Sue Townsend never fails to amuse.
All pictures are clickable for the curious.
Yes, I have another finished object to show today.
That is fusible fabric fused to an old cut-up t-shirt, in turn fabric-glued to my work.
That is how it looks inside. Fairly true to the real colour.
That is my first-ever successful use of Tunisian (knit) stitch (link leads to Nexstitch.com’s video instructions). I used the same regular hook, because this strap is only 5 stitches across. I love how the cotton blend yarn gives a perfect definition to the knit stitch.
This is the button closure. Larger than life button, but I like it. It makes a statement, don’t you think?
Yes, that’s my hand 🙂 By now discerning (and patient) readers would have gathered that this is yet another bag. So I present proudly:
Ta-da!!!!!! I’m proud of myself for several reasons, including fusible fabric, bling-y button, made-up pattern (ok it’s quite elementary, but still!), Tunisian stitch…
Er-urm. Here’s the details:
Yarn: Aunt Lydia’s Baby Denim and Vardhman Feather Fresh
Hook: Pony 4.5 mm
Pattern: All my very own!!!!!
Time: Over two days
Size: 8.5″ x 6.5″(straps are about 9″ high)
Extra: #1 Where do I begin?! Ok, I successfully used the Tunisian knit stitch (link leads to ARNie’s written instructions) for the first time ever for the straps
#2 Love the definition the cotton yarn gives, and since the base was already anchored to the purse, the Tunisian part did not curl.
#3 My first time using fusible lining. I bought a metre of the fabric used for collars and cuffs. I was wondering if it might make it too stiff, but it’s fine.
#4 Cut up an old t-shirt (doesn’t match exactly, but that’s ok)
#5 There’s bling in them thar button
#6 Posting about it is successfully distracting me from the terror in Bombay. 😦
Well, I can’t think of a more imaginative title! Some time in February, I won a contest on Amie’s blog, and the prize was any one of her patterns. I chose the Shelly Shopper. And today I finished it. It’s actually a very fast and easy pattern, and the way it is presented is wonderful, with full colour pictures of the stitches and how they are done, and Amie adds a printer-friendly version of the pattern as well in the same file.
I used a different yarn than called for (well, obviously!) and it turned out smaller and wider. Am still wondering if I should line it…it has holes. I have an idea which might ruin it forever…I have some of the fusible fabric used for cuffs and collars and want to try it for lining. It will be rather stiff, but well, anything to avoid sewing! Anyway, here are the specs:
Yarn: Aunt Lydia’s Baby Denim
Hook: Pony 4.5 mm (is that a G? I’m too lazy to find a list now)
Pattern: Shelly Shopper from Nexstitch.com
Time: Each side took only about an hour or so
Size: 9″ x 10″
Extra: #1 Planning to line it like a collar!!!
#2 Used plastic handles for the first time ever. Those and one more are the only choice available. I’ll show you the others some time.
#3 Perhaps using the yarn and hook called for in the pattern would have reduced the holey-ness, but I’d never have made it then, would I?! (say that with a lilt a la Eliza Doolittle)
#4 The husband thinks the original looks much better, but that’s ok. I’m happy with it so far (who know what will happen after I line it?)
No muppets were harmed in making this bag. I doubt anyone will remember, but I started this bag back in February and had an issue with the pattern. Anyhow for the second side I went with plain stockinette and found it produced stripes. I didn’t go with a belt handle, but chose instead to crochet one with some Moda Dea Ticker Tape that I got in my April CAT PAC from Kathleen. The idea was given to me by Skip in our last CAT chat. Thanks, Skip!
I’ve given the bag away to my neighbour’s daughter. It is a bit frivolous for me at my age 😛 Anyway, I believe her brother now wants one for a gift for a friend. This time I might stockinette the whole thing without a pattern. Maybe even on circulars, to eliminate the pain of sewing seams.
Here are the gory details:
Yarn: Vardhman Fun Feather 50g skeins (2), Small amount of Moda Dea Ticker Tape
Needles & Hook: Size 7/4.5 mm straights, Boye size J/10/6 mm
Pattern: Loosely based on this
Time: 5 months?!
Size: I didn’t actually measure it but it might be about 8″ across and about 5″ deep.
Extra: I might actually sell something like this, wow!
I was mightily relieved to see this picture on my knitting feed from Flickr. Not only are the colours gorgeous, there is yellow!!! I’ve been secretly worried since The Subway Knitter began her bee baby outfit, because the colours are supposed to be yellow and sage and all I could see were a pale beige and grey. I said as much in a comment when I first saw pics of the yarn, and had my wrist slapped for it 😛
Now that I’ve seen this picture, I’m happy to report the yellow looks like yellow. You can’t imagine my relief. It must be some freak with Apple and LCDs and whatnot.
