This is the starting position for Kitchner stitch. You work it from left to right, using a darning needle. Stick the needle in the front, far right stitch as if to purl and draw the yarn through. Then stick the needle in the far right stitch on the back needle as if to knit and draw the yarn through. Now go back to the front far right red stitch and stick the needle in as if to knit and knit that stitch off, now stick the needle in the stitch to the left of the drawn off stitch (red st) as if to purl, leave that stitch on. Now move to the blue stitches on the back needle and stick that darning needle through the far right blue stitch as if to purl and purl that stitch off, then stick the darning needle in the stitch to the left of the stitch you just took off as if to knit and leave it on. You keep going until all the stitches are taken off.  

Liberty Bag test knit is off to the washer for a bit of felting fun. 

I helped my neighbor with her garage sale over the last two weeks. She gifted me with all her mother's knitting needles. There's nothing more nostalgic than ancient loot. Some of these needles are from Goldblatt's. Who remembers Goldblatt's? That was from the era before the shopping mall. I found a set of "mitten pins" and "sock pins". I've never heard dpn's called that before. Needless to say they were in sets of four. 

more loot 

The Liberty Bag from Char. The test knit continues. Note how I manage to take a blurry picture of an inanimate object. How does that work? It's pure skill. I'm too tired to take another picture. I'm at the top of the bag. Hopefully, I'll finish it tomorrow.  

Close-up of the Liberty Bag Pattern I am test knitting for Char.  

Test knitting on another beautiful day. 

Here's a close up of the Vintage Bubble Bag. I made it per instructions. When I finished the bag and looked at the handles, they were too wimpy. I cut them off and double stranded another set and sewed them on and felted. Now, I think they are just right. 

Vintage Bubble Bag fresh from the drying cabinet.  

A little test knitting advice... Don't test knit while teaching subordinating conjunctions and clauses. I cannot count stitches and teach that. I can't even say subordinating conjunctions three times fast. Needless to say, a lot of ripping went on that night. I reknit to where it is in the picture, posted, and blogger ate the post. Not to worry Char, I'm almost through the blue. I'll probably post another picture tomorrow. 

On the needles...

Branching Out from the latest knitty.com
Pair of Peaks 'n' Valleys Socks from Knit Socks in Sockotta
Pair of rainbow socks in Bernat Hot Socks
Petticoat Socks in Pink Fixation from Weekend Knitting
Char's Liberty Bag test knit
A Ribbon Scarf (we won't discuss it)
An unnamed scarf (I don't want to talk about that one either)
Paisley Shawl from Interweave Knit (it's been so long I'm not sure where I am or where I'm going)
Vintage Bubble Bag - need to redo the handles
It appears that I have a UFO problem, it's possible there is another mateless sock in there somewhere.
Sweaters that will no longer fit the baby don't count. I'm sure, I checked the rules... When counting UFO's if the object will no longer fit the intended recipient that is not held against you.

7 repeats of branching out 

Phyllis has finished test knitting the Small Project Bag. We're going to iron out some things in the pattern and then we are going to share the pattern. Stay tuned... 

This house is never dull.

Well, I called the exterminator to find out what to do about the Southern short-tailed shrews. I was informed that those are wildlife and I needed to call the Department of Natural Resources. I called them and they said the man to help me is Dan and Dan won't be back until Monday. This doesn not make me happy. So I asked the kind lady on the phone, "If I trap the other one, do I need to keep it until Monday?" She had no idea. I have called people all up and down the state and get referred back to Dan and the very nice lady who answers the phone at DNR. Sigh... All these things are getting in the way of fun things to do like knit, take showers, fold the laundry. Since we released the first shrew into the wilds of the cornfields we haven't seen or heard another shrew. These are not quiet mammals. You can tell when they are in the house. Maybe I'll get to knit tonight and can post a photo. Maybe the shrews won't come back. I doubt I have that kind of luck. Maybe I'll post a map in our lower level with a "you are here" pin. Southern means south. Am I right?

Not a mouse...

