I figured it out. Plus a reminder about the craft show in Rochester.

Ok --
So I've decided what to do with the Yarn I received from the Ravelry Caffeine Addicts swap.I'll be making a mini version of Kate Gilbert's Clapotis, per these modifications, so I can use my 218 yards of Handpainted Misti Alpaca Worsted. I liked Ravelry user KnittingBetty's version:
Anyway.
I decided for our trip I will bring my Misti alpaca yarn & wooden circ. needle & this pattern, as well as the Baby Irish Hiking Blanket I started, also on wooden circ. needles. I'm only half a skein into the pattern and I have 8 more skeins, so I shouldn't have a problem making that project last. I already have the blanket pattern memorized so that will make for some easy-peasy knitting. Now I've got my two projects that don't require trying anything on, both with wooden needles (hopefully they'll make it through security). I'm excited!

One last reminder about the Craft Show at Casa Larga in Rochester on Thursday:

The “SPRING ARTS & CRAFT SHOW/SALE” & “ THE HOME PARTY BUSINESS SHOW” will be held at CASA LARGA WINERY on THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008.

The GENESEE VALLEY QUILT GROUP will be participating with their new quilt to raffle.

ADVENT HOUSE, (a Fairport Hospice) will also be participating. We will also have our traditional food drive for the PERINTON FOOD SHELF!

The “ESTATE ROOM” will feature a “HOME BASED PARTY BUSINESS SHOW”, which will highlight 10 different businesses offering sampling, as well as information on their product and home parties.

Wine tasting 1, 2, 3 & 4pm.

FREE ADMISSION!

585-383-1538 (INFO)

Go to www.casalarga.com for directions.

Knitting on a Jet Plane

We will be flying from Newark, NJ to San Diego next week...then making the return trip 5 days later. that's a lot of down time...and my semester is now over, so the time is all mine. I intend to bring along some knitting for the trip. Hoping some wooden needles will make it less likely to be confiscated by a fiesty airport security guard. What makes a good plane project? A lot of things on my knitting queue are intended to be worn, and I can't be trying on a top-down sweater as I go while up in the air. My only non-wearable WIP is a cabled baby blanket, which may make a good project because the pattern isn't too complicated. Only thing is that it will take up a decent amount of space after 7 hours of knitting. Other to-do projects include baby booties, but those will probably take no more than 2 hours to make. (picture from Ravelry)

Decisions, decisions...

april showers bring may flowers?

flower pins
Originally uploaded by anicebag

I went crazy with flower pins. Hopefully at least a couple of them will sell at the craft show on Thursday!

Shameless Plug for 'A Nice Bag'

My knitted bags, etc. will be available for sale at:
the Craft Show at Casa Larga Vineyards
on May 1, from 10am til 7pm.

For anyone reading this in the Rochester area that doesn't know where Casa Larga is, it's at 2287 Turk Hill Rd in Fairport, NY 14450. Phone: 585.223.4210.

Here are SOME of my bags, as well as some of my new knitted flower pins that will be available for sale.




If you know anyone in the Rochester area that might be interested in a fantastic felted bag, please tell them about the craft show at Casa Larga! It's a juried show, so there will be lots of other nice handmade stuff available for sale there too. AND, don't forget, Mother's Day is May 11 - so it's just in time to pick up something nice for your mom. ;-)

You can see more of my bags at my website: www dot anicebag dot com. Or click on the link above.

Alright... back to my loads of grad work. can't wait for the semester to be over.

What to do... besides homework

By writing this post, I'm totally putting off writing a reflection paper for my counseling class...and I'm ok with that.

So, don't get me wrong, I have a long list of patterns I'm ready to start. Including:
-zephyrstyle Green Gable, using Knit Picks Comfy in Cypress.
-zephyrstyle Tree Jacket, using Knit Picks Comfy in Pomegranate.
-Wendy Bernard's Somewhat Cowl - short sleeve version, using Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk in Spring.

Not to mention my current works in progress... the faux-baby uggs, Arbor, my anthropologie capelet-turned-cardigan, the step-ribbed stole, the Rowena Cardigan...and my second Rusted Root that I'm about to finish.

But, I'm a planner. I like to plan things. and plan my knitting. and put off my homework.

I'm having a hard time deciding what to do with the yarn I picked up on sale at the Woolly Lamb.
I've got 4 skeins of Cascade Sierra (768 yards, worsted weight) in pink. It's 80% Pima Cotton, 20% Merino Wool. The best part of this is that it was 40% off of the original $8.00 price tag, for a grand total of $19.20. (I realize only 3 sk are pictured below). and I've got 7 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed (917 yards, DK) in a tweedy olivey green. This is 40% silk, 30% cotton, 20% merino, 10% viscose.
Here are some things I want to knit. I'm pretty sure they're all top-down, as I prefer not to seam things. For this reason, my progress on the Rowena cardigan pretty much stalled out when I discovered top-down knitting (I promise I will finish it sometime soon!)

• Wicked from zephyrstyle.com (I would need about 500 yards of worsted weight for the short sleeve version, or 800 yards for the long sleeve version, and somewhere in between for 3/4 sleeves)
  
• Textured Tunic from the book Fitted Knits, specifically I like this one by ravelry user theskinnyknitter (and it even uses Silky Tweed) -- Pattern calls for about 800 yards of Aran weight, but probably less because a). I'm short so the torso length will need to be adjusted, and b). I don't want super-flared sleeves.
  
• 28thirty from zephyrstyle.com, but I'd like to make it longer, like this version ravelry user pinkladyknits (Pattern calls for about 600 yards of worsted, I would probably use 700ish to make it longer)


• Hourglass sweater from the book Last Minute Knitted Gifts (Pattern calls for 800 yds of Aran weight yarn)


• Hourglass sweater but cardigan-ized like ravelry user parikha did. (Also, ~800 yds).

I don't know who reads this little blog of mine, but if anyone reading this has opinions about how I should use my Sierra, or my Silky Tweed (whether it's something from my list, or not) your comments are welcome!

Now I guess it's time for me to do some real work.

Finally!

Came home from class to find this lovely box waiting for me:

Here are the four colors of Knitpicks' new line that I ordered:
And here's my Glee, minus the hooks. The hooks should be able to pull the ribbing a little straighter (I practiced with safety pins).

Anticipation!!

I just got a tracking update from the Post Office regarding my Knit Picks package.... as in, it was delivered this afternoon! Which I am glad to hear considering it sat in Edison, NJ (40 min away) from Thursday until yesterday morning.

But I was (and still am) at work, and I've got class tonight until 10. You don't even know how impatient I am to get home right now to check out their new Cotton-blend yarn, "Comfy," which I intend to use to make myself another zephyr pattern or two (Tree Jacket? Green Gable?), and to make a baby sweater and booties for a friend who is expecting. And if I really like it, I'll order more to make a baby blanket for another friend who is expecting. But first I have a group meeting, a group presentation, and 2 hours of class after the presentation... The anticipation is killing me!!

Edit: oh by the way, on the knitting front -
I finished Glee yesterday, just need to buy hooks for the neckline. I also started a second Rusted Root last night using Knit Picks Shine Sport, in Terra Cotta (or as the hubby said, "raw salmon"... that's why he doesn't have the job of choosing yarn color names) I will be making it in a smaller size than the last one I made since I hear Shine sometimes has a tendency to stretch a bit. I'm making a few modifications to the pattern as well, which I'll have to post about later.