Handles and cat in the yarn

I have been working on the handles. I'm just about finished with the first one. I'm having a much better time with I-Cord this time than my previous attempts. With luck I'll have the handles finished soon, and then I'll be able to move on to actually felting my bag.

My cat decided to play with some yarn scraps today. I guess that was his way of telling me I need to make him a new toy. I have made the cat toy patterns from Knitty several times, but I think I'll try the one from Stitch N' Bitch Nation this time.

Time for handles

I finished the bag portion of the felted bag, now onto handles. I'm going to I-Cord the handles. When I'll felt the bag and handles before sewing the handles on. I'm glad to be nearly finished with the bag.

I also eager to start Zeeby's Bag.

After that I am trying to decide what to work on. There are so many projects that I would like to try. And there are so many yarns that I would love to add to my yarn stash. I really want to make some actual items of clothing this year.

Finding a yarn substitution for Clapotis

I absolutely love the pattern Clapotis from Knitty. I'm currently trying to find a cheaper yarn to use in place of Lorna's Laces. Hopefully one from KnitPicks, Knitpicks does have several multi color yarns that are beautiful, but they are not the right weight. The only one they have in the right weight doesn't have colors I like. I'll have to check Elann. Either that or see if I can double stand one of the lighter weights in KnitPicks. Or maybe I can use Wool of the Andes and stripe it and carry the yarn up so I don't have to weave in too much.

I think I found a pattern for my first cardigan

I wanted to knit a cardigan for awhile now but haven't found a pattern I really liked. The Winter Issue of Knitty has a a tie cardigan made out of Knit Picks Sierra that I like a lot. The pattern would involve cable but I have done cable in the past. Plus I have liked the Knit Picks yarns I have used in the past.

I think I'll use the cranberry shade since I would use it most in fall and winter. I'll probably order the yarn soon and then get started on it over the summer. I do have a project that I intend to do before that which is Zeeby's bag. Depending on how much time I have it should be finished before fall.

Dyeing Yarn

I would love to dye my own yarn in the future. I would probably do natural animal fiber yarn, so that I could use kool-aid. I just love the richness in color that hand dyed yarn has. I have no idea when I'll have a chance to do this. I think it would be nice to do it over the summer so that I could do it outside hopefully.

Knitpicks has some nicely priced yarn that is marketed towards hand dyers.

The only thing that concerns me about hand dyeing is the amount of yarn to dye at the time. Since I do know that it does need to be done at the same time so that the different hanks can be the same color.

I've decided against the eyelash

I've finally started working on the bag again. It has been awhile since I've worked on it. I did the top with the eyelash, and I don't like it as well. So I'm going to un knit those two rows and do them again without the eyelash.

I think I'll use the eye lash for something else. Perhaps a decorative border on a scarf or something.

I should be finished with the bag at the end of the week. Well the bag portion anyway, then I'll start the straps.

Still haven't finshed my felted bag

I just haven't finished my felted bag yet. I'm just so indecisive about whether to add the eyelash or not. Sometimes I want to add it in and other times I don't want it at all. I suppose I could make two bags, one with and one without. Obviously I would have to buy more yarn for that though. It shouldn't take me this long to make up my mind about the whole thing.

I don't know why I'm being so weird about the whole thing. It is just a bag. Perhaps it is because once I felt it I can't change it.