Well, here it is with the straps attached. I think the straps are a bit too long, but it is afterall, a tote. I plan to use this as my knitting bag for my trip to southern California tomorrow, to be with Kristen for her oncology appointment. I plan to take yarn for some socks (just bought some new patterns today) and also the other felted bag I just started last night. No pics to show of that yet, as I am still using the waste yarn.

Here is the bag after felting. It now measures about 15" high by 18" wide, when standing. The straps are felting now. I put the bag in a zippered pillow cover because it is supposed to help keep the lint from collecting in the hoses and blocking things. I am quite please with the process and was much easier than I thought it would be. In fact, in started another bag, more like a purse.

I finished the knitting of my large tote and straps tonight. Sure is BIG!!!! It measures 24x24 and the straps are 43". This is my first attempt at felting......

Down the road again....

.....of cancer treatments. Kristen, my oldest daughter, is facing a recurrence of her cancer. She was originally diagnosed with Hodgkins on March 11, 2003. After several chemo treatments, loss of her spleen, several hospital stays, two bone marrow transplants, a seizure and coma, she was deemed clear of cancer. A mere 3 months ago, March 11, 2006, we celebrated her one year anniversary being cancer-free. A phone call to her oncologist resulted in being told to bring in the family for her appointment on the 30th. Plane reservations have been made to be with her during this declaration. What a shock. This is the third time that the cancer has reappeared, with this last year being the longest time between treatments. How I hate that Kristen has to go through this once again. Kristen was enjoying being a single mom, going to college and reclaiming her life. Now, I live 1200 miles away and am not there for my daughter during this time. Although I will see her in a week, I need to be there, for her and myself, now.

This morning I finished the bottom of the felted tote. Now, I have the tedious task of weaving in all the loose ends from the color changes. There are almost 50 ends to weave....this could be an all day task!!! The knitting is going quickly, as it is knit with size 13 needles, so hopefully later today I will have half the sides done. I will have to go to my LYS to pick up some more of the main color. I ordered the pattern and yarn online together, and I would have thought they would have included enough to make this, as they sold the yarn as a kit. I only received 1 skein instead of the 2+ that I need. I know my LYS carries this yarn, but I have to drive 1/2 each way just to get it :( Well, I won't need it today, so I can knit till I do!!

These are the yarns for my current project. The yarn is Cascade 220. I am making Maggie's Felt Tote by Fiber Trends. I finally got to use my new Spinner and wool winder for the skeins. Well, I got to do 1 of them. Kyle, my youngest son, came in while I was spinning the yarn, and thought it was the neatest thing. He wanted to do one....then another.....then all 5 were done. It was so much easier to do that than winding a ball by hand. I can't wait to start another project that I have to wind. Maybe I will get to do it myself!!!!

Well, here it is. A complete sock, to pattern and it fits!!! Despite all of my dog Buddy's attempts at knitting this himself! As many of you may know, I have found my sock strewn all over the backyard....along with my expensive Addi needles, a couple different times. However, I needed more than the one skein for this sock. I want to blame it on Buddy and the loss of yarn every time he found my knitting basket....I have to admit that it is more the fact that I have a very large foot!! Hate to admit it, but the truth is nestled inside the sock :) It is knit on 2 circular, size 2 needles. The yarn is Merino 2000. It is a nice heavier weight sock that feels very nice on my foot. I have decided to wait to do the 2nd one, as I have been knitting on size 2 needles for the past 3 months (or more) and my hands are tired of the small size. This is to to be confused as being a SSS (Second Sock Syndrome).....no, no.....my fingers/hands need a break ;) Plus, I am trying to be on a yarn diet, and in order to finish the 2nd sock, I need to get more yarn. This will just have to wait!