Is There a Doctor in the House?

Doctor Bag
Originally uploaded by skillj.

I finally finished this bag! The pattern is in Knit2Together and of course I substituted yarn and used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Bulky in taupe. The button and handles I got at....MJ Trimmings, but you knew that already, right? The fabric I've had for a long time. I orignially planned to use it for pillows but the fabric was really too slippery and I stashed it until now. There is a saga behind this bag. It only took a couple days to do the actual knitting, but the finishing....that took about 2 weeks. I cut out the lining and I felt all clever cause I decided to put a pocket in it. I went to pin it in the bag and it was too small! I then cut it completely down the middle and inserted a panel to make it fit. Of course, after I finished sewing in one side of the added panel, I saw that the raw edge of the seam was on the WRONG side! Rrriiiiiipppp! But even before the lining fiasco, I went to go and get the wooden dowels that help to keep the bag's shape along the top. People sold dowels, but they were all 36 in. long. I needed them to be 12 in. I asked the guy at Home Depot if it would be possible to get the rod cut into 12 in. pieces. It's possible, but we don't do it, was his answer. I bet I could get it done at the 24 hr Home Depot on North Ave in Chicago...I thought about calling for delivery. Instead, I journeyed to a mom and pop hardware shop. Same answer again, we don't cut them here. WTF??!! So I went ahead and bought a little handsaw so that I could cut the friggin thing myself...I mean, come on! But then it was time for the fun part...heading to MJ. Bev accompanied me and if you ask her, she'll tell you that this is not the original button purchased...I lost it! It's rolling around in my apartment somewhere. I gave up looking, went back to MJ, found another button and picked up different handles while I was there, why the heck not? Oh and I almost forgot about the teeny buttons I was gonna use as embellishment somewhere on the front near the lower right corner, yeah, those went missing too. I'll be checking Wolfen's humors, if you will, to see if I can close the case of the missing notions. But hey, at least I like the finished project.

Hooded Pullover

Hooded Pullover
Originally uploaded by skillj.

It's finally blocked! The pattern is from Blue Sky Alpacas (the link is in the entry below) but I used Knitpicks Swish Superwash in Capri. I can't remember how many skeins cause I finished the knitting so long ago. I'm pretty pleased with it. Although the armpits were super tight so I wet blocked it to try to stretch them out, and that worked out OK.
And a little off-topic......SUPER BEARS, SUPER BOWL, SUPER BEARS, SUPER BOWL!!!
BEARS 39-SAINTS 14 See you in Miami!!!!

What Big Eyes You Have!

Ball of Yarn
Originally uploaded by skillj.

It's always fun and games at The Point. Here's Johanna posing for me for one of my Monthly Scavenger Hunt shots at Flickr.
It may not seem like it since I haven't posted in a while, but I have been very busy. I FINALLY got around to blocking the hooded sweater I finished in like, November! Hopefully it won't take too long to dry. It's drying on the coffee table with tray tables strategically positioned around it to keep Wolfen away if he decides to go investigating. Last night, I started sewing up the Doctor bag and I cut out the pieces for the lining. I cannot wait to carry this puppy! I finished a crocheted teddy bear weeks ago and I'm waiting on bean bag innards to fill it with. (Don't worry, it's for room decor not to give to the baby.) The Pampas cardi from Rowan is coming along, I've knit the back and a front. So, hopefully I'll have some entries for a 2007 FO Flickr set soon.

2006 Finished Objects

2006 Finished Objects
Originally uploaded by skillj.

I looked back at my resolutions last year to see if I had accomplished them. Well....not really....I did stop buying yarn every couple weeks, but I haven't made a lace scarf or socks yet. But look at all the things I did get finished! I also have one more sweater that I still have to block. I'll try to get a picture up a little later this week. So I guess those 2 resolutions will roll over to 2007 and I'm going to add one more...to do more charity knitting.
Happy New Year everyone!!!