I spent Monday-Friday in London for work last week so took a number of knitting projects to while away the train and hotel hours. Travel makes need to be chosen carefully in my opinion. You don't want anything that requires schlepping too much equipment and you need to avoid long needles in case you jab them into a fellow commuter by accident. I did end up taking three sizes of knitting needle though....
First up was the jewellery bag, which was a project for kids from Simply Knitting September 2011. I made in on 4mm needles using King Cole Galaxy. I'd never knitted with sequined yarn before and spent quite a long time pushing the sequins through to the right side of the work. The bag is knitted in one piece of stocking stitch with an eyelet row done with yarn forwards. I sewed the side and base of the bag together with mattress stitch. I did take along a tapestry needle so I could do making up as I went along.
I did the final finishing of the bag back home, adding some silver grey ribbon and two troll-style beads to fasten the bag. Quite stylish, I thought (and not at all like something a child could make).
The second project was a felted pin cushion from a free pattern on the Lion Brand Yarn website. For this, I used up the very last of my Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran from last week's bag. I made a simple stocking stitch rectangle on 5.5mm needles and then sewed up the sides.
As I couldn't really ask the hotel to felt my pin cushion, I did that when I got home - two 60 degree cycles. I then stuffed and sewed up the final edge. For decoration, I use a cute pumpkin button.
To make things extra complicated, I decided to make some pins to go with it (who does that?). These are Lucite flowers from The Bead Shop Manchester glued on to long dressmaker's pins with Araldite two part glue. Fiddly but quite effective.
Finally, I knitted this delightful felted purse, which was a kit from Sheepfold. I've made a couple of their kits before and they've always turned out really well.
This purse was made in pure wool DK on 4.5mm needles, mostly in stocking stitch. I just about managed to make the button hole, despite ending up with two holes at one stage. I felted the purse at home alongside the pin cushion and it came out beautifully.
The final step was to sew on the pretty floral button that came with the kit.
So, a productive week away. As well as my three projects I also got a chance to visit two awesome knitting shops in London - Loop and Tricolette. Purchased quite a few goodies and had trouble closing my suitcase for the journey home...
Melx
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