Two fun things:

I finished the Weekend Travel Bag! 

I even took it with me this weekend, for a short out of town trip. I think it is perfect! Now, the sewing, um isn't perfect, but I love it. This was a lot of work. So much fabric to cut and sew, I swear you have to sew every piece of fabric like 4 times. But I do also think the end result was worth the work.

I used an Amy Butler print for the outside and a solid brown for the trim. The inside is lined in a light pink. I spent the extra money for the Timtex interfacing, and I think it made all the difference. Sure it was $9 a yard but nothing else compared to it stand up ability. If you plan on making this bag it is worth it to splurge. Make sure to read the pattern over a few times, the only thing I found confusing was she tends to state the same thing twice. That and the fact that the bottom of the bag had to be trim, those were my only issues with this project. I would make another, I would just need to clear my schedule for about a week!

The other fun thing is:

I have been blogging on this here internet for two years! Wow. I never thought when I starting on blogger 2 years ago that I would still be around. Even though the internet bores me sometimes, I'm not leaving, where would I get all my sock inspiration. Yep, it's all about the socks! 

Even though every post around here is about socks, I thought I would throw in one more. 

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

   I learned how to knit socks from Alison's ankle sock pattern. My first socks were also my first short row heel, the yo variety. I knit these out of some knit picks yarn I dyed with kool aid. These were my first and last pair of socks with a short row toe, I never want to graft that many stitches again.

What was your first pair?  How have they "held up" over time?
   

 Well, they have held up fine, besides the fact that I felted them. One day I threw them in the washer, I guess I forgot they weren't superwash. I only knit with superwash sock yarn now.

What would you have done differently?

   Well besides not felting them, I would have knit them at a tighter gauge. I think I knit these on 3. These days I prefer 2mm needles. Now if only I could find 2.25mm needles:) I still love these socks, I will always keep them around, because I remember when I was knitting them how the whole wide world of sock knitting clicked. And I have been hooked ever since.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

    Koigu, Yarn Pirate, Louet, Str. Varagated, stripes, solids. Especially the hand dyed.... I think sock yarn is my favorite thing to buy. 

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

    Knit only. I don't mind dpn's, I just love knitting both socks at the same time magic loop style. When you are done, you done with both. Then you can start a new pair! I have never used 2 cirs, too many needle points for me! 

Which kind of heel do you prefer?  (flap? or short-row?)

    Um, well I have only knit a heel flap once. I think my love for short row heels is well know. For me what I like about the short row heel is that it doesn't  break up my knitting. It seems like the process flows easier that way. This is not to say I will not knit a heel flap, actually I plan on knitting them all the time when I start  pair of socks, but then opps, I knit another short row heel. I would like to learn is a heel flap from the toe up, will I use it?Not sure!

How many pairs have you made?

    21 pairs in total, 3 of which which were gifts and 2 pairs were samples knit for Allison's store.  Out of those 21 pairs, 15 have been completed this year. Right now I have 2 pairs on the needles. I think my goal for the year is 20 pairs, let's see if i can do it! 

I have been working hard, sewing like a crazy woman to offer this:

My handmade knitting pouches for sale at pureknits!

Perfect for carrying around your favorite sock project. Big enough to hold two full skeins of sock yarn and your needles. This shape has been a favorite of mine for sometime, and after a lot of tweaking and such, I finally think they are perfect. Each one has a handle and elastic loops on the inside to hold you needles and scissors. I carry one in my purse every day, so I always have my socks with me.

I am just thrilled to share them and I am so happy Yahaira wanted to carry them in her store.  At some point I will be selling here in my own little shop as well.  Tomorrow, more sock knitting....

 October already seems to be a busy month. On top of my work deadlines, I have set a few for myself as well. It is starting to feel fallish and I want to be curled up inside with my knitting, my puppy and my fully healed husband. Yep, the cast is off, he is no longer broken, his ankle is a little weak but happy to be out!

Goals: 

1. Finish my Rosie kneehighs for Socktoberfest.

I still have a long way to go. But I am making progress!

I think I like how the colors knit up on the inside the best, is that weird? 

2. Make the Weekender Bag, from Amy Butler.

I want to have this done because at the end of them month I am taking a little plane ride to Colorado to visit Allison! I need to look stylish for my trip, and I think this bag is just amazing! I got started last night, but it looks I have a long road ahead of me.

3. But all these things are kinda on the back burner because I will be knitting a sample for Stefaine aka Ms. Glampyre. I am  just waiting for my yarn to arive, then the knitting will begin. So no pictures yet, but I will be posting little sneak peaks over the course of this month. She asked me for some help knitting up a new pattern, and I am just so excited. The pattern is great, I know everyone is going to love it, just like everything else she designs.

So the question is can I get all this done? Probably not, but maybe. The sweater is priority number one, than the bag so I may not finish the socks, but that's ok. I love seeing all the sock posts out there right now! I actually have a little something plan for Socktoberfest as well so stay tuned.