You know how it is in the winter - weight gain. I needed to have something to do with my hands other than put snacks in my mouth so I started knitting again. I was carrying it in a basket but it was too bulky so I made a cute bag with soft leather handles.
Maine was famous for shoe shops but the trade went to cheap overseas vendors. I was the recipient of MANY full leather skins. This one is very soft and perfect for handles.
Binding the top and applying the handles. The Juki handled the quilted fabric and leather easily.
Side seams and box bottom.
Both sides.
My alpaca cowel in its infancy.
Beautiful bag, beautiful knitting! I'm with you re: snacking... one of the reasons I'm working on hand stitched projects these days! Busy hands are happy hands, and the mouth does just fine without all those snacks! <3
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!!
DeleteI remember in the late 60's going to the Old Port and getting leather scraps from leather crafts people. (When the Old Port was a sort of hippy place.) I once hand stitched a leather bag from the scraps...Primitive but it was fun and I used it. The handles were leather shoe laces. You are always up to something new! What a great idea, a pretty bag...I sometimes wish I could knit, I may take out my felting and make some little dolls while watching documentaries or listening to audio books during these snows. A friend made me a knit neck warmer, how I love it! (A cowl is a neck warmer?)
ReplyDeleteYes it is. I like a cowl better than a scarf because it stays around my neck!! No bulks knot either!!
DeleteGreat bag! And glad to hear you're knitting! That was the first handwork I learned (age 8 or so -- almost 60 years ago now!) and I *always* have knitting with me. I joke that I don't carry a purse; instead, I carry a knitting tote with a wallet! ;-) Your cowl is pretty; next up: try it in the round so you have no seam to sew! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret. Same story here. I learned at about 9 or 10 and I still knit the weird way I "remembered" by Grandmother showing me. She died soon after was I had no one to correct my weird knitting.
DeleteWhat a wonderful bag!! You are so inspiring. And yes keeping those hands busy does indeed keep them out of the cookie jar!! Wish I could find some leather skins to redo and old mission style chair I have. But so far they are VERY expensive. Take care! Pam Gonzalez
ReplyDeleteThey have some great leather substitutes now. Maybe look on Craig's list
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