Bag number Three finished at last

I have finished the third bag and I have to say I like this one the best. I crocheted and felted the handles and even managed to crochet, felt and sew in an inside pocket for my mobile phone.
I don't think I should make any more for a while as it's costing me too much. Trouble is I've seen a gorgeous new colour that has just come into the shop, it's shades of cerise, turquoise, blues and lilacs really lovely.  Anyway here is the finished bag.  I promise not to bore you any more with bags for a while.

I think it's time I finished my crocheted cushion cover.  The colours aren't great in these pics as I took them in a bad light this evening, plus I hadn't sewn the handles and button loop on (I have now) so excuse the pin's that are visable.

Bag number three !! I am well and truly addicted.

Here is the finished (well knitted stage anyway) of bag number three.  I made it the biggest so far, but it has now been felted and it isn't as big as I wanted it to be, so back to the drawing board and re-access my pattern which incidentally has been made up out of my head. The colours here have felted together to make a more subtle shade and I was disappointed that the bands of green in the main body aren't as outstanding as when I was knitting it up. But having said that it looks fab. I will show the results in my next post as I am crocheting the handles this time (again no pattern and made up as I go along !!! silly me )

Bag number Two

I have just completed bag number two which is going to be a present for my daughters Birthday. Here it is almost finished and ready to felt.  I did a contrasting deep green top and the bottom is the same colour. It's also a bit bigger than my first bag.

Sown up and felted :
This time I washed it on a 40 degrees cotton wash as it has more agitation and throws the bag around enough to felt it properly first time and it actually came out thicker than my first bag. Spin speed was set to 400.

Handles on and button and loop sown on. I haven't decided whether or not to line it with some pretty cotton purple dotty fabric which goes very well with the colour of the bag.

I needle felted the flower to go on the bag and put a brooch pin at the back so it can come off  if the bag needs washing, or perhaps be moved to another part of the bag or even left off is desired.

I am now starting on another one in lovely shades of rust, greens, and lilacs.  I intend making it larger and perhaps different handles, maybe thick felted ones which will be cheaper than the plaited ones.

 I am loving making the bags and think I will have to start selling them as I can't keep them all.

Ta Da ... The Finished Bag

Well here it is all finished and I have to say i am pleased with it and have already started another.
I may well line it later on with some cotton fabric to preserve the inside and also so I can have some pockets for my mobile and keys.  If I do decide to line it I will post a photo.
SO FROM THIS   :-------- TO .........

TO THIS :--------

ORLA KIELY  'TESCO'  BAG
I have my Orla Kiely bag at last!  our local Tesco has been made larger and is now an amazing Tesco Extra store and has just had a delivery of the fabulous bags YEAH !!!!! I love it

Knit and Felt Bag - second stage

I have completed the body of my bag and felted it in the washing machine. As I have never done this before I wasn't sure what cycle to use, I knew I had to wash it at 40 degrees and use a low spin speed (I used the 400) so I popped it in the wash with a minuscule amount of liquid soap (for colours) and off it went. I had used the wool wash but that was because Fiona (who owns the wool shop) said not a cotton one as it would get thrown around too much. However I now think that the cotton wash at 40degrees would have been better, as I had to do the same wash 3 times over to get the bag to felt as I wanted it.

I am delighted with the end result and it it now drying slowly (don't tumble dry) with baked bean cans in a plastic bag (so the labels don't get soggy and fall off) this is to keep the bottom gusset shape whilst it dries.

The felt is lovely and thick and firm, but I think I will line it with a lovely fabric so that I can make some little handy pockets. And of course I have yet to decide on my fastening and Handles.  Maybe a beautiful BIG button, they have some fab ones in the wool shop, or other possibility is a felted bobble button.  It could have plaited leather short handles (they sell those for around £6) or a long crocheted and felted strap. So decisions yet to be made for the end completion. I will post photo's when I finish it completely.
AND NOW HERE IS THE BAG :   DA DA !!!

My needle felted flower is a perfect match. I just pinned it on to see how it looks so that might not be the place it ends up in.   I am so happy with this method of felting and I know I'll be making more bags in the other fabulous colours the shop sell.  Because I didn't have a pattern I wrote down everything I did as I went along to keep for next time.