I’ve chatted with a few of you directly, but I’m on a quest for that perfect bag.  I don’t want to say “knitting bag” because I want something I can carry to work, to my assorted civic meetings in the evenings, etc., but not the giant, catch-all monster purse of my better back days.  I’ll still drop a small handbag in whatever “we” select, and that will be for shopping and such.

I ordered a Bowler from Vera yesterday, but that will be a knitting bag, and I don’t think it’s quite big enough to hold my little handbag.  I currently own the Total Tote, but in a brown suede, it’s not much of a summer bag.  It’s a great project bag, but too wide to be truly portable.  I’m also very sorry to say that after a year of not so regular use, it’s looking rather beaten up.  It will still be fine for holding a couple of projects when we head to the beach or whatever, but not for any real travels, like flying.  I also own my still rather new Lawre’s Laine Baby Bag. Actually, I’ve been using that this week to and from work to tote my camera and the paper trail that follows me home some days.  It’s great for the camera and my little purse, but the papers (loose, because a file folder doesn’t fit) end up looking rather the worse for wear.  If the handles were several inches longer, perhaps I could make this work, but I really want something that will tote an unfolded pattern and/or a book.  See…  I generally knit from my books/magazines, without making a copy. 

So, tell me about your favorite bag.  I’ve considered the Lexie Barnes line.  I love that it’s water resistant, but I can’t bond with any of the current patterns, and frankly, they do seem more like baby bags than knitting bags. 

Features.  I’d love a full (read: 9″x12″ or so) outside pocket for said pattern’s protection.  I’d also like some sort of “cup holder” on the outside.  (Why did Lexie Barnes stop using mesh?)  Keep in mind too that I’m short, and my limbs are very proportionate, which is to say… short.  I’ve considered messenger bags, but that’s not a style I can really embrace.  I’m truly a handbag (read: short handle that hugs the bag under my arm if I wear it on my shoulder) and tote kind of gal. 

Bless your heart, do you really care?!  If so, I also need something lightweight, so designing my own felted/knitted creation is out of the question, as is leather.  Quality matters too.  Of course, Ravelry is fun to read, but really…  I’m sure only the extremes of customer satisfaction post there.

If you made it this far, thank you, whether you have any great suggestions or not.  This is truly a rather selfish post!

That’s the newest addition to Fred’s Garden.  We picked it up at Kitty Hawk Kites last time we were at the beach.  The Knight wanted to find a doggy spinner to put in the garden, but no such luck.  I was a little disappointed at their canine offerings, but this little hammock came home.  I love the pink tongue hanging out! 

And there’s that wee glimpse of the wild girl from last week, pre-surgery.  She’s doing too well.  She’s really back to normal, save jumping.  She seems to know her limits instinctively, so we’ve given up on enforcing our own ideas about keeping her calm and quiet for a few more days. 

I wish I’d snapped a shot of Fred’s Garden on my way out this morning.  The pansies are blooming like crazy, and other stuff is poking through.  We’re pretty sure the squirrels are the trespassers, as the Knight counted ELEVEN in the drive, about ten feet from the garden the other afternoon. 

Happy Dogs on Thursday!  Don’t forget to swing by and see what the other dogs are up to.  I’m hoping for lots of photos of Coco from Mary…

May 11 - May 17
Tea Room Ventures and VenuesShare all about one of your favorite tea rooms. Use photos and descriptions to tell about the decor and ambiance, menus, service, and what makes this tea room special to you. Does this tea room have a gift shop? What kind of special treasures does it contain?

Another rather stark post from me, but…

Keswick Hall is the only local source I’ve used for a nice tea out with friends.  The hotel is grand and the service is first-class, but it’s a bittersweet reminder that the place has changed tremendously from the memories of my childhood in pools that have since been filled in.  The horseshow grounds are across the (dirt) road, and this weekend, I’m betting both the show grounds and the hotel will be packed. 

I’ve borrowed this photo from Keswick’s “afternoon tea” page, but the last time I went, it was for a weekend brunch tea.   Nevertheless, if you have a chance to “do tea” at any of the Orient Express Hotels,  you won’t be disappointed.  With a top price of $28 per person for tea, I think it’s a very affordable way to enjoy the luxury and refinement of a world-class hotel.  If ever you’re in these parts, let me know and I’d be delighted to have tea with you at Keswick Hall!

