Knit A Nylon Twine Bags

A few years ago someone came up with a brilliant idea. She bought some nylon twine at a local hardware store and knitted it on her bulky machine. She started something. Lots of us thought it was so clever we ran out and bought twine and got creative making our bags. People decorated their bags, made different shapes, whatever, they were fun. Its great, its washable, its strong, in fact I have a full package of #15 twine sitting here waiting for me to make another one. According to the package, tensil strength is 117 lbs. (Tensile strength measures the force required to pull something such as rope, wire, or a structural beam to the point where it breaks --Britannica online encyclopedia--)
Imagine what you can throw in one of these bags with that sort of strength.

Nylon Twine is sold in hardware stores for mason lines, chalk lines, gardening, boating, etc. You can buy 1 lb 2.5 ozs of # 15 twine (1400 feet) for $8.25 (at least that’s what I paid for mine a couple years ago). Some hardware stores like Home Depot have smaller tubes of it in neon colors. You can buy a thinner twine #9 (2200 feet) for $16.41 on-line from fnt industries http://fnt-victory.net/fnt-victory.net/rosary.html, they sell it for Rosary's but its the same nylon twine we used for our bags except they have #9 twine which is thinner than the # 15 I used but I notice they have a waiting period to ship. There are other places on line if you want to Google for it.

If you buy white twine you can dye it with Rit dye or koolaid. For directions to dye your twine go to
http://www.fnt-victory.net/RosaryTwineDyingProcess.html
Scroll down for Kool Aid Dye or Microwave Dyeing. I prefer to dye the bag after its knitted. Make sure it rinses clear before you use it.

Be sure you line your bag if you want to put anything like a pen or keys in it, you don't want to lose something important that might fall out between the stitches.
Now, get creative and make yourself a bag. I gave mine away to my grandaughers but am seriously thinking of making myself a new one. Natalie made one for the beach using neon colors. It was huge and must have held towels and suits for the family.

I came across the notes I wrote when I made my bags so decided to share them here. These directions are for the 2 pictured above.

I used my LK 150 (6.5mm hobby machine) and #18 twine for my bags. (higher numbers would be thicker twine, #9 twine at fnt above would be thinner). The bags need to be lined if you want to put things like keys or pens in them or they’ll fall out through the stitches.

Yellow Flower Bag with # 18 Nylon Twine knitted with every other needle. The bag is 20” long and 8 ½” wide.

Cast on 60 stitches
knit 16 rows and hang your hem
Knit 3 rows white eyelash yarn
Knit 70 rows twine
Knit 3 rows white eyelash yarn
knitted 16 rows and hang the beginning of the 16 rows for a hem.
Decide how long your want the handles to be and twist 2 strands together. Sew the sides of the bag together, leaving an opening at the top of each side for the twisted handles, pull them through and tie each one in a knot to hold the twist.


Cherry Bag 17 ½” long and 9” wide
Using every needle
Cast on 39 stitches and knit 132 rows
Fold the top over for a flap (closure isn't necessary unless you want to use one for decorative effect.
Knit an I-Cord or twist the tie and sew it to each side
Dye the bag with Cherry Kool Aid.

If you have an embroidery machine, you can embroider on organza and sew to the front of the bag. Another option would be a free standing lace design sewn to the front.

Get creative, these are fun to make and go fast.

Still Packing and Sorting

Why is it taking me so long to sort out my stuff and pack it? Well, I know I have to get rid of some of it and I hate to do that. PLUS its such a chore to sort the stuff out and pack it. BUT I finally made myself do one of the hated chores. I sorted out my machine tools. What happened was, I gave away some of my husbands tools and kept a fairly new tool box for myself. I decided to put my knitting tools in that tool box. So, I poured out all my machine tools onto a table and sorted them by machine, the Bond, the LK 150 and the Brother 970. Each machine has its own set of "stuff". I have been saving little plastic zipper cases that things come in, you know, the kind that maybe slippers or curtains or whatever come in. So I labeled the bags and put each machine's tools in a separate bag. Some things, though are for all the machines, weights, for example can be used on any machine. Clips, definitely for any machine. Ravel Cord once again, any machine. I also put all my scissors in one bag (I didn't know I had so many pair of scissors, where did they all come from? Did I buy a pair every time I needed one?