Maybe a shrew???... It would appear there is a family of them in my house. My husband is packing up the children and the shrew for a shrew release party out in the farm fields. Hopefully we can catch the rest of the family as quickly. It took less than three hours to catch the first one with the humane live trap. If we don't catch them quickly, I'm calling the exterminator. The kids grew attached to the little thing in the few hours I was away at knit night. We are not keeping it! I need to knit and maybe have a glass of wine. If that critter gets loose in my van it's gonna be more like Crown Royal shots. Why can't I have a normal boring life. (note the whine in my blog)

I got a package from knitpicks! I bought a skein of tomato and blue to test knit for Char and 3 skeins of honey and 3 skeins of rhubarb to make socks. 

Three repeats of Branching Out Scarf.  

I Hate Mondays Pt 2: EVICTION NOTICE

Dear Mr. or Mrs. Mouse,
You are not a member of this family! You are not welcome to breakfast. Listen to me, mice are nocturnal. They do not hang out in the kitchen with four kids and a busy mom at the breakfast hour. Your behavior is most unmouse-like. You shall not run up the steps with the children and pretend you are one of the gang. I know you are a cute little black fur ball missing part of your tail but you cannot stay. Please relocate to the shed in the next three days or drastic measures will be taken.
Sincerely,
THE MOM

I hate Mondays

We all have bad days and this is one of mine. I belonged to a yahoo group and accidently opened a can of worms. When I realized that I had opened a can of worms I posted an apology. I tried to keep the mood light. Apparently, there was a problem with this. So, I decided that maybe I wasn't a good fit for the yahoo group. However, I had volunteered to do some things and I make it a policy to follow up on all obligations. The only problem was we were out of milk and I hadn't had any coffee yet. I accidently posted a note to the whole group instead of to the person I had the obligations with. (bad English, I know, but alas no coffee yet). Further fireworks ensued and a few people sent me some really nice notes. Thank you very much, I needed those nice notes. Note to self: Do not join anymore yahoo groups. I hope all the friends I made in the group will continue to stop by my blog and leave me a note. The bag pattern should be finished and published free on this site soon. Thanks to a wonderful husband, I have milk and I'm going to go make a quadruple cappucinno. (is that how you spell cappucinno?)

My final Mother's Day Vintage Bubble Bag is ready for the felting process. I followed the instructions and I have a feeling I'm not going to like it as well as the same pattern done in Bulky yarn. I basically use whatever yarn I have in the stash to mix with the Silk Garden. 

This is the first repeat of Branching Out by Susan that is in this issue of knitty. Go to www.knitty.com. The creator of this little beauty can be found at http://ma2ut.blogspot.com/ 

The second edition of the purple small project bag. Along with the two inside pockets, I added a felted pocket after the bag was felted with a needle felted "a" on it. 

Silk Garden and Felting

Noro Silk Garden does fine felting when it is carried along with a 100% wool feltable yarn. I have not tried it alone and since it is 11$ a skein, I won't be the one experimenting. The pattern I'm using is the Vintage Bubble Bag from Pursenalities. It is a very fast and fun knit. I am currently knitting my third bag from this pattern. My mother has two and I am making a third for my MIL.

Picking up sts on a rectangular bag bottom to knit in the round:

Picking up sts on a flat rectangular base. I've just finished a garter stitch rectangle and will now pick up sts on the other three sides and then work up the sides of the bag in the round. I changed to hot pink yarn to make it easier to see what was going on with the sts. I find it easier to use a crochet hook to pick-up sts for this method of making a bag. Otherwise I feel like I am contorting the sts to get them into the round.

Picking up sts in between the ridges of the garter sts. 

I've picked up the short side on the crochet needle, I will now transfer the sts onto the circular needle from the handle end of the crochet hook. 

I have the short side of the bag completely picked up and I have three sts on the long side of the rectangle. You can see the grey st on the crochet hook. I will hook the pink and pull it through the grey loop to pick up the stitch. 

I have one side left to pick up to work in the round. 

Last side picked up. Now I can place a marker . The next stitch I knit will be the grey stitch to start working in the round up the sides of the bag. 

Another view of the Vintage Bubble Bag with Noro Silk Garden for my next bag.