What's in the bag...

That's the question on my mind every time I see another knitter's bag. I just know there are all kinds of goodies and treasure lurking inside. The problem is that they're always busy knitting and I don't want to interrupt their project so I never ask.

Just in case you were wondering what is in my "newbie" bag, I thought I'd share!

First, I found a tote bag with a shoulder strap AND handles. That enables me to choose how I carry the bag and helps when I have my hands full. (My knitting inspiration has a new, neat bag with her name embroidered on it. It's beautiful, but I don't have the funds or the need for a new bag. Like most people I seem to accumulate tote bags from various business functions.) This one has a separate zippered pocket on the front that is perfect to carry my trusty scissors and crochet hooks in.

Here's a complete list of my treasures found inside:

• The Knitter's Companion - expanded and updated by Vicki Square. This is my companion when all else fails. Read more about this book in my Book Reviews post.
• An assortment of needles - US 6/4mm (slippery little metal suckers found at Kmart on clearance for $1.00), US 10/6mm (my first - plastic and extra long), US 13/9mm and US 17/12mm (these are the plastic swirl ones, found at AC Moore on clearance for $2.00 per set)
• Crochet hooks - D3/3.25mm, E4/3.50mm, F5/3.75mm, G6/4.25mm, H8/5.00mm, I9/5.50mm, J10/6.00mm, K10 1/2/6.50mm (these came in a pre-packaged set and are good basics to have around for edges)
• 2 large and 2 medium holding hooks - these are wonderful when you've dropped a stitch and choose to go back and pick it up.
• A finger yarn separator - for when I finally get up the nerve to use multiple yarns
• Plastic place markers - again, if I have enough nerve to try a difficult pattern...
• Various patterns collected from displays and yarn labels
• A small pair of sharp scissors
• Some scrap cardboard - for rolling balls of yarn
• An ink pen - I may need it for those more difficult patterns
• An empty, plastic shopping bag - if I carry a lot of yarn I separate it so I can pull it out easily to find what I need. It's also good to put finished works in until I get home.
• Lastly, a crochet booklet - Don't shoot me, but it's on my list to learn. Besides, I have all of those neat hooks just hanging around waiting to be used!

Here's a close-up:

Going over my bag I realize that there are a few things that I'd like to add: a nail file (it's recommended in the book, but I've never needed one until last night), a small note pad (for counting stitches) and maybe some graphing paper (it's be nice, in case I have trouble following a complicated pattern).

If you're just starting a bag I'd recommend searching for the clearance sections of each craft store, thrift shops or yard sales. You can spend over $15 for a new set of needles and many times you can find them for a few dollars there. Also, look for gadgets and gizmos while you're there. As in my case, I don't need them now, but hopefully I'll need them in the coming year. Including my books I may have $20 in my bag and that's a price you can't beat!

My second project...

After completing my original shawl (but before the decision to unravel that mess) I attempted something smaller. I decided that my goal would be to try something new with every new project. I continued with the same stitch, garter, as I still wasn't 100% comfortable with how I was holding the needles, the tension, etc...

My son had been watching me avidly with my first project and had inquired about something for himself. Hence, I decided on something useful and manly. This is what I arrived at...





The colors don't come through well on the photo, so I'll describe it for you. I picked Leaf Green (Moss) from Premiers' Dream line for the main body because green is my son's favorite color. The dark color is Dark Country Blue and the other accent color is Off White (cream) both from Carons' Simply Soft line. My thoughts were on some of the sweaters I've seen recently when picking these out. Additionally, green, navy and cream go with everything.

The design was my own. I couldn't find a pattern that I liked so I made one up as I went along. I simply alternated colors, always surrounding the blue with cream, as if to offset it or highlight the change. I liked the thought of a random pattern so I chose to offset the large color change and finish with a more traditional look.

I learned three valuable lessons with this scarf -

• When you attempt a color change, always bind-on on the same side or right side. (Binding-on is tying on a new color at the edge.) If you don't you'll end up with a noticeable separation in your change. That ended up being fine with this scarf, as I was deliberately alternating colors in a mismatched way. My error turned out to work in the scheme!

• Gauging is a good idea! I can't stand rigidity. I rebuked the idea that I should waste time making a sample and gauging my work. Even though I was working with the same weight of yarn (4) in each color, I ended up with a noticeable wave when changing colors and from start to finish on the scarf there is a difference of about 2 inches width wise. I believe that part of the problem was my tension and the other part is that there truly is a small difference in the color. (The blue was slightly thicker, because I tightened my blue stitches until I could hardly work the needles and it was still a fatter stitch than the green woven loosely.)

The wave that you see here in the center is really part of my error, not the way the scarf is laying. I think you can also see the width difference - the start is on the left and the end on the right.

• Finally, don't waste time pulling your tail ends through with a knitting needle. (Pulling tail ends is when you weave the tail from your cast or bind-on into the finished project.) You CAN do it with needles, but you save half the time by purchasing a set of crochet hooks and hook the tail. Trust me. I'm cheap and didn't buy any. After this project I couldn't get to the craft store fast enough to pick them up!

Anyway, the great thing is that my son doesn't mind at all. He says "Mom, it's fine. No one can tell when it's wrapped around my neck. Anyway, you made it." Tear, tear, sniffle...sometimes kids are great!