Squatty Gets a “Button!”

While DH was getting his eye’s checked yesterday I wandered Old Town in search of a button for Spring Squatty Sidekick. I went to a fabric store I heard a bunch about, but was not very impressed by their service, or their selection of buttons. So then I meandered into a couple bead shops. The woman at the one bead shop was kind of rude when I asked her if she had any buttons. She sniped, “I’m not a fabric store.” However, it seems most of the bead shops in town have some buttons because they often reclaim beads from vintage clothing and they end up with a selection of buttons as well. But, she got over herself and we started trying out some of the large beads to use a buttons. It was a hard call, as there was another bead that looked really nice and was very inexpensive (25 cents) and then there was this handmade dichroic glass bead for $12 that made me think of a leaf.

I decided with the size of the purse, my original though of perhaps needle felting a flower or something was just not going to work and that the closure would be the focal point. So, I chose the dichroic glass leaf bead. Since it had the stringing hole towards the top, it works great as a toggle button and I love the leafy quality it has - perfect for Spring!

Since I’ve gotten quite a few e-mails, I’ll post once again that this pattern is from Avant Knits. She is just starting out, so fill out her form and I’m sure she’ll get back to you with info on obtaining the pattern when it is available. And, if you are in the area, she’ll be teaching a class on it at Woolen Treasures, Saturday Mornings in May.

EDIT: Amanda’s plans have changed and the Squatty Sidekick pattern may become availble through a magazine or book in the future, but as of this time it is only available by taking the class at Woolen Treasures in Loveland, Colorado. I’m sorry!

And NO, I WILL NOT PHOTOCOPY THE PATTERN FOR YOU!

Finally, an FO! (well, minus button)

Araucania Nature Wool (27)
Sz 10.5 US Needles

Here is my completed spring squatty sidekick! It’s kind of small. I can only barely fit my checkbook, wallet, phone and sunglasses, but they fit. And, sometimes it is good for me to pare down what I carry along and be forced to leave the sketchbook, PDA, sock in progress etc. at home.

Especially this morning after spending almost the entire morning at the doctor’s office and having to call my SIL3 to come pick me up because they wouldn’t let me drive. She really liked the purse, as did the co-worker she brought along so that we could get my car home as well.

I don’t have a button for it at this point. I was been hoping to try an idea I had for making buttons, but decided that will be better for the other Squatty Sidekick and that for this one I really want something with punch that is kind of contrasty I think. I thought perhaps I was going to get to look for one this morning, but no such luck since I’m confined to bed for the remainder of the day. I can’t even go get the other meds I’m to be taking in addition to the treatments they gave me, so that will have to wait until 6pm when DH gets home. I hope the shots kick in further and last until he gets home!

Manos and Purses!

Manos del Uraguay from Shuttles,
originally uploaded by kurki15.

This is the Manos I got when we went to Shuttles on Saturday. I’m going to make a sectioned/color blocked felted purse from it I think. I love the colors, but I also think my SIL3 will and she is all about purses :-) And, she is the only SIL who hasn’t gotten something I’ve knit yet. Depending on what the file size I decide on is, I might get one for myself too, but we’ll have to see :-)

Last night was SnB and I got some more lovely yarn that I’ll share with you later in the week. It was a birthday present and I soooo wasn’t expecting it! Between my mom’s copies of Gilmore Girls seasons 1 & 2 arriving yesterday with my present from my sister, and SnB last night I have 1/2 of Squatty Sidekick #2 from Avant Knits completed. If you want to see what the final product looks like, see Snow (whose daughter stole it yesterday).

I’m hoping between backing up my laptop (so we can put in the new hard drive) and watching Gilmore Girls that I’ll get it finished and ready to felt by tomorrow at the latest. Though I will have to take some time out to run a few errands…

Those who can, do…

… and those who can’t, shop!

