Thursday, June 28, 2018

Knit then Stitch.....Stitch then Knit

Hello lovelies. Thank you all for your sweet comments re my little slipper chair. I have spent many moments these past two weeks sitting on it whilst knitting a stitch or two of my purple aran cardie. My little slipper chair has even been used for what it was originally intended for back in the day.....that is to sit on it, enabling the easier slipping on of one's shoes.....(my San Fransisco boots need a shoe horn to slip one's feet into). Come to think of it, as I have been knitting my purple pretty I have been sitting on my patchwork needlepoint chair as well.....I love to spread the lurve around. =) This past little while has been  filled with a little knitting then stitching....then a little stitching then knitting. 

My cardie is progressing, albeit slowly. If I just sat and knitted and knitted, my cardie would be on my back keeping out the wintry chill. My problem is I get distracted with other pretties that are colliding around in my imagination. The nature of knitting is, is it not, that you pick up whatever it is you are knitting and when you have progressed a little (or indeed a lot) you put it down until the next time. Sometimes for me  it is a very long time.

The back and fronts of my cardie are finished and now I am knitting the yoke. I am enjoying this pattern as it doesn't tax the brain pan too much. Though I do relish a complicated knitting pattern, it is wonderful  to just sit and knit and not have to think too much about it.

You know how I said I get easily distracted, well, as I knitted I became a little preoccupied with another pressing thought. As I sat and continued to knit and purl and cable, it occurred to me that I do not have a bag in which to hold my knitting. Sure, I have  a few baskets but I wanted something more suitable when I am out and about. A knitting bag was required, a carryall to hold the paraphernalia needed when knitting a woolly pretty. A more suitable bag to hold knitting needles, yarn needles for sewing in the ends, tape measure, row markers, stitch holders, pen and notebook for taking notes for keeping track of where you are in the pattern, pattern books and all those other knitting bits and pieces.



I thought a scrappy bag could be rather spiffy. Gathering together pretty fabrics I stitched 1" strips together.


Though the strips joined together dance a merry polka, to add a little interest I decided to machine sketch a little picture. It's been an age since I have machine sketched anything. Doodling with my machine is always an enjoyable pastime for me so I drew a picture of a girl  lazing on a sofa, knitting, with a kitty cat snoozing on the floor and a sweet birdie in a bird cage, and a pot of tea complete with a tea cup resting on a little table.

I chose a Koda fabric with the name of Bubble Gum as the background and sketched everything in black. With the machine sketching complete I ruched strips of fabric that I stitched together which will dosy doe around the border of the picture.  I drafted a pattern and thought I would use some pretty bamboo handles which I rescued from an op shop a long time ago.


Stitching my knitting gal onto the front of the bag, I then stitched the ruched strip of fabric to the  front, sashaying its way merrily around the edge.

After sewing the back and front together and stitching in the lining I then hand stitched the handles to the bag. I toyed with adding a touch of whimsy in the way of bobble trim or ric rac but believe it or not I didn't. Kinda hard to believe I know, but there you go. I was in a 'KISS' (keep it simple stupid) frame of mind.


Ooooh.....nothing makes my heart go pitty-pat quite like a sea of scrappy happiness!


But then........a sea of bright and happy, woolly loveliness makes my heart skip a beat or two, too.


I am happy with my new knitting bag. I love the pretty fabrics and I love the sense of fun it exudes. It is a good size too; about 20" in width and 15" in length....big enough to carry all those woolly bits and pieces. It was such an easy pretty to design and make. From go to woe it was a breeze to fashion. After the herculean stitching of my pretty curtains and tarted up chairs of late, I was up for a little stitching that required no thinking, nor indeed any opposition. 'Tis wonderful, is it not, to every now and then whip up something quick and simple??


Now all I have to do is get on with the knitting of my cardie. Maybe, just maybe this pretty will soon be on my back, all buttoned up, bracing against the frigid winter chill. That is of course if me, myself and I do not  imagine another 'must have' pretty in the dark corridors of my discombobulated brain pan. One never really knows, does one?? But......this is what makes a creative life oh so fascinating!

Sending a little love your way this lovely day. Until the next time.......



53 comments:

  1. Hi Kim omg your new knitting bag is awesome,love the fabrics and the stitchery,well done my friend on your beautiful finish xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your new knitting bag. Very pretty and very practical. Sometimes it is nice to have a quick and fun finish and this one i perfect :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are such a talented artist, what a wonderfully unique bag!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The bag is so cute. I love the ruffle you put around picture and the fabric is so pretty. I have three things I am doing. If I could just work on one thing at a time I would be better at getting things done.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your fabrics looks colorful and nice. You have done a beautiful work! Your bag looks beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. Have a fabulous weekend. Kim Xx

      Delete
  6. Okay, so I officially think you are brilliant! Your machine sketching leaves me in awe and I just adore your knitting bag. I don't believe there is anything that you cannot create! x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Always enjoy your posts and your lovely projects. Your knitting bag is delightful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very kind, lovely Carole; thank you. Hope you enjoy a lovely weekend when it arrives at your place. Kim Xx

      Delete
  8. You did it again. You stitched up another beauty. It would have been wonderful on it's own but that sketch of the girl gives it oodles and oodles of extra charm. Kim, you're an artist. I love it and I love your "discombobulated" brain. :)
    xx Beca

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a lovely bag...and post !
    I feel the joy you had to create this bag !
    Have a nice day !
    Hug
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love, love LOVE your new bag! To you it is a simple project but to me, I would have pulled all my hair out! I am still in awe that you drew and then machine stitched the darling picture on the front. It does give such a peaceful, pleasant feeling looking at it. Wouldn't we all want to laze on the couch doing our favorite thing?!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This bag is just plum adorable. You are the most creative person I think I've ever "met". :D

    ReplyDelete
  12. O, what a lovely knitting bag, Kim. The ‘gal’ knitting on the chaise lounge with all the necessities, including a kitty cat, birdie, and tea ...so very special...what a divinely artistic treasure.
    Thank you for the smiles.