There’s not a gift shop in the tea treats sort of way, but if you’re in the area, don’t miss The Happy Cook or The Virginia Shop.   The Happy Cook has a great selection of loose teas and accessories to the far right when you walk in, and The Virginia Shop has my beloved Carriage House cheese straws and lots of other goodies.

I think the colors in my photos are pretty accurate.  I wish I could do something like the scratch and sniff circles so you feel this yarn.  Silk just adds a level of YUM to any blend, and this yarn is no exception.   Add in the fun Noro stripes, and I have to retract all the bad things I said about Noro in general.  I still have no interest in Kureyon, or the Kureyon-based sock yarn, but a LOT of the other Noro yarns are very lush.

Here’s a shot of just about the whole thing.  Even that one little jaunt of yellow and black doesn’t bother me.  (Of course, as fate would have it, it rides about mid-back when I’m wearing this shawl, so I don’t have to look at it!)  Love all the pinks, and the vivid blue and green.  This shawl will surely see a lot of use this summer, and into the fall.  I still haven’t wet blocked it, and I suspect that when I do, it will grow a little more.  You see, to wet block it, I have to part with it for a while, so it can dry…

One last close-up of the dropped stitch pattern, stretch out.  Those ladders were better than an inch wide before I stretched it out. 

Then, just so she doesn’t feel left out, a shot of Stardust in progress.  I also cast on for a little toy bunny last night, but you’ll just have to wait for a photo of that.  I have a dinner next Tuesday night, and I’d love to wear Stardust, but I think that’s probably a little too ambitious, as this weekend has a knitting guild meeting in Richmond and who knows what else.

Set the Table, Tea is On!

Share a creative afternoon tea table setting. Linens, serving pieces, teapots and teacup, tea accoutrement’s and accessories, centerpieces, tea trays or three-tiers, and more. Show one way you enjoy creating a memorable tea experience. This is your opportunity to show the world
the fun you have when you create your own special tea experience. Then. . .invite over a friend or neighbor and share some tea together. That way all your work is not for ought.

I guess it all comes from being a voracious reader as a child, but my ideal tea party would have to be arranged by the Madhatter and the Queen of Hearts.  When I envision my own gala, it would indeed be outside, with a lavish spread with my best linens, china, etc.

I ran out of time (obviously, since this is a week late already) to actually stage said table, or even to pull out my great-grandmother’s tablecloth for a photo.

However, I did snap a quick shot of my shaded side yarn, and in that little glade is where I’d set the table.   I’d even want the Knight to muscle out a sideboard of some sort, because I think a proper tea wants an excessive display of tiered serving pieces with everything from dainty sandwiches to decadent, miniature pastries. 

I apologize for asking you to use so much imagination here, but this way, it will be rather like Helen of Troy.  I’ve given you a framework in which you can manipulate the details to envision your own lovely outdoor tea party.  Just be sure to add lots of pretty flowers, and I’m sure we’ll all be on the same page!

(How do you pronounce that?)

My current favorite Noro yarn.  Cotton, silk and wool.  Still that annoying Noro random runs of thick-thin stuff, but it felt so soft and sweet that I was able to overlook it.

Oh - but wait.  I have a system for this.

Pattern:  Sunday Market Shawl  A VERY quick, easy, mindless pattern.  It did take a while to work back through all the dropped stitches, but it was worth it.  I was VERY worried when I ran out of yarn; it was just barely a rectangle, but the pattern - and all the Ravelry comments - said it would grow when blocked, and it sure did.  It makes a great summer evening shawl or a scarf.  I wore it Saturday night to an outdoor barbeque, and it was the perfect shoulder warmer on a rather cool evening.

Yarn:  Noro Taiyo.  Yum.  I haven’t seen a bad review of this yarn yet, price aside.  Even the lady at the yarn store had a little sticker shock, but since I found a one-skein pattern, I can’t fuss about the $23 for 200+ yards.  I was especially pleased that the above pattern allowed me to knit all but about 8 inches of the yarn!

Needles:  But of course, Bryspun #10s. 

I’ll add my photos taken yesterday on the deck later, to show the progression of the colors.  MJ’s photos of me wearing it inside don’t do it justice. 

Verdict:  I’d do it again, particularly for a quick gift.  I love dropped stitch patterns, for some reason. 

