<3-felt(ed) wishes

The baskets are felted. The darker one took 3 times as long to felt as the pink. It's the kind wool.. Makes sense that Vermont aran (designed for fisherman sweaters) would be heartier and more difficult to felt than merino. At any rate, they're both drying but I thought I'd post some pictures for all to see.

The first:

Pattern: Heart-felt wishes by Carol Bristol
Yarn: Vermont Natural Wool aran weight double stranded
Color: Handyed by me with easter egg dyes and food coloring
Needle: US13
Amount: about 3 oz.

The second:

Pattern: The same as above
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino double stranded
Color: 210 Petal Pink
Needle: US 13
Amount: about 2 oz.


Interesting to note the size differences between the two baskets. The only variable was the wool. The Paton's fulled in 1 wash cycle. The Vermont aran needed 3 cycles to full. The thickness of the wool has a result on size but the texture also had an effect on the final result.





All in all, filled with chocolate, I think it will be a lovely gift. One that I, for sure, would love to receive. It's a quick knit and the only part I didn't enjoy was picking up the stitches from the bottom to knit the sides of the basket, but that's always my least favorite thing to do, pick up stitches. I'd make it again for the right person. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the pattern is still available online. I downloaded it quite some time ago and when I went to look for it the other night, couldn't find it online.

update: Carol's pattern is NO longer available online. If you're interested in it, contact her, maybe she'd sell it to you.

why oh why

Can't I get my progress bars to work??????

I've tried several times.... to no avail.

DD turned 7 on Friday.. where did that time go? The family (extended) came yesterday to help celebrate. There were 15 adults, one tween and 9 kiddos.... what fun we had!

Friday is the little girl party... at the bowling alley. One at home is enough thank you very much.

I've been in kind of a knitting slump, only getting to the needles when I'm on door duty at school. I started slippers for DD for her b'day but wasn't loving how they were turning out, so I frogged them (remember my name IS Penelope). I cast on again this morning and finished one today... hopefully the second will be finished by tmrw and I can throw them in to felt them...

I felted several sweaters yesterday with different projects in mind. I'll spill the beans later ;-)

Spinning wise, I've been working on the blurple blend. Not too quickly though. Time is escaping me this month... Maybe with the long weekend I can catch up a bit!

On the valentine front, we painted a wooden box for DDs teacher. The rub-on decals are next then top with a sealant. I want to make some cute little magnets for DS's teacher. and put them on top of chocolate covered altoids. Then she can store them in the can when it's empty!

Pictures later... have to go feed the troops.

happy crafting