What Else Am I Working On?

This post will have no talk of top-down sweaters!  (I will, of course, continue to work on them.  I will even share some finished photos.  But, for now, enough said about my "Top-Down Immersion".)

I am in the beginning stages of designing a cowl for a new Fair Isle class to be offered at Gosh Yarn It! this fall.  Two-handed stranded Fair Isle will always be near the tippy-top of my list of favorite things to teach.  Shown is a bag I designed, which I have used several times for Fair Isle classes (since April 2009).

I created a variation of the bag last fall.  But this is 2011, and it is time to come up with a new design for teaching these skills!  Both the bag shown, and the new cowl are knit in the round.  There are many rows in the above bag that have short floats, but there are also some rows that have long enough floats to practice 'weaving in' or 'catching' the yarn not in use.  The cowl I have planned will also have both of these kinds of rows, but with a more distinct separation.  I will share more on the cowl soon, so please stay tuned.

Next up is a Linen Top, which I knit the front and back for, but will add to its length with crochet.  This is a photo of the first piece after blocking.

I have a project page for this top on Ravelry with much more information.  I wish I could spend more time on it, but those fall classes will be coming up before I know it.

And now for something completely different.  I am making a second "Turkish Bead Crochet" bracelet.  I made the first bracelet during a class at Beadweaver's, a local (and online) bead and jewelry shop.  The lovely and creative instructor, Jane, has taken some knitting classes of mine, and I wanted to take one of her beading classes.  It was so much fun!  My first bracelet is more beautiful in person than in the photo.

For my second bracelet, I am using many of the leftover beads, and the same cord.  The main difference is that the first used 6mm Swarovski Bicones in a 'Pacific Opal' color, and the second has 6 mm Fire Polished Rounds in 'Champagne T Luster'.

One of the best thing about these bracelets, is that I can make one in about an hour and a half.  Even though I NEED to be working on fall class samples, I do not feel guilty about taking a little pick-me-up break with these.