Where did the weekend go?  I had big plans for lots of knitting and blogging.  Wrong. 

Friday evening, Sissy was VERY groggy.  She came home in an e-collar at my request, but it wasn’t necessary.  She was too dopey to care.  That lasted until precisely 10pm, when the wild girl we know and love began to emerge from the fog.  She has been unstoppable since, but still hasn’t licked her incision.  We’re trying to keep her calm, I swear we are, but she just feels too good to be kept down.  She seems to know her limitations though, as I’ve seen her stop in mid stretch, so I guess we’ll let her do her thing, because attempts to restrain her only result in great resistance.

I do have an FO for you, but the photos are in MJ’s camera, which she left at home this morning, so maybe tomorrow.  It was a QUICK, easy knit with a lovely outcome, so I can hardly wait to tell all!

Instead, I’ll show you the Stardust that wasn’t.  That’s the back, all 7 inches of 2×2 ribbing and one full repeat of the lace pattern.  I kept looking at the rib, thinking “There’s no way that’ll fit my back,” but the gauge was only given for the lace, so I kept going.  I wasn’t even close.  (No, I didn’t swatch, but thanks for asking.  I tend to knit spot on or a little loosely, so I *knew* I’d be okay…)  That lace portion should have been more than 4″ deep, and I didn’t even have 3 inches worth there.  So, I frogged, swatched, and started over on #6s, and all is well.  I’m using the Classic Elite Premiere that I fell in love with at the yarn tasting on our retreat, and the only problem I have is that I have to stop every now and then to rub the swatch on my face, arm, or any other bare skin.  Did I say I didn’t like cotton?  I was wrong.  I love this stuff. 

Alana is having a blogversary contest.   Pop in and wish her well, and/or give her an idea on how to use that lovely Handmaiden Seasilk.

(That’s the desk the Knight and Uncle Bobby share in the background…)

Well, it’s done.  My ever-faithful model MJ is sporting the Butterfly Lace Stole, from the current Knit ‘n Style.  I love this photo of her.  She says her eyes are closed, but it’s just because she’s really smiling hard.  Photos of happy people make me happy!

Pattern:  This pattern is getting a bad rap on Ravelry.  I loved it.  It was as close to mindless lace as it gets.  I knitted on it at our retreat.  I hung my GypsyKnits bag on my left wrist and knitted on my feet while I played with Sissy and Mugsy in the yard.  I knitted at the S ‘n B.  I did 44 repeats, 3 fewer than the sample for the pattern, but I do believe it will fit its recipient perfectly, and she is 4 inches taller than MJ, with much longer arms.  On me - 5′3″ with fairly short arms - once blocked, it hit below my fingertips.  I think it will be the perfect lightweight wrap for my mother.  (Shhh!  I think it’s embedded enough that even if she does read my blog she won’t notice!) 

It also turned out to be a great lace project to learn how to fix otherwise frogthewholedangthing mistakes.  Thanks Grace for the coaching!  When I was showing the shawl to MJ, *I* couldn’t even find the fixed booboo.

Yarn:  My beloved Tofutsies, in colorway 847.  Yes, this yarn splits.  I found it split less with the bamboos than with the Bryspuns, but I’ll talk about that more in the needle section.  However, it’s machine wash and dry, which makes it great for gifts.  Tofutsies blocks well with just a steam iron, which is what I did this time.  I would have liked to wet block it, but it had to get in the mail. 

Needles:  I started with #6 Bryspun straights, my lace needle of choice.  Everything was going swimmingly until Sissy seriously chewed the tip on on one needle.   I can report that Pampered Chef Kitchen Shears will hack through Bryspuns, not that the average gal needs to know that.  I then used the remaining Bryspun for the knit/lace rows, and a wooden needle from Peace Fleece for the purl rows.  That system sucked, as the point on the wooden needles was too dull for the K3togs.  The Crystal Palace Bamboos I picked up in town were better.  The points were fine, but if I ever use these suckers again, the Knight will have to sand on them; there were a lot of invisible rough spots that grabbed constantly.  I did notice that the Tofutsies splitting was less of an issue with the bamboo though, so that’s something to consider.  I tested some more Tofutsies with Addi Bamboo dpns last night, and there was no splitting to speak of.  For me, matching the right needles with the yarn and pattern is another key to happy, pretty knitting.  That’s why you’ll see me use dpns, circs, straights, metal, whatever my Bryspuns are made of, bamboo and wood, in all kinds of combinations. 

