Everything Deserves a Cozy

I just recently purchased a 10 1/2" laptop.  It will not replace my "work horse" laptop, but for Internet surfing, blogging, travel, etc., it will work great.  Also if my husband is on the computer, then I can also play on a computer.

Since it is a smaller laptop, I did not feel the need to buy a bag for it.  Instead with my knitting needles and some yarn from my stash, my new mini laptop is hugged by a cozy...because everything deserves a cozy.

Here is the pattern:

"10 1/2" Laptop Hug"

 

Materials:

1 Skein Caron Simply Soft Country Blue

1 Skein Caron Simply Soft Dark Country Blue

1 Skein Lion Brand Homespun Meadow

1 Skein Peaches and Creme Black

Size 13 Straight Knitting Needles

6 Stitch Markers

Yarn Needle

Cable Needle

N-9.00mm Crochet Hook

Directions:

Holding all four yarns together cast on 22 stitches. (You will knit will all four yarns together for the entire piece.)

Row 1:  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 2, add stitch marker.  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 6, add stitch marker.  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 2, add stitch marker.  Knit 3.

Row 2:  (cable row)  Knit 8.  Transfer 3 stitches to the cable needle and bring to front.  Knit the next three stitches.  Knit the three stitches on the cable needle.  Knit 8.

Row 3:  Knit 3.  Purl 2.  Knit 3.  Purl 6.  Knit 3.  Purl 2.  Knit 3.

Row 4:  Knit across.

Row 5:  Repeat row 3.

Repeat row 2 to row 5, until it measures the length of the laptop times 2.  (mine is about 23 inches)

Bind off.

Finishing:
Fold in half with the purl side facing out.  Sew together long sides, leaving short side open.  Turn Cable side out.

Loop for button...With crochet hook, leaving a 8" tail make a slip stitch and chain 14 bind off, leaving another 8" tail..  Tie the tails together to form a circle.  Attach to backside, in the middle of the upper edge, by pulling tails thru from the front to the inside 2 stitches apart tie together.  Sew button on the other side of cozy. Ta Da your done.

If you have any questions or notice any problems with this pattern, please let me know.

Doubled

Being Focused.

The triangle scarf has doubled in size.  Which doesn't mean that it is closed to finished by any means, but it is starting to take shape.  I am finding quiet in the focus it takes to knit.  More important, I am finding joy in creating it, which is one of the biggest reasons why I craft (besides not being able to just sit still).

Challenges this project is giving me?  The edges are rolling up, and I have tried what all the books say to prevent this problem.  I am hoping that once I block the project when I am finished, that it will solve this problem...but I am not very optimistic.

What is going well?  The design.  The whole design is just "knit on the fly".  No pattern.  This is giving me freedom to just knit and not have to worry about whether I am following something correctly.

Forever

What was I thinking??  While browsing the local fiber store, a while ago, the owner was opening up boxes of new inventory.  I couldn't resist, I love watching boxes being open.  A new sock yarn emerged, Online SuperSocke self patterning yarn.  With such beautiful colors, nice texture and durability, I immediately started picking a skein I liked.  The price tag...about $20...ouch!  Did that matter at the time though, not really. 

This skein of yarn sat, unattended for months.  I thought about making a pair of socks with it, but a $20 pair of socks??  Plus, I haven't knitted socks before and find them a little intimidating.  So fingerless gloves came to mind next, but I couldn't find a pattern that called for the weight of this yarn.  My brilliant idea...a triangle scarf and I would make it as big as the skein allowed.  Simple and easy.

What was I thinking??  Although I am loving the colors and the way it is looking so far, this project is going to take me forever.  It only keeps my attention for a short time (knitting is like that for me), the needles I have to use to make the self patterning yarn do its job are so small which means the rows are very short and well I am just not that fast of a knitter.  To say this is a challenge for me is an understatement.  My commitment to this project is 100% though and if it takes me years to get this done, oh well, all I have is time right?


Picture:  Start of the Triangle Scarf.  Would you believe I have been working on this, on and off, for a couple months?

It's 25 degrees out there

Last weekend I ventured out of the house and milled around downtown. This happens to be a dangerous thing for me to do. I found myself in the locally owned yarn and fiber shop, in a sea of yarn of all colors, textures, and thickness. I had to hold myself back from buying one of every skein. At one point I actually had 10 different skeins in my arms, but in the end settled on just two...

The yarn on the left is what is left of the skein. I started on a project with that yarn as soon as I was home and my shoes were off. Here is the finished project, a combo knitting/crochet scarfett. I think I will make it longer or at least put some fringe on it, but until then I will wear it like it is.

I am not sure what I will make with the multi colored yarn, but it has to be something extra special. That yarn is handspun and hand dyed, and a little on the pricey side, but hey it is beautiful. Any suggestions of what I should make with it?

I Survived!!!!!

I have officially survived my first tax season, working at the accounting agency!! Oh big deal you may say...but there were days I did not think I would make it. Stress makes people crazy! I have learned though, I am not a stressful person. And in this world of accounting, it helps not to be just another crazy log on the fire.

Here are some goodies from this last week...

Finger food...This is a grilled ham and cheese biscuit sandwich.













Because everything deserves their own sweater...I hand knit a cozy for my external hard-drive.














And my new favorite dish, Bob's Red Mill Vegi Soup. Add carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, onion and spices...throw in the crock pot for 8 hours on low heat...dinner is served!