I'm in a yarn shop!

I haven't disappeared. I'm just in baseball/school's out/working part time/summer mode.  So in other words, don't expect to hear from me too much.  But on the plus side, I tend to come up with new patterns in the summer, so please don't disappear from the Backyarn!

I just wanted to make a quick post about a new yarn shop in Westport, MA called Sisters of the Wool.  Fantastic little shop with very friendly staff.  Oh, and they have a little something there you might recognize!
Find and friend them on Facebook!

Keeping up with the season

It snowed for the first time. Not too much, but enough to have some frosty fun.

When we came in, I made hot chocolate and put the guys to work. We made our traditional Cranberry Bread. And we've been trying to get the "perfect shot" for our Christmas Cards. How do you think that's going?I guess I don't have to tell you which of the kidsters likes to ham it up for the camera.

The "way huger than that" bag was gifted this weekend and I'm happy to report that the recipient loved it. She's even texted me since about it, so I know it was a hit.

And I finished up another pair of slippers for my sister-in-law's gift. I hope to felt them later today and get pictures soon!

Braided Cable Handle Tote A Free Pattern!

Also available as a free Ravelry download.

An easy tote with braided cables that continue into the handles.
A perfect first cable or felting project.
Available in three sizes!

Finished Sizes:
Large: 13” wide x 9-1/2” high x 3” deep. Handle height is 10-1/2” from top of bag to shoulder.
Regular: 12” wide x 8-1/2” high x 2” deep. Handle height is 10” from top of bag to shoulder.
Mini: 11” wide x 7-1/2” high x 1-1/2” deep. Handle height is 9” from top of bag to shoulder.

Skill Level:
Advanced beginner
Gauge:
Not extremely important. This will be felted.
Yarn: about 450 yards of worsted weight feltable wool
as pictured: Patons Classic Wool in Sage, Black, Natural Mix
Materials:
US 8 (5 mm) circular needle, 24" or 36" in length
US 8 (5 mm) double pointed needles
Cable needle
Markers in two colors
Stitches/abbreviations:
cn cable needle
dpn(s) double pointed needle(s)
k knit
p purl
sts stitches

Cable Abbreviations:
CF: Slip 4(3, 2) sts onto cn and hold in front. Knit 4(3, 2) sts, then knit 4(3, 2) sts from cn.
CB: Slip 4(3, 2) sts onto cn and hold in back. Knit 4(3, 2) sts, then knit 4(3, 2) sts from cn.

Pattern is written for Large(Regular, Mini) and worked with one strand of yarn.

Bag Base
Cast on 72(64, 56) sts.
Working in rows, knit in garter for 32(28, 20) rows.
At end of last row, do not turn.
Place marker, pick up and knit 16(14, 10) sts, place marker, pick up and knit 72(64, 56) sts, pick up and knit 16(14, 10) sts, place beginning of round marker. You now have 176(156, 132) sts. Markers are located at bag corners for reference.

Bag Body
Note: You may have to use dpn’s for a few rounds until you have enough room for the circular needle.
Round 1: *k4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k4, pass marker, k16(14, 10), pass marker. Repeat from * for other side.
Rounds 2-4: Repeat round 1

Begin knitting in Bag Cable Pattern.

Bag Cable Pattern:

Round 1: *k4, p2, CF, k4(3, 2), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k4(3, 2), CB, p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for other side.
Round 2: *k4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for other side.
Round 3: repeat row 2.
Round 4: repeat row 2.
Round 5: *k4, p2, k4(3, 2), CB, p2, k32(30, 28), p2, CF, k4(3, 2), p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for other side.
Round 6: *k4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for other side.
Round 7: repeat row 6.
Round 8: repeat row 6.

Knit Bag Cable Pattern for a total of 8 (7, 6) times.

Handle set-up rounds: (garter stitch rounds)
Round 1: *p4, p2, CF, k4(3, 2), p2, p32(30, 28), p2, k4(3, 2), CB, p2, p4, p16(14, 10). Repeat from * for other side.
Round 2: Repeat round 2 of cable pattern above.
Round 3: *p4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, p32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, p4, p16(14, 10). Repeat from * for other side.

Bind off, removing markers as you go, as follows:
Round 4: Bind off stitches until you get to the two purl stitches of the cable pattern.
*Bind off first purl stitch, purl one stitch, knit across the cable, purl one stitch. Keep the live stitches on the needle and continue to bind off until you get to the purl stitches of the next cable pattern. Repeat from * until you have bound off all stitches. Cut yarn and pull through last stitch. Each handle should have 14(11, 8) stitches; your cable stitches and one purl stitch on either side.

You now have four handles on one circular needle.
Mark the first handle by placing a permanent stitch marker somewhere at the beginning of the handle below where you are working. This is for visual reference, so you know which one is handle 1.

I strongly suggest that you take a moment to wind your remaining yarn into four fairly equal balls. This is extremely important if you are making the large bag, as you will be knitting to the end of your yarn! It is very helpful for all of the sizes so that you can work on all four handles at the same time. That way you will be sure they are all the same size. I used four zipper bags and thread my yarn through a snipped corner to keep everything from getting tangled. They fit nicely inside the bag too!

