the cool and handsome devil I know him to be.  I can just see him giving deadpan responses to his overly excitable counterpart.

Project Stats:

Pattern: Intricate Stag Bag

Source: Knitting Daily/Knitscene Free Web Project

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas, Melange, Orange and Yellow Mustard

Needles: US 5

Mods: None

Notes: Okay, I have quite a few notes...but first, Chester needs to know that I love him always--faults and all.  That being said, I know he is an accessory and all but you may want to check your gauge before you start knitting this bag.  Mine turned out a little longer than the pattern intended meaning my row gauge was off.  But hey, I always look on the bright side, now it is going to be SO much easier to carry baugettes. 

Next, the strap.  Literally, it took a village to make this twisted cord strap for the bag.  Imagine my sister-in-law, brother, Mom, Kara, and I all standing in different corners of a large room twisting long strands of yarn to just the right level of taughtness and then carefully allowing it to reverse twist on itself forming a evenly twisted rope.  We failed to the point of serious frustration.  I finally got one that worked right but upon closer examination I realized that in an ideal world I would like it to be thicker.  But, I just wasn't willing to spend the time to create another rope and I thought this one would do.

You see how Chester almost covers the expanse of my hips?  That's HUGE.

Now, gauge issues.  Beyond the final size of the bag, there are some gauge issues to pay attention to.  Specifically in regards to the front and back sides measuring up to each other.  I found my front (with the stranded stag and chevron patterns) was wider than my back (knit in all stockinette).  Even though I blocked it like crazy, the front is still wider which makes for some annoying puckering.  This is probably due to my gauge ratio (between stockinette and colorwork) not being consistent to the designers which frankly, I wasn't paying attention to while knitting.  Sometimes I get lazy and assume the designer and I will have the same results, but when the designer is accounting for differences in gauge he or she can only base that off of their experience. In reality, it is not that noticeable so I am not too worried about it. 

Finally, a style note.  In the picture, the stag portion of the bag is highlighted more and given more of a styled look by having the stitches picked up on the wrong side when adding the top and bottom chevron patterns.  However, in the pattern, it tells you to pick up the stitches on the right side which will give you a more tailored seamless look.  Obviously up to you which style you prefer, I just thought I would give you a heads up that the pattern as written does not perfectly represent the picture in the pattern.  I picked up the stitches on the right side as the pattern instructs--probably would have preferred it the other way but didn't think about it until I was too far down the road and at that point it wasn't worth frogging.

In the end, I am pleased with my little...urm, big bag.  Chester did me proud. 

Well, I am back from a pretty memorable week.  All that free time I thought I would have was wishful thinking on my part--I didn't get to see as many friends as I had wished, get as much knitting done as I thought, or be able to visit all my favorite places as I hoped.  But in the end, it didn't matter.  Bri got married, and all is good.

Kara and I both think she looked like Audrey Hepburn or another classic beauty.  Happiness suits her.

Bri in her "fun and flirty" version of her wedding dress at the luncheon with her husband Adam.

More pictures from the wedding:

 Me and my nieces after the ceremony.

 

My Dad and his unmarried daughters. 

Sisters. 

And finally,

 Me and my niece Emma taking a self-portrait after a long day.  Today is beautiful Emma's birthday...Happy Birthday baby!

Now that I am back home I am faced with the ultimate dilemma--finishing my knitting or Harry Potter.  Since I am paranoid someone is going to let something slip about the book to me, Harry is currently winning.  But unless Harry completely consumes me I will be back later this week with a finished Chester bag.   

P.S. I bought stuff for embroidery while at home...just what I need, another hobby.

It has been quite a week. I am struggling with finding a great theme to tie together all the things I want to talk about so I believe it is time for an itemized list...

1. Last weekend: I told you all how I moved, got my stuff back and finally had a place to call my own as of last Thursday. What I didn't tell you was how as soon as my stuff was strewn all over my new apartment and after contemplating ALL the cleaning and organizing I had to do, I was in a bit of a overwhelmed, panicked state. I had no idea how I was going to get anything--let alone everything--done. I was totally and completely paralyzed. After venting to my Mom on the phone I got a call about an hour later from my Dad who asked "how would you like a visitor this weekend?" Um...YES! So my Dad and my sister Kara drove 8 hours each way to help me clean, move stuff around, and go shopping for my new place this last weekend. THAT my friends is love. Miraculously, we got way more done than we ever imagined and despite all the work we did we all had an amazingly fun weekend. I am overwhelmingly blessed in the family department. That I do know. Thanks Dad and Kara.

2. Tour de France KAL: I haven't had a chance to go to a LYS here (but thanks for the suggestions everyone, I can't wait to go to all the new yarn stores in my area) to get yarn for Cherry and then I decided I didn't need to when I was given the link to the Webs site from Beth and saw that the color Java was on such a great sale and I thought it could be really pretty so I ordered, and now I am waiting. I am really going to have to "sprint" to get this done--depending on when I get the yarn I might have to re-think my project choice. I know, I am not very prepared for this knit-a-long--don't judge me.

3. Stag Bag: Front is finished which means I am really close to being done. Want to see Chester?

 

6. Bella Blouse: Waiting on my new blocking board...should be soon.

7. Travel plans: Remember baby sister Bri? Well next week Saturday is her big wedding day. On Friday I am driving home for the week to spend some quality time with the whole family and to participate in all the wedding celebrations. To say I am excited is an understatement. Expect posts about sisters and weddings and family stuff but it is safe to say there will be plenty of knitting ahead too.

