...got a brand new bag

I've had this bag percolating for a while now. Last week it all kind of clicked into place. Of course I was at work, so I had to wait a while to try it. It took an evening from start to finish, and although I have a bit of tweaking to do, I'm really happy with it.



Outer Fabric: Canvas remnants I found in the fabric section of Ikea. I'm guessing it's cotton or a blend, and probably is an upholstery type weight. I'm not sure the exact amount of fabric, as I forgot to measure it before I started cutting. I used exactly the amount of fabric i had! I have about a 2" x 3" scrap left over.
Lining Fabric: Unknown fiber remnant from my stash.
Bag dimensions: 13" wide x 12.5" high x 6" deep (plus handles)


The contrast stitching was an "oops" (I ran out of navy thread when I stitched the handles), but now that it's complete, I wish I had planned it that way, as I really like it. My sewing could have been more precise, but I was on a mission.

There are 4 patch pockets on the outside and 2 pockets in the lining: 1 zippered, one patch. The outer fabric was re-inforced with fusible interfacing in a medium-ish weight.

I've been using this as my work bag (replacing my nearly 10-year-old messenger style bag) for almost a week now. I really like it and I'm thinking I'll get a lot of use out of it. I may make another one (or five) with some more remnants I have from Ikea. If I ever get my butt in gear, I might try to sell them in my (so far empty) Etsy shop. Eventually.

so distracted

It will probably come as no surprise to anyone who has followed my knitting here that I tend to get easily distracted by new projects. I usually have at least 3 projects on the go at all times. Not counting a sock.

Lately, I've been fading on my knitting. I'm still knitting, don't get me wrong. It just isn't holding my interest as well as it usually does. Ever since I made the recycled sweater bag, I've been thinking about sewing. Specifically, I've been distracted by this:




(just a sneak peak for now. I'll show you when I'm done...)

And this:

A small bag to carry toiletries in my recycled sweater overnight bag. I thought of it during the day yesterday, started it last night and just finished it this afternoon. I even lined it (an accomplishment for instant-gratification-me):



And, the most self-control-testing destraction:

Yesterday afternoon the wife of one of my coworkers came in with some alpaca fiber they had processed. I got a pound (!!) of this soft, beautiful fiber. The self-control came in to play in that I got the fiber at 3:00pm. All this fiber sat on my desk for 2 hours while I tried to concentrate on my work!


Of course I spun some, why would you even ask! This is 50g/1.75oz, approx. 80 yards, close to a worsted weight 2 ply. I think this is the most even yarn I've produced so far.

I'll have plenty more to show off in the coming weeks. I plan to do a lace weight next, and I'm dyeing some to see how much it takes dye. There are lighter spots along the length of roving; the mill combined the fiber from all 6 animals. The alpacas on their farm range from white to dark auburn-y brown.

The owners of these animals will be selling the fiber online soon. I'll post the link when it's set up.

I'll get some pics of WIPs together to show you that I HAVE been knitting. I just haven't been finishing... sigh.

T-Shirt Rug

A couple of years ago, I started collecting t-shirts to cut up to make a rug. I bought a bunch of men's XL t-shirts at Value Village and dyed them. Then I folded them and put them in the corner.

Then, suddenly, a couple of weeks ago, I had the urge to do something with them.



I cut each shirt into a continuous strip approximately 3/4" wide. Then, I gave the strip a tug as I was rolling up my new "yarn". With squares borrowed from a simple dishcloth pattern, I knit up the t-shirts. After I had my squares knit up, I arranged them and then laced them together, like a shoe.



It's not nearly as wide or as long as I had intended, I just had gotten too anxious for it to be done. I plan to add to it as I have more t-shirts to contribute.

As you can see, it is in my "usual" color palette. I don't even consciously pick those colors, they just happen. Even the flecks in the linoleum in my (rented apartment) kitchen are the same green and blue.

I have many things to catch up on here. WIPs I intended to post that are now (almost) FOs. WIPs I have (semi) abandoned. Yarns I've spun. I think I need to work on posting more regularly but shorter posts. I tend to be too wordy (I heard that sarcastic gasp) so I will try brevity for once. (resisting the urge to continue on about it)