After seeing a knitted wire necklace at the World Wide Knit in Public day, I decided that I needed to try working with wire. This isn’t the first time that I’ve mentioned an interest in it.

I headed out to one of the major chain craft stores and purchased some enameled copper wire and a purple bead assortment. Once I got home, I opened up the packages for my new goodies right away.

Three hours later, the bead stringing and fixing a wire tangling disaster were complete and I was ready to begin my work. It went pretty quickly. It took me about an hour to crochet a bangle sized bracelet to slip over my hand and arm. I’m pleased with how it turned out.

It has me hooked. I discovered that I can hit the local craft store, the local bead store, and the two chain crafting stores on my drive home from work by going only .5 miles out of my way. This is a very dangerous (to my bank account) drive home.

I’ve made a second bracelet in browns and ambers that I’m having a terrible time photographing, and I’ve purchased beads to make a chartreuse colored bracelet. There will definitely be more of these in my future.

My market bag knitting quest continues.   This pattern worked up quickly on my size 11 needles.  Overall, I didn’t care for this pattern as much as I did the Saturday Market Bag.  The stitch pattern on the other bag was more interesting to knit, and I found this stitch pattern a little tedious.  I did like the applied i-cord edge and i-cord handles.  I  will probably incorporate these into another market bag.

Pattern: Elisa’s Nest Tote
Source:  The Purl Bee
Yarn: Peaches & Creme Solids
Color: Cream
Needles: US11 and US7

Started: May 28, 2008
Completed: June 4, 2008

Pattern modifications:

• I knit the pattern in the round.
• I split the bag into two sides and added a few repeats on each side before adding the handles.  Otherwise, the opening on this bag tends to be too small.

Saturday was World Wide Knit in Public Day.  We had a nice event here in town during the farmer’s market.  The turnout was good and we had really beautiful weather.  It was really a great day to be outside.

I was working on my Saturday Market Bag for my mom.  It got quite a bit of attention.  We even had a few new knitters join the ranks that day.  The only dangerous thing is that I was inspired to work with wire and beads.  I think a new stash may begin.

The new town has a lovely Saturday farmer’s market that I like to attend. However, since much of my stuff is back in Illinois, my usual farmer’s market bag also doubles as a knitting bag. Since I got tired of dumping my knitting in order to make my weekly trek to the market, I decided to knit up a few string bags.  This is the first one I knit.  It’s the Saturday Market Bag.  It was originally published in MagKnits, but now is available directly from the designer’s blog, or as a Ravelry download.

I really liked the stitch pattern on this bag.  Open and stretchy, but much more interesting than just a yarn-over, knit 2 together mesh.  I liked this one so much, I’ve already started another for my mom.  There may even be a few more for me in the future.

Pattern: Saturday Market Bag
Designer: Jodie Danenberg
Source: Strings & Yarn
Yarn: Peaches & Creme Solids
Quantity: part of a cone
Color: Delft Blue
Needles: Denise Interchangables US15, US11 and US10.5

Started: May 25, 2008
Completed: May 28, 2008
Pattern adaptations:

• Cast on 70 stitches using magic cast-on and size 15 needles.
• Knit the pattern the round.
• Knit 7 repeats of the lace pattern.
• Switched to size 11 needles. Knit 2 rounds garter stitch.
• Switched to size 10.5 needles and finished with two handles as documented by disdressed.

This bag was so fun to knit that I decided to try knitting a few of the different string bags that are out there. I’d like to be able to use them to replace some of the many plastic bags from the grocery store.  I’ll definitely do a comparison post when I’m done on the different patterns.

Wow. It’s been a while.

I’m getting settled here in Oregon. While I’ve been knitting, I was without my camera until very recently. For me, posting to the blog just isn’t the same unless I can have photos.

I’ve had quite a few projects that I’ve been working on. I finished three pairs of socks, the Gentleman’s Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern, a pair of Diagonal Rib Socks, and a stitch pattern I adapted from a book – a pair I’ve been calling the Twisted Eyelet socks. I’ve currently got a pair of Thuja on the needles.

I also went on a kick of knitting some string bags. I knit a Saturday Market Bag and an Elisa’s Nest Tote. I’m currently working on some additional string bags for my mom.

Pictures and project details on all of these will be posted soon!

Locally, I’ve been attending the Ravelry based knitting group here in town. I’m also headed out to Black Sheep Gathering next Saturday, June 21st. I’m participating in Black Sheep Bingo, I’m a player and a square. You can see the Black Sheep Bingo details over at Strings & Yarn or Ravelry.