For Bloglines.
I’ve decided to add a page to my blog with my wishlist on it. For the curious, here’s the link.
I tested this pattern for Katchkan. Stash busted the thread. It really feels good to bust your stash. From a distance:
And close up:
Pictures are clickable.
One of my friends says she cannot see my photos when they are Flickred because her net server blocks the site. Does this happen to anyone else?
Here are the details of the project:
Thread: Size 20 Anchor in Green, Size 20, some odd size held together with sewing thread and unmercerised thread about size 20 in White. (I did say I was busting stash!)
Hook: Tulip 1.5 mm steel (one of my favourite sizes/hooks)
Pattern: Katchkan‘s Summer’s Promise (tested)
Time: Over 2 weeks
Size: 22.5″ from picot to picot.
Kathy is an amazing designer and I always learn something from each of her patterns. She’s also wonderfully fast and seems to whip up these patterns overnight. Currently she’s working on a skirt and top. Wow.
…has a name! While foraging for a “Thought for the Day” for my radio anchoring session later this evening, I found that the smell of the first rain on dry earth has a name and it’s petrichor. I just *love* the smell. Apparently it has been concentrated as a perfume as well. Has anyone seen (smelt) it (the perfume, not the natural scent) and is it authentic?
I’d definitely be in the market for this one (most other perfumes I find too strong or floral or fruity and they give me headaches). And also for coffee (how strangely would you be regarded if you wore coffee as a perfume?)
Breathe in, breathe out. Yes. Relax.
Ok. Comments on my previous post depressed me. There, I’ve said it. Now I’m recovering. I shall address your concerns point-wise. 🙂
1. First, desi, I can occasionally be sarcastic, too, you know (ooo, imagine that!). A big craft store is as much progress for India, as Macdonalds, Imax, Archies, Starbucks, Domino’s, Valentine’s Day….and the rest of it. If we can be invaded by Hollywood (dubbed into Telugu, no less) and Marks & Spencer selling underwear starting at Rs 450, why can’t we share some of the crafty goodness as well?
2. I can produce busloads of aunts (and grandmothers) with the creativity to produce miracles without patterns and directions as well. Sadly (for me) I totally missed the bus when the creativity gene was being handed out and I’m afraid I couldn’t create to save my life. I can only follow directions (I’m *very* good at that), so patterns are a godsend for me.
3. I rely heavily on our local craft stores, as well, and sometimes wish I did enough crafts to take full advantage of all they have available. See #2 above to know why I don’t. Deneen, of course women in India do crafts. Our smallest towns will often have mom-and-pop stores (bangle stores, they are called) which sell everything to tickle your fancy, from said bangles and cosmetics, to thread for sewing and crochet, crochet hooks, knitting needles, painting kits and satin ribbon, crepe paper and bindis and rubber bands and lining cloth…you get the idea, all in one small 10″ by 8″ space or less. These are our staple.
4. I am weird (no, really!) and I like browsing in stores, without having to consult salespersons until forced to. No hovering over me, please. Given #2 above, I go into crafty stores without any clear idea of what it is exactly I want and feel shy of asking for a nebulous “thing” (what have you got to tickle my senses today?). So a store that allows me to browse through crafty stuff sounds wonderful. (The same thing applies to me and books, by the way).
4. I agree wool isn’t required in most of the country, but the same thing could be said of concrete building materials, for example, which are totally unsuitable for our climate but have almost completely replaced our traditional construction material, or the synthetic materials that make up so many of our “readymade” (and therefore affordable) clothes. Why couldn’t we have natural yarns available, like cotton?
5. It’s a bit like you aren’t happy with the education system in India and you go abroad to study and work (there’s no future in India, sweetheart/the US has *dignity of labour*, and that’s why I can work in Macdonalds to support myself there, but would die before doing anything similar at home, dahling). I guess it’s a side effect of the global spread of information and seeing what’s available has made me greedy(ier).
6. This isn’t to offend anyone, just my views. Debate is welcome. The longer the comments, the happier I’ll be, since it means someone is reading me and thinking about what I say.
Phew, it’s hot on this here soapbox 😉
Footnote 1. I was depressed because I was reminded of my lack of creativity in comparison with what (busloads of) Indian women generally have.
Footnote 2. Creativity to me means the ability to conceive and execute something wholly out from one’s mind, not the ability to follow directions blindly (or otherwise). Ergo, I am not creative (and the polls are closed on that one, lovey, move on).
Let me now catch my breath and hear what you’ve got to say.
swakrta.com 