The story of a knitting bag.

The life of this knitting bag started with "free" things.

I got this very pretty bag when I bought cosmetics. 

And one fine day I received an email from KnitPicks saying that I would get these items free if I ordered a certain $ amount of other things. 

Who can resist "Free"??  (Not me apparently!)

But the big dilemma was this:  I didn't know what to do with these things because I don't have a knitting bag that doesn't already have all the little knitting accessories already in it.

What to do.  What to do.

Aha!  I can make myself another knitting bag!  Dilemma solved!

Now just for the sewing.

I had fabric on hand because for years I have been planning on making myself aprons.  You know the kind like everyone's gramma used to wear?  Well, that fabric became a knitting bag instead of aprons!  Although, I do have fabric left over.  I could still come up with some form of apron from that...hmm. 

Anyway!  Back to the knitting bag.

I wanted this bag to be cozy and so decided to quilt the fabric together. 

I also intended to take step by step pictures but that didn't happen!  These are it.

 

But here is the finished product.

 

 

 

I added lots of pockets and a zipper to keep everything safely inside. 

 

We won't talk about how much trouble that zipper was to install.  Or how long it took to put the rick rack on.  Or that it actually took me 2 afternoons and 2 evenings to make the whole bag.  Yikes!

 

 



I'm going to forget all that and enjoy my new knitting bag.

That started with all those "free" things!

side note...I am compulsive but it is purely coincidence that the fabric on the front of the bag matches the back.  I honestly didn't plan it that way.  Nothing that I plan works out THAT good!

2nd side note....you can tell the front from the back by the color of the buttons on the handles.

Shortened!

It's done!

Shhh....let's not talk about the jeans....

If you need me

I'll be here. Probably for a week long engagement.



Doing repairs and alterations.

Two pair of jeans to shorten for my sister.

A couple worn spots to patch

for 3rd DS.

And the piece de resistance...

another prom dress to be shortened by approximately 5 - 6" for my great niece. What can I say. The girl is short. But she's sweet and I can't say no to her.

Think helpful thoughts for me this week. I really don't like doing repairs OR alterations. And did I mention that the prom dress has 5 layers to shorten? Uff.

On second thought, maybe I need a prayer for my sanity too.

Sewing completed and loved!

I'd been thinking about sewing DGD a "play dress" for quite some time. I thought I'd have to go with a Halloween costume pattern and so I was really pleased when I found the Disney Tinkerbell pattern. I altered the kind of fabric used to what I could find at Walmart and the tulle didn't have to be hemmed. Bonus! It was relatively easy to sew but took much longer than I expected...of course when I sew that is always the case. I cut it out one evening and the next I thought I'd just whip it together. 6 1/2 hours later I was finally done with it and was able to go to bed at about 1:45 am. But she loves it and that is all that counts! Yay! These are the alterations to the prom dress I talked about before. I had to take out some of the beading and take it in about 4". Because of the way the dress was contructed I couldn't do a typical seam...I did everything from the outside. And so there is topstitching that looks a little unprofessional...but then I don't claim to be a professional seamstress...just one that can do enough to get by! The gathering was done to make the top edges come out even. The gathering wasn't there before and since the other side has the zipper there isn't any gathering there but there was no other way that I could think to make it come out. If anyone is checking out the sewing on the dress during the prom they have other issues that need addressing! The zipper is an Invisible zipper but I couldn't do the usual installation, again because of dress contruction, and so there is top stitching here too and this is how the zipper turned out. Not too bad...there wasn't room for the hook and eye so I left it off. Does anyone use that hook and eye at the top of a zipper anyway? I shortened it and added a few more tucks to make it look the same all the way to the bottom of the dress. For some reason in this picture it looks shorter on the sides. I truly hope that that isn't the case! She tried it on and said it fit perfectly! Yay again! Weather update: We were forecast for up to 6" of snow for today. I am pleased to announce that so far we haven't gotten any. What a relief! Yay yet again! I heard geese honking their way along this morning. There must be spring somewhere south for them to be here already. They are in for a surprise the first time they try a water landing. Everything is frozen yet! I don't know when I've been more frustrated with blogger. I can't get the pictures to stay in a row and there aren't any paragraphs because I can't get them to stick...it keeps changing back to one long run-on mess. Augh!!