So, here's the result all nice and neat and the tool chest. If I can now just take out the bag for the machine I'm working on and then put the tools away when I'm finished, I will never again have to do this horrible chore. I highly recommend the tool box idea, the bonus is you get a tray in the top that has a handle, easily carries to the machine you are working with at the time.

I also when through every drawer, cabinet, the garage, etc and got out the tools I knew I'd want to take with me if I ever move and put them all together in a tub I forgot I had, sitting out on the back porch. Its perfect, it even holds the plastic case the drill came in and the plastic case the Dremmel came in. Room for more in this box but believe me, I don't see me buying more tools.


Next, I'm going through the tubs of fleece I bought for spinning. I haven't touched the spinning wheels in 2 years. I still want them but I sure don't need 8 or 10 big tubs of fleece. Probably 2 would be reasonable (although I can't see me getting rid of all but 2).

As I sit here and contemplate going back up to the loft to sort stuff, I think I know why its taken me so long to do it all. When I'm finished, it will sort of mark the end of me living in South Carolina and sort of saying goodby to my husband who I was married to for 48 years, and his family who I've grown to think of as my family. I know I don't have to say goodby to them but leaving this home is closing a chapter in my life. I know its necessary but it sure is hard.

Still, I'm looking forward to the next chapter and can't wait to start it. Mixed feelings? You bet!
Now, before you think I'm sad and, perhaps crazy, I'll close with a picture of my pretty azaleas and the hibiscus that has bloomed only twice so far this summer, today was the second time.
Hibiscus won't winter over at my house so every year I go buy myself a new one. I could take it in and it will survive the winter but I did that one year and decided it was a mess, its easier to buy a new one.
I don't know what kind of azalea this one is, its the last to bloom every year and its a short little bush that stays right down on the ground. Every year I find a branch under the mulch that has grown roots so I move it to a new place and now I have about 5 of these little bushes growing around the edges of my flower gardens.
And finally, the petunia's that are growing on the deck rail. Yes, that's my sweet little dog sitting there watching the world go by while I take pictures. He's sitting there watching the hummingbirds that are flitting around between the feeders.

M.J. "Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery Anderson, SC

Howard was so proud that there would be a VA cemetery close to his home. A month before he died he went to the VA office to see if this cemetery was finished or when it would be finished. He was so proud that he was eligible to be buried there and he wanted to make sure the VA office was aware of that. We kept saying that we would go look at it but he was never well enough after that to make the 40 mile trip.


Howard received the Air Force Commendation Medal for his work after Hurricane Camille in Biloxi, MS. This medal was authorized by the secretary of the Air Force on March 28, 1958, for award to members of the armed forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force after March 24, 1958, shall have distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement and service. The degree of merit must be distinctive, though it need not be unique.

Follow-up to Mouse Visitor

There has been a huge discussion on the Yahoo knittingmachine group about keeping mice out of cars, buildings and so on. The majority of people seem to think the cure is peppermint essential oil. Putting it on cotton balls or whatever around the inside perimeter of the building or even in the car is supposed to repel mice. If you google the subject, it seems to be a universal cure so today I stopped by Michaels thinking their cake/baking section should have it. Well, they had Wilton Candy Flavorings, 1/4 oz bottles of Peppermint, cherry, cinnamon and creme de menthe. OK, I bought the little box even though it says on the bottom: Ingredients: Peppermint-Soybean Oil, Oil of Peppermint. I hope it works but since its not pure peppermint oil it might not. Someone else suggested putting the oil on a Always Sure-Pad with sticky back so I did that. I was going to stick it to the top of the inside hood of the car but then thought about the next time I get the oil changed, I'd have to have a camera to get a picture of the poor guy's face when he opens the hood. So I thought better of it and put it inside the car on the passenger side, sort of under the dash If it works, that's great! It sure does make the car smell nice and honestly, its not overwhelming which I feared. I also have a bar of rat poison on the floor of the passenger side of the car and one under the hood just to be safe. I put one on the ledge inside the garage as well and it was chewed on but the ones inside the car were never touched so my visitor has obviously left the car or I scared him so bad the day I took the leaf blower to it that he is still hiding in the upholstery.

