What are you Working on Now?

Well, like I have said before the Christmas Knitting and Crochet is finished. Now I am looking around my room and trying to figure out what to work on next. What are you working on? Is it something for yourself?

I think we should vow to make something for ourselves this time of year, don't you?

So, I thought I might show you all pictures and tell you the story of me making the Toothpick Optional bag I made!

If you don't know the story behind this bag you must not listen to the She-Knits Podcast. To catch you up to date Sharon is the host of She-Knits and is a prolific felted knit bag designer. Well, Sharon and I have really been holding each others hand when it comes to submitting to magazines. She finally got the courage to submit to knitty.

Sharon took a lot of time thinking of what the perfect submission would be. She thought to herself that the average Knitty reader is hip, trendy, appreciates fun and funky and most of all quick projects are always a hit. So, after reviewing her patterns she decided that the wristlet that had the apple martini on the front was a perfect submission.

The great thing about this pattern is that it can really push a knitter out of the box. The apple martini motif on the bag is knit in intarsia. What better way to experiment with a new technique than on something that will be felted (hides all the mistakes).

When I found out that Sharon chose this bag to submit I knew it was perfect and that she was going to get in the e-zine. I just KNEW yet another friend of mine was going to be published! As the time got closer and closer to the publishing date and she hadn't heard anything I knew in my heart of hearts that she was IN.

Sadly to say, in the last possible hour Sharon received an email from Amy Singer saying that they loved the pattern but it was not chosen for the issue. AWWWWW! Sharon was bummed, I was bummed, her listeners were bummed, how could this be? It was the perfect project.

Surly there are restrictions that are necessary when taking on the task of publishing Knitty but to me, this project was perfect for this time of year. The wristlet is perfect for Holiday parties that we are all going to; not to mention a NEW YEARS PARTY! It is also so fast to make!

Okay, let's get on with my story.



After Sharon told me she didn't get accepted I told her not to worry. I knew that all of her loyal listeners would see the pattern and just have to have one for themselves so she should put it up for sale in her sheknitsforknitters.com shop. She has and the pattern is doing really well.

I got the pattern from Sharon and immediately started to search through my stash for all the colors it called for. She uses Brown Sheep Yarn Lambs Pride Bulky for her wristlet but I didn't have any of that yarn in the colors needed. So, I called Sharon (who happened to be recording a podcast episode and included our phone call on the show) and asked her if it was okay to double up worsted weight yarn instead of using the bulky?

YES! That was it, I was set! I had every color needed to make the bag and I casted on for the bag at 10:00 am and by 2:00 pm I was tucking in my ends (cleaning it up), had it in the washer to felt by 3:00 and used it at 7:00 that night!

In the middle of making the bag I called Sharon and told her how much fun it was to make and repeated that Knitty was CRAZY for not accepting it!

I also called my BFF Tara who is one of my only single friends and is a huge fan of dancing and told her I just made her the perfect Christmas gift. The only catch was that I had to use it that night but after that it was all hers. ( I know, great friend huh?) She laughed at me and said she couldn't wait to see it.
I decided I was going to go ahead and line the bag and make the lining larger than the bag and use a drawstring to sinch it up then tuck the lining into the bag. Does that make sense?

Okay, here is the problem now.

I purchased the lining and the drawstring but can't find the BAG!!!

I know my 5 year old was in love with the bag and I am convinced that she has taken it and hidden it. She asked me if I would make her one and I laughed to myself. What would the people at church think of my DD walking into Sunday School with a purse that has an apple martini on it! LOL. Quickly, I told DD..."We will see." (the ultimate mom response)

Now, I have to find the bag, line it and give it to Tara. If it turns our that I can't find it I guess I will just have to make another one *grins...snaps fingers...shucks :-)*

You ready for pictures? Here is a LOAD of them...have fun!