Toothpick Optional

Well, Sharon has done it again! What a wonderful pattern and a CUTE CUTE CUTE BAG!!!

I did mine and took lots of pictures! Here are a few but if you want to see all the pictures I am hoping to post all about it on the blog tomorrow. But if you are on Ravelry...go and take a look :-)







xoxox

Marly

Caroline Bag in New Zealand!

Here's a photo of Mum with her Caroline Bag. She was visiting a butterfly exhibition.

Another Melly Bag...

I made another version of the Melly bag but this time I went with contrasting colors... I love the way it turned out!!

This one was made with Paton's Classic Wool Merino (doubled) so it's smaller than the 'original' made with Burly Spun, but it's still a good size. The Paton's felted really well (one cycle thru the wash) except the cream didn't felt as much as the other colors. I've heard that sometimes white doesn't felt in some yarns - anyone know why??




Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

toothpick (and olive) optional

I knit this bag for my sister. It is knit from Sharon's latest pattern, and it was a lot of fun (and super quick!). I think I'm going to felt it a little more. I'll definitely make another wristlet. I hope my sister likes it! Sorry the picture isn't great - it really doesn't do Sharon's pattern justice.

Another Ali Bag...

I finally finished my Ali Bag! I love the colors and think it's a great design!!

I still need to tack down the braid - I didn't tack it down (except the ends) before felting because it was a few inches shorter than the pattern and I was afraid it would felt much shorter. It didn't really so now there's plenty of extra to 'drape' between the Xs.

And next time I'd probably make the straps a bit wider... but I love it and decided that I just have to keep it for myself!

Thanks, Sharon!

Caroline Pictures

This one is from the first She-Knits Felted Bag class I taught at my LYS. I am incredibly proud of this student!



Here it is again in the center flanked by the original colors Caroline Bag on the right and a cutomer ordered custom colored one I completed on the left.

Newest bagchild...and she is a fiesty one!

I'm so happy!

I'm such a proud new Mum here and I hope Sharon is too! I just can't tell you how much I love this bag that will be my Mum's Christmas present. I can highly recommend this pattern. The intarsia is not too difficult and I had a lot of fun with the embroidery. I used Berkshire Bulky wool which is a wool/alpaca blend from Webs. It came out a little fluffy for my liking but I just gave it a little shave with a disposable razor.

Caroline Before Felting

Here's my Caroline bag before felting. I have to run out now but wanted to (hopefully) put a smile on Sharon's face :)

Melly's Cousin Bag in Berkshire Bulk

Hi everyone! I'm Lisa and I'm from Pennsylvania. I started listening to Sharon's podcast a few months ago and have been more and more intrigued with the notion of making one of her gorgeous bags. I decided to start with Melly's Cousin Bag. I chose Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky from Webs in Coffee Bean and Tan. I used US 13 needles instead of the 15s called for because I didn't have 15s. And the handles were knit on US 10.5 dpns because I couldn't find 13s. Otherwise, I stuck to the pattern. I knit the bag in only a few days during my vacation. In fact I was knitting on it Halloween night in between answering the door for trick or treaters. Here she is pre felting...

And after...
The yarn was really hairy so I had to go over the bag with my sweater shaver. And the holes for the handle didn't close up tightly enough. In hindsight, I should have made the holes smaller knowing I'd be knitting the handles on much smaller needles. But it looks fine. And I've gotten tons of compliments on it. I just love when people ask where I got my bag and I say I made it and watch the look of awe spread across their face.

Turns out, this bag is just a bit too small for me though. So I just got the Ali Bag pattern to knit next. The yarn decisions are proving much more difficult for me on this one, though. I want the main part of the bag to be blue and the pipes to be purples or maybe greens (Sharon suggested both, which could be totally awesome too). It's so hard trying to decide by looking at pictures on the computer (I don't have a local yarn store so the majority of my shopping is done online). When I do find yarn, I'll be sure to post.

Wool Gone Wild

Ok, I wasn't going to post this picture, but decided to so I can get feedback on what I should do with it. The main color before felting was more of a purple color, and actually matched the rest of the colors. After I felted it, the purple is less noticeable and now the brown/orange "Hairs" are sticking out, so much so that it is really shedding. I made the braid but didn't felt it as Sharon suggested earlier, but then it didn't match after I felted the purse! Then the X's weren't sewn onto the bag right, so I decided to cut them off - you can see what's left of them on the bag. I purposely made the shoulder straps shorter, and I do like the length of the straps and the size of the bag. I also like the way this bag felted more than the first bag I did.

So, gals, what should I do with this bag? Will the shedding eventually stop? I had black on the other day, tried this bag out, and landed up having to change because of all the "hair" the yarn left on my clothes (the yarn is Cascade). I've thought of somehow making purple polka dots on it to match the leftover yarn from my "x's." I could maybe embroider a design on it, or just put it away in my closet......