Biscuit always stays in his seat in the back seat of the car so I don't have to worry that he'll get into it. If he ever gets in the front seat I'll stop the car and throw the stuff out.

so--hopefully that's the end of the mouse story for me! If I ever come across pure Essence of Peppermint Oil, I'll buy it but for now, the Candy Flavorings will have to work.

Mouse in the Car

Yesterday I went to town to get my hair fixed. When I got back in the car I noticed a little mouse running under the passenger seat. YIKES! I quickly jumped out of the car and opened all the doors, beat on the seat and hoped the stupid thing jumped out.

Couldn't see him anywhere, even under the seats so got back in and started home. OHHHH, there he was again, peeking up at me from the floor. So I stopped at Jiffy Lube and had the oil changed and told the guy there was a mouse in the car. He vacuumed the car and said he didn't see the mouse but did see remnants of his droppings...ugh! So I get back in the car and just about the time I turn off main street, here he is again, on my side of the front, by my feet.

OH GOD! Please don't let him go up my pant legs I pray!!! Please don't let me wreck the car!!! I stopped at a church parking lot and opened all the doors. Took my umbrella out of the back and beat it around under the seats. No sign of the mouse so I figured, ok, this time he must have jumped out one of the doors. So I get back in and continue home.

Sure enough, you guessed it! He was still there. I almost ran off the road but would have gone off a cliff so I forced myself to keep on driving and steering straight. I kept telling myself, its not worth killing yourself, the mouse won't hurt you, UGH! The stupid think climbed up the passenger seat and peeked at me. I yelled DAMN! (sorry, it just came out of my mouth...) He ran and hid so the last 3 miles home I yelled over and over again DANG, DANG, DANG (or something very similar) and beat my foot against the seat in case he was under my seat. I got home, opened all the doors and got the leaf blower. Blew that car from one end to the other, under the seats, under the rugs, everywhere I could find a place to blow.

Then I remembered, I had just heard on TV that little children and dogs can be killed very quickly if left in a closed up car in the sun, even if its not that hot out. So I closed up the car and told the mouse, if you're still there, you can fry in here. The car sat there in the sun the rest of the afternoon. Finally around 5 pm I went out and put poison on the floor in the front and under the hood. This morning I had to go to the dentist and my skin crawled all the way there. No mouse sightings and nothing had touched the poison. BUT I reached for a kleenex in the passenger seat and the stuff was all shredded in the box. It gave me the creeps and I thought--he's in that box making a nest so I opened the window and quickly threw out the box, just in case. Littering--I know!

Went all the way home from town again and no sign of the mouse, I do believe I blew him out with the leaf blower Poison is staying in the floor of the car and when I put the car in the garage, for a while I'll put that poison back under the hood of the car. I hope I never see that mouse again.

Mountain Laurel

Now that the azaleas have pretty much dropped their gorgeous flowers, its mountain laurel time. Yesterday I walked down our road and took pictures of the laurel bushes. As I was taking the pictures I remembered my husband telling me that mountain laurel is poison to goats unless the goats were born and raised with it. This is how it grows by my house, suddenly as you walk along the road, there is a laurel bush tucked in among the other foliage.

Just look at those beautiful buds and the resulting flowers, they are just perfect, always! Look at the little pink dots circling the center. I JUST LOVE LAUREL!