(FYI--Itemized lists are effective AND fun.)

I think it is funny that I pretended I wasn't sure I was going to join the Tour de France Knitalong.  As soon as I posted about it I knew in my heart I was going to join--I just think sometimes my head lives in denial. 

So I am in.

And thanks to you all for voting, i have a clear project winner of Cherry with 63% of the vote.  Now about yarn, I thought I had something in my stash that would work but upon further reflection I don't think it will.  So I need yarn.

To all you Denverites out there...what is the best yarn store to shop for sweater amounts of yarn?  I don't have a lot of spare time on my hands so it would help to only have to go to one shop.  Any suggestions?

Also, thanks for all the well wishes on my new place.  I am really excited about getting unpacked and settled.  Pet Peeve about moving though: spending hours and hours making sure the place I leave is spotless and clean for the next renter and then moving to a new place that was left filthy.  This really, really vexes me.  Just for the record. 

Anyone else tired of depressed and unsettled Erin, girl who moved to a new state and stayed homeless and stashless for one WHOLE month?  Me too.  She was kind of a downer.    

Well, that girl is no longer because as of now, I have a place to live. As of tomorrow, I get my stuff back.  Life is good.  Thanks for all your well wishes and for putting up with my month of struggle.  I really have no idea why it was so hard for me, but I feel good about where I have landed.  I officially have a Denver address.  Yea!

It is interesting but as soon as I got the call telling me the place was mine it was like a huge weight was physically lifted off my shoulders.  I felt it leave.  Not that I don't have a LOT of work ahead.  Moving into a new place requires unpacking and shopping and cleaning but I feel like this work will be nothing compared to the hunting and unknown of being in limbo. 

I feel like I have all the time in the world now which is silly since I have a ton going on this month.  New job is busy, unpacking, sister getting married in two and a half weeks, etc.  And yet, I still am contemplating taking on one more thing because, well, I am crazy.  As soon as I read about the Tour de France Knitalong on Jacqueline's blog I have been mulling over the idea of joining.  I mean really, what could be more fun?  Who doesn't love a good theme?!??  Do I follow cycling...not so much, no.  My good buddy Max is REALLY into it though so it is not like I am completely ignorant.  Plus, it is in France and it features men with really great (albeit shaved) legs--what could be bad?  

The basic premise is that you have to choose a French or cycling inspired knit and knit it over the course of the Tour.  There are different groups to "compete in" depending on what kind of goal you are going for.  If you know me at all, you would know I am interested in the sprinter group--the ones that want to finish over the course of the tour. 

So I am not saying I am going to join.  I have a couple more days to decide.  But I have given some thought to some appropriate projects. I thought it might be fun if you all would give me your opinion on the matter.  Here are the projects I am thinking about with my "french connection" justification and then if you wouldn't mind, give me your opinion in the poll at the bottom of my post.  Sounds fun right?

Cherry by Anna Bell -- Definitely a top I could see myself wearing while eating a baguette and reading a book at a cafe in Paris.  

Swiss Cheese Scarf by Winnie Shih -- Hello...CHEESE?!??  What could be more French?

Flower Basket Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark --  France has lots of flowers.

Ene's Scarf by Nancy Bush -- Ene sounds kind of French to me.  Plus it is pretty and France is really really pretty.

Okay, now vote.  Please. 

I really thought I did a good job of packing.  I anticipated the need to have most of my stuff in storage for a month or so and packed everything else that I was sure I would need for that month.  Sadly, I didn't anticipate all my needs.  Bella Blouse is finished, ready to be blocked and then seamed together...but I have no blocking pins.  Grrr.  Yeah, I could go out and buy some blocking pins, sure.  It is just the principal of the thing, you know?

So while Bella sits waiting for a good cleaning and shaping... 

Yes, I started on a new project.  The Intricate Stag Bag by Norah Gaughan and featured in the fall Knitscene and free online from Knitting Daily.  I am really digging the stag design of the bag.  In fact, watching the stag grow has been uber-fun.  His name is Chester.  He got the name because when I was talking aloud to myself a little while ago I said to the stag, "You are so cute.  I will call you...Chester."  It must be meant to be. 

Chester is SUPER excited to grow horns and to feel the shade of the trees on his head.  (I can't wait either!)

I want to finish the bag before I go home for my sister's wedding in two weeks so my Mom can sew a lining in the bag.  One of these days I will learn how to sew but in the mean time thanks be to crafty Moms who love me.  I am using Blue Sky Alpacas Melange yarn in cool yellow mustard and orange.   It is knitting up oh so soft.  There is just something about those alpacas.  

I think I am on a bit of a colorwork kick lately.  The other pattern that caught my fancy in the new Knitscene is Road to Golden.  Only problem...I don't think the neckline would be that flattering on me.  I am thinking of trying to convert it into a v-neck.  That would be cute right?

You guys want to see something else?  Since I am so behind on my blog reading I don't know if news of this sweater is out already but if you haven't seen it, you will want to.  Trust me.  Go here, scroll to page 2 and 3.  I'll wait, but then come back because I want to talk about it...

It is the Autumn Rose Pullover by Eunny Jang and it is coming out in the Simply Shetland 4 book sometime in fall and I am totally in love with it. Look at the flattering scoop neck, the modern shaping, the perfect fitting sleeves.  The second this pattern comes out I am in.  Anyone want to join me?