Handy Dandy Project Bag

Kristin was home last weekend for midterm break.  It was her first time back this semester.  Her experience at her new university is totally different than her first semester at the other school.  She is involved in a lot of activities, isn't stressing as much about her classes and, like a typical college kid, doesn't call home much.  It was nice to have her home.  She sent me a of meals to cook for her.  I fulfilled her request except for one dish.  I substituted something I had been wanting to try.  I had this pasta dish at a local restaurant and wanted to try to recreate it.  If I say so myself, it was a huge hit.  It made a lot, so I think I'll cut the recipe in half next time.

Sunday afternoon we took a family drive and took her back to school.  With an hour of sitting in the car, I figured I'd work on my current prayer shawl.   I think I added about 8 inches to it during the ride.

Before leaving I grabbed this bag to stow the yarn in the car.  It turned out to be quite a handy project bag.  The bag is from a pair of shoes I recently bought.  Puma is using these bags instead of shoe boxes.  I think it was a great idea.  The only problem I see is that if all the shoe companies do that, school kids will have trouble finding boxes for their dioramas.

I started working on a blanket for my personal trainer.  He is getting married in June.  This should be a quick knit on US 11 needles.  It is my watching TV project.  It will quickly become too large to transport anywhere.

I knit up a little of my homespun.  It works out to about 4 1/2 stitches per inch on US 7 needles.  I have about 320 yards.  Not sure what I'm going to make out of it yet.  I wish I had more because I would make this vest from the latest Knitty.  In the photo below, I knit the bottom section on US 7s and the top on US 8s.  I like the density of the bottom.  The top is just a bit too loose for me.

Here's my latest spinning.  It is a ball of red/black/white roving I got from a LYS.  I think there is about 8 ounces.  It is coarser than the wool I spun first.  I am see that it is less prone to breaking while I spin it, but it is harder to draft.  I hope it softens up after it is plied and takes a swim with some baby shampoo.

The weathermen are saying it is going to reach 50 deg F today.  Time to sign off now and take a long walk outside and get some Vitamin D.  My doctor tells me that I am deficient, so I better follow her orders.