Blue MondayThe Blue Handles Edition

I'm sitting here deciding what to write first, typing a few words and then deleting, typing, deleting.  Sometimes I want to post and have stuff to say, but I just can't figure out where to start, what to include, what to save, what to skip.  The safe way to start, on a knitting blog at least, is with a finished knit.

Remember this?  Wait, I don't think I actually posted that anywhere, so hey!  Look at that!  That is a bag that I knitted and felted for the Ravelympics.  I finished it and lined it, but the handles came a little late. 

The blue handles are from Homestead Heirlooms.  I love them.

The photo shoot occurred at CT Sheep & Wool and this bag is almost the perfect bag for a festival.  While I made only one purchase, a skein of yarn, I could have fit a small fleece in here had I wanted to.  Even if I set some random rule to limit stash additions to what I can fit in the bag, I could still come away with a lot of stuff.  Of course there is a down side to that, my back will tell you.  It is a pretty heavy bag when empty, add my stuff and it can really weigh me down.  Finding my wallet or phone is a challenge as well, which might just save me some money!  The size of it can also keep me out of some crowded booths because I take up all of the space.

• Pattern: Decarhombi Bag by Kristi Schueler at Fiber Fool
• Yarn: J. Knits Dreamy Bulky
• Needles: size 15 (OUCH!)
• Cast on: March 28, 2009
• Bound Off: February 28, 2010
• Completed UFO for the Ravelympics

This pattern is so much fun to knit, I plan on another for sure. I even have the yarn. The super-sizing, while fine now because it is a distant memory, was the only problem I had. The pattern calls for worsted weight yarns with long color repeats, but I found this yarn in those great colors on sale and thought it would make a great felted bag (and I do have a weakness for those!), so I pulled out the size 15 needles and went to town. I think I really owned those!  Weird. By the end of it my hands were KILLING ME!!!!! The thing is, there is no seaming at the end, and you know what that means. About half way through the knitting it starts to get heavy and you just keep picking up stitches to add mitred squares on those huge needles, the whole thing just keeps getting heavier and heavier until you end up with this:

 

I love the construction of this bag, it has an origami feel to it and with no seaming it is a fun knit. "Lining?" you ask. Did you doubt it?

The fabric was living in my stash, purchased for what reason?  I couldn't tell you, but I'm glad I had it.  It adds whimsy to it, don't you think?

 

Thanks again to Sally for hosting my favorite day of the week, Blue Monday!

Well, there you have it.  I have tons more to say, not limited to, but including all of the crazy knitting that has been going on around here, how I have been cruising through blogland and a lightning speed, rarely slowing down to comment because I have so.much.KNITTING to do!  My knitting, contract knitting, some gift knitting.  I really want to comment and promise I will, but thanks to all of you for still stopping by here despite the fact that I am a bit of a negligent member of this community!

2010.  Fifty-one.  And thanks to Cheryl for taking the photos!  She can make a girl's bag look good!

Comments

[CyndiG]

I love the colors in the bag as well as the lining. It looks as tho that fabric had been created just for lining that bag!

[Sally]

That's large enough to be considered a suitcase! Good job, Teresa. Happy Blue Monday.

Your link is still messed up, but I'm going to fix it as soon as I click this.

[ML Petty]

Terry, love the bag. You could have carried your girls in it when they were toddlers, forget baby slings, just place baby in bag. I agree, the lining is whimsical, very fun pattern. I must add, I love your hair color. MLu

[jeanne]

Teresa, what a gorgeous bag. Beautiful blues and love the size. A great Blue Monday post.

Hugs, Jeanne

[Manise]

You can fit everything in there including the kitchen sink! I love the bag (awesome lining) and so many people were saying the same thing as you made your way around the barns on Saturday. It was so good seeing you!

[Carole]

That bag is amazing. And HUGE! I hope you bring it to NH S&W so I can see it in person.

[Laurie]

Twas good to see you, even if briefly. (I didn't even register the bag, there was so many peeps.) It's beautiful! I love the prefelted picture.

Size 15s, whew. Need to let the hands rest on that one. (What yarn is your Featherduster?)

[Nora]

I love it - I can't believe you got through that monster on 15s! Killer!

[Lynn]

I loved that bag - you're making me one, right?

Kidding. Anyway, lovely to see you!

[margene]

You are a rare site and missed by me. I love the bag, your face and your hair.Cute!! The bag would kill me if I tried to knit it. The leather handles are perfect.

[kate]

you could probably have the hubby carry you around in that bag!

I never got on the felting bandwagon, but have been hankering to do some quick bags and basket/bowl type items...

[Vicki]

Amazing. Love it! Especially love that "bubble dress" photo.

[claudia]

You look cute with dark hair. I think this is the first time I've seen it.

[Renee]

What a great bag!! Love it!

[Bonnie]

I love the bag. It is really fabulous. But I also love your hair! Wow! It really makes your eyes pop! A few years ago I changed my long blonde hair to a short auburn color and also really loved the dramatic change. But for me since I have lots of gray, I ended up having to have it re-touched every 3 1/2 - 4 weeks and that got to be too expensive as well as too time consuming!

Enjoy both.