Out of Hiding

So the other night, I get the brilliant idea to finally knit a yoga mat bag so I don't have to carry my mat in hand several blocks to my new class. I've been wanting to knit the nice mesh version from SNB 2, but everytime I start, I get very distracted, end up messing up and rip, rip, rip. Since I'm probably going to another class on monday, I didn't exactly have much time (or sanity) to devote to knitting a rectangle that bores me to death.

So I had an epiphany. "Hey I can knit one up so fast on my knitting machine!"

Yes, my knitting machine. The knitting machine that has sat underneath a sunflower bedsheet for the past 4 years. I decided to dust it off and have a go.


The long neglected machine.


Setting up the needles.


Jersey fabric moving along.


20 inches in 2 minutes. I'd like to see a handknitter do that!


Yes, I actually blocked my rectangle!


The ribber at work on my 1x1 rib, 23" long strap.


Even gave a quick touch of the iron to my strap.


Finished!

I sat down at the machine at 9:00 p.m. Fumbled around trying to remember how to cast on. Read some notes from college knitting class. Talked on the phone, knit a little, ironed some, and then stitched it up. By 10 p.m. I had a wonderful functional yoga bag that didn't bore me to knit. My knitting machine is my new friend for boring jersey projects.

I actually wanted to knit my bag in a pointelle stitch, but the lace carriage wasn't co-operating, and I just wanted the thing finished. Function over fashion for this project. Maybe one day, I'll sit down for another hour and make a nice lacy one, but for now, this will do. For now, the poor neglected knitting machine goes back under the sheet and I move on to more interesting things, such as finishing up my 2nd sleeve on my fairisle sweater.