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May 23, 2007
Norma Bag
If you've been around the blog long enough you'll remember that I went to Vermont in September 2005. While I was there I spent some time shopping with Norma and she helped me pick out yarn to make Kaleidoscope Yarn's "Project Bag," a rather large felted bag. The yarn had been marinating in the stash ever since but last month I pulled it out and wound it up and cast on. I finished knitting it last Friday and was anxious to felt it. But I also really wanted to take a photo that would show you just how ginormous this bag was pre-felting. Alas I was home alone and not really coming up with creative photography ideas.
I tried draping it on the back of our computer chair. But that doesn't really convey the feeling I was hoping for. I tried a couple of other things like attempting to get the cat to get inside or bribing the dog sit on it but none of that worked. I finally settled on this:
Yup. I put the bag over my head and took a photo. The things I do for the blog, eh?
Once I pulled that sucker off my head, I threw it into the washing machine and set about the felting process. After a lot of hot water (sorry, Al Gore) and a bit of agitation and twenty minutes time, I had this:
Quite a drastic difference! It shrunk up nicely and the fibers felted together and made for a very strong bag. It took from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening to dry. Technically, it was done at that point but I decided I really wanted to line this bag so I went trolling through my fabric stash to see if I had anything that matched.
Look at that - I couldn't have done better if I had purchased the fabric specifically for the project! And I've had that fabric even longer than I had the yarn - I'm pretty sure I bought it at Keepsake Quilting about 4 or 5 years ago.
Monday night I met up with Lois and she helped me make a lining.
We started by measuring the bag and then calculating how to cut the fabric for the lining. We cut a rectangle the size of the bottom of the bag plus 1/2 inch all the way around for the seams. Then we cut a long rectangle for the sides. We seamed the rectangle into a tube and then pinned the bottom onto that. We also made a pocket for my camera and put in a D-ring for my keys. We pinned the lining in place and then turned the bag inside out to sew the lining in place - by machine, thankyouverymuch. The felted fabric on this bag is so thick that the machine stitches don't even show. Once the lining was sewn into place, we threaded the handles through the slots and tied them in a knot. It only took about an hour to make a really beautiful lining for this felted bag.
It's quite large and can hold both current knitting projects along with a spindle.
And I absolutely love it! Thanks to Norma - for the inspiration. And thanks to Lois - for the finishing details. I now have a great new knitting bag
Posted by Carole at May 23, 2007 7:00 AM
Comments
When I saw Norma's a few years ago I knew I wanted to make one. Still in the thinking process on colors. The lining is a good idea- less pilling in the inside and more functional. Love the colors!
Posted by: Manise at May 23, 2007 6:54 AM
Oh, oh, oh, OHHHHHH, I love it. LOVE it, and now I'm totally jonesing for a LINER for my bag which is still very pretty and functional, after all these years. Your lining is beautiful.
Posted by: Norma at May 23, 2007 7:08 AM
The bag is great, and I like that you put the magnet board inside - it gives a good sense of scale. That's a nice big size!
Posted by: DebbieB at May 23, 2007 7:15 AM
Your bag is stunning! The colors and size are perfect.
Posted by: Karen at May 23, 2007 7:24 AM
What a great bag! Looks like one I'd happily buy:)
I'm "collecting" yarn to make one. You're so silly trying it on first~snort~ I love the befores stage of felting, it's such a fun process.
Posted by: Carol at May 23, 2007 7:27 AM
That's really beautiful. The lining is the cherry on the sundae.
Posted by: Ruth at May 23, 2007 7:42 AM
that bag is gorgeous! I haven't felted yet and I've just been surround lately by lots of great felted bags... i must make one!
Posted by: margaux at May 23, 2007 8:16 AM
Looks just about perfect! Nice work.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at May 23, 2007 8:46 AM
that's an awesome head cover i mean bag! ;)
Posted by: maryse at May 23, 2007 8:50 AM
What a fab bag!
Posted by: Julie at May 23, 2007 9:01 AM
Wow - you just *happened* to have fabric that matched? Love the bag and the lining tutorial. Of course it would be easier to just send things out to you but I'll fuddle through it out here...
Posted by: Deb at May 23, 2007 9:03 AM
It came out great - and you are right about the fabric; it looks like you bought it JUST for that project. It's a perfect size too.
