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| The knitting bag. |
A while ago I noted how I organise my knitting and crochet notions. As always, clutter control is a challenge and I am always developing strategies to help contain the mess.
Keeping ongoing knitting projects in a bag is a really good idea. I've been looking for a good knitting bag for a long time, but the stuff available just seems too twee (old-fashioned) or way too functional (think military pockets!).
Meanwhile, last year before getting my sewing machine set up here in Hamburg, I was desperate to do a bit of sewing. I decided hand sewing a bag would be a nice project. It was, but boy was it slow! I had intended this little bag for an everyday handbag, but the handles looked like they wouldn't take the strain! Little cracks soon appeared...
Then one day I put two and two together, this is the PERFECT knitting bag!
Big enough to throw stuff in: I've got a wooden ruler, a little box with scissors, yarn needles etc, my knitting pattern and pencil and a spare ball of yarn as well as a half finished project, Marmee's waistcoat. Now everything is tidy and on hand. Hurrah!
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| LOVE Snoopy :) |
Quick How To - Hand Sew a Bag:
-I
cut 2 rectangles from an old denim skirt (it was already decorated with the gray cord appliqué), for the front and
back. Then two narrower ones for the sides and another for the bottom. I modeled the size and shape on a nice paper gift bag. -I cut the same again from another old turquoise skirt for the lining.
-I sewed together each 'box shape' separately by hand.
-I put a nice sturdy piece of cardboard in the bottom of the denim piece (after having cut it to match the bottom) because this helps the bag hold its shape.
-Then wrong sides together I tucked the lining 'box' inside the denim one and sewed the tops and sides together (I made a tuck in the sides to add some shape), incorporating the handles and using red bias tape to make everything tidy.
-As a finishing touch I sewed blanket stitch around the bottom of the bag, this also helps the card to stay in place between the bottom layers.
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| Nature pins from Marmee |
I also keep cute pins on this bag! I wonder what solutions you use to keep your knitting clean and safe?
that's such a great knitting bag!
ReplyDeletei don't knit, but i really should make myself a drawing/wire art bag since i take that stuff with me all the time... so why not have a perfect bag for it all? (sometimes the obvious has just to be pointed out to me, haha!)
A drawing/wire grab bag sounds like a great idea, especially for when you know you're gonna be stuck somewhere for hours, like on a trip, in the car...
DeleteHey kat - how have I not subscribed to your blog before? I'm trying to learn to sew and knit proficiently! Wow! Loving the bag! Jo
ReplyDeleteOh, we have the same goal! I like your tips on a more simple life. I'm totally a frustrated minimalist (it's just impossible!). We have to keep trying right? :)
DeleteWeird said I had previously subscribed, but do not get them through (I don't think...)Maybe I'm losing my mind! Anyhow resubscribed!
ReplyDeleteWelcome! (What did you use, Bloglovin, GoogleReader...?) Hope you get the feed now...
DeleteI'm always Looking for places to put my Crocheting projects. That bag looks awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteI just like how you can throw things in at a moment's notice... I would also like a perspex box to keep my coloured yarn displayed in. Wouldn't that be funky?!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bag! :-) Where did you get your fine pins, I wonder, - I can't seem to find anything named Marmee online?
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'm sorry to hear it. Well you won't find Marmee online cos that's what I call my mum :) She gave me the pins, I'm afraid I don't know where she got them from...
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