Market Bag - Complete!

I've finished my new market bag, and I'm very happy with how it turned out.  It's very stretchy, and very sturdy, which is a good thing for something that will be slung over the shoulder when I do a bit of marketing.

You can see how much it stretches, and I didn't really pack the bag, as I could have.  The pattern can be found here on Ravelry.  It was an easy pattern, and the only warning I'd advise is, pay attention to the length of the handles you choose to make.  They are very stretchy, so adjust for that. 

The top portion of the bag is done in garter stitch, and so are the handles.  It goes quickly, and I'm assuming it can also be made deeper than the pattern suggests, by adding a few more rows of the 'netting' portion.

The materials list is as follows:  Tahki 100% cotton, 3 hanks
size 5 and 6 US circular needles, plus size 5 dpns for the bottom portion

I made a gauge swatch (I know, weird) to arrive at the needle size I mention.  The author's recommendation was somewhat different.

Now I can tick another finished knitted object off my list.  Yippee!!
                                             

Market Bag - progress

It's growing, but slow going.  I'm not fond of these circular needles, but they were the only ones I had on hand in the correct size.  Wood and cotton = bad combination, me thinks.

I'm about half-way with the lace portion, and then it's on to the handles.  In the meantime, I'll be ordering some new circulars today.  Price is definitely a factor, but I do believe I want interchangeable needles, with a great join....time to shop!

PINK - I can't help myself

It's kind of rosy, kind of cranberry, but let's face it.  It's certainly pink. 

I know I said I'd try hard to knit with more of a variation in colors, but I'm addicted to pink.

This is the beginning of a pullover sweater.  I know, I know, it looks like a long strip of knitting.  The directions are for a strip 12 stitches wide by 49 inches long.......all will be revealed, eventually.

Market Bag

This is the bottom of the market bag I'm knitting at the moment.  So far, so good, but I always have a little difficulty with cotton yarn.  The look is great, but cotton is hard on the hands.  It promises to be sturdy and stretchy, which is what I want, right?  If I were to make another, I'd use larger size needles.

When this bag is completed, I'll share needle sizes, as well as project details.  Hint:  It's an easy pattern!

This is a close-up of the outside of the bag, lacy and stretchy.  I do so love the color.

Something Old, Something New

My first sock in this dreamy strawberry colored yarn is finished, at last.  It was a narrow escape from a lapse into "second-sock-syndrome".  Now, I've started the second.  It's been a slow start, since the pattern is a bit fiddly....you know....knit, purl, knit 2, purl 1, etc.  Kind of a strange pattern combo, but I think the finished results will be quite nice...stay tuned.

You remember the little purse I was knitting for my granddaughter out of this Tahki cotton?  I scrapped it, and I've begun a shopping bag for myself.  This cotton will work up nicely for something of a sturdy nature, as it wasn't suitable for a little bag meant to be feminine and sweet.  After all, feminine and sweet is a very good description of my little granddaughter!

My colors today are Red, White, and Blue....very appropriate, after our country's wonderful and long awaited military accomplishment!

Frogging...oh yeah

In case you thought I'd given up knitting, entirely, here's proof that I was hard at work, trying desperately to make a little knit bag for my granddaughter.

The pattern I chose came from Knitting Little Luxuries, by Louisa Harding.  The book is great, but the yarn I chose was not so great.  The knit was becoming far too 'holey'...not like the picture in the book.

This is cotton yarn by Tahki.  The color is pretty, but I just found out, I'm not crazy about cotton yarn. 

About halfway through the knit bag, I made up my mind....this was NOT going to work out.  I just wanted a little draw-string bag, that's all.  This cotton yarn is stiff and does not suit the pattern.  Not only that, but the bag was becoming quite large, even though my gauge was spot on.  I'll still make the little draw-string bag, but use a softer yarn, and see what develops.

As for 3 hanks of Tahki?  I'll be looking for some kind of market bag to knit for myself, so all is not lost.