You'll be happy to know that it's finally a beautiful day here! I just finished my morning walk. It is sunny and not windy. It's supposed to get up to 60 degrees today. I'm so happy! And you don't have to listen to me whine today! ;-)
I know a lot of people do "Finish It Up Friday" posts regularly on Fridays. I have never committed to doing that, because I don't think I finish enough stuff for that! LOL.
But today, I have a couple of small finishes that don't really fit anywhere else. I don't think my brother reads my blog, but just in case: SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU ARE MY BROTHER, YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO READ THIS POST!
My brother turned 40 years old on April 9. Sometime around March 20, I decided to knit him a pair of socks for his birthday. I thought I could get them done in time.......
..........
.........Okay. I was just waiting for you to be done laughing at me. Are you done now?
Good. I did get them done about April 11, but then I had to get them washed and blocked. Now, I just need to make it to the post office, which is a feat in and of itself for me.
You might wonder why I wanted to knit him a pair of socks for his 40th birthday. Well, here's the thing...I was thinking about him as a kid. And I remember how he used to wear tube socks all the time to school. He absolutely hated that seam in his socks. He would sit there and fuss with his socks for like 10 minutes in the mornings, trying to get the seams situated in his shoes just right, so they didn't bother his foot. I get this. I have the same issue sometimes...but not to the extent he did.
One day, I was putting on a pair of my own hand-knit socks, and was pondering on how much I loved them, in part because there is no annoying seam at the toe. I thought, "My brother would really love hand knit socks." And the idea to knit him some for his birthday was born.
You can see in this photo (above) that there is some toe shaping that occurs, but it is not a seam. The toes are so comfy.
I wanted them pretty plain, as my brother is a fairly conservative dresser. I love this yarn. The color is this beautiful "denim-like" color. There are hints of green in it, too. It is so soft and warm. The largest fiber content is baby alpaca. So, although the socks are wool, they are really comfy--not scratchy at all. These will be great with jeans for a casual Saturday. They will be great for cold, Boston winters. Hopefully, he won't be able to wear them for a year! haha.
One mistake I made...the yarn is not superwash. The socks will need to be hand washed. I hope they won't be too high maintenance for him or accidentally get thrown in the dryer. I'll have to give him and his wife some washing strategies.
I knit these from a new book I bought that teaches me how to size socks. The only other sock pattern I have made is one that just fits me. In this photo, my own hand-knit socks are on the right. My brother's socks took a lot longer to knit. You can see why! My brother has big feet. I am about 5'3" tall and wear an 8.5 shoe size. My brother is 6'4" tall and wears a size 12 shoe (at least...sometimes a 12.5). Hope the socks fit and that he likes them.
Last weekend, as I was working on my Feathered Stars, I thought, "I need a small, accomplishable project right now...." I looked over on my "projects-in-waiting" shelf and saw one I could do quickly, feel a sense of accomplishment, and get my shelf cleaned off--at least a little bit. Here it is. My Bikini Bag. Now, don't get any big ideas. I don't even own a bikini. It's called a bikini bag, because it's made of laminated fabric. I saw this in my LQS a while back, and I loved the fabric. If you bought a yard of fabric, you got the pattern for this bag free. Cool.
The fabric is fun. It's a map of Paris. I love the colors and the design.
The lining of the bag is also the laminated fabric. So, the bag is waterproof, inside and out.
This is why it's called a Bikini Bag. You can carry your wet swimming suits when you go to the beach, or whatever. I thought this would be a nice thing to pack in the suitcase when we travel. Sweet Pea likes to swim at the hotels we stay in, and I'm always trying to figure out what to do with that wet swimming suit when we leave in the morning. Now, I'll have this. It would also be nice for use in your gym bag.
The seam on the inside is not completely finished. So, when I sewed it, I used the overcasting stitch on my sewing machine. It made for a really nice, clean seam. I'm happy with this. I made it in about an hour, start to finish. I needed that!
I'd do a pattern review for you (the pattern was fun, easy, and produced a really cute product), but it's not a commercial pattern. I think someone at the LQS wrote it. It was more of a handout. So, I'm sorry I can't give you a reference for where to get the pattern.
I showed it to Sweet Pea when I finished. Instead of being happy, she pouted and said, "No fair! You always get the shiny fabric. I never get any!"
