My First Handspun Project!
It only took a couple hours and my first handspun project was finished - except for the felting! The construction of this bag is so simple! Cast on stitches using the long tail method. I used a 5.5mm kneedle and that really really ugly green/yellow plied yarn. I figured since it's the bottom I needed a stronger yarn and since I really hate the green/yellow I figured I wouldn't mind if it takes a beating!
When you have enough for the desired width of your bag (about 12" for this one), knit in garter stitch until you are happy with the depth or you run out of yarn (3 1/2"). Then pick up stitches all around your rectangle. I used a bright green bit of singles but I double stranded it since I wanted it to be a really strong join. From there on it's just knit in the round on 8mm needles. I wanted the fabric to be loose and supple since I'm going to felt it and I don't want it to be a cardboard bag when I'mn done! I used some of the singles I spun last Wednesday. I really wanted to show off the varied colors of this yarn and thought the only way to do that would be to break up the color changeswith a neutral. I knit 3 rounds of singles and 3 rows of Briggs & Little in a dark Charcoal for most of the bag. I was so pleased at how it separated the colors! For my next bag I think I will use a lighter grey and my pink handspun singles. After I've made 3 or 4 bags I'll felt them all.
To make the handles just figure out where the center of eah side is. Bind off 5 stitches on each side of center (10 stitches total). On the next round cast on 10 stitches over the bind off and keep knitting for another 10 rounds or so then bind off. Simple!
Two different shots of the same bag! What a difference lighting makes to my ancient camera! I just had to include a pic of my latest treasure!! I'm SO excited! I swapped Monika of Smokin' Hot Needles a skein of my favorite Wild Geese Fibres Sock Yarn for this circular shawl book and I'm sure glad I did! It has so many patterns I just LOVE! I have come to appreciate how a circular shawl is an improvement over triangular as far as wearing one goes .... I am planning to try to spin some yarn fine enough to knit one from this book!
When you have enough for the desired width of your bag (about 12" for this one), knit in garter stitch until you are happy with the depth or you run out of yarn (3 1/2"). Then pick up stitches all around your rectangle. I used a bright green bit of singles but I double stranded it since I wanted it to be a really strong join. From there on it's just knit in the round on 8mm needles. I wanted the fabric to be loose and supple since I'm going to felt it and I don't want it to be a cardboard bag when I'mn done! I used some of the singles I spun last Wednesday. I really wanted to show off the varied colors of this yarn and thought the only way to do that would be to break up the color changeswith a neutral. I knit 3 rounds of singles and 3 rows of Briggs & Little in a dark Charcoal for most of the bag. I was so pleased at how it separated the colors! For my next bag I think I will use a lighter grey and my pink handspun singles. After I've made 3 or 4 bags I'll felt them all.
To make the handles just figure out where the center of eah side is. Bind off 5 stitches on each side of center (10 stitches total). On the next round cast on 10 stitches over the bind off and keep knitting for another 10 rounds or so then bind off. Simple!
Two different shots of the same bag! What a difference lighting makes to my ancient camera! I just had to include a pic of my latest treasure!! I'm SO excited! I swapped Monika of Smokin' Hot Needles a skein of my favorite Wild Geese Fibres Sock Yarn for this circular shawl book and I'm sure glad I did! It has so many patterns I just LOVE! I have come to appreciate how a circular shawl is an improvement over triangular as far as wearing one goes .... I am planning to try to spin some yarn fine enough to knit one from this book!
I think it's a good idea to make a bag with your first handspun, and it turned out great! I'm so very glad you like the book. I'm very pleased with the sock yarn as well! ;o) Can't wait to see a shawl made with your own handspun from the book.
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