Ali Bag for my sister

My house has that lovely wet wool smell and that can only mean one thing - another She-Knits bag is finished! This is the Ali bag knitted from Sharon's original kit. I just loooove the jewel tone colours of this bag and the construction is simply ingenious. My sister had better be nice to me between now and Christmas otherwise I'm going to keep it for myself :)

Purple Mini-Melly Bag

Hi all -
I made Sharon's Melly Bag with a lighter weight yarn (Paton's Classic Wool) and love the way it turned out. It is SO cute in person... the obvious change was to do the cable design in the contrasting bag color which I think increases it's 'youthful appeal.'

This is the second time I've used this yarn and it felts beautifully! One cycle thru and it's completely felted (with assistance from Sharon's suggested flip-flops for agitation)!



Happy Knitting!
JavaNut

Roses at midnight

This bag was so fun and superquick to knit. It has endless possibilities when it comes to decoration and I am in love! All the knitting took me just about 2 hours I think.

Stats:

Pattern: Roses at Midnight by She-knits for knitters

Yarn: Iglo from Trysilgarn about 1,5 balls.

Needles: 9 mm dpns.

Modifications: I did not decorate on both sides of the bag, and I needlefelted on the leaves instead of embroidering them on.

Marly Shorty!

I got my kit I think on Tuesday and I finished it last night. I felted today and I LOVE IT!!! I did the Marly shorty with the patterned bottom. My bottom turned out a little different than Sharon's I believe because I was helping my DD with homework and knitting. However I totally love it! I also had a bit of yarn left over and used it to make a small pouch to put in the purse. I used 2 of the bag patterns on the pouch.

Here is before felting pictures

Bag

piece that will turn into a small pouch

Felted purse (sorry about the pic being sideways) Bottom of the bag, different but I like it)
Felted pouch, I am going to add snaps to the top flap

I sent pics to my sister and now she wants one too! It was a really fun knit. My sister is thinking she wants one in black and cream or brown and cream

Have a fun day,

Loretta

Out here in the wilderness...

Hulloooooo,

Sorry that it has been so long since I posted. I finished the knitting on my sunflower bag, but decided to wait until I got the next one or two done to felt, so no bag children pictures. Sorry Sharon!:( Also, I'm going to NYC in three weeks and decided that I wanted to have a clapotis to wear with my new coat. ( This is what I'm using my hard-won peruvia for! :) To add to this knitting stress, more of my colleagues at work are having babies and it is tradition for me to knit a hat for each one. But...starting the second week in Dec. I'm going to do two more loop de loop bags( can't remember the new name) or die in the process. I'll post the pics then.

Hi Everyone

Hi! I am just joining and waiting for my first purse kit. I am very excited to finally get one of Sharon's kits. I taught myself to knit when I was about 12 or so and have knitted off and on till about 3 yrs ago and have been knitting like crazy since then. I love felting it is so much fun. I have the Marly shorty on its way to me and I am already coveting another bag as well!

I am loving seeing all the pictures of the finished bags! Thanks for this Sharon.

Yoo-hoo- Silja where have your pictures all gone??? Jo's Marly Bags

Seriously, is it just my computer or are have all of Silja's pictures become empty frames with a little box with a little red X on everybodies computer. WHERE ARE MY BAG CHILDREN???? (mother panic ensues)

Did anyone ever get to see the beauty of Jo's Marly Bags? She was the first person to ever buy from my Sheknits for Knitters Shop and she bought the Marly Bag kit in the original colors. Then she bravely made two more picking her own fabulous colors. Have a lovely lingering look at my first bag children (trying to calm myself down about my missing ones with looking at my first ones)

Caroline Bag pattern is FINALLY here

This took forever, but I couldn't be more proud...toot toot! I am calling this an intermediate pattern, but only from the standpoint of the 3 flowers. If you have done intarsia work before....maybe a Robin Bag Wristlet...and feel comfortable with intarsia and want a knock out stand out bag here it is. I will call this a fast knit for all parts except the intarsia...it is a fun challenge and then the embroidery over the flowers and leaves takes some time but is a very gratifying pay=off at the end as the bag is a knock out....toot toot beep beep.





Caroline Bag

A bouquet of Robin Bag Sunflowers

A customer ordered a Sunflower bag, I realized after finishing the bag for the customer that I had made it in a deeper red then what she had assumed she was getting...she probably never would of know the difference HOWEVER I WOULD HAVE! I already had an orange one done that I hadn't felted, finished up the dark red one and knit the red one she ordered...hence a beautiful bouquet...it even smells good! The Sunflower is such a HAPPY flower, I love it!

Love em' unfelted to but never the less they are to floppy that way

One down... one to go

I finished my 'Melly Bag' and love it!

I felted it a little bit too much - one cycle would have been good, but I wanted the fabric a little more felted and then promptly got distracted so it went thru an entire second cycle. So the cable isn't as pronounced as it was after the first wash... And the pocket got slightly 'wonky' during felting... I was able to stretch it pretty well, but it's not exactly straight anymore.

