First Plaid Attempt
March 6th, 2007 by Jen LoveSince felting has taken over my knitting life I am trying to branch out and employ some new effects. This bag was my first attempt at making my usual solids and stripes into plaid. It was both easier and more work than I thought it would be.
I knitted the main color and contrasting color yarn with random stripes. Then I used a big, plastic needle and a double strand of the contrasting color and weaved in and out about every 4 rows vertically. Since I used a new piece of yarn for each vertical stripe I did not tie knots but just ran it through the brown to secure the stripe. I just cut off all the ends after the bag was felted. This was rather time consuming.
One good thing that I also learned about felted wool is that you can cut off your mistakes! I knitted a flap and sewed a washer (like goes on a bolt, ladies) but somehow sewed up the bottom of my bag crooked resulting in a flap that was not centered. Luckily, I cut the entire flap off and you can’t even tell! This is the wonder craft for me!
I think it turned out to be a cute bag but am wondering if the vertical plaid stripes would have popped out more if I had chosen a more contrasting color. I think I will try bright, solid colors for the stripes next time instead of a veriegated yarn too close in color. If any of you have done this I would love to see your successes!
March 6th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Cool bag! You probably will get a more defined stripe with a solid, but I really like how it turned out! Inspired by your hat “issue” you posted about a couple of days ago, I posted today about my sleeves gone wrong- thanks for the inspiration and the great site!
March 6th, 2007 at 7:56 am
What a great idea! I love how felting alters the colors in the yarn…really amazing.
I have done several stripped bags, and I love the way it looks.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:45 am
I like the colors
March 9th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
That is fantastic – after seeing your work I am dying to try felting. Maybe after finishing the million projects I currently have in progress…
May 12th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I’ve just come across your site here, and I have to say that I love love LOVE this bag you made! Felting is something that I haven’t tried yet, but after seeing this, I’m going to have to try it. I just started my own crafty blog “That’s Sew Crafty“, and I’m going to have to do a post about your site here. You ladies have a lot of great information here.
June 28th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
These bags are fantastic! I have been checking out your site and love this bag. It is really beautiful and subtle. I have had the wool yarn in my hands twice now and been too chicken to start a bag. Now, that I see your ideas I am not going to put it down the third time!