Yes actually. I do knit. And sew a little.

Maybe it's time to quit talking so much about the weather and do a knitting update? I have more than one project on the needles right now. The first is a pair of worsted weight socks/slippers. See the second sock? It's still wound up so nicely into a ball! ;)













The second project is the Basic Chic Hoodie. (Ravelry link. Sorry non-Ravelers.) I'm doing it with the lace and will definitely make it longer than the pattern says!













And the third knitting project is the Sea of Dreams baby blanket. (Another Ravelry link.) I don't know who will get this blankey. Only time will tell! And since there isn't a rush on it, it is basically in time out for now.













Now on to a couple sewing projects. Both with time limits... This is going to be a Tinkerbell outfit for our oldest granddaughter who will be 6 on April 4th. She is so tall that she can't fit in the princess/fairy costumes they have at the "marts" and she does love to dress up. So I'm coming to the rescue with a birthday gift that hopefully will thrill.













And the second sewing project is giving me the nightmares. It's a prom dress for a great niece that needs to be shortened and taken in at the bodice. I foolhardedly said, "Oh sure! I can do that!". Not realizing how many layers and how much beading there is. Or that the side zipper will have to be partially taken out and replaced. Any suggestions on how to do any of this would be greatly appreciated. Nothing that says I need my head examined need be submitted. I already know that...

Scrambling

Why is it that you can go for months....yes literally months...without anything going on and then blam! everything happens at once. Augh!

I have

• a baby/bridal shower to attend [yes, one of those....teenager (great niece) with an unplanned baby]
• a bridesmaid dress to alter....wedding is the 1st weekend in June. Another great niece in another wedding.
• a wedding gown to alter for the expectant niece....wedding is 4th weekend in June
• plan the lunch for a funeral at our church
• work in the kitchen at the funeral next week

A diverse set of things, no? Some of these things are the same....some of them are different. (What is that from?? Sesame Street?)

It is spread out over a bit of time but it all piled on at once this morning. I'll be able to handle it but I just had to rant for a bit. Thanks for listening.

/I read this over and it is a bit spastic. Kind of like I feel right now. o.0

Interesting day so far....

The day was looking good until I went into the bedroom to get clothes and take a shower. The sight and smell that greeted me was...was...words escape me. Kitty pee all over DH's pillow and Teddy was desperately trying to cover it all up. Maddie was hiding under the bed knowing that there had been a bad mistake made. There was so much that I have to think both of them used the same spot. My 1st thought was oh crap someone is sick. They've never been naughty or made any messes like this. Then I went to the laundry room to get things to clean it up and what is there but a closed door....to the room that their litter box is in. Now I understand. I had the grandkids yesterday afternoon and the door got closed by someone. Poor kitties held it as long as they could. Now I feel guilty but I'm also hoping that they don't decide that they like the bed for a litter pan.


Here are the culprits in a photo from a few days ago.

The good part of the day is that the Leaf Lace Shawl is coming along nicely. See the little ball of yarn? That is the remainder of the 1st ball and Cookie was good enough to give me an excellent idea on how to join to the next ball. Russian Join. You are super Cookie. I know you want everyone to think you are a Crankypants but you really are a Sweetheart!


I had sewing plans for today. I have 2 pairs of jeans to shorten for my sister and a zipper to replace in a pair of jeans for her granddaughter, my great niece. And DH wants 9 shirts to go from being long sleeved to short sleeved. That's a lotta sewing and if the cat pee is an indication on how the day is going to go maybe I should put off the sewing until a later date!