Scraps of memory
Posted by Lanea on Monday, November 26th, 2007
I’ve been making small things, quickly. You’ll have to forgive the flash photography–no sun in Virginia today. The colors aren’t quite right, but you’ll get the point.
All of the bags I made this weekend have the same basic dimensions. I made several of the shorter, square version because it just seems good for socks, and I like how most of these stand at attention if I decide to sit them on a table and open them up. And the 5 and 1/2 or 6 inch square bases fit standard DPNs nicely.
This one was a labor of love. The patterned fabric is a rayon print covered with images from Alice in Wonderland. I cut it off the bottom of a very long dress I got as a teenager, and I dole the remaining scraps out very slowly. I think I still have the dress hiding in a closet somewhere. If rayon was easier to keep on grain, I’m sure I would have hacked it up and used it for something else by now. This bag isn’t as crisp as I’d like, and it was a pain to force into something geometric, but the fabric is unbeatable. I used a blue twill as a lining to give the bag some body.
See how nicely the needles fit?
This bag makes me think of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and William Morris.
Green side:
And purple:
I love how crisp it is. And this bag, which makes me think of a Scot and a Brit, is stuffed with Welsh yarn. I guess I owe a bag to Ireland and Cornwall and Mann and Brittany and Galicia . . .
Partially finished bags include one of water:
And one of coffee:
And one of leaves:
And one of, er, a batik I really really love that is in a pattern that’s been in use for thousands of years and some deep purple silk noile, so let’s blame this one on the Silk Road:
Also, I made a Baby Surprise Sweater. Yarrow chomped on the yarn a lot before I started the sweater, so that forced the random striping. Unfortunately, there are still some weak spots in the yarn, and there are really a lot of ends hidden in this, so I don’t think it’s fit for an actual baby.
It is, however, perfect for a stuffed duck. And since one of my nieces has a serious jones for some duck clothes, it’s a rather serendipitous item. I developed a strong understanding of an iconic pattern that I can now repeat in undamaged yarn, and, er, a stuffed duck will feel very pampered. Now to find the right buttons.
Filed in knitting,sewing | 7 responses so far
kon 26 Nov 2007 at 8:16 pm 1Ooooh, the one with the leaves….
are you going to do some sort of guide on how to do these? Some general assembly tips?
Maybe if you sent me the one with the leaves on it, I could figure out how to make my own? Really. I would send it back. Really.
I think it’s great that the duck will be well dressed. I’m remembering something about “a flannel for her nose,” or was that a grey goose?
Jackion 27 Nov 2007 at 1:34 pm 2I love the Mackintosh, Coffee and Leaves. Your color combinations make my eyes happy. 🙂
Thornyon 27 Nov 2007 at 3:34 pm 3That’s one lucky duck. (Bwa! I crack me up!)
Seriously, those bags are awesome. I especially can’t wait to see how the water one turns out.
Lellaon 27 Nov 2007 at 5:44 pm 4Your handle totes are wonderful! You’ve been very busy!
Lellaon 27 Nov 2007 at 5:44 pm 5Your handle totes are wonderful! You’ve been very busy!
fiberliciouson 01 Dec 2007 at 12:10 pm 6Lovely! If you’re planning to sell the bags, you’re more than welcome to do so at KnitKnutz. Any time. If you give me heads-up as to when you think you might be doing so, I’ll send an alert to the group ahead of time – more shoppers!
fiberliciouson 01 Dec 2007 at 12:11 pm 7Lovely! If you’re planning to sell the bags, you’re more than welcome to do so at KnitKnutz. Any time. If you give me heads-up as to when you think you might be doing so, I’ll send an alert to the group ahead of time – more shoppers!