Wild Chicago
I am one extremely lucky felting lady tonight. Guess what I finished up?
A Finished Stripey Chicago
Yep yep yep I had enough yarn. I had decided after my last bag that I wanted to try one with shorter handles. Nothing like desperately wanting to finish a project with the amount of yarn I had on hand to motivate me to try that idea out for real. The first bag started with 34" handles. This bag went into the washer with 19" handles.
Successful Kitchener
I was pretty pleased with my technique execution as I connected the handles. If you didn't see the dramatic difference in striping colors, I bet you couldn't tell I had Kitchenered those pieces together! That little piece of yarn to the side of the handles, attached to the needles is exactly what I had left over. And after I sewed in the ends, I had this little pile to contemplate:
The Pitiful Leftovers
I'm just so pleased when I can be so efficient with my yarn. I am also pleased when I can figure out a way to handle a problem in an elegant way. In this case, the problem I had: get two handles the same length and the piece I need to graft to the other side. The solution... knit from both ends of what remained of the last skein. I knit up one i-cord to a reasonable length, then knit the other to match. Then I just kept going on both sides until I was pretty sure that I would have just enough to finish the piece to be grafted. This had the extra added benefit of having both i-cords end in a similar color.
So, so far, so good. This bag can be knit in three skeins of Kureyon if you don't mind shorter handles. If you want an over the shoulder thing or you're really worried about color matching, you're definitely going to want 4 skeins.
Of course, even though it was 11:30 CST I just couldn't resist throwing this project into the washer. I'd show you the results even if I didn't like how it turned out (probably especially if I didn't like how it turned out), but I'm pretty pleased. After two cycles through the wash, I think I can officially give Kureyon a thumbs up for this bag!
Wild Chicago
The garter stitch in the flap didn't quite full to completion. I hope the lighter colors of this bag make it easier to see what I did with the binder clips. Like the Cascade 220 version, the flap on this bag will need a little post drying manipulation. Here's a side shot that gives you a better look at how I am pinching the sides of the bag to create the shaping.
Check out the Wild Side
I'm two for two on getting bags with even handle lengths. That's the thing I was most worried about with the Kureyon. The Kureyon fabric is a little drapier than the Cascade fabric, but I think it will still do the trick. In case you were interested here's the starting and final dimensions:
| Pre Felt | Post Felt | |
|---|---|---|
| width | 17" | 11.5" |
| depth | 8-1/4" | 5-1/2" |
| height (side) | 10" | 5" |
| straps | 19-1/2" | 15" |
| flap width | 9-1/2" | 7" |
| flap height | 6" | 4-1/2" |
A little drying and a little steaming and this specimen will be ready to go on it's way. Another Chicago roadtrip to Indy!
I had to come out of lurksville and say how much I love Chicago, especially in the Kureyon. I'm looking forward to buying my copy when your pdf is up & going!
I second the motion, Chicago is a WINNER!! Can't wait to get my copy...unless of course you need a test knitter in cotton for us Southern Chicago afficinados?
Well done!!
Just wonderful!!! Love the style. Great work!
It's perfect. I loved it in the solid color, but the Kureyon...WOW! Yup, I need the pattern. Good thing a gal can't have too many purses. Or hats. Or socks. Or, um...sweaters.
HOOORAY!! I love it! I think that's what i'll be knitting up tonight. How do you like the shorter handles?
Wow! Really beautiful and a great excuse to but Noro.... I have been on a felting kick lately anyway. When do we get a chance at the pattern?
knit on, latifa
Now that I've done the pattern twice and Steph has done it once, I feel like it's ready for prime time! Expect to see a little PayPal link tomorrow... along with some other changes.
Totally cool and awesome! I always enjoy your technical stuff. I especially like the way the flap contrasts with the bag itself.
Theresa, that is one WILD Chicago bag! You rock as a designer. Way to go!
(I've enjoyed this designing experience. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!)
I like the black and grey Chicago, best. And I do want the pattern. Good job designing.
That's fabulous! When are you heading to TB? Any chance you'd take a copilot? ;-)
My mother gave me Kureyon for Christmas and I've been snowed in since New Years. I made the Chicago Bag. What Fun! Great knitting techniques, Fashion Forward. It's nice to knit a bag that has interesting shaping. I'm going to my local knitting shop today to see about leading a knit along for this bag.