Stitch Witch

I have been a horrendous, despicable witch, I know. I realize I haven’t posted since the 15th, but that will be changing. I promise. Just to let you know, it really is NOT you, and it really IS me! Dealing with some personal issues on the home front, dealing with some health issues, and trying to hold it all together.

That being said, on this another Black Friday, I am NO WHERE near any commercial center of consumerism and am instead holed up on the homestead. At least, in my absence, I have been doing yarny things which can account for at least part of the missing time frame. Here are some updates and new findings among my unfinished and finished stashes:

Several weeks back, I mentioned a handbag/purse/clutch that I had begun, using Nylon crochet cord. (see So Many Yarns, So Few Hands for the original pic) Here, we now have two completed sides, and I just need to decide on how I want to approach the lining. I think I want to line the envelope-flap and inside as one solid piece, and I will have to stitch by hand, because I do not want thread showing up on outside of the bag.

Since this bag is obviously (in my head) going to be an accessory for evening wear, I am not going to attempt to go for durability, however, I still want a lining and function that will hold up. SO, it’s taking some more thought. Using black Dupioni silk for the lining. Want sharp folds to be the only thing visible, so, I’m thinking I’ll secure all exposed edging with (get this…..)Stitch Witchery….or Heat N Bond tape….in my experience, the Stitch Witchery is better for delicate fabrics. Heat N Bond gets really stiff and doesn’t lend itself to as much movement.

So yeah…that’s the scoop so far on the handbag. Any suggestions for handle (long, short, braided, straight, fabric, cording……I’d love to hear your input!)

Also, earlier this month, you might remember the utter mindless spree I went on over at Michael’s. (Yarn Fix #5052). I decided to pair the pale sage-colored Bamboo yarn with a gorgeous Merino-sparkly blend that I got at JoAnn back during a clearance sale, and that Khaki Green Mode Dea stuff.

So, yeah, I wanted something quick, something knit, and decided to go with a scarf on some rambunctious size 5000 needles. 1 skein of the Bamboo got me through probably 30+ inches of a decent-length scarf, using the 3-strand combo. HOWEVER, now that I’ve got that much done, I’m really not feeling it with that Mode Dea. I do NOT like the color scheme in person. It kind of just looks gaudy, and a much paler shade of the Mode Dea would have been much better suited. SO, looks to me like I’m gonna rip it out and either do a two strand with a matching bamboo oversized beret, or who knows. The softness of the Bamboo yarn needs to be in scarf form! Something that scrumptious should be something one can cuddle in to on a very frigid day!

Next up….this is a fairly skinny, 70″ scarf that I did with another shade of that Mode Dea yarn. This is ‘yarn’ in the loosest sense, because when you see it up close, it looks more like someone painstakingly cut 1/16″ strips of interfacing and then took the time to sew delicate, shimmery fibers in straight lines through each strip, but also then took the time to bobble (for lack of a more educated term) more shiny fibers to give it tremendous texture. I love this shade so much more than the Khaki….it’s a cross between periwinkle/cornflower and a dusty blue. Much less purply than it appears here. However, once it’s put into a project, you don’t see the minute interfacing detail, and it just looks all scrunchy and fun…and it’s not scratchy, it feels good!

And NOW, you see the real source of my distraction. This little piece of feline perfection is only home when my husband comes home, so of course, I spend more time getting my skin flayed and taking pictures than I do writing. My bad!! Meet Jezebel. Attention-whore extraordinaire!

This lovely piece of gorgeous red/gold/purple suede was the beginnings of a neck warmer that I was making to wear to work last year, when I still worked in the coolers of the produce department. 40 degrees is good after a month of 90 degree weather, but on a daily basis, it just starts to chip away at one’s ability to ever be warm! However, now that I’ve pulled it back out again, I’m thinking I’m going to destruct and reconstruct this one in a row of 3 largish cables. This yarn lends itself to bulky designs, so cabling, here I come.

Now, for the PS de Resistawwwwnce-I present to you the progess as of yesterday during Thanksgiving Din-din on the Vogue pattern, also mentioned above (So Many Yarns, So Few Hands)

I’m up to about 50 rows thus far, and nearly on my 3rd skein of that Bernat Ebony Alpaca Blend. My opinion of this yarn…..it works up gorgeously, however, you must not be wearing anything that you don’t wish to turn into an Alpaca-adorned covering. Oh well, what’s one more animal hair here at the animal farm. I am dedicated to this one, no matter how many years it takes me, I WILL complete it!

Thusly, now I have concluded my total update inundation, and am in progress of preparing tomorrow’s post because I am no longer slacking off. Yarn IS my drug of choice, and thusly I should give it due praise on a daily basis!

Hope everyone had a lovely Turkey day, replete with all the gut-wrenching, taste-bud wooing favorites!