Posted by: Anne at May 23, 2007 9:06 AM
Beautiful bag and I love the colors. If you are ever in the mood for another ginormous felted bag, try out My Constant Companion, http://www.knitkit.com/MyConstantCompanion.htm. It looks to be similar in size. If you look at my blog on 2/11/07, you can see that I opted out of the lining but added pockets instead. I will say I gave up firmness but the pockets are convenient.
Posted by: Lisa C at May 23, 2007 9:08 AM
I love it too! I think the lining really makes it.
Posted by: Cheryl at May 23, 2007 9:19 AM
The colors are great and I love the fabric you found for the lining.
But, you know...if you just cut holes in it instead of felting it...you might just have the answer for those bad hair days. ;)
Posted by: Katy at May 23, 2007 9:28 AM
That's gorgeous! Felting is so fun.
Posted by: Amy at May 23, 2007 9:33 AM
It turned out great - love the lining. But, um, where is our post-felting over-the-head picture for scale?! ;)
Posted by: Chris at May 23, 2007 9:38 AM
That's gorgeous! I love it and WANT one too!!
Posted by: Kathy at May 23, 2007 9:42 AM
Awesome! I just love felting.. the only time it's ok to shrink something. Great photo of bag on head, but the details about the lining are a real gift. I lined a bag earlier this year and am sold on the fact that it will greatly extend the life and usefulness.
Posted by: Birdsong at May 23, 2007 9:47 AM
What a wonderful bag, Carole! Terrific job.
Posted by: Vicki at May 23, 2007 9:51 AM
Gorgeous!!!!!
Posted by: Emily at May 23, 2007 9:53 AM
Fabulous!
Posted by: Marcia Cooke at May 23, 2007 10:00 AM
Fabulous!
Posted by: Marcia Cooke at May 23, 2007 10:01 AM
The bag looks great! I would never have chosen those colors but they really work well. You have a great eye. You were so lucky to have the liner fabric in you stash.
Posted by: hillary at May 23, 2007 10:02 AM
What a beauty! And what nice friends. sandy
Posted by: sandy at May 23, 2007 10:02 AM
Oh I love that photo of you! How creative;-0
The bag is more than wonderful! I'm a little covetous (my naughtiness showing through). I need help with lining my LTL Bag...wish you were closer!!
Posted by: margene at May 23, 2007 10:07 AM
Very nice! I have a felted bag that could use a lining. I'll have to take a look-see and figure out if I have any lining fabrics in the stash.
Posted by: Danielle at May 23, 2007 10:17 AM
Fantastic! I love the color choices you made. I need to line a felted bag one of these days You've made it look quite easy!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool at May 23, 2007 10:23 AM
I really like the interplay of the colors, and the lining is wonderful. That hat photo has me laughing!
Posted by: Sylvia at May 23, 2007 10:37 AM
I'm sure someone may have already pointed this out, but if you were going to do a *true* comparison of before and after we need a pic of it on your head after felting too. ;) It looks great either way! I'm glad there are some in this world that do not fear the sewing machine like I do. :)
Posted by: Jessica at May 23, 2007 10:39 AM
I love it! The colors are fantastic and it felted beautifully. I keep meaning to make a bag, and every time I see one finshed (and lined!), I want to stop what I'm doing immediately to make one myself. You've passed along the inspiration!
Posted by: Debbie at May 23, 2007 10:50 AM
Cute bag!
Posted by: claudia at May 23, 2007 10:53 AM
It's awesome. I love those colors. I still haven't sewn the lining into my ginormous Noni bag, but I believe you may have inspired me to dig everything out and give it a whirl. I've been really interested in felting lately (maybe I should try those clogs again).
Posted by: Stephanie at May 23, 2007 10:56 AM
It's awesome. I love those colors. I still haven't sewn the lining into my ginormous Noni bag, but I believe you may have inspired me to dig everything out and give it a whirl. I've been really interested in felting lately (maybe I should try those clogs again).
Posted by: Stephanie at May 23, 2007 10:57 AM
What a gorgeous bag! The lining material is perfect!
Posted by: Jennifer at May 23, 2007 11:01 AM
Wonderful bag, and I'm so glad you lined it! Bags just work much better with lovely pockets and hiding spaces for all your stuff, don't you think?
Posted by: Carla at May 23, 2007 11:03 AM
Well, the bag over your head may not be the right look for you. ;) But the finished felted bag is certainly a fabulous look! The lining really makes it even more special.
Posted by: Rachel at May 23, 2007 11:12 AM
Gorgeous bag!