From now on you will be working in rows.

Finish this cable repeat as follows:
Row 5: [handle 1] attach new yarn, p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1
[handle 2] attach new yarn, p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1
[handle 3] attach new yarn, p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1
[handle 4] attach new yarn, p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1
Row 6: k1, p12(9, 6), k1 for all handles
Row 7: p1, k12(9, 6), p1 for all handles
Row 8: repeat row 6

Continue knitting the Handle Cable Pattern, remembering to change yarn with each handle.

Handle Cable Pattern:
Row 1: [handle 1] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1
[handle 2] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1
[handle 3] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1
[handle 4] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1
Row 2: k1, p12(9, 6), k1
Row 3: p1, k12(9, 6), p1
Row 4: repeat row 2.
Row 5: [handle 1] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1
[handle 2] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1
[handle 3] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1
[handle 4] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1
Row 6: k1, p12(9, 6), k1 for all handles
Row 7: p1, k12(9, 6), p1 for all handles
Row 8: repeat row 6

Knit 9(8, 7) full cable repeats, not including the handle set-up round, or to your desired length (or until you are about to run out of yarn!).

Finishing
Row 1: p1, k12(9, 6), p1
Row 2: k1, p12(9, 6), k1
Repeat rows 1& 2 once.
Move handles 3&4 to another circular needle or holder.
Working with handles 1 and 2, make sure straps are not twisted. Kitchener stitch together.
Repeat for handles 3 and 4.
Weave in ends.

Felt carefully, checking often! Tug and pull out the braid sections in the handles and bag and check to make sure the handles have not felted themselves into a tube.
Block with an appropriate sized book wrapped in a plastic bag.

There are lots of felting tutorials out in cyberspace. If you still have questions or prefer one-on-one help feel free to comment, e-mail me, or contact me through Ravelry.

Post your pictures! If you are not on Ravelry, e-mail me a picture or send a link to your bag. I’d love to see it!

Cable charts are included in the Ravelry download. Contact me if you want them but are not a member of Ravelry.

Enjoy!

Braided Cable Handle Tote

by Amybelbags
amybelbags@gmail.com

This pattern is offered for personal use only. The pattern, photos, and products made from this pattern are not to be used or sold for personal monetary gain without the written consent of the designer. Do not copy, cut, or paste this pattern. Links back to this pattern are always welcomed.

Delivered!

Last night was ladies night again. After two weeks of in-laws away and Hubster busy on the weekends it was nice to get away for a few hours. But I digress!

I finished up the sized-to-order purses and brought them to the ladies. After making five of these I think I am finally ready to take all my notes and scribbles and write out the pattern! It is my next major undertaking, I promise. Well, that and getting rid of the baby gear, getting a dresser in kidster #2's bedroom, painting the kitchen...ok, ok!

Here are my latest cable bags. In "medium" and "small". And here are all three sizes!

Two new projects

Right now you are looking around befuddled. It looks like the same blog. Yup, picket fence, green grass, but how could that be? Did she just say "two new projects"?

Yes, your ever faithful monogamous knitter is doing a little two timing. On purpose.


See, the last time I went to ladies night, I brought my sage cabled purse to show off. Well, my two girlfriends just loved it and wanted their own. And they weren't just doing me lip service either, since Pat practically pulled out money right there and then. Plus, she had already said that she wanted a summer color bag. The other one I had made for her was her winter bag. So, I am adjusting the pattern ever so slightly, and trying to work on them "at the same time". I can't really show up to our next gathering with one done and the other one not, can I?

The blue one is much further along and the sit-down-at-night-keeping-track-of-your-cable-row project. (Yes, that's the cable needle necklace I won. More on that next post, I promise!) The tan one is the outside-in-the-backyard-while-kidsters-play project. It tends to get put down a lot. I'm lucky if I can finish a row before I am needed to attend to bug catching, swing pushing, hole digging, or other boyish adventure. So it may end up that one gets done before the other one anyway.I haven't told the blue one about the tan one, or vice versa. I wouldn't want either one of them to feel slighted. Wish me luck!

I made it into KPC!

So I'm having a great day even though is it the second day of flat-out rain. I don't even care that the kidsters are climbing the walls and each other (and occasionally me). My Around About made it into the Knitting Pattern Central free patterns list for bags & purses! I feel like I have "arrived"! Oh, and have I mentioned that it's on Ravelry and I'm considered a designer now? Oh yeah, you say, about ten times already. Sorry.

But I shall not be a one hit wonder! I am feverishly working on the next item and pattern, the sage cabled purse. Well, as feverishly as possible for me anyway. I think I only did two rounds last night, which is two more than I would have expected on "Survivor" night. Usually the knitting just sits in my lap and keeps me warm. But the challenges were long and I wasn't on a cable crossing row, so I squeaked it out. Tonight there will be zero knitting. And I'm ok with that, since it's Ladies Night! Woo Hoo!