I finished it!

    

I finished the Medano Beach Bag! Yaaayyy ME!!! I actually completed it a while ago and, of course, never updated the blog.  I am trying to get better at it. Here is a picture! I added a cute liner to match.  I am actually really proud of myself.

    

Let's see... I have actually been crafting a lot of different things when I can squeeze in the time.  My little cousin (he is 7) asked me to make him a hat so I am knitting the Modern Rib Hat by Susan B. Anderson.  Here is the progress so far.  

 It is actually Navy Blue per his request.

And, as you can see, I am using one of my wonderful project bags by Lois at KnittingsMyBag.

In other CraftJunkie news, I have been using my sewing machine!  I have been making Lavender and Lemon Sachets to use as fresheners for the drawers and in the cars.  I have been spending money on car fresheners for both cars once a month.  That is so not necessary when I have the ingredients for a sachet that will last years, right? RIGHT!! All I did was put some Epsom salts in a jar and added a few drops of lavender oil with a few drops of lemon oil. I shook the jar a few times to mix the scent into the salts.  After that, I grabbed a funnel, poured the salt mixture into the sachet material that I had already sewn together, and used the machine to sew up the opening.  BOOM!!! Pretty Sachet.  I love it because I actually have a quick finished project. 

Next, I am going to make another rice heat pack.  My mother wants one since she saw how well it works for my neighbor.  Full instructions for sachets and heat packs can be found on Pintrest.

I am back....again...

 It has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog.  What can I say? Instagram is easier??? Besides that, life gets in the way.  I am currently in recovery from surgery and I figured now would be the perfect time to sit down and write.  This year I have been participating with a few of the groups (and their podcasters) in the stash down for 2014.  I have been quite successful in NOT buying yarn this year.  HOWEVER... I did purchase a new sewing machine and serger.  The serger is something that I have been wanting for years and the sewing machine I simply could not resist because it came with applique settings AND a WALKING FOOT with 10 other quilting accessories.  SCORE!!!  In the mean time, I have been completing projects that have been on the needles for 4 or more years. It is amazing how having the correct needles will let you complete a project faster. It took me four years to complete this lovely lace scarf simply because I did not have a set of needles that I liked for the project. The bad thing is that I did not realize that the needles were the problem until May 2014.  How sad is that, right?
            

The next project that I am DETERMINED to get off the needles in the next few days is the Medano Beach Bag that I've the working on since I first learned to start knitting that something else that is simply taking forever because I was bored with the project.

It seemed to take forever to get 11 inches long before I could start doing the decreases for the straps. Now that I am almost there it shouldn't take that long. I can't wait to start cutting out the material for the lining.

I am Knitting!!!

I have actually been knitting a lot lately.  I have figured it out.  The more stress I encounter at work, the more I come home and lose myself in my projects.  Right now, I believe that I have 8 - 10 projects on the needles. I have not even TOUCHED that beach bag that I have been knitting for years now. Or the wrap that I was making.  I have discovered that I only knit on certain projects during particular seasons. I have almost completed the pink sweater shown below.  I will complete the last sleeve cuff either tonight or tomorrow afternoon and then post a finished product picture.  I had started a basic ribbed scarf for myself (cause I STILL have not made anything just for me)   and the Tauri wrap for my mother.  I do not know the name of the yarn that I am using for the pink scarf.  It is a bulky weight yarn that I picked up in Wal-Mart because I returned from a trip to California and discovered that the local Wal-Mart has re-opened their crafts section.  The Tauri is a purchased pattern found in the Berroco Elements #321 pattern book.  I love this book!! I want to knit every pattern inside.  Of course this means that my project is being knit in Berroco Elements! I am using the 4795 color way, which is more raspberry than purple but I am sure that my mom will take it anyway.  Here is my progress so far...

 Huh! Look at that! You can see the shadow from where I was taking the picture of the wrap.  So, I was happily knitting along on these two projects when a cold front literally BLEW onto the East Coast and it actually started snowing in this little town.  You KNOW what that means!!  Time to knit some hats!! The first one of the season is a modified version of the Wurm by Katharina Nopp.  It is a free pattern on Ravelry so I feel safe in saying that I did NOT do the provincinal cast on and did a full two inch 2x2 rib instead for the band.  I also started my increases a little earlier because I know that mi madre likes really slouchy hats.  So this is where I am with the hat for now...

 and the bad thing about this hat is that it will look great and I will not be able to tell people what type of yarn it is because I CAN NOT REMEMBER!!! SMH at myself!!! 

Almost Done...

Things have been so crazy this summer that I did not knit for SIX weeks. I finally picked it up again about a week and a half ago. This morning I realized that I have actually made progress on something. YAYYYY ME!! I started on the bottom border of the tiny human's sweater that I started this past spring.  I might actually have it completed by the end of this week. Meaning Saturday at 11:59PM. 

 

Furry Flip Flops

Neither my mother nor I like the feel of the rubber when wearing flip flops so I crocheted around it. 

Too Many...

I think that I have too many podcasts to watch. They have begun to take over my "regular scheduled programming", which is probably a good thing. I am still working on the Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater. I actually started the sweater in order to enter a KAL on the Sittin'NKnittin podcast was unable to complete it on time. I am determined to finish it. 

Still Knitting....

I am happy to say that I am still in full knitting mode.  I have not been staying at work late anymore unless absolutely necessary.  I always want to rush home to work on my projects which is EXCELLENT!!!  I joined a knitting challenge with the Cowls knitting group on Ravelry.  My first completed project for that challenge will be the cowl that is a part of the Serenity Wrap and Cowl set  designed by Stephanie Steinhaus, the owner of my favorite LYS, Unwind. That should be fun.

I have also joined the Knit Together on the Positively Knitting group on Ravelry, where we are all knitting items designed by Hannah Fettig.  I have chosen to make the Honey Hat as my first attempt at a Hannah Fettig design. The other night I had a mishap and had to frog the hat down to the first completed honeycomb.  I do not know how I did it, but the combs were not aligned correctly. So here I am working my way back up.  

In the background you can see my latest obsession, the projects bags made by KnittingsMyBag.