I didn’t post last week because I received an ipod touch and was very busy setting it up and finding out how it works. I’ve been wanting one for awhile and when I attended my school’s PTO fund raiser I was fortunate enough to win it along with $50 in ITunes cards. So I spent most of the week playing with it. it is absolutely terrific! With the help of the KnitList Group, I discovered several knitting applications that are very useful including the yarn calculator and row counter. I also discovered Podcasts. I’m am really enjoying these. So far, I listened to an episode of Cast On, Brown-eyed Mom, and KnitPicks. I’m planning on listening to the Knitmore Girls next. I’ve been listening to one on the drive home from work each day. It’s a wonderful transition between all the office nonsense and my knitting life. By the time I get home, I’m totally ready to begin my second day, Knitting, sewing, and all that it involves.I finally finished this Coffee Time Tote. This is the one that needed the hand sewing around the top edge. The exterior is made from a table runner that I found in the local discount curtain shop and the interior is fabric with different colored coffee and tea cups. I added a pocket to the inside and used the brown piping that was in my supplies. the handles are a black imitation leather and are hand sewn to the bag before it’s assembled. This is my favorite size tote bag. It measures about 8 inches wide, 8 inches high and 3 inches deep. I’ve sold several of this size tote and have fabric for several more. I try to make only one in each fabric combination, so they really are one of a kind. I also had some labels printed up and I sew them inside the pocket.

My knitting time has been spent working on several projects. I’m still finishing the baby sweater from my last post. Just have one more button band to go. Weaving in the ends has proven to be quite a project. I love the pattern in Encore as it’s really simple, but I doubt if I’d use the color spun again as it’s just to many ends when I change color.

I’ve also been working on several pinwheel dishcloths. More about those next time. I’ve made them about 6 inches wide and I’m really pleased with the results.

I had a first yesterday!. I visited two yarn stores and came home empty handed. I really can’t believe it. They didn’t have anything that interested me. One of the effects of this blog, is that I’ve become much more focused on the yarn that I buy. I pick out patterns before I go to the yarn shop and try to focus on what the yarn will become before I buy it. I’m determined not to just collect yarn but to buy beautiful yarn that I can enjoy and have something great to use when it’s knit.