Mezair Beaded Wrap

Here's a project I finished earlier this year.  It was a test knit for Rachel Henry/Remilyknits.com.  It is a lovely pattern, very well written, and a perfect gift for a friend who was leaving for a cruise!  The pictures do not really show the beads, but they really add a nice touch to the edging.

Here are my project details:

Pattern:  Mezair by Rachel Henry;  Ravelry pattern available here ($6 at time of posting)

Yarn:  Nymph Sock by Natural Dye Studio, 3/4s of skein

Needles:  US 7/4.5 mm

Misc:  beads

Details:

Very well written pattern and fun to knit.

Quick knit bead bracelet

My daughter Grace was selected to attend USA Hockey's Player Development Girls Select 14 Camp this summer.  It was an incredible experience for her, even though she left the camp early because of an injury (that has her laying in bed right now, post op from knee surgery, but recovering well).

Why am I mentioning this?  Well, I went with her to St. Cloud, Minnesota and as I always do when I am on vacation, I checked out the local yarn store.  There was a nice, friendly yarn shop not too far from where I was staying:  Bonnie’s Spinning Wheel Yarn Shop.  And while I was there, I got some yarn, knitting goodies, and a knitting kit:

I made this bracelet in under 2 hours and absolutely love it!

The only problem is that after wearing it a couple of times, it stretched a bit and now it is too big for me.  So I will make another one with different yarn.  I am thinking I will try a metallic yarn.  Once I have found the yarn, I'll pick out beads and a clasp and start again.  Since it only takes a couple of hours to knit up, it's not that big of a deal.  If I can find the right combination of yarn and beads, these will be a big Christmas present this year!

Here are my project details:

Kit:  Roll Bracelet Kit by Deanna K. Van Assche/ Deanna's Vintage Styles; color:  Silver knight.

Size made:  small

Yarn:  10 yds ribbon yarn

Misc:  Beads:  2 strings Size 6 beads

Needles:  US 2/2.75 mm

Details:

Quick and easy, really nice looking, but needs different yarn so it does not stretch OR make it smaller.

Beaded loom purse

A non-knitting project I have been working on is a bead loom purse. It is a nice break from my knitting some nights. It took me forever to set up the loom, but once I got started it hasn't been so bad. I have no idea how I will do the finishing work, but I am a long way from there now. I have plenty of books to look through, but I will probably just go to my local beading store and ask for help. After the hours I will have into beading it, I do not want to ruin it in the end! Here's what I have so far:

Can you tell what it is supposed to be? I charted my own design and I will repeat it on both sides of the bag. It is intended to be a small bag for an evening out. Here is a close-up of the design:

I haven't worked on this recently, but I am sure I will begin again on one of the upcoming hot summer nights, when it's just too hot to play with yarn.

More bracelets

I finished these a couple of weeks ago. I like to work on these late at night when my mind is too tired for kitting. As you can tell, they become a bit addictive!

Beaded Charm Bracelets

I took a class at The Beadin' Path back in March and learned to make some fun bracelets:

I made this in class for me. Lots of green and blue glass beads. There's even a hidden 4 leaf clover mixed in...

And for my dear MIL:

I have a couple more of these planned as gifts. I love playing with beads! Now back to knitting...

Other goodies...

I have been playing with my beads again and having a blast with seed beads and my new bead loom:

My daughters got a small loom to make bracelets for Christmas. This is what got me started with the seed beads. Here are the lovely bracelets I have made so far:

And my newest anklet (because spring is really here in Maine!):

Here it is in action, a little blurred though:

My next adventure in bead looming is going to be attempting a small purse with a purse frame. I haven't designed this yet, but I have some ideas.

I also have been making some beaded charm bracelets, but I can't show you until after Mother's Day (don't want to spoil a gift, hint, hint). Now I am off to meet Catherine/New England Knitter in Newburyport for lunch and yarn shopping. Have a great weekend!

New goodies at BuzzandFuzz.com

We have some fun new things in the studio which I will share with you over the next few days.

I'll start with the beaded stitch markers. I am VERY fussy about my stitch markers. I love all of the new fancy stitch markers out there, but it really drives me crazy when wire ends or jumprings get caught in my knitting. So I have been making my own and "test knitting" them. I am really happy with the results:

I am making these with beads, soldered brass rings and waxed linen. They come in 2 sizes: small (for needle size US3/3.25mm and under) and large (for needle size US10.5/6.5mm and under). Each set has 5 markers (4 matching and 1 coordinated). Here are some close-ups:

To see the rest, click here to visit the store!

Seaglass bag

I have started my beaded bag (named the "Seaglass Bag" because of the colors). It was a frustrating start--I could not get the beads to work with my yarn regardless of what method I was using to attach the beads. I ended up buying new beads (the exact same colors) with a larger hole and now I am happily knitting along:

It is about 7 inches across and there is a design on the back. I think the beads will look better once I have finished knitting and I block everything. Now that the beads are working, it's a pretty easy and fun knit. I hope to have the knitting done before this weekend and will work on the liner and straps next week.

New hobby

I try very hard to keep away from things that may interfere with my knitting. For example, there are so many beautiful fabrics available now, but would I even think of learning to quilt? No way, I know I would be too obsessed. And it would take away from my true passion: knitting. This has also been my approach to beads. Besides, I really don't wear much jewelry, so what's the point?

But I do need to make some stitch markers for my website.

And I am a perfectionist who needs to research (and research and research) before I commit (my life-before-kids was in science after all, and research at that).

So I innocently set out to learn to make stitch markers. I have been planning this for months. I make my first trip to a bead shop. I have ordered some beads and all of the necessary supplies. And then a local bead shop has this great deal on a class. Do I think the class really applies to stitch markers? No, but information is always good, so off I go.

...

I'm in trouble.

OMgosh, beads are SO pretty! And the colors, and shapes, and it's so much quicker than knitting...

I took the class on a Saturday and ordered more beads the following Monday (I NEED to make one for all of my friends/family). I have been holding myself back from making more of these bracelets until I finish up some knitting, but it has not been easy! Here's what I have so far:

This was my first one. You really should click on it to see all of the beads.

And my second...

but I did make some stitch markers (of course I started with my bees):

I have a new hobby...