Merry Christmas everyone!

I just wanted to provide an update on those four projects I started a couple of posts ago. I finished the crocheted scarf, but a friend of mine fell in love with it and wanted to give it to his sister for Christmas. I gave it to him but didn't take a photo beforehand. I will make myself another. It went quickly. The blue hat is coming along. I learned a new technique: picking up stitches. I finally can finish that hooded sweatshirt I have been working on for six years! (I was stuck on the hooded part when it said to pick up stitches.) The other hat is in a holding pattern because I ran out of yarn and was having a hard time finding another skein. A big shout out to Fiberworks on Glendale. I located it there and now just have to pick it up. I have been plugging away on the to-be-felted bag and hope to have it finished before I die.

I have been working on a muslin version of the Prada bag. The practice bag is much smaller than the original tote. I have a photo of a model holding the original tote and it is as long as her upper thigh. Mine won't be as big. I have been investigating buying leather by the hide and it is a bit pricey. I will post a photo of the practice muslin next week. I am on vacation and hopefully will be working on my crafty stuff.

I went to John King Books yesterday and found several of the Art of Sewing titles. I have to pace myself, however, and only bought two: Basic Tailoring and The Classic Look. I also bought a Better Homes and Garden sewing book. Alas, there were virtually no knitting books and certainly not any Elizabeth Zimmerman. Also, while driving down Woodward in Royal Oak, I found a new fabric store that I will definitely have to visit at a later date.

I would like to catch you up on another project that I mentioned in previous posts: my Prada bag. I have the material, lining, and buckram, but have been stumped on the leather trim. Here is a refresher photo:



There is a whole craft world of leather working and stamping. You'd think that I would be able to just buy straps for the purse, right? Well I can, but not the ones that I want. I am gong to have to create them from scratch with big pieces of cowhide which is incredibly distasteful to me. Not only that, I am going to need special cutting tools to work with the leather. I am just not sure I am that dedicated to having this bag. I do have 10 days off coming up during the holidays and this sounds like a good project for winter break. I will have to think about it.

As you can see, for those who pay attention to these sorts of things, I have added a new link to my link list at right: DomiKNITrix.com. I recently bought the book, "DomiKNITrix," by Jennifer Stafford who maintains the website. I really enjoyed this book. The projects are fantastic and the book is written in a way that makes it easy to understand. I highly recommend it.

Another publication that I have recently taken to is Blueprint, from Martha Stewart's formidable publishing house. I don't have the first issue (if anyone knows where I can score a copy, that would be great) but the second issue totally rocks. I know that people have a problem with Martha, but I just love her. She has taken crafty pursuits to the mainstream and although I probably won't get around to making my own Christmas cards, I love her for showing me how easy it is. I also subscribe to Living, which has celebrated its 15 years of publishing this year with a look back at all of the projects and tips over the years.

OK. Here are some more photos.

I am making a hat out of this really great yarn by Colinette called Point Five. The color is Summer Berries.


I have totally jumped on the Mission Falls bandwagon late, but I just bought this yesterday to make a hat. The two hats in this post are going to be made in the round and, like everything, is a skill I will have to master. I cast on the top yarn last night several times and screwed it all up. I will try, try again! And, of course, keep you posted.

I am going up to Detroit this weekend and am going to stop at John King books. I have my eyes peeled for anything by Elizabeth Zimmerman and the Time-Life Sewing Series from the 70s. I found a good looking used copy of "Separates That Travel" at the John King in Ferndale. This time we will be going to the five-story store in downtown Detroit.

That being said, I recently picked up several great crafting titles: Sew U; Vogue Stitchionary, Vol. 2; Knitting Beyond the Edge; Bead Fantasies I, II, and III; and Sew What Skirts. I am a member of crafting book club which, depending on how you look at it, can get you into a lot of trouble. I now have too many books and not enough book shelves and limited space in which to put one. I am trying to avoid clutter, so the shelf itself will have to fit into a pre-determined space which is taller than it is wide.

Well, that is all for now. I will keep you posted, especially on the projects and what great books I find this weekend.

I haven't been ignoring you my blogging community. It's just that I have been very busy.

It is almost Christmas, and once again, I haven't created any hand knit gifts to give. I don't really like to knit during the summer months and my sewing isn't that perfect to make things for other people. I am fine with mistakes but maybe others aren't?

Right now I have four projects going: a crocheted scarf, two knit hats, and my long-suffering tote bad that I have been working on forever. I also have a half-finished crocheted afghan and a hooded sweatshirt that I started about six years ago. I was perusing my knitting books and I think I am going to redo the sleeves on this thing and add skulls. That's right, skulls! Of course I will post a photo when it is finished.

As promised in so many blog posts, here are some photos.

Here is my Halloween costume. It seems like such a long time ago! I went as a gypsy and felt very gypsy-ish. Next year I am going as a pixie, complete with wings that flutter.


Here is a scarf I recently made. It is out of Cascade Venezia which is a wool/silk blend. I knit it in Farrow rib which is K2, P1. I love the way it turned out. It is very warm.


This is the kniting bag I have been working on. I am using KnitPicks wool and am going to felt it. It is straight knitting and purling and taking forever, but it is a good thing to work on when you are watching t.v.


This is the beginnings of the crocheted scarf. The pattern is from Debbie Stoller's The Happy Hooker and it is called "One Skein Scarf." The pattern is by Denise Cozzitorto and the yarn is Patons Classic Merino Wool in Winter White.

It looks like I will have to post the other photos in another blog posting. There must be a limit?