And after felting for 3 hot cycles (2 agitation only, 1 full):
Scroll down for the "before" pics of the swatch.

Was I supposed to use some kind of special detergent for wool? Because I used just a touch of my regular stuff, and this swatch came out stinky. That was a few days ago, so hopefully the stench has waned. It wasn't so bad, you could only smell it when you got close, but that is definitely something I want to remedy before I gift the handbag. All I need to do now is find something to block on that is close enough to the size and shape I want--I figure it'll be easier to adjust the number of rows or stitches before I start than to find something to fit in the handbag perfectly after it's felted. We have company coming in to town to stay with us this weekend, so between the holiday and getting my habitat ready for outsiders, I really don't see myself getting started on this until next week, or even weekend. We will not talk about the poor neglected sock that has been tossed aside (I knew I shouldn't have started another project--I am a master of procrastination as it is).

Oh, and may I brag about my knight in shining armor? He recently informed me of some great overtime he's getting at work which, according to him, directly translates to more yarn! He so spoils me.

I went to Renaissance Yarns in downtown Kent today. I was happy to find that they had a much different variety of yarn than the other shop I go to. The woman that helped me was very friendly and made me feel very at ease, since she is a fairly new knitter as well. My very first experience in a specialty yarn store (as opposed to a general craft store, which is where I bought the materials to teach myself), once the woman found out I was a novice and had come in there without a pattern in mind for the yarn I was asking for, was Pretty Woman-esque (you know, when Julia Roberts goes to shop on Rodeo Drive but she's still in her "work" clothes? And the uppity shop ladies tell her, "I don't think we have anything that will fit you.") and I have since felt a little uncomfortable, overwhelmed, and unworthy when I cross the threshold of any yarn store without aisles. But not today. Today topped even my first trip to my other LYS. They have lots and lots of classes which look like fun, and they also had some Ella Rae Classic 100% wool in exactly the colors I've been imagining for a felted handbag. So I came home with this.






That's my test swatch for gauge and felting to see how much shrinkage I get. I've never done this before, so I'm excited to try it. The pink that I bought is truest in the first picture, but the second one better represents the cream and camel colors. I can't decide what kind of closure I want. I know I want hard handles, like the D-shaped bamboo ones. I think I want a button like this, but I'm not sure. I can't wait to get started! Hopefully this won't distract me too much from the socks.

Some progress on the sock: Over the weekend I managed to knit a heel flap, turn the heel, and decrease the gusset. Now all I have left is knitting around and around (with the top of the foot still in pattern *wink*) until it's time to decrease for the toe. The length of the leg turned out a little longer (at the request of the future wearer) than I had anticipated, so I may need another skein of this Trekking. Hopefully that will make it easier to start off in the same place, color-wise (the future wearer is also balking at the idea that the striping, while it may not match exactly, is still from the same ball of yarn and thus exactly the same color pattern...some people are so picky), while leaving me with enough left-overs to do another pair or two for my handsome nephews. Then again, maybe this one will be enough. I am really enjoying knitting this sock, but I am already getting bored with the plain stockinette. The only thing saving this project is the 3x1 rib on the top. It is just enough to break the monotony every round, while not being too challenging for my first pair. I guess I should look into working on more than one project at once.

On another note, I kind of got promoted at work and today was my first day on my new job. It is only 3 days a week--the other 2 days I will still be doing my old job. The situation is going to be great to combat boredom, and I think this new job is going to be a great fit for me and the way my mind works. Some jobs just aren't for everybody, but this one is definitely for me.

Hello again! Hopefully now that we're all moved in we can get back to some regular posting and trolling. I haven't even read any other blogs in weeks, so I have some catching up to do. I have had very little time for knitting, but as you can see from the pics I managed to move past my gauge swatch. I started these in a 2x2 rib for the cuff but really didn't like the idea of that for the whole leg (and I also wasn't crazy about plain 'ol stockinette for the foot), but since this is my first pair of socks I didn't want a difficult pattern. I decided on a 3x1 rib, mostly because I love the look (I think 4x1 and 5x1 ribs are elegant and beautifully masculine) and because the pattern will work out evenly (according to my stitch distribution on the needles) on the top of the foot while I turn the heel and shape the gusset. That way the top of the sock on the foot will still be patterned. At least I hope so...it all seems to be going off without a hitch so far, but this is the easy part. I haven't measured the sock so far, but I should only have a few more inches to go before I start the heel flap. I'm not using a standard pattern, but one of those pattern generators based on measurements, so wish me luck!