Camp Loopy - Project 2 - Ready, Set

Mt. Knitsalot calls again for the month of July during the second round of Camp Loopy.

The challenge is to knit 500+ yards into a very "popular" pattern that has "passed you by". The popularity is gauged by Ravelry and needs to be 1000+ projects either knit from or queued up to be knit from a particular pattern. I have chosed Hitchhiker by Martina Behm, one that I have said I am going to knit "one of these days". So now it is time.

I have chosen two skeins of Malabrigo Sock in Velvet Grapes to complete this project.

The yarn is wound, the pattern is printed, the needles found, and all are in my camp bag, pictured here. I am ready and set for the cast on time of July 1st.

Happy hiking and knitting to all my camp mates~!

Sewing - More Gift Zippys

These make great birthday gifts for folks you know marginally well. Not that I am saying anyone have to make gifts for all your "acquaintances" but sometimes it is fun to surprise folks with something homemade.

The patterns I am using are by Terry Atkinson and Valori Wells, respectively, the larger is the one called Monkey Business and the smaller is called the Little Wallet.

When the wallet is open it reveals three little card slide areas. I think this one is great to do when you are giving a gift card. Two gifts in one.

And it can be used to carry your gift cards, for someone who collects Starbucks cards or, like me, who have crafting store gift cards or the frequent buyer cards from the quilt or yarn shops.

I hope everyone is finding ways to entertain themselves this summer~!

Camp Loopy - Project One - Done

My first camp project is done and Little Loopy thinks it makes a great camp bed. I knit the Summer Wind pattern in a  skein of Fibernymph Bounce in the Scylla Beware colorway.

It turned out really light and soft. Hope the weather cools off enough to actually wear it in the summer.

Now it is on to project 2 which is 500+ yards knit into a popular pattern of your choice.

More on that later this month.

Walking Dog - Zippy Clutch

And to go along with the well-dressed pooch in SoCal, her master needed a dog walking zippy.

I had some fabric leftover from the matching scarf and bandanna set I made for them when they were here in Colorado, so I incorporated that into this project.

Note the dog brad I added for embellishment. I have wanted to try adding brads to fabric projects and I see that  it works so now I am gathering a collection of brads for future use.

So fun, says the mad scientist from her cutting table.

Glam Pup - Bandanas

While I was shopping for zombie and roses embroidery designs, I looked for a beach dog design and when I found this one I knew it was the perfect one to send to a friend in California for her precious Golden.

As you can see, she is getting quite an addition to her bandana wardrobe. And, from what I hear, she does ask to get dressed up each day for her walk. I think that is so cute.
Now, every time I see a cute fabric in a fat quarter I add it to the bandana making pile so she will have lots of choices of what to wear.

Nothing says SoCal like a well-dressed pooch.

Sewing - Zippy bags - Zombie and Roses

I have been practicing the sewing techniques that I have learned from the pattern by Terry Atkinson called Monkey Business. It makes the cutest little zippered bag with an expandable bottom I have ever seen.

The real fun is in picking out coordinating fabrics to build the next one and then adding an embellishment or two and a zipper pull. Each one I have made so far has found a home far and away as a gift or a requested item.

The two pictured here were for co-workers' birthdays this month. My mother helped with the creation by doing the embroider patterns that I managed to find. That idea just adds further interest and fun to these bags.

Since these have been gifted I have picked from my fabric leftovers some more color combos to make some more. These may show up on the Etsy shop before long as knitting notion keepers. Most may be without embroidery since I do not have the machine to do that part, but I may talk my mom into some more designs if she has the time. 

Project Bags for Etsy

I completed some other bags that are destined to be for sale on my Etsy site starting this coming week.

My first test bag (the one in orange) is the smaller one and will be great for a sock knitting bag. The other two are larger and will be great for a bag to take your "vanilla" project to your knitting group, along with room for your wallet, keys, cell phone, and even your iPad.

All three bags will be in my Etsy shop before Wednesday. Look for them there.

Happy Knitting!