How to avoid knitting a steeked bag

If you are wondering to yourself 'what steeked bag is she talking about,' here's a recap ...

I decided to dust off the summer 2000 Interweave Knits and knit a bag Kristin Nicholas designed using steeks. But the truth is, I'm afraid to cut into my knitting, and since finishing the Calla Lily socks, I really have had no excuse not to finish the bag.

I thought the colorwork was going to take up a lot of time, but it really goes much faster that I was anticipating.

So above is what I've done with my time, since I wasn't picking up the steeked bag.

I went to see the Raconteurs live at the Moore.
If you ever get the opportunity to see them, you really must. I'm in my early to mid-thirties now and thought rock shows were behind me, (i nodded off during the opening act), but when the Raconteurs came on, all of a sudden I remembered how to bang my head and pump my fists in the air.
When Jack White (yes, that Jack White) picked up his guitar and started jumping around the stairs, man, I couldn't stop screaming. And I was totally crushing on Brendan Benson. (don't tell A.K.)

When the ringing stopped in my ears, A.K., Lilly and I went camping at Alder Lake with some friends. It was a bit cold, but the lake was beautiful.

Also trolled the internet and the Local Fabric Shop for solids for the quilt. Spent last night washing and ironing all the fabric I bought. I'm of the belief that all the washing and ironing didn't do much, but since I've never sewed a quilt before, I'm going to follow the directions.

When I went to check out my mom's sewing machine, I thumbed through the manual, and noticed my mom recorded the date of purchase in it. And noticed that the machine had a 25 year warranty that expired in April. My mom's too cute. (The machine checks out fine, and should be ready to fire up once I get all the pieces for the quilt cute)

And I found some time to make some bath salts for me and some friends. No particular reason, except I didn't want to pick up the steeking.

Before anyone out there starts mistaking my distractions as having a life, I'm going to be good and start back on the steeking tomorrow. (or maybe the next day, but not saturday night because I have to see Talladega Nights, the Ballad of Ricky Bobby).

Is this enough yarn?

for two sleeves?

i didn't think so either, so i searched frantically for some more of this (since this used to be another sweater that I knitted a couple years ago and never wore, so i ripped it out and i'm sure the color has been discountinued) and i bought, what is described as 'rusty red' from somewhere in england. it should be to my house sometime next week, so progress on sweater is on hold, which means ...

(insert psycho music here)

STEEK, STEEK, STEEK

One of my favorite local yarn shops had a great sale, and when there is yarn on sale, you have to go, no matter how long you were trying to put off "a color decision" (read the air quotes as meaning I was trying to put off actually knitting the project)

a friend suggested i use pink, instead of the orange, but the pink at the store was a little too pepto bismo-y, so i went with this lilac instead ...

i guess if i really hate the combination, I could exchange the yarn ... oh, whatever, i can't fool you people. i really am dragging my feet with this. i'll do some knitting and show you the progress in the next day or so. at least this blog is keeping me an honest knitter.

by the way, my friend beverly found a place online to get 'Road to China' but it seems to cost a lot more than I remembered paying for it. If anyone is interested, I suggest just calling Gene Ann's.

Is it safe to come out?

I'm just peeking my head out to say the bag isn't felted, but you have to put in a lining to prevent it from dropping down to your feet the minute you put any knitting in it.

The pattern is from Kristin Nicholas and she used Classic Elite Montera (half llama, half wool). I've used Montera before, for a co-worker's hat. It's nice yarn, but a bit on the rough side, which I guess is fine for a bag.

I wonder if she used it because most things that are steeked are wool and I've read that part of the reason the steek shouldn't unravel (i'm still not convinced the whole thing won't unravel) is that it should be slightly felted (i think the official term is 'fulled', but don't quote me on that).

I wanted to sub some really great yarn, but I think I should just stick with the Montera for now.

I doubt they will have the same color combo, but if they don't, give me your two cents.

(The color combo now is a burnt orange, and a mocha with a lima bean green as accent, which i like, but any advice is welcomed)

Knitting with the enemy

So I've been knitting for about 7 years now, and in that time I've learned a lot. One project at a time has taught me something new, and in the process I've faced my knitting fears: yarnovers, cables, socks, intarsia, you get the point. But now, now I present to you the biggest, baddest mother-effing, knitting fear of all time (*for me*) ...

steeking.

there are plenty of techniques that I have yet to tackle, if I tackle them at all. (entralac, i'm looking in your direction) but if you feel like you've seen the model of this bag before its because she's the Interweave Knits model, who I guess is Pam Allen's daughter and if you're saying to yourself "she looks like she's got some work done" it's because this photo was taken six years ago.

I've been coveting this bag for six years!!!! A.K. will be the first one to tell you how I need another bag like I need a hole in my head. In fact, I just splurged (and with the help of a sale and a gift certificate bought this looker ...

... but all that is besides the point. This is about facing the fear of knitting something, then ... i can hardly bring myself to write it ... *cut* it.

i have to crawl under my desk and curl up into a ball now. i'll post more when i my spine grows back.