Hobo Bag

With Christmas right around the corner, I'm going to try to get more things listed in my Etsy shop in time for Christmas sales.

 

This is a Hobo bag that I made awhile ago but never got around to selling.  I made two, one of which I've kept for myself, and purse-anally (sorry about the pun *evil grin*), I love it.  I tend to dress in monotones or solid colors (is that redundant?), so it's nice to add a pop of color with a bag that seems to match everything.

Corduroy has such a wonderful texture, and this particular corduroy is thick and lusciously soft, as well as being nice and sturdy.

The inside is lined with a lovely soft muslin, and the entire thing is machine washable.  I've had my bag for a year now, and it still looks almost new.  (I say "almost", because the full cup of Starbucks coffee that spilled in my purse never did wash completely out.  Thankfully it didn't stain the outside.  What a waste of Starbucks; too bad I couldn't turn my purse into an IV drip bag, ha ha!)

If you're interested in this bag or other things that I have for sale, click here to check out my Etsy site.  Keep checking back, because I'll be listing more things within the next few days!

Special thanks to my friend Tania for being willing to model for me.  It's a good friend that will allow you to take photographs of her backside!

More

More bagging. Yes, more. Thankfully, I think I'm getting a little better at sewing bags, so it's taking me less time to get them done and I'm making fewer mistakes (hence, the less time.)

This, however, is my ultimate favorite bag. It's a good thing I've got enough fabric to make two, because otherwise I'd never be able to part with it. Self sacrifice is something that doesn't come easily for me, after all.

I couldn't resist adding wood buttons. Just cuz. I like wood. It makes me feel all natural and at one with the universe and that sort of thing. I just like them, alright? Stop snickering.

This is the best pocket I've ever sewn. It's very roomy, has an elastic edging so stuff won't get lost (and the pocket's not floppy, either. I hate floppy pockets. It's a pet peeve of mine . . . )

The other side of the lining has an elastic loopy thingy (official term, here) to hold bottles, cell phones, wallets, etc. I like elastic. Can you tell?

Cute, huh? Both items.

Only one's for sale, though. I'll let you guess which one.

NO OF COURSE NOT!!!

Banna, Bags, and Snarky-ness

I should just re-name my blog something like "obsessive compulsive crafter", because it seems that I tend to obsess about different crafts every other month. Right now I'm on a bag kick (did you notice? I thought so.)

However, this bag is NOT going in my etsy store, as it is being set aside for a Christmas present. It's another felted bag of my own design. I have to say, now that this is my second felting attempt, I'm not a fan of felting. It looks okay, I suppose, but it just seems wrong to go through all that knitting to knit a HUMONGOUS bag, and then put it in the wash and shrink it. Rather like cleaning the kitchen when it's just going to get messy again . . .

I've lined it with some left-over navy blue fabric from my stash. (Yesssss, I have a fabric stash, too. Everything is neatly organized by color in plastic totes, which I obsess about too. I love plastic totes . . . I think I need a life . . . perhaps after the children are grown in 20 years. . .)

This time for the handles I used a buckle sort of thing with sewn fabric handles. I like it because it added a little hardware to an overly-fabricated bag. Banna (Breanna) obligingly posed for a modeled shot with my bag. She's such a snarky little diva. I've already told Handyman to budget extra for this one, because she's already got an addiction for shoes, purses, clothes, and talking on the phone.

Help! Anyone want to adopt her when she's a more-snarky teenager? I'll take her back afterwards.

Just kidding.

For now.

I might change my mind when I see what they've destroyed while I've been on the computer . . .

Shop Updates

Hooray, hooray, I sold my first grocery/market bag on my Etsy store! Actually, I sold two, but the second one I sold to my SiL Rachel for cost, so I didn't make any profit on that, but it's still a sale, nonetheless! Hopefully I'll be able to sell more, so that I can have a legitimate excuse to sew more bags to feed my crafting habit, ha ha! Frankly, I make more money per hour teaching music lessons, but since I'm having so much fun doing this as well, why not do both?

This is the newest addition to my Etsy shop, and was by far the most difficult to sew. I never use patterns, because I like to be original (heh, heh, it's really 'cause I'm too impatient to take the time to read the patterns and figure them out in the first place).

It's a reversible handbag with some funky trims and slightly off-set pockets.

I think it turned out pretty cool, and something I wouldn't be ashamed to sell. (I've always resisted trying to sell stuff in the past, because I couldn't justify asking money for something unless it was really done well, at least by my standards.)

I have more stuff to add to the store later, but for now I'm just adding something every few days or so as I have the time.

Ha ha, time! What's that? Ah well, I like being busy!

Feeling Foolish but Hopeful

Well, after considering it for awhile, I've decided to try selling a few of my handmade items on etsy, an online marketplace for handmade crafts. I've always balked at doing this because I never really believed it'd be worth my time and effort.

