Modular Knitted Bag - Second Progress Report

 

In odd moments during the week I have managed to finish the second panel of my modular knitted bag.  I think I am happy with it!

I was thinking about the yarn – which is Colinette Fandango.  I know the light grey is the shade called Slate.   I was trying to identify the others.  I think the following is correct:

• Grey: Slate
• Green: Forest?
• Dark mauve: Fruit Couli
• Blue: Blue Parrot
• Light mauve: Lilac
• Brown: Copperbeech
• Gold: Pierro
• Pink: Cherry
• Blue/Pink/Gold:  I am not sure - it may be Morocco.

I used to be more organised and tie a piece of yarn to the band so that I knew which colour was which.  I still have lots of scraps of yarn from old projects, but more recently I have foolishly thought I would remember.  It doesn’t matter really.  If you forget what colour yarn you have bought from Colinette – you can send a small amount of it to them to be identified so you can have some more.  Sadly that doesn’t apply to Fandango.

Noro Magazine Issue 4

When I was out this morning I found the latest Noro magazine. 

The cowl on the front cover is lovely but my favourite pattern in the magazine is a feather and fan stitch blanket knitted in Silk Garden.  It would cost a fortune to make – but I can dream!

There is also a very striking scarf made from crocheted “flowers”.  I am not sure I have the technical skill required for it – but I wish I had!

For those of you who have ever had battles with Noro yarn – there is an interesting article called: “10 tricks for bending Noro colors to your will”.  This explains why two balls of apparently the same shade can seem completely different.

If, like me, you have no intention of making any of the items in the magazine – it is still worth looking at, for inspiration.

Modular Knitted Bag - First Progress Report

I have finished the main panel of the first side of the bag.  I am pleased that I managed to use a different number of stitches to get the panel to slope in at the top so that it will fit the red bag lining.

The light grey background looks OK but I tried using dark grey for the other side and I thought it looked too gloomy.  I want a summery look – so I think I am going to use light green.  I know my other maze bag is green but it looks completely different. 

Although I always make the sides of my bags different – so I can turn them around for a different look – I like there to be some link between the 2 sides – so I intend to use the same colours – the green background will make the panel look different. 

If in doubt, give up!

I have always found that when I start to question whether my design is turning out right – it is time to unravel and start again.  Sometimes I have tried to carry on, convincing myself that it will be OK when I have done a bit more, or added another colour – but the doubts remain, spoiling my enjoyment.

What am I talking about?  I was going to make a crazy patchwork bag but it isn’t happening.  I think there are three problems – firstly I haven’t got enough yarn in plain colours and the patterned yarns I have don’t go together.  Secondly: I think the design would work out better if I had less yarn so that I was forced to make small patches, and thirdly I am being too impatient.  I want to knit something that will knit up much more quickly.  If I was prepared to spend the time on it – I could use the yarn I have to make lots of small patches - although that would seem a bit of a waste.

Instead, I think will do a new version of my maze bag which is a bit battered now as I use it most days.  The design was based on a maze with green hedges.

 

I can’t just copy the previous design as the bag lining I have is smaller and slopes inwards towards the top – so I will have to try to ensure that the design slopes in towards the top as well – probably by using fewer stitches in each shape.  The design originally used mitred squares, oblongs and L-shapes.  I have roughed out a new design which just uses oblongs and L-shapes.  I now need to do some experiments to see if the shapes are the right size and decide what colours to use.  At the moment I favour grey as a base colour – but I may change my mind when it looks awful!

Modular Knitted Cardigan

I have finished it!  I had to take it out again because I was running out of yarn – so I had to do larger needles and less stitches.  It has worked out well because it means the fabric is less dense and therefore less heavy.

 

The back is formed from 9 mitred squares using 7mm needles and 24 + 1+ 24 sts pattern.  I decreased by knitting 3sts together on the front facing rows.  It is all garter stitch apart from the pocket linings.  I did the sleeves in all garter stitch and the fronts have small 8+ 1+8 squares each side of the button and buttonhole bands.  I reused the buttons from the previous version of this cardigan.

Crazy Patchwork Knitted Cushion

At the moment I am still working on a new version my previously unloved cardigan but I am thinking ahead – what am I going to knit next?  I think I may do another carpet bag using my adaptation of the crazy patchwork idea from Myra Wood’s book. 

 

Several years ago I did something similar to make a circular cushion as an entry for competition to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Knitting and Crochet Guild.

I had to include silver but otherwise you could use any colour.  I just used some colours that I had left over from other projects.  The cushion was made from the lovely but almost discontinued Colinette Fandango.  However, I still have several skeins left in my stash to use for the new bag.