fish and lily

Hi friends.  Things have been kind of crazy over here with this PhD thing I am trying to get.  Can't remember why I started, but now I've got to finish the thing.  Hey, let's talk about things that are already finished... did I ever show you this awesome bag I made for Kara?

It's a laptop sized messenger bag, lined with some amazing fabric she brought back for me from Africa.  The strap was my first double knitting project.  Based off of the pattern in this book, with some construction changes (details here), I was quite happy with the results.

Here's to getting things done!
How's things where you are? 

market bag

for Wendy in the last days of last summer


The summer is winding down with unusual force, and it's too hot for knitting or really doing much of anything except maybe drinking beer on the patio while the puppies play, or making limonchello, or ice cream sandwiches, or a picnic, or a trip to the farmer's market.

So I thought I would share with you the last of the summer knits, which I gifted to my now MIL, which she keeps her knitting in and takes to the beach. The pattern is the Market Tote by KnitPicks, made with CotLin which is the most wonderful of summer yarn.

How are you spending the last dog days of summer? I'll be spending them with my dog, but I'm ready for this heat to end, please!

summer knitting

i found the secret...


instead of trying to knit winter sweaters this summer, i have switched to stitches that favor the swelter: light yarn, mesh patterns, airy skeins and bright colors. it has been wonderfully inspiring to knit within the season. good thing i have a future mother and sister in law who live at the beach! for them i can knit in these wonderful ways, such as the to-be-beach-bag shown here, and my first ever lace pattern shall (more to come soon!) now i am looking forward to fall, but i will still miss my summer knitting.

the district coffee bag

For Kt


Made from the Drops Design pattern, this bag was a pleasure to knit with big chunky yarn on circular 10s. The longest part, as usual, was finding just the right buttons, straps, clasps and lining! I was very happy with the final result though, and I hope that Kt is enjoying toting around all her laws and her giant brain in this cute bag.


Happy Christmas Kt!

java blue

For Grandma

From the Sundance Bag pattern, this is an adorable little make up bag that I made to match my grandma's favorite Vera Bradley purse. A pleasure to knit!


As always, the longest part of making this bag was sewing in the lining and looking through my great grandmothers old button stash for the perfect attachment. I am quite happy with the results.

Happy Christmas Grandma!

blue wing purse

For Kara

When Kara went to Africa, she brought me back this amazing fabric, and I knew right away that I wanted to knit her something and line it so that she could keep a small part of it. I immediately thought of the Percy pattern, which I had been eying as a fun project for some time. I was really happy with the results. The bag is sewn to be modest on the outside, with a silver button clip, and snazzy on the inside, with the beautiful fabric and pocket to match. Just big enough for a travel journal and the essentials, with a front pocket that perfectly fits a cell phone:

And here you get a view of the blue winged tip African birds that make this purse unique.

the monet bag

For Alexa, from Sam




Upon my return, this summer has been spent attempting to do research and studying for my PhD qualifiers: a huge 28 hour exam (with a 6 hour break for sleeping) that covered all of the material that we had learned throughout the past year, and if we fail we will not be allowed to get a PhD. I finally completed the exam last week, and all I did the next weekend was knit and watch movies as my brain attempted to recover from this ordeal. It was a wonderful break, and it was about time I paid an old dept.

I had been asked, long long ago, by a friend who admired this design as previously posted on the site, if I would be willing to knit one as a gift for him to give to his sister, and he in turn would exchange it for some of his own art and design. I now present to you the Monet bag, forAlexa.

Pattern is the brea bag, yarn a soft white, the inside sewn with Monet fabric, strap of moss stitch and a tie instead of a button. An artistic and sophisticated purse for the next time they get together, may he take her somewhere fancy.

i hear and keep

For Kara


This African symbol is called “Mate Masie” which means “I hear and keep.” It is a symbol of great knowledge and wisdom. The design is modified from the Adinkra Bag for a smaller coin purse, k in the round on 3.5s 44 CO with the pattern worked on both sides in fair isle. Lining, zipper and handle are sewn and attached separately.

My friend Kara was in need of somewhere to stash her laundry change as she is working through med school, and being one of the smartest people I know this seemed only fitting.

the brea bag

For Mom


(I apologize for the excess of pictures, I was pretty excited about how this one turned out.)
Knit from the Brea Bag pattern located here:
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/brea/brea.html

and I must say it is a fantastic pattern. Normally when you start by casting on 126 sts and cabling every other st it gets complicated, but as long as you stick with the pattern it's smooth sailing.


I wanted to make something for my mom for her birthday that she could actually use (I have been known to give scarfs and mittens for August birthdays, which always gets a curious look) But this pattern when I found it, I knew was perfect: elegant, and useful. One of my favorite features of the bag is of my own creation, and shown below:


The zipper! Because, as you might have thought at first, I did not go out and buy a zipper and go through all the pain and trouble of sewing a zipper myself. The solution is much easier.
I went to a thrift store and bought a brown child's jacket. Then I sewed the jacket inside out so that the zipper of the jacket becomes the zipper of the purse! And, the inside has a nice soft lining. I would recommend this method to everyone.

Also as a note of interest, I found the button (that I think matches so well) in a tin of buttons I inherited from my Great-Grandma. The strap was made from a belt (also bought at a thrift store) which I cut to the right length and attached by sewing the ends of the gusset through holes on either end. The result, I believe, is a beautifully functional and sentimental bag. Happy Birthday Mom!

the twiggy tweed

For Adrienne


Made from the Knitty pattern: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTtwiggytweed.html
with some darker colors. This was a really fun bag to knit, especially the inside which is lined with an old t-shirt. I even sewed a sleeve on the inside so it has a pocket! And a magnetic clasp, for functionality.


I saw this pattern and immediately thought of my cousin Adrienne, who is right now doing Teach for America in Washington DC. I figure, if your running around a busy city looking after kids, what you need is a cute purse that's not bulky but holds all the stuff. I'm going to send it to her full of brownies for her upcoming birthday.