My first knitted gift

Well since Michelle's birthday has safely come and gone, I can finally post pictures of what I made for her birthday. Not that she would have found this journal anyhow, but that's besides the point.

The pattern was Straw.com's Felted Cosmetic Clutch, and the yarns I used were a skein of Paton's Wool in Black, and Moda Dea's Cartwheel in Raspberries (which I've developed a fetish for. I bought way too much.)

I learned no less than three—count 'em!—three new skills for the little clutch I made her. Firstly there was The Turkish Caston, (from this tutorial), which I had to alter a little and figure out on Magic Loop (ooh, I learned Magic Loop, too! That's four skills!), then knitting in the round, and Fair Isle, AND felting! Much fun it was. And amazingly enough, once I got the cast-on done (which made it nice and seemless), the rest of it took me less than a day to knit!

Here's an in-progress shot. I was shocked at how easy the Fair Isle was, and it was so much fun!

And here's my hand-felting. I think I'll machine-felt from now on, though, because while the wool didn't bother me at all while I was knitting, it started bothering my hands while I was felting.


And here's the finished product:


I love the button I found for it, and I can't wait to make one for myself. Which will happen. Oh yes.

I don't think Michelle was as impressed by it as I was, though, unfortunately. You always hear how non-knitters don't appreciate knitted stuff as much as knitters do, but some things you have to experience for yourself, I guess!