Work Ends, Knitting Addiction continues...

Ok finally the light at the end of the work 'til you drop tunnel! My work
project has let up and I am able to spend my time knitting again. WHOO HOO!!!

I completed felting the backpack on Saturday after 5x through the washer. It shrunk to about a 1/3 of its size but I soon realized (ok fine ... eventually realized after the 5th wash) this was not going to happen and if it did (after more washes), the backpack would be FAR too small to hold even a wallet. It did turn out really well though for an experiment. The thing I don't quite get is that the straps always felt up beautifully no visible stitching. The tension in the i-cord is quite loose, maybe my tension is too tight in the bag and that is the reason it didn't felt up as well as I would like? Any Suggestions? more photos...

I have also started two additional projects, a simple little shawl and the French market bag.

The shawl is a simple pattern as yet nameless but easy for a beginner to handle. I found a ribbion type yarn, a month or so ago, that was just too pretty to leave. It was orphaned, all four balls just left there; no name, no history of what they were made of, nothing. It was so sad that I immediately scooped them up and took them home with me, promising them I would make something special with them. I can already tell that the shawl is going to be a favorite of mine. One ball down (this was taken about half way through the ball) four more to go :) more photos...

I also started the French market bag. I am finding the bottom of it a bit challenging and have restarted it twice. I think that I have got it now though... (possibly :) ... I have a tendency to stray from the patterns and experiment so really how knows what will happen). more photos...