Wanna see a really great Must Have? Marcia is modeling hers. I think it is fabulous, and I love the way she is wearing the blue with the brown. Doesn't she look great?
Here's a crappy photo of mine:
I think you will have to expect crappy photos for the duration of this project.
I still love the yarn, and I think I semi-sorta know what I'm doing. I'm proceeding S-L-O-W-L-Y and with great deliberation. I'm starting to be able to see the pattern emerge, and that is making it much easier. In the first several rows, I felt like I was feeling my way along in a dark cave. I could hardly see the stitches; I could not figure out what I was supposed to be doing. I was thinking that perhaps this yarn, being a darker color and flecked with tweedy bits, was not the best choice for my first aran. But now it seems like it's going to be OK.
I had to use two lifelines last night. Thanks to the timely posting of Nathania's photo, I realized that I wasn't screwing up like I thought I was on some of the stitches. This is always a good feeling. And thanks to the helpful suggestion of Cassie, I put in a bunch o' stitch markers to help keep me on track and ahold of my sanity. How many more lifelines do I have? Just one? If so, I think I'm in trouble.
Lauren, the little doll, sent me a lovely ACCESSORY!!! A sweet little felted bag (in SPICY Old Gold Patons!) that she made. It has a SPICY lining of print fabric with very sexy mums (haha, another great Google, "sexy mums." I would, of course, be meaning chrysanthemums) and a snap closure. It's a cute little handbag that will be great to carry in the spring to make me feel springy. For the life of me, I could not get a decent photo. I'll have to wait 'til I can get outside.
She's going to send me her scrap yarns and I'd like to make a funky felted flower to adorn the bag with. Any ideas for felted flower patterns?
No maligning the Must Have. The photo is lovely. Your progress is lovely too. Soon the cables will all start to make sense and you'll be able to see where they're supposed to go. Just keep at it. You're doing great!
Posted by: Nathania | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 01:11 AM
Two Old Bags (TM) has a pattern booklet out called "Wooly Embellishments" I haven't bought it yet, but I want to (read: guinea pig, Norma) But it has some funky felted flowers, and strings of wool beads in it. Looks pretty neat.
Posted by: erin | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 01:49 AM
I think your MH is gorgeous!! While this will be my first 'officia' aran too...I have dinked around with cables some and know that the first few rows I am constantly thinking "this can NOT be right..." but, then it is! Well...usually...er....sometimes....
I also plan on being "deliberate" as you so well put it...and I am aware there may be great ripping ahead...there's no time limit now is there....FF 22 years: "Yes, and finally, Lisa in Oregon has finished the back and one front of her MH..."
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 07:51 AM
Deb (Yentala) could help you out with the felted flower pattern, I'll bet. The color of your Must Have is great -- it's going to be gorgeous, dontchano!
Posted by: Kim | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 07:53 AM
If you are looking for flower ideas, you might try out some of the links from Pinku's Flower Swap.
http://pinkurocks.typepad.com/flowerswap2004/
I made the Perky Poppy from MagKnits.
http://www.magknits.com/warm04/patterns/poppies.htm
Another idea is a felted rose, ala the Felted Flower Bag from the current Vogue Knitting.
http://fuzzynoodleknits.typepad.com/flower_basket_knitalong/
Posted by: Jennifer | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 08:22 AM
Who knows. Maybe someday you'll knit aran patterned SOCKS too.
Posted by: claudia | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 08:30 AM
norma-
the newest vogue knitting has a very funky feleted flower bag with 4-5 roses felted for the top. very cool.
also there is always knitting on the edge and knitted embellishments from nicky epstein. I've borrowed those from the library.
MH looks great!!
Posted by: anj | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 08:30 AM
The Amawalk yarn looks amazing, in spite of the really bizarre falling-off-the-edge-of-the-world photo.
Stitch markers rule.
Posted by: Cassie | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 08:31 AM
Love the color, Norma! I think you might still have a "phone a friend" in your pocket...
Posted by: Vicki | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 09:05 AM
OOOh, love the color. And ya gotta love getting cool stuff in the mail! I know I love sending cool stuff. Gah, your comments reminded me that I want to make that flower basket bag from VK. *sigh* Another project. Joy!
Posted by: abby | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 09:34 AM
You'll be amazed how quickly you get into the pattern. Once you get a full repeat of it done, you will have that to look at to check what you are doing and it will become easier to see when you knit and when you purl and which way the cables are crossing. Relax and enjoy it. It will be lovely when it's done. The only problem is that you might have to wear PV less so you can wear it!
Posted by: Jo in Ottawa | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 10:12 AM
norma-
funny thing.. this topic came up on knitters review today. not all of them are felted, but why the heck not?? if you made it on bigger needles.. (say 10s-13s) in wool and felted them I don't see why they wouldn't work.
http://www.knittersreview.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26391
Posted by: anj | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 10:13 AM
Your photo isn't crappy. You're doing very well - it will look great - such a wonderful rich yarn. Keep it up.
Posted by: Julia | Friday, February 04, 2005 at 10:38 AM
I have a free felted flower pattern on my website. Betsy www.culturedpurl.com
Posted by: Betsy | Monday, February 07, 2005 at 08:43 PM