Monday, September 11, 2006

Not a total loss

Super-secret project revealed:

The plan was to make a smallish sort of bag out of the lattice cable pattern that I liked so much. It was supposed to be a somewhat slim and rectangular bag--sort of a mini-messenger style. Well, here is the somewhat finished object.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

While I'm not entirely satisfied with the results, I don't think it's terrible for a first-time venture into the realm of design.

What I dislike about it:
1. It's much bigger than the envisioned finished product was supposed to be. For the sake of picture taking, I've stuffed an empty baby wipes container in it! What I really wanted was something that would simply hold a wallet, a set of keys, and maybe a small notebook. I could use this as Jonas's diaper bag and still have room for other stuff.
2. It lacks detail. If I were to do this again, I'd add some sort of border around the lattice panels.
3. It lacks shape. Seriously, unless you wanted to carry around a cinderblock, this bag is seriously fugly. I'm hoping that once I sew a lining in, it'll help give it some structure.

The not-so-bad:
1. It was a good learning experience. For instance, I learned just how stretchy garter stitch can be! Shocking, I know, but I've never really used it in any of my previous knitting because it just looks so bland and boring, and while I knew it was stretchy, I never dreamed that a 20 stitch width could roughly equal the size of my hard-bound medical dictionary! I think that if I were going to do this again, I'd probably only make it about half as wide.
2. I used up some crappy yarn that was taking up space in my closet.
3. It occupied about a week's worth of knitting time while no other yarn was available.
4. It gave me the courage to try something new.

So, all in all, it wasn't a total waste of time. I can't guarantee that it'll get a lot of use, but it'll be that one project that I look back on and smile about- kind of like the macaroni necklaces of kindergarten fame. It's ugly, but it's mine, dammit!

The 2006 Florida Fiber-In is this weekend in Orlando. My step-mom has graciously offered to watch the munchkin if I decide I want to go-- and DO I! But, with the fact that we can't even pay the mortgage this month without dipping into savings, and the fact that there are more practical things I need to buy, like groceries, I'm thinking a trip to knitty-porn land would just be way too tempting. Besides, I don't know if I'm up for a solo road-trip in a car that has me chanting magical incantations just to get it to start. But, I haven't totally written off the idea.

4 Comments:

At 1:03 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the bag is adorable! It is most definitely not fug (and believe me I know from fug, having knit enough of it in my day). I love it for the same reasons you said it was not so bad: that it was designed by you, you used a stitch you loved, and you got to use up some of your stash. Are those pockets on the side? Genius, I tell you. This is one seriously cute bag.

 
At 3:49 AM, Blogger msubulldog said...

Oh, definitely go to the fiber fest! Even if it's just to be inspired an convince yourself that you're not hte only one in FL who knits! :)

I know you said the bag was crappy yarn--but it is possibly crappy WOOL yarn? 'Cause if it is, you could felt it to get the size down.

But the size is your problem, not mine. I love it! That pocket on the side is freakin' genius. And, maybe I'm just hungry, but that bag in that color REALLY makes me want some apple pie! LOL! Yummy. Let is be known hither & yon that I have hence dubbed it the Apple Pie bag. (In a good, non-mocking, I really do like it, way. Serious. Mmmmmm . . . pie. . .)

 
At 7:02 PM, Blogger Vickie said...

The bag is wonderful, Ang. Never doubt it for a moment.

There will always be something we could have done differently. That doesn't change the fact that what you created is fantastic in its own right.

 
At 9:30 PM, Blogger Eve said...

Seriously, that bag is gorgeous! I never would've thought you were making a little purse. What a surprise!

 

Post a Comment

<< Home