NO REST FOR THE WICKED
Despite having my week heartlessly ripped away from me, I have suprisingly got stuff done. Some of it manically as I rushed against my own deadlines. Some of it whenever I got a chance, sometimes only 15 minutes here or there.
About a year ago I bought a bag kit from In The Bag Handknits, and it's lain dormant under my desk under a pile of other yarn for all that time. The beauty of writing a long list of tasks for the week, is that you can completely disregard that list, and start another one which contains not very important stuff to do, but that you actually do want to get started on, especially if it means avoiding the real important stuff on the first list. So I delved in and whipped up the bag for want of anything meaningful to do.
Big needles, chunky wool basic rectangle. Quick. Easy. I reiterate my distaste for large needles. The kit supplies all the trim pieces, and some stripey lining, but that wasn't quite right. So I gave it my own lining - some linen with red and grey splodges on it from Cotton Bow Wow and another layer of calico in between that and the bag for extra safeness. The bag is intended to carry knitting around, so I want it to be reasonably needle and scissor proof.
But why stop there, she said, in amongst the chaos. Lets go one step further, and make a little pouch out of matching fabric scraps. And because it's better to go the whole hog instead of 'just make do', I Sashiko embroidered the linen part (which is a fine white linen napkin). Here's the piece of 'fabric' before the final sew together.
And the finished product - a pouch about 34cm long x 39cm circumference, with a handknitted cotton bottom and a drawstring body and a very happy maker.
hey - love your work. i came to your blog from clementine's shoes and am instantly inspired. if only i had the time to make all these things...
Posted by:amanda | May 14, 2005 at 02:10 PM
I think you did really well! I love the pouch!
Posted by:Melissa | May 15, 2005 at 09:50 AM
Hey great work- I feel like it puts mine to shame!
I love your list tactics- sadly I employ similar tactics at work, which I sometimes think is probably not the ideal forum for adopting the "I'm going to do this just because it's much more exciting and fun" attitude...
Posted by:clementine | May 15, 2005 at 12:01 PM
I love the black purse with the great dotty lining So pretty!
Posted by:Martha | May 17, 2005 at 07:56 AM
Wonderful bag! I love the lining and matching pouch.
Posted by:myra | May 17, 2005 at 10:06 AM
really the fabrics you choose are just well too much :) I am turning into a green eyed monster over here!
Posted by:stinkerbell | May 17, 2005 at 08:23 PM
I sent out the fabric for project back tack on Monday the 16th. Its coming to you via Global Priority Mail, so hopfully you will have it by Monday the 23rd! xox
Posted by:Back-tack pal | May 18, 2005 at 12:10 AM
That wonderful little black Grace Kelly style handbag is definitely the handbag of a woman who make herself beautiful every evening for the return of her husband, knows how to mix the perfect cocktail to offer the moment he walks through the door, and has dinner on the table ten minutes later. And she surely wears the flimsiest of aprons at this time of day, having changed out of a cooking/cleaning/childcaring apron just before he got home. (The child at this point is, of course bathed, quiet and ready for bed.)
Posted by:Jane | May 18, 2005 at 04:35 AM
both are amazing!! I love your fabrics, etc.
Posted by:jenn | May 18, 2005 at 07:24 AM
That bag is fab. I'll be seeing you on Sunday in Melbourne!
Posted by:nichola | May 18, 2005 at 08:50 AM