Okay . . . I know I said I was going to post something quilty, but for the past few weeks I’ve been knitting socks as well as making quilts. My son’s girlfriend, Cirilia Rose, is an amazing knitter and knit designer who works as the Creative Director for the Skacel Collection. She has inspired me to take up knitting again, which is something I haven’t done since I was a teenager.
Cirilia suggested I start with socks, and I’m so happy I did. She gave me everything I needed to get started — double pointed needles in every size imaginable and skeins of beautiful sock yarn — plus she loaned me a bunch of books on knitting all kinds of socks. For me, hand knit socks are perfect because they are quick to knit, don’t take much yarn, and they’re both pretty and practical. Socks also make a great portable project requiring only a skein of yarn and some double pointed needles. And gifts — who wouldn’t love a pair of cozy, hand-knitted socks.
Right in the middle of my second pair of socks, it dawned on me that I really wanted a special bag to hold my knitting. I thought of Lucy’s crocheted bag tutorial on her blog (Attic24), and I remembered that I had a bunch of small skeins of tapestry yarn that I thought just might work. The colors were a little weird, and not nearly as coordinated as Lucy’s yarn selection, but I was determined to use what I already had on hand. The look I was going for was something like the roundish, multi-colored, woven basket type bag with leather handles that I had in my hippie days. I decided to leave off the scalloped edging and flowers on Lucy’s pattern, but I added a lining in a 70’s reproduction print. Because the bag was kind of floppy at the top (and had a tendency to roll up), I attached some heavy interfacing to the edge of the lining which really helped. I guess I should have made a knitted bag instead of crocheted, but I’m only knitting socks (at least for now).
Love it all Martha!
That’s a great bag, Martha! Love the cheery colors. Nice job on the socks. They will make some lucky feet very happy.
That is GORGEOUS!!!! Well done, and I love the lining fabric. I so want to learn to knit socks – maybe this winter!!
Your bag is gorgeous with all the bright colors together. And you chose the perfect fabric for a lining. Did you coordinate them beforehand or was it happy serendipity that you had the perfect fabric for lining? And then, too, the fabric background is just right to show off the bag. I think crocheted bags are way better than knitted ones. You made a good choice.
Wow Martha! You are woman of so many talents! I like knitting because I think it is soothing. Anyway… Love LOVE the bag and the socks!!! 🙂 Hugs, Mickie
Knitting socks is one of my 2013 goals. Maybe I need a lovely bag to start the momentum!
I love your new crochet bag and I always enjoy the attic blog. You are the best!
I love the socks and the bag. I learned to knit just to make socks, so far, I have none to call my own. The ones I knit always turn out too big for me, but my daughter and mother-in-law have been happy about that.