Posted by: Rennagayle at May 23, 2007 11:18 AM
That is one gorgeous bag! I love the picture of it over your head; too funny :P
Posted by: Julie at May 23, 2007 11:18 AM
Absolutely fabulous! The fabric lining is a particularly nice touch!! I can see lots of great projects coming out of that bag.
Posted by: Leah at May 23, 2007 11:31 AM
Cool bag! I've never been ambitious enough to add a lining, though. Yours looks wonderful!
Posted by: Leslie at May 23, 2007 11:35 AM
That's a *great* bag!
Posted by: Romi at May 23, 2007 11:47 AM
What a GREAT bag! I think I just might have to see if I can buy the pattern - I LOVE IT! I especially like the posed picture :)
Posted by: Cathy at May 23, 2007 11:53 AM
Oh WOW! You're so right about the lining--it's a PERFECT match! (I really like that fabric, too!)
Looks like the finished bag is a very useful size--it shrunk down nicely, but not so much that you can't fit a decent-sized project in it. Very nice!
Posted by: Beth S. at May 23, 2007 12:48 PM
Love the bag, and the lining rocks!
Posted by: Kelli at May 23, 2007 1:08 PM
Nice 'Dumb Donald' impression ;o) (a member of Fat Albert's gang...remember?)
Love the bag!
Posted by: JessaLu at May 23, 2007 1:18 PM
How fab! You are so good, Carole.
I'm waiting for the after shot with it on your head, btw. ;^)
Posted by: Cookie at May 23, 2007 1:35 PM
That is so perfect (the fabric) for the bag. And really without the bag on your head, at least from the other picture, I couldn't tell just how big the bag was pre-felting. Thanks for the bag over head shot. The bag turned out very nicely and the fabric again looks great as the lining.
Posted by: Wanda at May 23, 2007 2:22 PM
That's a lovely bag. I can't believe how huge it was pre-felting, though. It's like you knitted a whole poncho, minus the hole.
Posted by: BigAlice at May 23, 2007 2:28 PM
It's fabulous! Can't wait to see it in person.
Posted by: Martha at May 23, 2007 2:37 PM
Brilliant! I still have not felted anything. (I did try, but apparently I didn't use enough something.)
Posted by: Lucia at May 23, 2007 3:17 PM
I love what you've done with your hair. And the bag is pretty awesome too! :)
Posted by: Karen at May 23, 2007 3:46 PM
Your new bag is beautiful! Isn't felting so much fun? It's like a magical science experiment each time!
Posted by: Beth at May 23, 2007 9:51 PM
OOh! It looks great. I love the lining fabric.
Posted by: elizabeth at May 23, 2007 10:32 PM
Kate Spade has nothing on you Carole! What a great bag!
Posted by: Debi at May 24, 2007 5:00 AM
Your bag is beautiful! Obviously letting the yarn marinate for awhile in your stash was a very good idea. Now, can you send Lois here to help me with the lining for my felted bag?
Posted by: ~Kristie at May 24, 2007 5:00 AM
Kate Spade has nothing on you Carole! What a great bag!
Posted by: Debi at May 24, 2007 5:01 AM
FElting is always a fun thing...your bag turned out great. Now, don't get hooked, or you will have a dozen felted bags, like I do!
Posted by: Lynne at May 24, 2007 2:32 PM
that bag is stupendous
Posted by: Teyani at May 25, 2007 1:45 AM
Beautiful bag!
Posted by: Carrie at May 25, 2007 5:42 PM
It's gorgeous!! Love it!! Great choice of fabric, too. Lining a felted bag makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it?
Posted by: Kim at May 27, 2007 2:37 PM
fabulous bag but the photo of it on your head should have carried a coffee warning ... I nearly snorted hot beverage all over the keyboard!!
Posted by: catsmum at May 29, 2007 7:03 AM
Love the bag (and the conveniently matched lining)!
Posted by: Liz at May 29, 2007 9:29 PM
Your Norma bag is gorgeous! You matched the colors beautifully together and the lining is such a good match. I love knitting with the big needles so, I love making felted bags. I have not lined any of them as I'm not good at sewing. Is there anything you would like to share with a newbie at sewing.
Michele
Posted by: Michele at June 10, 2007 12:42 PM
Hi:
I have that ruler too! Great NZ souvenir. Now that you have a spindle habit, being able to ID those woods may come in handy...
Posted by: KEW at June 19, 2008 9:44 PM