This cracked me up. You may recall that one time, Amanda Herring, The Quilted Fish, sent me some of her laminated fabric to make something out of. Sweet Pea loved it so much she actually took it and hid it from me! It took me two weeks to find it! Haha!
I told Amanda that story once, and we had a good laugh over it. When I came back from Spring Quilt Market last year, Amanda gave me this laminated fabric we had used as a tablecloth at Market. She said to give it to Sweet Pea. This was Sweet Pea's reaction to that when I came home. I took this photo with my cell phone for Amanda to thank her. Sweet Pea really has a thing for laminated fabric.
Anyway, I told Sweet Pea I still have a fairly large piece of the Paris map laminated fabric left. I told her if she wants me to, I'll make her another bag with it. She replied that she wants me to make a bag for her American Girl doll and a matching bag for her. Hmmmm.....That one may take a while to figure out! LOL
Well, hope you have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend. It's supposed to get up into the 70's here, finally. So, I plan to be outside a lot!
Until next time,
What a lucky brother! Those socks look so lovely and cozy. I love wool socks, and every year I tell myself I should learn how to make them. But I'm a knitting chicken!
Posted by: Kate | April 26, 2013 at 10:02 AM
I need to learn how to knit~!
Posted by: Mary | April 26, 2013 at 10:06 AM
You amaze me. Those socks are fantastic. Your stitches are perfect! Love your bag and giggled at the cute Sweet Pea story. I've never tried working with the laminated fabric. Guess I'll put that on my list.
Posted by: carolld | April 26, 2013 at 10:25 AM
The warmer weather is here too! We got everything in the front yard cut back and cleaned up last weekend. Time to get out the hose and start watering this weekend.
Love your socks! I'm sure your brother will appreciate them.
Cute, cute bag! That is a great idea. I usually carry a gallon size ziplock bag for wet swim suits. Making a bag from laminate is so much more stylish. So is it essentially just a bag made from two pieces of laminate (outside and lining)? Looks like there may be a little accent cotton fabric on the inside of the handle.
Posted by: Lynn | April 26, 2013 at 10:58 AM
Oh wow! I love those socks!! I am SO impressed!! You never cease to amaze me, Stephanie. And the bikini bag....that is just adorable. I LOVE that fabric! I'm so glad Sweet Pea love fabric as much as you. That is a special relationship. :)
Posted by: Cindy | April 26, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Cute fabric for your new bag. I could use one of those quickie projects these days.
Posted by: terriaw | April 26, 2013 at 11:57 AM
Is there anything you can't do? K, don't answer that I already know the answer.
Posted by: Jackie W. | April 26, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Supposed to be nearly 70 here, too! Can you freakin' believe it?!? And I would have thought Hell froze over today, cuz... I blogged!!!! Love the socks...
Posted by: Doris | April 26, 2013 at 01:52 PM
Hi Stephanie...
There you go being amazing again:)
Love the socks...I have taken up the needles too ...Something about knitting after a busy day that is relaxing..Nice job and they are so cosy to wear. I am sure your bro will love them.
When my DH 7 I were going to-gether I decided to knit him a pair of socks. I used the original Kroy woll and each time he wore them they grew!!!! we often chuckle about that..
I Love the bikini bag too.... Perfect for the bathing suits. Sweet Pea is such a sweetie...girls are fun aren't they..
Posted by: maggie robinson | April 26, 2013 at 03:36 PM
Love the socks! I spent a lot of years knitting sweaters and blankets but never socks....not that brave! That bag is pretty awesome, too! Cute, cute story about Sweet Pea :) Happy Friday!!
Posted by: Lisa Lisa | April 26, 2013 at 08:53 PM
Ahhh, you're raising a fine specimen of a fabric lover! That Sweet Pea is just too cute. LOVE that cute little bikini bag. And you're so sweet to knit your brother some socks -- that size would definitely take looooooong time LOL!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | April 29, 2013 at 09:58 AM
Love the socks! And the bikini bag!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | April 30, 2013 at 07:47 AM
I am soooo impressed with the socks, love the bag and am happy that your little Sweet Pea is following in your footsteps with her love of fabric!
Posted by: Carla | May 01, 2013 at 12:17 AM
Hi Stephanie - We've had company for the past couple weeks so I'm WAAAAY behind on blogs. Love the socks!! They look so perfect. I really want to try socks but I'm chicken . . . The pictures of Sweet Pea kissing the fabric is priceless :)
Posted by: Deb | May 10, 2013 at 12:50 PM