Domestic Geek

There are tons of ways to cast on. Here's a cool visual reference to a lot of them: Knit Picks Knitting Room » Casting On.

I was over at Knitty.com and found the neatest pattern I want to try in the next bag I just started knitting. It's called Little Slip of a Thing (designed by a woman named Diane at Felted Handbag Workshop) and has an interesting contrasting square pattern. I think I'll try that technique in the very center stripe. We'll see.

My first bag is done and I'll get around to posting pictures later this evening after I take some.

I had to stop by the yarn shop last week because I didn't know how to finish off my icord I was making for the bag handle or how to start the 2nd one. The shop owner showed me again how to cast on so that I could start my 2nd bag that I want to make into my knitting bag, too. I spent a good portion of last evening casting on, knitting a few rows, taking it apart and starting over again, just for the practice. I'm getting better at it.

Now I have finished both icord handles, so now I need to go through the process of felting the bag. It involves putting it in a pillowcase in the washer in very hot water and high agitation. I was going to do it today after work, but I was in a rotten mood when I came home, so that will have to wait until tomorrow.

It takes a couple of days to dry stretched over a cereal box and then I take it back to the store so that I can be shown how to attach the handles. With any luck, there will be pictures of the completed bag this weekend!

I'm going to be taking somewhat of a pseudo hiatus from blogging. Actually, I'm trying to restrict my time on the Internet overall. It dawned on me the other day that I've become an Internet addict. I used to get so many other things like crafting, cleaning and gardening done before I had access to a computer. I knew it had become a problem when I was seriously thinking about getting online at work one day last week to read my forums (a big no-no there). Also, I'm a little burned out in general and I am falling into my normal seasonal pattern of depression and moodiness. Then there is the carpal tunnel to deal with...

Since I haven't brought in squat lately with paid blogging (I've only got 3 pending posts to be paid for), I'm more than likely going to have to find a part-time job if I want Christmas money. We're also going to get busier at work in the next month, so I'll be putting in some OT, too (I hope).

I have some things I really need to tackle that I've been putting off as well as some online classes I need to finish before they expire. I'll post if I feel the need to, but if I disappear for awhile, nothing bad has happened, I'm just tending to higher priorities.

I wrote almost a year ago that I wished that the Tootsie Roll company would put out packages of only Vanilla Tootsie Rolls.


Well, a voice mail on my phone from my friend Nina (Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!) alerted me to the fact that I have gotten my wish! Target is carrying limited edition bags of Vanilla Tootsie Rolls for only $1.99 each! I picked up two today and will probably grab a couple more later this week. I'm going to be good and ration them, though. Don't want too much of a good thing.

Edit: I just found that you can get the Vanilla Tootsie Rolls at Amazon.com for $2.99 a bag if you want some and can't get them near you.