FO conversion 2KCBWDAY4

This is the day 4 post of the 2nd annual Knit and Crochet Blog week. I can't believe I found material for another topic. Today's topic is "whatever happened to..."

Last year, I knitted this dress. For some reason, I just wasn't happy enough with it to wear it that often, and it was the top half that I didn't like. One thing I didn't like about it was that the neckline was too high a V, mainly because my crochet edging was too tight. I also just didn't like the way it fit, but I don't know exactly why, except that I think it made me look too top heavy. I really like the skirt section, so I decided to convert it to a skirt.

I did not bother with taking it apart and ripping back the stitches because I just don't have the patience for that sort of thing, and the yarn is way too sticky to rip. Instead, I just took some scissors and cut it apart. I used the sewing machine and zig-zag stitches to keep the knit stitches together, and then sewed on a bias facing and encased an elastic for the waist. And voila! I have a skirt that I'm much happier with.

Organization 2KCBWDAY3

This post is the day 3 post for the 2nd annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week. The topic is yarn organization. I didn't have enough energy and/or material to write anything about the first two topics, but I figured I could muster up some photos for this topic. I'm not that organized myself, but I admit that it's fun getting a glimpse at how everyone else does it.

First off, the biggest space hog is the yarn itself. Compared to other yarn enthusiasts, my stash is relatively small. We updated all our bedroom furniture a couple of years ago, so I kept this one chest of drawers and moved it into my office-room for stash storage. There's quite a bit of available space because the drawers aren't that full. I use the wide bottom drawer and one of the middle small drawers for various supplies like buttons, tape mesaures, and such.

My long straight needles just sit in a tall vase, and I use a binder with these zippered envelopes for circular needles.

These cases contain miscellaneous things like stitch markers, cable holders, a set of crochet hooks, etc.

Here are 3 of my favorite project bags. I knitted and felted the two on the left, and the floral one is a Kate Spade bag that I picked up at a thrift shop for the amazing price of 10 bucks.

A lot of times, I can just carry along what I'm knitting in my purse. In that case, I put it into one of the many cloth shoe bags that come with shoes. I never use them to store uses, but I find them useful just as little bags.

WIPs

I've been knitting the same two sweaters for what seems like for-evah. I'm not sure why progress seems so slow. It might be because I've had a little less knitting time lately. I'd like to cast on for something in cotton or linen for warmer weather, but I will persevere and finish at least one of these first. After all, my blog's name is "Binding Off", and I'm all about binding off and finishing things.

First off is Leaving from Twist Collective Winter 2010. I'm doing the pullover version, and I've finished the back and am doing the front. The yarn is Valley Yarns Northfield hand-dyed. The pattern is not difficult but it is not mindless either, which might be why it has taken me awhile. I'm hoping I will finish it before the weather gets too warm.

The second WIP is Nespelem, from Norah Gaughan vol. 8. The yarn is Louisa Harding Grace Silk&Wool, which I purchased from WEBS at the recent Stitches West. This is a straightforward cardigan, but the collar is what makes it really interesting. I should be able to wear this in spring.