Designs by KN blog

No way could I have projected how well this year has started out as far as FOs are concerned. It’s only the first full week of January and I’m up to about six already.  Guess the flu and illness are indirectly responsible (DH has been sick so haven’t needed to cook dinner; DM is sick so haven’t needed to accompany her to appointments; our aged cat is now gone so haven’t had to do as much round-the-clock care.)  DD has contributed to the FO compilation with special-knit requests that motivated me to complete them quickly.

The most recent FO is this vivid blue Summer String Bag. I’ve had the yarn in stash since 2005 (Brown Sheep “Cotton Fleece” in color Blue Paradise) and decided to finally turn it into something useful.  Apples were on the grocery shopping list the day I completed the bag, and they came in handy not only for healthy eating, but also for colorful photo props:

The bag is a blue version of the original red one that appeared in the CEY Web-letter, Issue 139:

Photos by Meg Myers, copyright Classic Elite Yarns

Not only is it useful for carrying bread, fruit and groceries, it also comes in handy for yarn and as a flexible travel tote as well:

The popularity of the bag continues on Ravelry, with over 1900 “faves” and 250 projects completed in all colors of the rainbow.  Thanks, everyone!

Prior to this enjoyable crochet day, I had the luxury of a full day of knitting. For that one, I created a project for DD which at this point must remain an “invisible FO” as it turned out well enough for a design submission.

Before that productive knitting day, I had some additional free time to crochet a couple of chain-mesh scarves for DM.  These are versions of the Liquid Gold Chain Mesh Scarf pattern worked in different yarns and styles, just for fun:

“Smoothie” Scarf in Deborah Norville Yarns “Everyday Soft Worsted Prints” (colorway: Smoothie)

Star Light Moebius Scarf in Universal Yarn “Star Light”

The first FO of the new year was this Glitter Stripe Scarf for DD, in Loops & Threads “Impeccable Glitter”:

You can read details of its construction, plus view more photos of these scarf projects in previous posts here and here.

Another project is this version of the Something Special Wrap, in Fiesta Yarns “La Boheme” (colorway: Burnished Red):

This is the same yarn used for my Night Out Shawl design which appeared in the November 2009 issue of Creative Knitting magazine:

Photo by Matthew Owen, copyright Creative Knitting/DRG Publishing

Fiesta Yarns was very generous in providing yarn for the shawl project at that time, and two leftover hanks have been protected in storage until now.  As with the Summer String Bag above, it’s time to turn them into something useful!

ETA 1/12/2013:  It’s a wrap! Made smaller overall (approx. 19″ w. x 54″ l.) on size 13 needles, as yarn supply was limited:

Not so much in the FO category, but completion and closure in a way … my Feather Openwork Beanie has been published in the booklet “Quick & Simple Knit Hats & Scarves: 14 Designs from Up-and-Coming Designers!”  There is a “Look inside! First Pages” preview excerpt on Amazon.com, and the hat appears there if you scroll through the first few pages.

Photo by Corrie Schaffeld, copyright F+W Media/David & Charles

Also the Clamshell Arm Warmers free-pattern-with-yarn-purchase (Premier Yarns/Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted) leaflet is available through Herrschners (see this post for details.)

Photo copyright Premier Yarns/Deborah Norville

Here’s icing on the cake of completion … the first mail delivery of 2013 included a check for a project finished, dispatched, accepted and scheduled for publication in the fall.  I could not have projected such glad tidings to start the year.

Once again, thank you for your continued interest in DBKN patterns … and for all those “likes” on the Designs by KN Facebook page.  You are appreciated!

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