The shawl border didn’t advance much over the weekend because I just didn’t want a lap full of wool :) The scarf did get a little work but I had to take some time to look for a second ball of yarn (which I knew I had - I just couldn’t find it). Of course when I finally did locate the yarn and get it spliced to the working strand from the scarf, I noticed that the eyelets on the left were all wonky and had been pretty much through the last repeat of the pattern.
Grump, grumble, frog....
So I decided it was time to get those bags under way - the ones I wanted to make for my friends. And you know, ideas were less than forthcoming :) I scoured all my magazines and on-line resources (nothing felted, this is cotton - not wool!), I made several attempts trying one thing and another and basically discovered a number of new ways to waste time...and yarn :)
And then it occurred to me that one of those dishcloths - the ones that are knit in short-row wedges to make a round cloth - would make a great bottom for a pouch bag :) Well, not the cloth exactly because you don’t really want the edging, but the technique. So I cast on and went to work…
So I decided to try it in stockinette. This didn’t created nicely proportioned wedges because stockinette stitches aren’t as even as garter stitches. It did work though, creating more of a spiraling type of effect (and using one wedge less than expected). I should have used a temporary cast on but, of course, didn’t think of it so at the end I just picked up a cast on stitch for every stitch on the needle and knit them together, binding off as I went along. There remained a nickel sized hole in the center, but a strand of yarn, threaded through and pulled tight solved that problem :)
I also discovered the advantages of the “wrap and turn” technique as I worked out the short rows. I haven’t bothered with it in the past because it kind of interrupts the flow of the knitting and that annoys me. But, since the alternative was to have holes in the bottom of the bag, I gave it a try. It still interrupts the flow of the knitting, but the resulting fabric is whole (as opposed to holey!) and that’s worth a little annoyance I guess :)
This is smaller than I imagined when I began and I’m still not sure that’s what I want, but I’ll finish it and then see how I feel about it. I doubt the other two bags will look anything like this though it’s always possible :) Part of the fun of doing this sort of thing is letting the imagination run around, picking up everything and anything that strikes its fancy!
Oh yeah…
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I’ve knit several of these short row dishcloths and have a problem with the holes you describe. I’d be interested in the “wrap and turn” technique you referred to. Thanks. I love your knitting.
well, that looks like it would hold scones nicely- however, and here i reveal my less than dormant tendencies toward un-ladylike remarks and behavior, if you keep on keeping on, i think it would make a perfectly lovely accessory to keep people guessing when you swig your pinot grigio (well, maybe not that as i think it definitely needs a chill to it) or a nice hearty red-
obviously i am not myself today- let’s all pretend i haven’t just revealed that i probably have seen a few bottles of ‘boone’s farm’ back in the good old days- college, long ago, but i remember it well!
stay happy-
Hi Judy :)
It’s easy. This tutorial at Sarah Bradberry’s marvelous site is clear and thorough.
Barb - You know, I had that thought too :) It’s about the right size.
And you’re not the only one with Boone’s Farm in their past :)
If you’re wanting a round bottom, why not try Emily Ocker’s circular cast on. There would be no need for grafting, or for picking stitches up as you’d be working from the center out (and because it uses a crochet circular cast on, you can pull it tight… no holes). Once the bottom is the size you want, just continue knitting straight up. Hmmmm.. I might have to try this.
I love the colour of the yarn you’re using, by the way.
You’re my favorite “bag lady.” ;) Good job!
Ev - I have tried every center out start there is, I swear :) I’ve had the most luck with the one that starts out as I-cord and even then, it’s by no means a sure thing.
I have tried the Ocker thing with no luck. But at this scale - light worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles, perhaps I have a better chance of seeing what’s happening and actually making it work? I’ll give it another try on the next bag.
This colors of this yarn make me think of butter and sugar corn :)
Bron - LOL! Well, I had to be good at something :) Thanks, sweetie!
I love following your creative process! It’s such a wonderful adventure. Also loving the way your bag is looking. Can’t wait to see how the other bags turn out!
Opal - I finished the bag last night and, except that it’s smaller than I’d planned, I think it’s pretty cute :)
Now I’m trying to come up with some ideas for bag #2 :)
Cool bags!!!! I never would have thought of using the dishcloth pattern as a bottom. How ingenious!!!!!
Peggy - Thanks for the kind comment. You could just as well substitute “desperate” for “ingenious” though :) Nessecity being the mother, and all that!