My emotions in trying this are very jumbled, with "feeling slightly foolish" coming up on top most often. It's very difficult to bare one's crafting soul to the public. What if it doesn't sell? What if my stuff languishes in there for years and years, slowly mouldering away? That negative part of my mind that says, "Sure, people want your stuff as gifts, but they'd never pay money for it" is having a heyday. ACK!

Anyway, I've set up shop there and put my first item up for sale. It's a tote bag that I made from the leftover fabrics from my dress. I bought a bit of contrasting fabric to line it with, and I have to say, I'm quite pleased with the results.

It's not really intended to be reversible, although it could certainly be used that way if you want to display the red fabric only. Of course, I put in lots of French seams. (Any excuse to use French seams is fine with me!)

Well, I'm off to go bite my fingernails. You can check out my etsy shop here, if you're interested.

Bag #2

Sorry about the double music thing going on, to those of you who so kindly read my last few blog posts. I moved the music player to my sidebar (so that it's easier to turn off, if you so wish), but I forgot to delete the first one from the bottom of my blog. Hence, the echoing Dolly Parton, something that shouldn't be inflicted on the weak of heart or those wishing to retain their sanity.

Okay, on to bags.

This is bag #2, which I'm calling "Bag #2" for lack of a more romantic and expressive name. I had tossed around the idea of calling it "Bag Less Badly-Sewn", but try saying that name rather fast, and it makes an interesting sound. "Bagless Badlysown": original, but defeats the purpose of being concise and descriptive. I'm all about being concise. That's why I've wasted a whole paragraph on the title of the bag.

Now for the innards. Just for kicks I used a special stitch from my wonderful Pfaff sewing machine. (I LOVE my Pfaff, by the way. I've had it almost 10 years, now, and it still works like a dream. It wasn't cheap, but worth every penny. If it ever dies I'm going to crawl in a hole and weep for days.) The stitch added a nice touch on the pocket. I also put a magnetic snap closure in so that the contents of the bag don't go spewing out in full view of the unsuspecting public.

Here's a better view of the inside. Sorry about the tissue blocking the shot. And the yarn hiding in the corner. I can't imagine how that got there. I really don't have that much yarn lying about.

Heh, heh.

(If you're interested in sewing your own bags, I'd recommend checking out this site.)

So, now for the critique. I think I did a decent job sewing this bag, but I'm still not 100% happy with it. If the pocket were less floppy at the opening and the stitching around the edge a little cleaner, it'd be a perfect bag. The handles came out nicely, though, and the lining fit perfectly. I also stiffened up the bag itself by sewing in some extremely thick sort of interfacing.

I tried using this as a purse for a day, but it just didn't suit me. I really like the fabric (duh, since I picked it out after all!), but it was just too big for me. I don't care for my purse to be too big. The reason for this is that Handyman views my purse as a carry-all for my stuff as well as his. By the time he's stuffed his keys, his wallet, his cell phone, and other sundries from his pocket into my handbag, it could roll a strike at a bowling alley. To avoid having to explain all this to him, I just stick to a purse that can barely fit my pocketbook and lipstick. Much easier.

After all, if he wants, he can use this bag as his own purse, hee hee! I'm not using it!

Booga Bag - Done!

I don't teach on Wednesdays, so I like to use this day to catch up on house work (ha ha, not really!) and crafting projects that require more time than the usual itty-bits I have during regular days. It's also a day for me to catch up on some much-needed rest, so I'm looking forward to a long snooze this afternoon (and the kids had BETTER be sleeping too, or I'll sell them on ebay. . .)

I finished knitting the Booga Bag a few weeks ago, but I still needed to add the handles and liner, something which required my sewing machine. Since I'm not one of those blessed few who own an entire room devoted to crafts, I have to haul my sewing machine out of the depths of the darkest closet every time I need to use it. Therefore, sewing = a pain; knitting = much less a pain.

However, today being my "free" day, I hauled out the sewing machine and managed to get through all the little bits of mending that have been listlessly languishing in the mending pile. (Hee hee, I couldn't resist the alliteration of "listlessly languishing". Very Anne of Green Gables, don't you agree?).

So, I am happy to say that my first felted project is complete. I used my smart sister's advice and reinforced the bottom with a rectangle cut from a plastic folder. It worked perfectly, and I don't have to worry about it bending or getting warped if it gets wet. Also, it was thin enough that I could actually sew it into the bottom so it won't slip around.

I then added some nifty bamboo handles that I got on clearance at JoAnn Fabrics. Hmmm, that's not a very close picture of the handles, is it? Oh well, take my word for it, they're nifty. The original pattern called for felted i-cord handles, but I don't like the look of i-cord, and I wanted something with a different texture to break up all that felting. (Okay, I just hate taking the time to knit i-cord. So what!?!).

Finally, I sewed the liner together and then sewed it to the bag. Next time I sew a liner, it will be with stiffer fabric. This stuff was too thin, I think, and it was such a pain to keep in place! I also added a little magnetic closure to the inside so that stuff won't be as prone to fall out, especially as I have a bad habit of flinging my purse in the car while I'm frantically trying to stuff the kids in their car seats.