As I was taking the pictures I wondered if the poison tale was true so looked it up on Wikipedia when I got home. WOW, its also poison to people. Am I the only one who didn't know this? I decided to quote the whole thing here:

Mountain Laurel Shrubs and Bay Laurel Trees Apollo, Daphne and The Rich History of Bay Laurel Trees
is an evergreen shrub growing to 3-9 m tall. The leaves are 3-12 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. Its flowers are star-shaped, ranging from red to pink to white, and occurring in clusters. It blooms between May and June. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Roots are fibrous, matted.[1]
The plant is naturally found on rocky slopes and mountainous forest areas. The plant often grows in large thickets, covering large areas of forest floor. In North America it becomes a tree on the mountains of the Carolinas but is a shrub further north.[1]
Etymology
It is also known as Ivybush, Calico Bush, Spoonwood (because native Americans used to make their spoons out of it), Sheep Laurel, Lambkill and Clamoun.
The plant was first recorded in America in 1624, but it was named after Pehr Kalm, who sent samples to Linnaeus in the 18th century.
Cultivation and uses
The plant was originally brought to Europe as an ornamental plant during the 18th century. It is still widely grown for its attractive flowers. Numerous cultivars have been selected with varying flower color. Does not flourish in a limestone country.
This is one of the most satisfactory shrubs for lawn or garden. When in full bloom it is of surpassing beauty, and its bright evergreen leaves make it conspicuous at any time.
A little known American use of the plant was in the making of arbors for early wooden-works clocks. Mountain-laurel is a foodplant of last resort for gypsy moth caterpillars, utilized only during outbreaks when moth densities are extremely high.
Toxicity
Mountain laurel is poisonous to several different animals, including horses, goats, cattle, sheep, and deer, due to andromedotoxin and arbutin. The green parts of the plant, the flowers, twigs, and pollen are all toxic, and symptoms of toxicity begin to appear about 6 hours following ingestion. Poisoning produces anorexia, repeated swallowing, profuse salivation, depression, uncoordination, vomiting, frequent defecation, watering of the eyes, irregular or difficulty breathing, weakness, cardiac distress, convulsions, coma, and eventually death. Autopsy will show gastrointestinal irritation and hemorrhage.
This evergreen, round-topped shrub is used in gardens as an ornamental plant. The large terminal clusters of flowers are borne on sticky, hairy stems and range in colour from rose to white.

Children have been poisoned by chewing on the leaves, sucking the juice from the blossoms, or by making a tea. The foliage is especially toxic.

Honey, when made by bees in the area where mountain laurel is grown, has been found to be poisonous. This dangerously poisonous plant generally produces symptoms in about six hours. They consist of nausea, intense abdominal pains, vomiting, repeated swallowing, and watering of the eyes, nose, and mouth. In more severe cases breathing becomes difficult; the heartbeat is slower. There is depression, prostration, convulsions, paralysis of the arms and legs, coma, and possible death within twelve to fourteen hours.

So there you have it, everything you ever wanted to know about mountain laurel!!!

Spring-time was always a bitter sweet thing for my husband, if he was going to be sick, it would be in the spring. He had 5 heart attacks over 15 years, always in the spring. Laurel was so special us, I always brought him a bouquet when he was in the hospital just to remind him he needed to hurry up and get well and get home to his mountain.
Just because it was so pretty and green, I wanted to share with you a picture of our road, there's no doubt, why my puppy and I walk down the road every day we can, is there?

The sun was out, the sky was clear. Here's another shot from our road and there's no doubt why they call them the Blue Ridge mountains.

Spring Yard

I couldn't help but sit on my front porch this morning and just admire the flowers, the spring air and the birds singing. My yard is soooo beautiful right now, the new grass is coming up and the azaleas are in mid-bloom. I have some new ones blooming every week. Here's a Spring Collage I made this morning. I should have done a video so you could hear the birds singing. All these pictures were taken from the porch, except of course, the picture of the porch..so you're seeing what I saw as I drank my coffee out on the front. You can click on the picture to get a better view of each segment of the yard. It starts on the east side and goes across the front to the northwest.
birds singing.