Exhibit A

Araucania Nature Wool, worsted weight 100% wool from Chile, color 27

In looking at the Squatty Sidekick from yesterday, I decided I love the colors, but will probably have a much too heavy bag in its current state. But, with the current state of my wrist I’m loathe to rip and reknit anything at the moment. Then that picture also made it even more obvious that it is a not a purse for warm weather. Yes, I’m aware it’s wool, but looking at Amanada’s pink one, I think a felted purse can be carried year around as long as the color is right for the season. Enter the yarn above… This will become a warm weather Squatty Sidekick (which BTW, Amanda will be teaching a class for this purse at Woolen Treasures in the near future, it isn’t listed on the class schedule on line yet, but should be there soon). I’ll evntually rip the current autumnal squatty and have it ready to reknit in the fall when it will be used.

Exhibit B

Okay, this was an impulse purchase. I picked up Folk Shawls a few weeks ago and have been lusting after lace shawls for some time now (it started last spring or summer when I checked out A Gathering of Lace from the library). However, I have no pattern in mind for this. It’s roughly 1280 yds of 50/50 wool/silk blend. I know lace can easily be swallowed up by color changes, but I just couldn’t resist this color combination. Though, it was a tough call as there was a green and purple colorway and I’m constantly complaining about the lack of purple-green colorways. But, I decided this could be worn with much more of my wardrobe. With the rich chocolate brown in there I keep envisioning it breaking up my chocolate from head to toe outift of cords and J. Jill t-neck sweater! And, it has some olive green in it besides the brown, tan and red-violet/fuscia-y color. Snow, any recomendations for a dramatic variegation like this one?

Exhibit C

I’m still highly reserved about my Layette colorway Lorna’s Laces. But, I really want to experience the LL lust first hand. So, I picked up two solids in Poppy and one in the new Irving Park colorway. This way, I can do the cuff/heel/toe in the variegated and the main body in the solid so I don’t have to be so concerned about pooling/flashing! I even have a design in mind now, so I think I’ll be casting on for that soon as well. I’m thinking DH is not so excited about the camo socks so he probably won’t mind if his socks do not get 100% of my sock knitting attention anyway.

Also purchased, but not picture worthy were 2 more Addi Turbo circs and 1 pair of the short Bryspon DPNs in Sz 2. Oh, and I picked up more point protectors because when knitting socks, one can never have enough, right?

I got all this for just under $100!!! I saved $13 alone on the Helen’s Lace. How you ask? Woolen Treasures is having their first anniversary sale! All yarn is 30% off, all needles and notions are 15% off and jewelry and equipment was 10% off! If you’re in the area run, don’t walk! They were hopping yesterday, with some people going through the check out line 3 times!

I also stopped at B&N and picked up Nicky Epstein’s Knitting on the Edge and I’m in love! There is a ton of inspiration in there. A lot of the stitch patterns I’ve seen, but not applied as a border, and there are some I maybe haven’t seen (I don’t have any of the Walker volumes of stitch patterns yet) that could also be extended to an entire article rather than just a border. If you are into designing, I’d recommend it.

Squatty | Spearfish

Because I could not in good conscience make yet another post without a NEW picture, I present to you, 1/2 of a Squatty Sidekick from Avant Knits. Now, if you aren’t currently having hand/wrist issues this is a really quick knit because it will ultimately be fulled. It is totally adorable! Don’t let my slightly garish colors scare you! If you are in the area, her original rosy one is on display at Woolen Treasures.

Alas, yesterday way was first quater sales tax book keeping day for me, along with finishing my long procrastinated book club research, so there was no knitting for me yesterday. That was probably ultimately goos as I think that was the first day since this last flare that I can honestly say I didn’t not pick up the needles at all.

Since I’m posting today you can see I wasn’t lynched at book club last night. Though I have to say it was the smallest turn out this year I think, with only 5, not including myself and the librarian who heads it up. I’ll be posting about it later today, if you wish to follow the link there on the left to my book LJ.

We’ve had a pretty exciting begining to the Spearfish contest! The farthest progress photo I’ve seen is Shannon, who evidently had a bout of insomnia and is well into the instep now. Cece has wrapped up the lacy cuff and with her jet set life I’m sure is much farther. I know there are a few others who have cast on, but aren’t sharing pictures yet. And, in case you missed the excitement over the weekend, Ann and Anita have a little side bet going. This is definitely not a boring contest by any means!