Again, I really was pleased with this project, although stoles do seem to go on and on forever.  I don’t think I’d make it again, but that’s just because there are so many lace wraps and so little time.

I haven’t forgotten my tea blog along  post this week.  I’ve taken a couple of photos, and will likely blog tomorrow, since I forgot to bring my camera to work today.  Today’s a busy day.  We dropped Sissy off for her spaying this morning (should be complete by now… I’m sure the vet will call soon!), and Mugsy is in the office for a change, so that when we pick her up, he can get his annual shot(s).  Sissy’s also getting micro chipped while she’s under.  We didn’t chip either of the boys, but since we’re headed to the beach several times a year, it seemed like a good idea.  Needless to say, this will be a quiet weekend for us as we try to keep the wild woman calm!

Happy Dogs on Thursday!  As promised earlier this week, today’s post is all about our visit to cousin Sam’s on Saturday. 

The greeting session was as wild and loud as could be.   Sam - the dark blur with the red collar, belonging to my sister and her husband - wasn’t able to contain her excitement over visitors.  Mugsy just wanted to greet my sister, and Sissy thought it was all a bit much and wasn’t sure where to turn.  Mugsy and Sam shouted out hellos and how do you dos, and the humans just tried to stay out of the way.

The Prince zeroed in on the toys in Sam’s crate, and DEMANDED access to them repeatedly, to no avail.  (Never fear; he was taken into the family room with the humans to play fetch with his auntie while I knitted and the wild girls raced around the kitchen.)

Sissy and Sam played hard, for over an hour, and then I took both girls outside before we said our good-byes.  My sister reports that Sam slept quite a while, and our two did as well, because as soon as we got home, the Knight and I turned around and headed out to dinner. 

A good time was had by all.  Thanks for hosting romper room, Sis!

Not to be confused with the don’t peek post… 

I’ve found all kinds of goodies today.  The first three are from the Yarn Market e-newsletter. 

Socks for a cause.  (No great photo exists, or I’d have shared.  Honest.)  Yarn Market has a great kit with a limited edition yarn to support breast cancer.  Since this is also Pampered Chef’s Help Whip Cancer month and they’re pink, they caught my eye.  I’ll be ordering the kit, just because…

Next comes the Molly Messenger Bag by Della Q.  I’m in search of a bag that will allow me to slide a regular, unfolded pattern into a pocket without any real damage, and I’ve been thinking a messenger style would work best.   Anyone know anything about this bag, this company, or messenger-styled knitting bags?  Keep in mind that I don’t really do huge projects, but I do like lace wraps, so would I have to cram them in (as I do now with my large, sock project bags) or would they rest happily?  Would my needles be protected, because when I can, I like to do lace on straights.  Would it be easy enough to drop my project (including all yarn and needles) within, and drop the flap to discourage a certain, beautiful, bad dog from sampling said project/needles?

Now, I’m generally not a pre-order kind of girl, but given my new-found love of non-Kureyon Noro yarns, I’m beside myself.  Silk Garden Sock Yarn!  Gasp!  Swoon!  Does Tofutsies  have competition as my favorite sock yarn?  We’ll have to wait until AUGUST to find out.  The Panda Soy  comes out about the same time, so I might have to take a day or two off from work and just sit at home and whip out socks!  (I’m not joking.)

Then, there’s the  media hype over BPA and “plastic” bottles.  Nichole and I had been chatting about a zillion things (bentonite is both a grouting substance in water wells AND an anti-diaherral), and she introduced me to another must-have.  Camelbak always has great products, and I can’t wait to get mine!  For all of its bells and whistles, Lexie has crapola cup holders, so I need spillproof bottles, aside from toting my own green tea to work.  In Sissy’s honor, I’ll be ordering the purple and probably the bright blue, or maybe the pink (or all three).

Also, this can count as my Spring Fling Coffee and Yarn Swap week #5 free-form post.  As usual, my poor pal will likely get her package right on time or a day or two late.  I’ve had a blast shopping for her, and I have all the confidence in the world that I’ve made some great selections.  It’s been torture, remembering not to post here as the goodies arrive, so I’ll be sure to share a link to her blog when she receives her package.