How hard can it be?

My Crocus Bag is nearing completion.
In this picture, it’s about to be cast off.

As I’m knitting it in the round, and because of the structure of the stitch pattern, the beginning and the end of the round have the stitch pattern overlapping.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t conceptualise how to write the instructions.
I had to actually knit it to work it out. Even then I wasn’t sure how to write it. Doing a couple of repeats of the pattern, and jotting down what was happening during the second repeat, made it clear.

It’s amazing that the more familiar I became with the stitch pattern, the more mistakes I made and had to go back to repair.
I knew it so well, I’d relaxed into not concentrating so much. A fatal error.

Since this photo was taken, I’ve cast off, and am not sure how to finish it. It looked nice on the circular needles, gathering in at the top. Cast off, it seems a bit too wide open at the top. The possible ideas I have in mind are

• Folding the top over and threading a drawstring through.
• Weaving some fine elastic through the band to pull it in a little.
• Dunno
  

Once this is decided I’ll know whether straps are required, and think about what type would look good.

Free Knitting Pattern – Lace Border Bag

This is a quite simple bag, knit in stocking stitch, with a lace border and a ribbed edging. It’s a basic rectangular shape. Some woven fabric is required to line the bag.

It would pay to brush up on your slip stitches knitwise, and your p1 tbl or you’ll have the troubles that I initially did in the lace border.

The lace pattern is Wigwams from the knitting series, “Creative Knitting”

Lace Border Bag
Knitting Pattern
Yarn suggested : Heirloom Easy Care 12 ply (or any other Bulky / 12 ply yarn)
Gauge : 19 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in Stocking (Stockinette) Stitch
Needle size : 5.5 mm / US 9
Meterage : 195 mtrs / 214 yards

This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

download now

A fun, and handy bag, quick to knit, and interest added with a lace border. The bag is knitted on smaller needles to create a firmer fabric.

I’m mildly interested in cryptic crosswords, so each week I’ll include a clue from our most recent “The Age” cryptic crossword.
If I can work it out, I’ll give what I think the answer is.
If not, I can laugh at the weirdness of the clue.
We never get the paper with the answers, so I’ll never know if I’m right. This may seem like a pointless exercise.
This week’s clue, from “The Age” Monday, August 10, 2009
Make no allowance for the talk (7)I’m pretty sure this is lecture but I have no idea why.
Either my brain is failing, or the cryptic crossword is getting harder.
I’m ready to give it up.

Crocus Swatch

As per standard operating procedures not much action has taken place knit wise.

I’ve done a swatch of crocus stitch using circular needles. I’ve done a couple of measurements on it, but no calculations yet. I like the look of it, and it seems to suit the yarn quite well.



Other than knitting, a lot has been happening.
There’s been an Aussie Rules match to attend.
There’s been a 50th Wedding Anniversary to attend.
There’s been activities to transport children to hither and thither.
There’s been a school music concert to attend.
And of course the usual everyday working, shopping etc.

I’m mildly interested in cryptic crosswords, so each week I’ll include a clue from our most recent “The Age” cryptic crossword.
If I can work it out, I’ll give what I think the answer is.
If not, I can laugh at the weirdness of the clue.
We never get the paper with the answers, so I’ll never know if I’m right. This may seem like a pointless exercise.
This week’s clue, from “The Age” Thursday, July 30, 2009
Exist in macabre Athenian ritual (7)
I must admit, I’ve just this moment opened the paper to find the crossword, so I haven’t done any of it.
This doesn’t immediately jump out at me. I have a feeling it may be an anagram of Exist in
Don’t know much about Athenian rituals. Maybe if I have time to mull over a few other clues, it’ll come to me.

Indian Summer disappears

It’s been a spring-like couple of days, which today disintegrated into a cold rainy afternoon. On the home front life has been very busy, rudely cutting into my knitting and designing time.

We’ve been following Masterchef rather sporadically, but did watch the final episode. It was quite compelling. There’s not much I watch that doesn’t put tears in my eyes these days.

Anyway, knitting wise, the Lace Border bag is nearly finished. I just need to put in a lining and sew in the straps. I’m really happy with the way it’s looking. I hope to have the pattern ready to publish next week.

Yesterday I bought a few balls of Heirloom Cotton 8 Ply with a view to making a Lace patterned bag. I’ve started a tension square. The yarn seems thinner than I expect an 8 ply to be, but it’s knitting up very nicely on the suggested needles. There’ll be enough to measure soon and then I can make my adjustments.

I’m mildly interested in cryptic crosswords, so each week I’ll include a clue from our most recent “The Age” cryptic crossword.
If I can work it out, I’ll give what I think the answer is.
If not, I can laugh at the weirdness of the clue.
We never get the paper with the answers, so I’ll never know if I’m right. This may seem like a pointless exercise.
This week’s clue, from “The Age” Monday, July 20, 2009
Methodical rearrangement of messy attic (10)
This one wasn’t too hard. It’s an anagram (rearrangement) of messy attic = systematic
Methodical = systematic

Free Knitting Pattern – Lacy Boucle Clutch

The knitting pattern has been available on Ravelry for a few days and now it's here too!

This clutch uses a biasing lace square pattern. It's not exactly obvious from the photo, but not important. It’s more like, a bit of lace here, a bit of lace there. The biasing lace squares create wavy edges, hence the finishing angle of the flap. Rather jaunty, don’t you think?

There is a heavy satin used for the lining, to give some body, and shine. (Sounds like a hair care ad!)

Lacy Boucle Clutch
Knitting Pattern
Yarn suggested : Touch Yarns Boucle Solid
Gauge : 12.5 stitches = 4 inches in Bias Lace Squares
Needle size : 6.0 mm / US 10
Meterage : 40 mtrs / 44 yards

This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

download now

A soft, luxurious, mohair clutch for your evening must haves. The flap finishes with a jaunty angle.
Stitch chart included.

I’m mildly interested in cryptic crosswords, so each week I’ll include a clue from our most recent “The Age” cryptic crossword.
If I can work it out, I’ll give what I think the answer is.
If not, I can laugh at the weirdness of the clue.
We never get the paper with the answers, so I’ll never know if I’m right. This may seem like a pointless exercise.
This week’s clue, from “The Age” Monday, July 13, 2009
Checked retro model fits some (7)I’ve got no idea about this one, although the last letter must be D

Lace Border Bag continues slowly

Life has gotten in the way of knitting this week.
The remains of my cold, children’s school camp preparations, an impending birthday, and being a parent as psychologist have all conspired to prevent me from doing as much as I would have liked.

However I have done most of the second side of the Lace Border Bag and it is pictured here to show that I’ve done something.
The photo worked better this time. It was pretty overcast at the time, so maybe that’s the difference. Who could have guessed that I’d be wishing for grey skies?


This time I’m using a coarse sewing thread for my life lines. It’s some thread I used to repair the edging stitching on a mattress, so it’s fairly tough stuff. It has lasted well on the mattress, so my choice was good way back then. As it’s much finer, I’m hoping it’ll leave no mark when I remove it.

I’m mildly interested in cryptic crosswords, so each week I’ll include a clue from our most recent “The Age” cryptic crossword.
If I can work it out, I’ll give what I think the answer is.
If not, I can laugh at the weirdness of the clue.
We never get the paper with the answers, so I’ll never know if I’m right. This may seem like a pointless exercise.
This week’s clue, from “The Age” Thursday, July 9, 2009
Let us say it’s a vegetable (7)
This one jumped right out at me. It’s lettuce!

Lace Border Bag under way

I’ve been laid low with a cold this week, but despite or because of this, I’ve managed to get one side of the Lace Border Bag knitted.

Please excuse the awful photography. The red seems to be making things difficult.

You probably can’t tell from the photo, which may be a good thing, but I think I’ve learnt that the thread for my Life Line should be a great deal thinner than the yarn I’m knitting with. Marks have been left where I’ve pulled out the thread. How annoying! :) I’ve tugged it this way and that, but to no avail.


The Lacy Boucle Clutch is in the same state as previously. No magnetic clips have appeared. Next time I’m at Spotlight I’ll see what press studs I can use instead. Or maybe it’s time to delve into my sewing box to see what’s hiding there. There’s bound to be some left over gems that will do just the trick.

I’m mildly interested in cryptic crosswords, so each week I’ll include a clue from our most recent “The Age” cryptic crossword.
If I can work it out, I’ll give what I think the answer is.
If not, I can laugh at the weirdness of the clue.
We never get the paper with the answers, so I’ll never know if I’m right. This may seem like a pointless exercise.
This week’s clue, from “The Age” Thursday, July 2, 2009
It can capture a scene in private (6)
This one’s got me stumped. From another word I’ve got, I can tell you that the 4th letter is “E”. But this doesn’t help me at all. Maybe you can work it out.