Houston, we have a lining

The bag, she is lined.

I love the fabric. It's "How to catch a husband."



I also like the corkscrew curls.



Happy bag, reclining in the sun.

Bag-alicious

All the knitting is complete. I just need to line it. I'm pretty happy with it so far, although I notice the front handle is slipping, so I need to tighten it in there a bit.

Real Ferragamo: around $1600
Frith-agamo: around 50 cents for the dowel

The yarn (Nature's Choice cotton) was from my husband's grandmother's stash (she de-stashed when she moved recently), and the fabric I'll use for the lining is from my stash.

Frith-agamo

frithagamo
Originally uploaded by Frith.

Inspired by photos in the fashion magazines, and helped immeasurably by pictures and a beta version of the stitch] on Kate's blog, knit lit, I crafted this. Kate will send you a PDF of the actual pattern she used, but I was not physically capable of waiting a couple of days for it to arrive.

Instead of continuing the stitch pattern at the top, as she did, I tried something a little different: a crocheted top to provide more stability and a bit of contrast. I only know how to do the most basic crochet stitch, but that's fortunately the one I wanted.

I just need to sew up the bag, add the corkscrew curly things to the bottom, craft some sort of lining (this makes me a little nervous, as sewing is not my strength), and cut and paint a dowel for the handles.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Wuz a Hat

I love it, my first thing made from my own handspun. For days, I kept trying to wear it out of the house. In summer. In North Carolina. My husband, who normally doesn't bat an eye no matter what crazy thing I'm wearing, thought I was nuts.

Me: Honey, do I look––
Husband: Yes, you look like an idiot. It's 80 degrees outside.


It's fabulous, and I don't care.

Is it hot in here?

Big Update

Bless me, reader, for I have sinned. It's been more than 3 months since my last update.

Here's what I've been up to:
I finished the Prairie Tunic (I think that's what it was called) from this year's Spring Interweave.


Yeah, the camera in these pics is annoying, but if I waited until my husband and I both had some free time, it would be another 3 months.



Note that the pattern as printed has several major errors. I called this to the attention of the editors (after I ripped out half the front and figured it out myself). They've printed corrections on the Interweave site.

I finished the rectangular Birch (or Kiri) shawl, and wore it to my cousin's wedding (though this pic is obviously from today). It's made from Artfibers Tsuki:


I swear to God I had boobs before I had a baby. What the hell?

I received these amazing red socks from my Swedish Sockapaloooza pal (along with a beaded knit bracelet and some yummy candy):

Thanks, again, Anna-Karin! I love them!

I am nearly finished with some socks for me, made from the same color yarn I used for my sock pal:



I did a lot of spinning. First, I took a weekend workshop and learned to skirt, scour, card, and comb. I also had lots of practice spinning on all sorts of fibers. Here's the crazy skein I made:



I made a wonderful hat out of this. I'll take a picture after I recharge my camera batteries. But the fibers include wool, mohair, silk, soy silk, cotton, Great Pyranees, Angelina sparkle, cashmere, alpaca, and angora.

I also got a takhli, and I'm spinning cotton to make a hat for a friend:



I'm trying to spin relatively thick yarn, but the cotton always wants to be thinner. So I won't be able to use all of these skeins -- some are simply too fine.

Finally, I've been turning this hand-dyed merino/silk top from Three Waters Farms from this:


into this:

It's around 2.4 ounces, and nearly 300 yards. I'm definitely improving my control, and I'm very proud of this skein. I have another 2.5 ounces to go, so I'll have to think of something nice to make with it.

And that about does it. My head is mostly occupied with this little man: