Denim by Design - my second pattern!

So, after having a total blast at the yarn store this Saturday, I got homework. :-)



The yarn is this totally cool denim cotton that shrinks up a bit and fades like blue jeans. Diana (the owner) asked me to cable up a purse to show off the yarn.



I think it came out pretty nice! Here's the pattern:

Materials:
Materials:
Size #6 USA Knitting Needles
Cable Needle
5 Skeins Rowan Denim (404 yrds)
Tapestry Needle

Gauge: (before washing)
4.5 stitches per inch

Dimensions: (after washing)
11" high, 12" wide, 3.5" deep
24" straps

Pattern:

Back and Front Panels:
CO 68 st
Row 1 & 3: K across
Row 2 and all other even rows until row 76: P across
Row 5: K4, C6B, K20, C4F, C4B, K20, C6F, K4
Row 7 & 9: K across
Row 11: Repeat Row 5
Row 13 & 15: K across
Row 17: K4, CB6, K4, CB6, CF6, K4, C4F, C4B, K4, CB6, CF6, K4, C6F, K4
Row 19 & 21: K across
Row 23: K4, CB6, K4, CF6, CB6, K4, C4F, C4B, K4, CF6, CB6, K4, C6F, K4
Row 24: P across
Repeat 1-24 twice
Row 73 & 75: K across
Row 76: K4, K2tog 3 times, K4, K2tog 6 times, K4, K2tog 4 times, K4, K2tog 6 times, K4, K2tog 3 times, K4
Row 77-81 K across
Row 82: BO

Gusset:
C O 14 st
Knit garter for 41" to fit sides
and bottom of purse

Straps:
CO 100 st
Knit garter for 9 rows
BO

Finish:
Stitch pieces together
Weave in Ends
Toss into the washer and dryer a cycle or two to tighten up the stitches and fade the color a bit. Fun!

Print this out easily here.

Afghan

Okay, so the yarn came in for Mom's two afghans, and after three weeks of knitting on it, I've got about 20% of the first afghan done (plus finishing). Looks pretty good!

The nice part is that I've finally gotten the pattern in my head, so it's basically now a matter of watching TV, or whatever, and KKK PPP KKK PPP...

A Professional?!

Wow.

Saturday I went to lunch at Juan's Flying Burrito, which is the only place in New Orleans for good Mexican food. Afterwards, I couldn't help my usual stop-in at the Garden District Needlework Shop, which is the only place in New Orleans for good yarn and needles and stuff. I didn't really need anything, because I had been there the week before to treat myself to yarn and needles for my birthday, but I'm making a small clutch for my niece, and I wanted kitty-cat buttons. I got these little metal ones. So cute!

Anyway, there's a gal in there who's learning to knit on these ginormous needles (size 15, I think), and the poor thing is just all over the place. I'm chatting with Diana, the owner, and we're trying not to say anything about the SIZE OF THOSE NEEDLES, when I finally ask the young lady if she would like some help controlling her tension. She readily gives me the needles, and I show her how to wrap the yarn around your hand to keep the skein from controlling the tension. She picks it right up and thanks me. :-)

So, a couple minutes later, Diana asks me to come to the back of the shop to ask me a question. Get this: she wants me to come in on Saturdays to teach knitting classes! Wheee! The pay's $8/hour, but the important part is that I get 25% off stuff in the store! I doubt I'll ever actually be taking cash, here. wheeee!

So, next Saturday I'll go in to learn the ropes. What a hoot!

(A grammar note: The ?! is called an "interrobang." hee hee)