Monday, March 24, 2014

Lily Valley Bag

The Lily Valley Bag was the first pattern that I created. I had seen a few bags with the similar shape of triangles reaching up and becoming the straps of the bag. I had seen bags with layers sewn together to create different pockets and compartments. But none of these bags quite had the utility that I was looking for. I wanted something that could hold a good amount of whatever it was I wanted to be carried (yarn, groceries, the mishmash of items that occupy my purse). 




 With all of this in mind, I took the left over yarn from a mystery knit along, and began my creation at the base of the bag. This way I would have a general idea of how much the bag would hold (general because I intended to felt this project from the beginning). Could it hold a water bottle? A sock project? My large wallet? From the base, I worked upwards with the brown color eventually creating what became a sweeping triangular shape. I was running short on yarn, and so I began decreasing more often creating this sweeping shape. In later iterations, I held the decreases steady and ended up with a larger more geometric final shape. 

The second side of the bag was a mirror image of the first, except in a contrasting color. I don’t imagine that using one color would result in a bag quite as stunning. In fact, I think a single color may result in missing some of the more subtle organization benefits of this design. I often drop my wallet, phone, or keys between the layers. Assuming the bag is full enough, there is no risk of losing them and they are so much more accessible than if they were in the main body of the bag with everything else. I am a bit worried about losing my keys, which is why I took the smallest bit of scrap yarn to create a series of patch pockets up one tall side of the bag. These have held everything from chap-stick and lotion to my cell phone and keys to a drop spindle and tiny mini skein of freshly spun yarn. Plus, I liked the purple pop!


The most challenging part of all hand knit bags, and especially felted bags, for me is how long to make the straps. Without completing the bag and wearing it around town, I never know how much I’m going to want to carry around in it. This bag is no different, in fact the contoured shape of the top of this bag makes for an even greater challenge because the top of the triangles are in effect part of the strap distance (or “drop”). If I am only carrying a few light items, this has not been a problem. However, I find this to be a great bag to bring when I walk to the grocery store. Heavy groceries, even if its just a little bit, pull the bag down to an uncomfortable level. So my designer solution? I just tied a makeshift knot in the strap. Its the most adjustable solution, and I actually came up with it while walking to the store one day. It may not be the cleanest solution, but I do believe it is more attractive and structurally sound than if I cut the felt and sewed it back together.




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