After Knitting...

This was before, and what you see here is after.   See didn't I tell you that felting was magical?  Coincidentally, (or not) this pattern (Felted Moebius Basket) is from Cat Bordi's "A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting".   I love, love, love, that book.

Felting is also very forgiving (just one more reason to love it).   As you may recall, I messed with the pattern just a little.   I used two strands of Manos rather than one and I skipped the applied I-cord edging.   After running it through the wash twice, I was thrilled with the heavier basket but not so much by the longer handle.   After contemplating, and rejecting, the idea of removing the handle all together, I decided to cut the handle, remove two inches and then sew the ends together (being careful to keep the moebius twist) with left over yarn.   At that point it looked a bit Frankenstein, but after yet another run through the wash (to felt the new seam), I am really happy with it.   The basket got a bit smaller but is still big enough for my needs (a portable knitting notion keeper) and the seam is only visible when I look for it.   I am pleased.

Magical Knitting

If you have never (intentionally) felted your knitting before than I bet this does not look very impressive at all.   However, if you have, than you know that this picture is just the precursor to the magic that is felting.

As chronicled here, I have had a yen for a Felted Moebius Basket for which friend Kerri, very kindly, passed along a hank of happy pink Manos.  I was happily knitting away this weekend when I ran out of yarn just a few rows away from the finish (Eeek!).   Once again, Kerri came to the rescue.  Today she brought me the "little bit" (that turned out to be more than enough) of pink yarn that she had left over from her original project.   Just a few quick rows and my knitting came to a very happy ending.

Now all I have to do is get the laundry done so that I can get to the magical part. :-)

Happy Knitting

Photo taken by me @ Starbucks

What you see here are ingredients to the Mobius Basket from Cat Bordi's A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting.   I made one for my mother a couple of years ago that still serves as a catch-all on her coffee table.

This one is for me, for knitting notions.   I remember the pattern being fast and interesting, which suits my mood.   The lovely pink yarn (Manos Maxima) is mine courtesy of Kerri.   She says that knitting pink makes her happy.  She wants me to be happy too.  It is very nearly as bright in person as it looks on my screen.  Not my usual thing but, again, it suits my mood.  My plan is to double the yarn, in the hopes of getting a firmer basket (although, I hope, not bigger).