Take the Red Line
When we last left our heroine, she was bravely preparing an unsuspecting knitted item for a trip into some serious hot water. Did the bag return victorious from its transformation? See for yourself....
Chicago, Red Line Edition
This is that natural light picture I wanted to get. The colors are pretty close to true. This little bag just wanted to happen. Normally it takes me two washer cycles to get something to the size I'm expecting. This time, it took one -- granted, I did the "heavy" cycle (which just runs longer) so maybe that made the difference. Final felted dimensions: 9" wide, 3.5" deep, 4-3/4" tall. The strap is 16" long. Perfect size for a wallet, a cell phone and a few other little carry along items.
Chicago Variations
Red Line is shown in this picture with Blue Line to give a sense of size and perspective. I like the shaping of both bags, but Red Line is actually closer to what I was striving for when I was first trying to put my vision on paper. Red Line's is a little more circular, Blue Line is a little more angular.
Red Line from the Side
The side tapers more gradually than the side of Blue Line did, and some pinching is required to pull the shape together. The slight bulge in the front is due to the fact that I stuffed it with some cotton towels and hadn't quite gotten it prodded into the shape that I wanted yet. (As an aside, this bag needed a bit more manipulation than Blue Line to get it into a shape I liked, it's not obnoxiously fiddly, but it does require taking a look at it in multiple directions).
Front and Flap Detail
And this is an up close shot of the area under the flap. For some reason I am particularly pleased with this little detail even though it won't be noticed much in normal usage.
On the overall, I'm pleased with the result. The shaping worked and my new flap design almost turned out the way I wanted it to (see below for more on what I didn't like). I love the dark olive color yarn felted. It has faint fuzzy yellow flecks that give it a lot of depth. The jury is still out for me on the 9460. I go back and forth between liking the grey marble haze and thinking it makes the bag look dusty. But I think the combination is good.
So what didn't I like... well, take a look at the closeup of the flap...
Snaggletooth Flap
There are two issues for me here. One is that the edges are a little jagged instead of smooth. This, as you might have guessed, is due to where I did my decreases. When I did a test felting of this shaping, the edges weren't so pronounced, but I also felted the test piece down a little harder. The second, and by far the most serious, issue is the little indentation on the left side near the tip. I think this is more due to felting pixies than to the design, but I don't like it at all. I'm thinking there might be some scissor action that needs to go on here -- that's the great thing about felt. It's just another fabric.
Fortunately, I think a very slight modification to my flap design will solve this problem -- I need to add a selvedge stitch and do my decreases inside this stitch.
Would You Buy a Used Car from This Woman?
I just couldn't leave you without putting this goofy image up. I couldn't help but laugh at it, so up it had to go. Perhaps I have a future in used car sales? The picture does serve a purpose, too, because you can see the bag holding my wallet and phone.
So, I'd love to know what everyone thinks -- good and bad. Don't be shy and don't be afraid to be honest!
P.S. If you haven't checked out Janet Scanlon's felted designs lately, now's the time to check in. Her new Mercury bag is incredible! And she has a free pattern for a very cute felted bag that could be used to hold business cards or a little treasure if you're in the need for a quick project.
Well, I'm not sure about a used car - but definately a knitting pattern! I love the red line version, even more than the original! Will you be offering a pattern for this one too?
The bag looks beautiful I must say - you are a real wizz with the designing and felting!! (and you said you are new to both??)
I really enjoy reading your blog and agree with those people who commented last week about your post about home and your dad!
Theresa, I like the shaping of the bag but I would prefer the flap to be a little wider. I keep thinking back to that one you made with its tongue sticking out. Otherwise, I love it. :)
I like the smaller bag, Theresa. Did you see the bags in the winter issue of Knitter's? I thought the bag with the flap could have used some improvement.
i love this bag! im glad you included that picture of yourself with it - i dont think i realized how cute and little it is! i just love it.
I love the shape and size of this bag! The flap is a litle pointy for my taste but really a minor point since the rest is so perfect. I too like that little inside the flap detail so pretty. Great job!
LOVE the new bag!
I love Red Line, Theresa! Great job. And the joke yesterday about Chicago and graft made me laugh. See you soon!
I love everything about this bag, except for the flap. I think it's a too long and pointy - but that's totally a personal preference. I am getting ready to try my first felting soon, I'm really excited about it after reading about your red line bag.
For those of you in the too long and point camp, how would you change the shaping? I can make it shorter by changing the interval at which the decreases occur. I can make it wider at the point by not decreasing down as far. Or some combination of both.
The main things I want to accomplish with the flap: 1) I want an inverted triangular shape that bisects the the hemicircular region 2) I want the flap to have enough weight that it doesn't need a fastener to keep itself held down.
I ditched the short-row flap because I sensed that with only 19 stitches to work with it would end up too shallow -- and would thus not accomplish the second point.
There definitely will be a pattern, but I want to work the flap issues out first. I might try to create multiple flap options depending on the results of my tests.
It's funny, but I think for me the flap is the hardest part of the bag.
Terrific shape and size. I like it even better than the first.
Wow - it looks just great!!
love the red line!
i am not fond of the flap either.
would like it more rounded, less pointy and perhaps wider. does the last sentence even make sence? it is a very cute bag! latifa
The Red Line bag is very cute. Although I agree with the others on the flap being a little too pointy for me. I'm glad you took a picture of it with you holding it up for perspective cuz I thought it was a huge bag till I saw the pic. Great job!
theresa!
i like the bag as is. it is funky and different. i would knit it. i would wear it. dont change it to make it look like every other bag out there. the point gives it character. just mho!!
i like the pointy flap -- very nice work
i love the designer in you. i like the pointy flap. it's a very flattering and original-looking bag. another great job!!!!!
Theresa, I would try both those things--greater intervals between decreases and not so many decreases at the bottom of the flap. I like the triangular look of the flap on this bag (as opposed to the more circular flap on your first). I think the decreases are just a bit too dramatic for me. The shape of the bag itself is terrific.
I totally love the Red Line - that was my subway line for eight years in Washington DC, so now I have to make it, for both sentimental and stylish reasons. Which comes first, Janet Scanlon's Mercury, or this? It will be a toss-up, because I agree with you, that's a great bag too. And for what it's worth, I'm in the "rounder flap, please" camp. Nice work, Theresa!
Great job on the Red Line bag -- I have your Chicago bag pattern, am almost convinced that I like the Red Line even more, but I think the size of the Chicago will be more practical for totin' knittin' to get-togethers.