As Vanessa doesn't carry much stuff around with her day to day (having 3 kids to wrangle doesn't leave your hands free for much!) and she wears denim a lot, I thought a small bag with an over the body strap would be the most useful - and what better to make it of than Rowan Denim!
Details
Pattern: I love the "Friends Activity" tab in Ravelry - so many people were very helpfully queuing bag patterns...and I found this one through that. It's the Best Friends pattern by Kristen Goedert from Knitty Winter 2005. I modified it by adding a garter stitch edging and not using a bag frame for the top and handle. I lined it and used D rings to attach the fabric strap, and used a press stud for the closure (oh I wish I'd found a magnetic one though!)
I also made the strap adjustable - one of the buttons is just sewn on, the other actually works!
So if you undo the button, you can pull the strap through the D-ring, and then button it onto the other (sewn on only) button, to make the strap a lot shorter - if you wanted to put it over your shoulder instead.
Yarn: 1.5 x 50g balls of Rowan Denim in shade 229 (lot 1E4)Sticks: KnitPicks Harmony Options, 4mm
Time: 22 February 2008 - 26 March 2008 - actually much quicker to knit than this, it was just the finishing and sewing in the lining etc that took the time - because I was procrastinating!
What I learnt: Try to get the lining to be the exact same size as the bag (only a fraction smaller) - otherwise you have to ease in the bag while sewing in the lining, and that's a bit of a pain - trust me on this!
What I learnt: Try to get the lining to be the exact same size as the bag (only a fraction smaller) - otherwise you have to ease in the bag while sewing in the lining, and that's a bit of a pain - trust me on this!The second bag was a market/string bag - good for shopping, or holding yarn, or for having a spare bag in the car, or whatever!
Details:Pattern: I used a combination of Amy Singer's Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty Summer 2007, and a freebie from Plymouth yarns' website, Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale Market Bag - I gave the bag a square base, rather than rectangular (as in Amy's pattern) and I used the lacework pattern from the Plymouth bag as it was less open (and I figured less likely for stuff to fall out!).
Yarn: Spotlight generic 8ply cotton in col 5055 spring green (or "green bag green" as I was thinking when I bought it) - 3x50g balls - exactly - I think I had about 2m of yarn left over when I cast off!
Sticks: KnitPicks Harmony Options 4mm, 6mm and 7mm (love love love the options and being able to change tips! Very handy for a project like this)
What I learnt: a bag like this takes longer than you think it will - but not really that long! I'd possibly make the handles a bit longer next time - it's hard to know, as the bag will likely stretch, so you don't want the handles that long that you have to put them over your shoulder, but equally you want them long enough so that you can if you want to!
13 comments:
Oh my. Aren't you a clever one? Both are lovely. I think that denim knitted up beautifully and the lining just finishes it off sooo beautifully. I love it. I would be very happy to have you as my swap partner in a swap!
The green bag is gorgeous. So simple and effective!
I love both these bags and started drooling over them when I saw them in your projects. What stops me from making them is knowing I'd need a lining, and not having the skills to make a lining and, quite frankly, not having the interest right now in LEARNING the skills. The market bag I could make, obviously. But I just adore these.
Lovely bags!! I like the lining and the snazzy adjustable strap!! Good thinking to change the lace pattern too. I worry about things falling out of the large lacy holes in some bags.
I love that market bag. It looks like the perfect summer carryall.
Oh I love these two bags! I really like how your mods on the best friends bag give it a more modern and casual look than the original. You're very clever!
Very lovely, clever socks! Ive been thinking on string bags for some time now, and you've inspired me. Nice work!
Whoa - you've been BUSY! Those are both great bags! I made one similar to your green one in a linen yarn, but I like your pattern better - the smaller holes is a great idea!
And if you keep up at this pace, I don't think you need to worry about the stash enhancement above!
oh both bags are just lovely!!!!
and if I was only allowed to watch 1 tv show a week it would be project runway!!!! I don't think the aussie one will compare to the characters they find in the states!
Corrie;)
They are great bags!
Gorgeous bags. That blue one is just perfect & I love the environmental friendliness of toting your own market bag.
both bag are lovely! especially the denim one. and i like your garter stitch modification. what did you think of knitting with the rowan denim? i found it a pain when i was knitting with it last spring but when i saw my mom's sweater again in march i have to say it looked great - the rowan denim really stands up to wear.
Love the bags. You did a great lining job for the denim bag - it looks great.
I've been meaning to line my falted market bag since Adam was a small boy. Now I have the justification for the delay - I was waiting for your helpful hints on linings! Gorgeous colours, lovely bags : )
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