Pattern Specifics:
Yarn: Patons SWS in Natural Geranium, 4 balls exactly
Needle Size: US 10.5
Pattern Modifications: CO 60, worked enough garter stitch rows to pick up 20 stitches along each shorter edge, and 60 along each longer edge. Then I switched to regular straight stitch and knit until I ran out of yarn.
Finished Size: 12" x 8.5" x 4.5"

Booga-booga-Boo!

I finished knitting and felting the Booga-Bag I was working on a few days ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting about it. Here's a picture of it pre-felted, with a black pen on it for size comparison. Needless to say, this bag looked HUGE! I got a lot of funny comments about what a large hat it was!

I had read on Ravelry that the yarn I used tended to felt quickly, but I got caught up in doing other things while the bag was in the washing machine, so I didn't check it half way through the cycle as I was supposed to. Oops! Wow, did it ever shrink!

I don't actually mind the finished size, though. I'm not one for big clunky bags anyway, so my forgetfulness didn't cost me this time, thankfully! I found the perfect blocking boxes - two cereal boxes! They were exactly the right size.

I have some nice tan fabric that I'm planning to use to line it, and I still need to find some handles. I was thinking of using some pretty grosgrain ribbon, but I'm having trouble locating some that I like. I think I'll just use the old bamboo-handle standby that I can pick up at my local craft store. Much easier. I also need to put some cardboard (laminated, so it doesn't get wet) in the bottom to stiffen up the bag a bit.

I had so much fun knitting this bag that I've already cast on for another. I was near a Michael's this weekend, and I just happened to have four 40% off coupons at my disposal, so of course I had to use it to purchase more yarn! This bag will be a Christmas present for someone (could it be you?!).

Yes, I know, I'm a nut about knitting Christmas stuff this early . . . .

Still, you'll find it vastly helps the yarn stash guilt. You know the ol' excuse, "I need to buy this yarn because it could be a Christmas present for so-and-so . . ."

Pattern Specs:
Yarn: Patons SWS
Pattern: Booga Bag
Modifications: Cast On 60 stitches, pick up 20 along each shorter edge, and 60 along each longer edge.

Starter-itis and Stash-bustin'

Those of you knitters and crafters who read this blog probably need no explanation, but for those of you who are (sadly) immune to this wonderful disease, "Starter-itis" is the insatiable urge to begin at least twenty new projects, regardless of sense or reason.

I think the spring fever bug has hit me hard with this strain of starter-itis, because I've been craving something (well, several somethings) to knit. (Why can't I have the cleaning bug? WHY?!)

Thankfully, my ploy of shaming my family into giving me measurements seems to have worked, because they're starting to trickle in. I don't have all of them yet, but at least there's enough information that I feel safe getting started on some new stuff. Want to see what I've cast on?

This is actually a pattern I downloaded (yes, *gasp* I actually paid money for a pattern!) from Knit and Tonic called "Something Red", which I'm doing in blue here, and I like the look of it so much, I'm planning to knit several versions this year. We shall see how far I progress . . .

Here's the yarn I chose. It's something from my stash (hooray, stash busting!), and not exactly what I had in mind when I downloaded the pattern, although I'm starting to like it more and more as I see it knit up.

It's some JoAnn's Sensations Ribbon yarn that has a bit of a glittery/chenille look once knitted, and I think it's rather cool. It's nice and soft, too, but a bit hard to work with, since there's no "give" to the ribbon. Although I love working on this project, I can see I'll have to pace myself or I'm going to hurt my wrists again.

This is another version of the same "Something Red" cardigan (which I am cleverly entitling, "Something White". I know, it's inspired, but what can I say?) that I've cast on with some 100% cotton recycled yarn (also from my stash). I haven't gotten much done, but I've gotten it started and done a gauge swatch already, so I feel safe continuing whenever I get the urge to switch from the "Something Blue" version. The cotton is wonderfully soft and non-splitty (something hard to find with recycled cotton sweaters), but it too has no "give", so again, I'll have to pace myself.

Next up on the queue is this little beauty called "Too-Cute Cowl Neck" from Hip Knits. I have some Plymouth Encore yarn that I bought awhile ago when my LYS was closing, and I thought it would look very nice with this pattern. Thankfully, it's nice and easy to work with, so this will be my go-to project when the other sweaters are starting to cramp my wrists.

Finally on the needles is a Booga Bag that I'm knitting with some Patons SWS (also from my stash). I'm increasing the bag size a little bit, since I have four skeins (instead of the prescribed three). I just love the bright cheery colors and the sheen of this yarn, which is one of my favorites to work with. I've never tried felting anything before (at least on purpose), so this should be fun. My friend Nikki decided to start knitting one of these little beautys, and I couldn't resist making one, too. (Oh, click on over to her blog and leave a little comment - she just opened it!)

Well, that's it for my list (at least for now). I think the only reason why I've stopped is that I don't have any more spare needles.