The bag is finished - well, the knitting is finished anyway :) I’ve been too tired and wobbly to undertake the felting (by hand, standing at the sink) just yet, but I’m hoping to get to it tomorrow or the next day. It should be a fascinating process to watch!
Its current, pre-felted dimensions are 12.5” in height x 12” in width. I’m intensely curious to see how this will change once the thing has shrunk down. I do hope I don’t end up with a coin purse (!) but I suppose if that’s what happens, it will be the sturdiest coin purse in the universe :)
I finally decided on a cowl pattern by returning to an old friend - Barbara Walker’s Dragon Skin. I had all but decided to try the Silken Smoke that Elann offers (see Ev’s beautiful version here) but changed my mind at the last minute :)
I did fudge the stitch pattern a bit (of course I did…) by changing the center two knit stitches to purls. This seems to give the fabric a bit more texture and spring and I’m liking the look :)
The yarn is Classic Elite Miracle and I am enjoying working with it. Interestingly enough, it is similar in some ways to the Patons SWS. They are both single ply yarns with very little twist and both are relatively inelastic. The Miracle, however, has a much nicer hand and a much smoother feel against the skin. I haven’t run into any knots in it either and the SWS was full of them - as many as four in a ball.
It’s a DK weight yarn and I’m working it up on the recommended size 6 US (4.00 mm) needles. If you work this on metal needles, you’ll have to keep control of it because it is pretty slick. But I can tell you, since that’s what I’m doing, that it isn’t all that difficult :) If you happen to have wooden needles who’s color will remain a nice contrast to your yarn, you might find them a bit easier to work with.
The color seems to glow just a bit - I’m sure that’s all in my head, but it’s truly lovely stuff. I’m trying to be a bit careful because this probably won’t frog too well, but I really haven’t had any problems with it so far. Perhaps knitting with the SWS was good practice? Heheh…
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Chat is on for this evening - got that holiday knitting started? Drop in if you’re in the neighborhood :)
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I like the colours in the bag. Looking forward to seeing how it felts up for you.
The cowl is going to be lovely! Great colour, nice stitch definition. Very nice! What’s the knitting in the background of the cowl picture? There are some lovely colours back there. Noro?
Ev - Yes, the background is my old winter stole, made from Silk Garden. The colors are/were lovely but I really didn’t like the quality of the yarn and probably won’t bother with it again. Now that its beginning to fall apart, it’s been relegated to backdrop work where it seems to so surprisingly well :)
Lovely! Can’t wait to see how they turn out!
I may be stopping in later. I brought my computer with me to Baltimore! :)
Kathleen - Thanks, sweetie. It will be good to see you if you really haven’t anything more exciting to do!
The bag is beautiful but do you think maybe the straps should be thicker? They may cut into your hand, I just finished a bag and should have thought more about the strap. Take care.
Kathy - Okay, I’m completely bemused here. There aren’t any straps yet. I was suffucuently unnerved by the thought of straps/handles felting differently than the actual bag that I didn’t put any on. I figure I can deal with that issue later.
I like the bag and I can’t wait to see how it felts. Looked up the Silken Smoke, very beautiful. I have been looking for cowl patterns! I love the yarn and color for your Dragon Wings cowl. I can’t wait to see the finished product! As usual,you inspire me!
Carol - I did the felting this afternoon and it was awesome :) Pictures sometime next week when it’s dry.
Thanks for your nice words - you always make me feel like I can do anything :)
Hi Robbyn,
Hope you’re feeling better soon! Once you can get to the sink to do your felting, don’t worry about your bag turning into a change purse. With hand felting you control how much agitation it gets for how long. You can stop any time! And if you don’t think you’ve done it long enough, you can go back to the hot water. Machine felting takes a whole different level of faith. Good luck. It looks just lovely in those colours. You may just inspire me to try entrelac yet!
Jennifer
Jennifer - Thanks for the encouragement :) Actually the issue of control is one of the reasons I decided to try it by hand rather than in a washing machine.
The bag looks good - look forward to the finished purse, oops, product! LOL
Lynne - Thanks, I’m pretty happy with it too :)
Just curious, what’s wrong with the word purse? You know, since that is how I intend to use it…