And for a keen observer (hard to see in the photo), I attached the straps slightly wider than in the pattern.

It's a great bag, Sharon!! and I can see more of them in my future!!

My Ali bag is almost done... just have to sew the Xs on and attached the straps.

Happy (and happily) knitting!
- JavaNut

She-Knits Kal Questions

Since two different people asked some questions , I thought I would answer it out here as I am sure we can all benefit. Please always feel free to ask me purse knitting and felting questions...that was some of the thought originally behind the intention of having the She-Knits KAL...well that an my on-going hunger and THRILL of seeing my bagchildren all in one place ;) Remember, there are NO dumb questions...really and truly.

Can two different projects be felted at the same time?

The short answer is yes HOWEVER, always put them in separate pillow cases and be mindful of colors if you are doing lights and darks or light and reds there could be some bleeding. You can also throw in one of those Tide (?) color catchers or take your chances. I have never ruined anything from excessive bleeding but it can happen.

My favorite way to felt again is:

1. Put your item in a zippered pillow case (really it is a pillow protector)
2. Add rubber flip flops for agitation
3. Until you get to know your yarn and your washing machine, check frequently so you don't ruin your item by over-felting.
4. If you have something hard like Tupperware or waste basket that is the right size for drying use it to stretch your bag over -OR- use many many many plastic grocery bags until you have really filled your purse- then and punch and pull it until it is shaped the way you want.

2.What color should the inside pocket be on The Melly Bag (this was from someone who was working from the kit). I suggest using whatever yarn you have the most of left over if you are using the kit. The most important thing to keep in mind is, the Burley Spun Yarn is double thickness of the Lambs Pride bulky. SO if you use the Burley Spun then it is single strand and if you use the bulky weight yarn then do it doubled. Also be sure to put your interior pocket on the same side (inside) of the side you are putting the exterior pocket so you don't have ridges shoring on the outside from that interior pocket. I have ruined entire bags from that interior pocket showing through.

Lastly one person brought to my attention that she did not have enough yarn in a kit she purchased to finish 2 specific parts. Please let me know in detail if this has happened to you if this has happened to you. I will send you the additional yarn you need...I stand by my kits. I have increased the price to cover the additional yarn needed on one particular kit. It is my intention that I can keep the prices as low as possible on my kits.

Toooo quiet...and new pattern up in shop

Hellooooo...*said with sound echoing into a big empty cave* is anybody out there making a purse??? Have you all moved on to other projects? I would especially love to see any new bag-children and hey what happened to all the lovely Norwegians that bought the Melly Bag (formerly know as Cables on Pickets)pattern....I think I have only seen postings from Marit and Silja. Are you all burnt out on bag making? If so then I hope to see you again sometime...I am a bid advocate of only knitting what something that is fun and makes you happy!! Apparently I am never burnt out on bag making!!!!! So maybe it will perk you up or inspire you to see a new pattern that is up for sale in my She Knits for Knitters shop (or maybe not)?

Introducing-
Roses at Midnight

This wristlet starts as two pieces then becomes one so you are able to knit it on a circular needle...NO SEAMING!!!!! The leaves are embroidered on before felting, and the flowers, done in cotton yarn, are added after felting.

My very own *gulum voice* PRECIOUS

Hey all! I have been wanting to post all about my Marly bag on here for a while but have been super busy and now I am finally getting a chance to do that!

I was lucky enough to get my very own Marly Bag Kit from Sharon as an early birthday gift (NOV. 10..and I have beautiful brown eyes...LOL...inside joke). SERIOUSLY, I wanted to cast on for it as soon as I got it but didn't have the right size needles. So, had to wait for the stores to open the next day.

I did get the cheapo Susan Bates needles at Hobby Lobby because they were 50% off and seeing that my wallet was a little thin (if you know what I mean) I couldn't afford the nice stuff. Anyway, that was Friday. I think I did the Cast On and maybe the first five rows Friday Night.

Saturday morning...I sat in my arm chair and did NOTHING...barely even got up to PEE...but knit this bag! It was so totally addicting! The slip stitching color work is like magic! Sharon told me it was but to actually see it with my own two eyes...AMAZING!!

Anyway, by 7:30 Saturday Night I had it in the washer!!! I called Sharon to let her know...you know, so she could share in the excitement :-)

I pulled it out and stuffed it full of a Sam's Club (economy size) bag of diapers. Seemed to be the perfect fit! It dried over night and I have been using it as a purse ever since!!

Here are some pictures of the Great Event :-)

Now I can't wait to make the Pipes and Braids bag...or the Ally Purse :-)

Marly

Pre-felted...inside out...

Can you tell I haven't showered all day?
I always get a little worried when I put something in the washer...
And for some reason I always take a picture of myself...why?
After the washer and stretched to fit the diapers :-)

Sharon always takes pictures of her bags with either her daughters
or herself holding it. SO, I thought I would
get my daughter to hold my bag.
The dress doesn't really hide her does it, LOL!!

I LOVE MY BAG!!!