On the Needles

So, I decided I needed a bag to cart my knitting around in and whilst surfing around came across this pattern on Knitty -

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTfrenchmarket.html

I think it looks pretty funky so have been knitting test swatches and felting them to find a look/yarn I'm happy with. Sigh... Eventually I decided to just use some yarn that I brought over with me from NZ -

Harvest Pure Wool 50g / 93m. 22st / 30 rows on 4 mm needles.

I had been knitting a striped black and red shrug with it but had stalled because I wasn't happy with how the shape was turning out. I unraveled the work I'd done and am just knitting the yarn as it comes off the balls in a random two tone splodge with the yarn doubled on 5mm needles, so it's pretty chunky!

The base of the bag is knitted in the round, something I've not done before so I went to youtube to look for some tutorials. After watching one using 5 double point needles (OMG!) I decided there had to be a better way and found this one, which is called the 'magic loop' method -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdSpc0EZpnk

The base is nearly finished and I'm about to start on the sides of the bag.

With our move to India looming I decided that I required a few (got 6 planned so far...... oh dear.....bit between teeth = run away horse.... ) wraps/shawls. However wool was obviously not going to cut the mustard for most of the year in Gurgaon so I've been exploring alternatives. Silk; which I adore, would probably be too hot... although I have found a website in the UK which sells superfine cobweb/lace weight silk which I feel obliged to experiment with at some stage in the future. That leaves fibres like bamboo, linen and cotton. Now as I don't want chunky because chunky will equal too hot to wear, finding yarns that are fine enough has been a bit of a challenge.

However yesterday I found this gorgeous cotton -

http://www.morrisandsons.com.au/catalog/multi_info.php?cPath=1_481_483&multiID=483

and bought a ball to test. I've got the Deep Red colour... yummy! A search online then ensued to find a pattern that would be in the ball park for weight/gauge and late last night I finally settled on this one -

http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/scarves/pandawool-weekendr-stole.html

As you can see in the photo it is in its infancy but I'm quite happy with how it is knitting up so far and don't think I'll change anything; although.... I am thinking some beads might be a pretty nice addition! I'm using 5.5mm needles because I want the lace pattern to be open, airy and as light as possible.