F.O. Flurry
Eyeglasses case, pattern from Iris Schreier's book Modular Knits. Worked in Caron Rainbow Dreams worsted wt acrylic, colorway Jetstream, on size US 5 needles; trimmed with Bernat Boa in black. Pewter Mermaid button from Green Girl Studios.
Geometric Tote from Iris Schreier's book Modular Knits, before felting.
Geometric Tote after felting.
Geometric Tote finished - I left off the fastening loop entirely because it was too wide. I added a snap fastener to the inside top of the bag. Knitted in Cherry Tree Hill Potlock worsted, colorway Bronze, on size US 8 needles. Like the last Geometric Tote I made, this also turned out smaller than I wanted - so back to the wool and needles, to make one with more repeats and rounds.
A small, round felted purse, free pattern found on Noriko's blog; worked in Lion Brand worsted weight wool on size US 10 needles. I added a snap fastener to the inside top edge, and I may add some bead embroidery embellishment.
Overcoming Finishing Fear
This represents a major milestone in my knitting journey - a sweater that is actually finished. I haven't finished a knitted sweater since the mid 1980s, and that one didn't really count as it was knitted in one piece. 
I recently acquired an invaluable resource, The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie M. Wiseman, which explains just about everything about knitting and how to make your knitting look handmade rather than homemade. The pictures are great for someone like me who has to see how a thing works rather than read about it. The pattern for this shrug is free from the Ornaghi Filati website, and the directions are European and only for a size Small. I wanted to make a Medium size so I increased the number of cast-on stitches for all the pieces. It was a challenge deciphering the European abbreviations and measurements, but the pattern is fairly simple. I used some sparkly acrylic Turkish Orma Crystal sport yarn that has been languishing in my stash for many years, I have a huge box of it in 4 coordinating colors that I ordered from Smiley's about 15 years ago. I doubled the yarn and used US size 10 needles to get the correct gauge. This shrug is for Sarah, and if I didn't get the size right it may get passed to other granddaughters until it fits someone. More about Sarah in my next post....
Silky Tie Wrap
Finally finished: The Silky Tie Wrap designed by Iris Schreier, from the January issue of Creative Knitting. The yarn is a handpainted rayon RikRak in the colorway CedarMoss, from eBay seller lotusblossom. I used roughly 450 of the 600 yd skein and US size 6 flexible bamboo needles. This was a Knit-Along with the Yahoo Multidirectional group, and I am pretty sure I am among the very last to finish; so many other projects were calling me to work on them. 
I liked the yarn colors better in the skein than when knitted up - the color repeats are short and might look better in something like a scarf.
Eyeglasses case, pattern from Iris Schreier's book Modular Knits. Worked in Caron Rainbow Dreams worsted wt acrylic, colorway Jetstream, on size US 5 needles; trimmed with Bernat Boa in black. Pewter Mermaid button from Green Girl Studios.
Geometric Tote from Iris Schreier's book Modular Knits, before felting.
Geometric Tote after felting.
Geometric Tote finished - I left off the fastening loop entirely because it was too wide. I added a snap fastener to the inside top of the bag. Knitted in Cherry Tree Hill Potlock worsted, colorway Bronze, on size US 8 needles. Like the last Geometric Tote I made, this also turned out smaller than I wanted - so back to the wool and needles, to make one with more repeats and rounds.
A small, round felted purse, free pattern found on Noriko's blog; worked in Lion Brand worsted weight wool on size US 10 needles. I added a snap fastener to the inside top edge, and I may add some bead embroidery embellishment.
