Dreaming of Sunshine

I am always searching for a perfect bag. In stores, online, finally I just started searching my own head. What did I want in a bag? What did I see commercially that I liked? What did I want to be able to carry around with me? This bag was dreamed up one spring when the department stores had all sorts of nicely finished leather patterns. I liked the idea of the texture of a bag lightening toward the top as I saw with leather that had flowery punches in the top half, or interlaced pieces toward the straps. Could I make knitting do that?

The result was a tightly knit cotton shoulder bag (yes, tightly knit, that was the only way that I could knit-in the structure I envisioned from the leather bags). With a sturdy base, lining the bag would be up to the individual knitter, I like the sound of that (even though I lined mine). I love the contrast between the sturdy base and the drop stitched upper. It allows the bag to have a shape, and still flop over to keep the goodies inside safe. 

This is the first design of mine that requires a bit of finishing as I chose to attach the straps with hardware, to continue the mimicry of the leather handbags in the stores that season (who am I kidding, every season). By having the rings attached directly to the bag, then attaching the strap to the bag, I discovered that I was able to wear the bag around for a while, then I could adjust the strap length to be just right. I did tie up some knots in the strap while using it out and about, and that process gave me a good sense of how much of the original strap to un-knit. Then I simply reattached the strap to the hardware, a process that would be much more challenging had the strap been attached directly to the bag. One could also choose to attach the clip style hardware to the knitted strap to have interchangeable straps for their knit bags. I see endless possibilities, and nowhere near enough time to play with this particular finishing technique. 

The other finishing technique I used with this bag did not entirely end up as I had hoped. I liked the bag in a bright turquoise blue hoping some of that blue would show through the more open upper. Sadly, it did not (but it would be simple enough to adjust for a much looser gauge in that section to achieve this look. The lining more importantly imparts structure, strength and security to this bag. Unlike the felted bags, there is the chance that smaller items could poke through the knitted fabric. Sewing a simple pillowcase shape with the corners tucks, then carefully installing it along the cast on top edge prevents losing any small items or shape.