Purls and Pugs

Done!

Well, I finally finished Lynette's Weekender Bag. I give her props for being so patient with me. She says she is going to change her wardrobe to match the colors in the bag. I think that might be a little extreme, but it makes me happy that she is going to get some good use out of it.

JIT

Ok, for those of you not into the inventory lingo, that means Just in Time. And that's what I did-finish the weekender bag just in time. I am leaving this afternoon for a trip to lovely Peoria, IL for a couple of days. It's for business, but I am so looking forward to doing something different. It's no India, but it's better than nothing.

So this weekend, I had some time on my hands and decided to try to finish my Weekender Bag. It actually came together quite quickly. I will be making another one, but it is for Lynette. I am just waiting on some more fabric, and then I can get her's all done too. I am glad that I finished mine first, though. I look at the first one as the learning experience. I know where the problem areas lie and what I need to do to fix them the next time around. So, Lynette's bag is going to be perfect. Well, as perfect as I can get it.

I'm actually quite surprised at how sturdy it is. The Timtex really  adds some stability as well as the heavier decorator fabric. I packed it up quite a bit this morning and it is really holding together well. In the picture, it is stuffed with 3-4 towels.

Yoda was not really feeling all the craftiness. She just wants to nap with her bones!

Survival

That is the word of the day. I did survive my first day of finance class. The professor really keeps things interesting. But, it was the first day. We'll see after "time value of money".

So, before class, I worked on Princess. This is a cardigan being made out of the Classic Elite Princess I bought at Peggy's Strands of Heaven. I have decided this is a ball project. That means that I am going to only buy a ball at a time. I am not too worried about the dye-lot. This stuff didn't look like it turned over quickly, so I should be ok. While this picture doesn't show it, I have put the sleeves on waste yarn already. I am into the second ball and have gotten pretty far, I think.

I'm not sure how much knitting I am going to get done with this class, but I will plug away. I need some sort of cute cardi for work. It's so freaking cold. You would think that with one of the seasons they could get the climate control correct. Maybe I am asking too much?

Other than knitting, I started working on Lynette's Weekender Bag. So Far I have 95% of the pieces cut out for the main pieces and the lining. I think I am going to need to get some more fabric for the cording, but when I go out to get the Timtex (or Peltex) I can pick that up.

I have sewn the cording onto my Weekender Bag's main panels. The next step requires the zipper, so I am on hold with my bag for now. Lynette ordered the zippers, and they should be here fairly soon.

Proof

Here is some proof that I have been working on my Weekender Bag. This is the front panel and the big pocket. As you can see, I still have to baste the pocket on and add the piping, but I am getting so close. Up until now, I think it has been pretty easy and straight forward. But, please keep in mind that I have already learned all the piping mistakes with another project. This is NOT a beginners project, but would be good for an advanced beginner. If you have sewn bags before and worked with piping and zippers, you'll be fine.

After I finally got the pieces cut out, and did the prepared cording (piping), things really picked up. I think it helps that I took the time when cutting everything out. It is sort of like woodworking: Measure twice, cut once. If you are thinking about doing this project, just take your time. Don't try to rush it or you will have problems.

What I really like about this bag is the shape. I am thinking that once I am done with my bag, and Lynette's bag, I will try to figure out how to make a handbag version. I don't think it will be too difficult. I just need to figure out the right size, then reduce the pattern pieces by 10% or 20% or whatever I find is correct. When I do that I will be sure to post that information for those who want to try it.

Another reason I am chomping at the bit to make another one is all the great fabric I found. When I was at JoAnn's looking for a coordinating lining fabric, I was checking out all the discounted decorator fabric. There was some totally cute stuff there! At awesome prices!

Yoda was a little sheepish this morning, but she still wanted her picture taken. What a ham!

Bad Day

I should have known that it was going to be a bad day when my fat pants were tight. Most of the bad day was work related, which I will not go into. I just don't want to get dooced.

I did do a little golf practice, which was way better than it has been. The last outing to the driving range ended in tears. Thankfully, that did not happen this time. But, you did come here for knitting content. I think....

I kind of gave up on the Pea Pod sweater for now. Since it is going to be such a big size, I thought I should focus on a smaller sweater. So, I went back to the tried-and-true LMKG Placket Neck Pullover. Blue, again. What's with all the boys? I have some pink yarn I want to get rid of people! These knit up so quickly that I think I might just make a few in different colors and keep them for random births. Or those I have no idea the gender....Hmm. Sounds good to me!

Besides knitting, I started my Amy Butler Weekender Bag. I bought the coordinating material, Peltex (like Timtex), and cording. Then, I cut it all out. It seriously took me 2 days. I took my time, and I still messed up some things. But we are all good now, and I am working on making the cording. I think the bag is actually going to be pretty easy if I just follow the steps in the directions. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Bandwagon

Sometimes I think that I could be a little quicker so that it doesn't seem like I am jumping on the bandwagon. Like now, I have been eyeballing Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag Pattern ever since it came out. Did I buy it? No. Did I buy fabric for it? No. Did I see it posted all over blogland looking good? Yes. Did it make me want to make it? Hell yes.

So, me and another blogger are probably going to work out a deal for me to make her a bag. I ordered the pattern yesterday, and it is in the mail. I have been pricing out fabric. Why is it that I always like the most expensive stuff? Figures.

I do still have 8 cosmetic bags that I need to finish for a bride's wedding party gifts. They are so easy, they practically make themselves, though. The only really challenging part is the zipper. Maybe I should just call zippers the bane of my existence. If you have ever put one in, or tried to put one in, you know what I am talking about.

I wonder what the next bandwagon will be for me?