UFO Round Up-Sari Silk Satchel

Yea, another UFO becomes a FO! I have been working on this one for awhile. I had to set it aside while I waited for more recycled sari silk yarn to arrive. Then I needed to get around to sewing the original liner which was in silk brocade. However when I saw it inside the bag...I didn't like them together. (Nice, now I have a liner for another satchel, so no worries!)



I eventually decided on denim, then I got the idea to recycle a pair of jeans. Turned outside in, I sewed the liner to fit, keeping all the pockets for compartments inside the satchel. Even the belt loops will function as a place to clip my keys. It was a difficult task because the sewing machine was so temperamental and the distance between the pressure foot and the feed dogs on the weird, off-brand machine of my Mum's is so narrow that I had to manually push/draw the fiber through, not fun. I must to admit to having more than a few harsh words for the sewing machine! Plus toward the end of the project, the bobbin tension went crazy and created all those lovely loops on the underside of the fabric...NUTS!!! But now it is complete, it's not as professionally sewn as I like to see, but I opted for finishing it as opposed to letting it hang out till I got the machine tuned up. I will definitely have to look into a new sewing machine! The nice thing about sewing is that I can always redo the parts that need tweaking later. But for now, I'm calling this one done! Another UFO crossed off the list, Yippee!

Have a great weekend! Blessings Friends!
Melissa

UFO Round Up-Scarflet With Vintage Buttons

I'm so excited to be back working on my projects again!!! I decided that before I start a new project, I will round up my UFOs and finish them. I have four knitting projects, one crochet and one sewing project to complete. I'm happy to say that I completed two of my knitting, one of which may still receive some surface embellishment, so I'm not posting that one (felted tea cozy) yet. Plus I finished knitting and lining a satchel I was working on. I need to find/make a buckle for the strap, once I know the size of the buckle, I can whip up the strap and attach it! So though technically it's not done, the hardest part, lining it, is. I'm in the home stretch on this one, so I'm calling it 95% complete.



This little cutie is 100% complete! My Scarflet with Vintage Buttons. I love how this turned out, it's knitted with Mini Mochi in #102 Flame Rainbow, using size three needles. ( I always google the color number to see what the name of the yarn is. I wish they would print it on the label.) It's a cozy, soft merino blend which is perfect for snuggling around your neck to keep the chilled winds at bay


One of the reasons I'm so excited about this project, aside from finishing it, is the BUTTONS! I was able to use some of my vintage buttons for the closure, and also for embellishment. I have a few little jars of buttons I magpied from the old button box when I was a kidlet. Thank goodness I was such a little button hound, when I was in my early twenties, my folks house caught fire and the gigantic button box was destroyed. As I was going through my closets and drawers when we were cleaning out the house, I kept coming across little baggies, old ring boxes and change purses stashed with pretty little buttons! I had completely forgotten about them, it was a nice surprise. I don't want to give you the impression that I have pounds of old buttons, it probably adds up to about a cups worth. But little Melissa had a good eye and chose some of the prettiest buttons! It was nice to be able to use some of them in this scarflet project.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Blessings Friends!
Melissa

Annis

I have to confess, I have hardly done any knitting and absolutely no spinning in a couple of weeks, that's just not like me. I got sideswiped by a pesky germ of some sort and I have been out of commission, yuck! I have thought a lot about spinning and knitting though, it actually gave me some time to sort through the many projects I have wanted to work up. One that is definitely at the top of the list is a lovely little shawl pattern from Knitty, called Annis. I decided to spin up some more of this recycled sari silk, I think it will make a pretty Annis shawl. The sample below is single ply, so I think I will do a little test knit to see if it's durable enough knitted as a single or if it needs to be plied.





Pretty pattern huh? I'd better get spinning!

Have a wonderful weekend! Blessings friends!
Melissa

Ravelry World Wide Shawl Exchange

Now that my swap partner has received her parcel, I can post pictures of the shawl I knit for her. My out going shawl went all the way to Germany! I knit Nicole the Andrea Shawl, with just a couple of additions, I added a beaded row in dragonfly colors and a simple yo row bordered by purl rows. I added these elements to the body of the shawl where it was otherwise solid st st.



I also received my shawl from Katie, who lives in France! She knit me this wonderful stole, which has a lovely drape and soft hand. I was so excited to receive this beauty!

If you are interested in participating in the next exchange, you can find out more about the Ravelry group here; RWSE2
It's a wonderful, nicely organized shawl exchange, I highly recommend it! I was introduced to the group by my friend Jeannie on Ravelry, who is one of my birthday twins.

Have a delightful weekend! Blessings Friends!
Melissa