No, this is not the dyed yarn from few posts back but the poor Lett-Lopi colourway 9264 that was first destined to come a cardigan. The cardigan project went long ago ashtray and the yarn was buried in the back of the stash. I don’t quite remember what brought me to the pages of Knitty this time and why I happened to set my eyes on the French Market Bag (designed by Polly Outhwaite) but the moment I saw it, I HAD to try it.
I have never been keen on knitting first and then felting. I like to have some control over my work but it is impossible almost since I have a washing machine of which cycle cannot be interrupted and throwing something that you have been knitting for few days to a cycle that can take up to an hour and a half has not had any appeal to me so far. But the bag was so very beautiful in the picture that I decided to take a chance. So what - never mind - if it never comes out right…
I knit according to the pattern, used the recommended needle size and used up a tiny bit over 4 skeins. Did only one minor change, I knit the handles about 10 rows longer. I did not take a before-picture, I sort of only half-knowing that I was actually working on a project threw it into the washer with towels and without pictures I would not suffer if it did not work out.
I have never been keen on knitting first and then felting. I like to have some control over my work but it is impossible almost since I have a washing machine of which cycle cannot be interrupted and throwing something that you have been knitting for few days to a cycle that can take up to an hour and a half has not had any appeal to me so far. But the bag was so very beautiful in the picture that I decided to take a chance. So what - never mind - if it never comes out right…
I knit according to the pattern, used the recommended needle size and used up a tiny bit over 4 skeins. Did only one minor change, I knit the handles about 10 rows longer. I did not take a before-picture, I sort of only half-knowing that I was actually working on a project threw it into the washer with towels and without pictures I would not suffer if it did not work out.
But it did! It did!
I only had to pull here and there and the bag was what I had envisioned. (I hope I’m able to do that again, I’m knitting blue lopi at the moment.)
I love details. I’m all about details. The bag did not feel finished. It needed something. I got out my little tiny embroidering needles and embroidery yarn from Renaissance Dyeing and set myself on the long stretch of embroidering small flowers.
I cannot describe how good that felt and how happy each one of them made me feel.I love details. I’m all about details. The bag did not feel finished. It needed something. I got out my little tiny embroidering needles and embroidery yarn from Renaissance Dyeing and set myself on the long stretch of embroidering small flowers.
This morning the bag had a lining.
If you saw me know, you’d see me radiating with good cheer. 
I’m so in love with this bag.
40 comments:
Wow, what a beautiful bag! It's a pity only that bloglines ate half of your post.
Those tiny flowers are so pretty! How did you embroider them?
You are so right! The bag was ok by itself, but the flowers put it over the edge. How do you do that? Somehow you always know just exactly what little detail a project needs. It's beautiful.
Gorgeous bag with those cute little flowers!
Your little embroidered flowers make me very happy too. They are just what your bag needed.
Dang it, you got me inspired ont the bag! Beautiful result, I love ypur embroidery.
love the flowers! what a beautiful bag!!!
It's beautiful, Lene! You've inspired me. I have some handspun which has been unable to find it's true calling in life. The market bag may just be it's calling....
Thanks for your continuingly wonderful posts!
Beautiful bag! I love the little flowers. Hope you won't think I'm a copycat if I go over to Knitty and check out that pattern... :)
I've had my eye on that bag for the longest time...yours is so very lovely, those little flowers make is so fresh...absolutely delightful!
I'm glad to hear it's making you so happy!
Lene, it is so true what you say about he details. The addition of the charming little flowers and a lining turn your bag into something special.
The yarn colour is lovely as well. Funny, I have recently found myself drawn to yellow yarns. This is not a colour I have worn for a very long time, not since childhood. Hmm.. is this a sign of regression?
It's gorgeous, Lene. The embroidery make it special.
Perhaps you can show how you did the lining in the next one?
I can't believe what such a simple detailing does to an otherwise plain bag. You're a genius, Lene.
Great. Now you've got me wanting to try it myself.
This is really lovely, Lene, what a creative take on this pattern! :0)
I always love your embroidary touches! It's so fun to see everyone's different finished bags!Here is mine.
http://indigodi.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/08/index.html
The embroidery certainly 'makes' the bag something special!
Will you use it to carry knitting, groceries, lunch for sitting by the lake, or whatever you want to move from place to place?
You are absolutely right, that bag would have looked unfinished without those flowers. They look like lovely little grass flowers on a carpet of moss. How beautiful! I've never been a fan of felting, but I have to say your bag is definitely a work of art!
This bag is so beautiful!!
The flowers so pretty.I love your embroidery
I can feel your happiness in British Columbia. It is an incredible piece of art. Just beautiful.
Excellent! The bag is beautiful - but moreso your satisfaction with the project. I just LOVE IT when that happens!
that is just beautiful. Mine is unfinished, but you've given me a kick to getting back to it! The embroidery is lovely and the lining --WOW. thanks for the pictures.
It's wonderful! I love it. :)
It is a very cute bag. Soft and sunny, yet sturdy and useful.
Ah, Lene, your eye for detail has won again! You're obviously a wonderful lateral thinker - this time the flowers did it!
I made that bag a while bag using variable stripes of dyed handspun although I didn't think to line it or embellish it. Yours is just great!
I'm happy to know what the "little yellow thing" is. The embroidered flowers really make it special. I think it would have been a bit plain without them. You did a good job, and I can picture your happy face each time you look at it. I hope your weather is warm now without too many mosquitoes.
Just beautiful! I'd also like to hear more about how you did the lining. Sewn on by hand?
it's so Cute! You've done a beautiful job!
I never had any interest in knitting this bag until I saw yours! I love, love, love it! So very sweet.
I love your eye for detail! It was a cute bag before, but your embroidery made it absolutely wonderful.
You did indeed dance with wool. It looks fabulous!
That is so cute! And you take such lovely photos too.
The embroidery is the *perfect* touch! Lovely!
Putting a lining in the bag is a great idea!
My knitting bag is similar to this style. I wonder if I can put a lining in it.
Thank you for telling that you put the flowers on after the bag was felted. As I was reading, I was wondering it you made them before or after.
Your bag is so lovely, my recent felting is pretty sad compared to that!! It looks so useable too, the lining is lovely.
Lene, forgive me, but your use of the word "ashtray" made me laugh. But those little flowers blooming in their wide green field are very beautiful.
Your bag is just lovely. I'd seen the pattern before, but the embroidered flowers give it a lot of extra zing... very inspiring!
It's just darling...
it's beautiful. I love the embroidery and the lining. It's just stunning
it's beautiful. I love the embroidery and the lining. It's just stunning
Brilliant! The flowers add such a nice touch to your bag. I've been doing a lot of felting lately too and love watching the transformation that a bag goes through in the wash.
Your bag is outstanding, absolutely outstanding. Will you actually put food and vegetables in it? Or, use it as a purse. I would imagine that one of your daughters would love it as well....
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