    ReplyDelete
  13. How I love the beautiful retro fabrics form the '30's and '40's...a wonderful project!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Pretty and useful Kim. Your sketch is delightful. xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. You inspired me to tart up a bag that was dying and now it has a whole new life love your bag and the drawer that all your wool is peeping out of oh my i want big time thanks for the beautiful ideas. The bag is on my instergram feed elizabethstreeter21

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How lovely you have tarted up a bag and given new life to it, Elizabeth. I will have to have a look on Instagram. Thank you for popping by. Kim Xx

      Delete
  16. Your knitting bag is so special and beautiful, the machine sketch is incredibly and amazing!!!!
    Am so curious about your cardigan.
    We have warm days here and it is too hot to do something.
    Hugs. ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh to have days that are too hot to do anything....I wish. =) Thank you for your sweet comments, lovely Loes. Keep cool. Kim Xx

      Delete
  17. I am always excited when I see a new post from you in my feed and the title of your post spins my imagination wildly guessing what wondrous project you are unveiling this time and my word! This bag is magical! And you did the drawing yourself! I was in awe at that beautiful stitching - I was left speechless! The whole bag with all that beautiful fabrics looks like candy! My greatest compliments Kim!

    ReplyDelete
  18. That is such a great bag!! I like how you did all the little strips - it made it so colorful!

    ReplyDelete
  19. your problem is...you have too many talents, hehehehe!!

    right now, i find myself knitting, every evening. i don't have other lovelies i want to work on.

    this bag is creative, adorable, sweet and beautiful, i really love it!! you have so much talent kim, i always enjoy everything you create. even the fabrics and ideas you choose, we are on the same page!!!

    this would be a great bag for caring around a smaller knitting project!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Aww the knitting bag turned out so gorgeous Kim! I love everything about it, from the pretty fabrics and the machine sketch of a knitting girl (omg that is so cool). Hope to see your finished Cardi. Much love :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow - that was fun to watch you make the cutest bag ever! You really have such a fun style, I so love watching your creatively.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ooh Kim, how utterly adorable is the bag that you magically stitched up!!!!! How in the world do you make such a cute scene???!! The scrappy bag was cute by itself, but the darling girl lounging on the chaise completes the fun. I just adore it. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us. xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh Kim I think you did good taking a little break from your knitting and stitching up this lovely bag, I so do love the colors and pattern you came up with, great find with the handle! Good luck getting your cardie done by the end of winter :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. So pretty, Kim, I am in love with all the tiny flower prints in the patchwork and your darling knitting scene for the front! It looks like the perfect size, too. I can imagine you in your patchwork chair, knitting away while thinking up magical creations! x K

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too love all those little 1930's flower prints, Karen. Yes, sitting in my patchwork lovely does seem to make the imagination run riot. =) Thank you for popping into my little place. Hope you have a beautiful weekend, lovely lady. Kim Xx

      Delete
  25. Oh my, that is so cute and lovely the textile drawning...your knitwork and patchwork and your whole blog is a really joy in all it's colors. Glad, that I've found you :)
    Greetings from Germany

    ReplyDelete
  26. That is absolutely adorable. Your stitch sketching is fabulous. The repro fabrics are the perfect addition to the sketching too.

    ReplyDelete
  27. You are so right the life of a creative person is indeed a fascinating one to live. The Good Lord gifted us all with different talents and I am grateful that mine was a gift of creativity. It has served me well and provided me with an imagination that entertains my thoughts. I think that is true of all of us that live to create, whether it is stitching, weaving, cooking, garden, building, designing, painting etc. I can tell by following your blog that you have one project weaving through your thoughts before you even finish the one that you are working on. Your work is beautiful and so detailed. This bag is perfect and so you :)
    Happy stitching!
    Connie :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your bag is just gorgeous Kim!! I love every single thing about it! I am wondering - when you do your machine doodling .... do you pencil sketch the design first or do you just fire away merrily on your machine?? You are So artistic Kim Xx

    ReplyDelete
  29. That is quite the adorable, scrappy knitting bag! I love the various strips of fabric you used. What a pile of fabric in your stash! Such happy little prints! :) Hope you are enjoying the weekend....it's very hot here! Take care, Linda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, lovely Linda. Yes I have a fabulous stash of fabrics and a good lot of them seem to be happy little 1930 and 1940 prints. These prints make me smile. I am having the best weekend, though I wish it was very hot here. =) There is much too much chilliness in the air. Have a fabulous week....try and stay cool. Xx

      Delete
  30. I love the way your mind and creativity work. Great bag and though your stitching is wonderful, I fell in love with the ruching. What a special little touch. Life has been busy, busy around here and I've not had extra time to check out older posts but, never to worry, in time I'll be back at it! Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Kim - you are amazing … I just can't get over the fact that you created that picture on a sewing machine! Talent oozes from your every pore, obviously! Your knitting bag is simply gorgeous, and has caused my white plastic shopping bag to turn red with shame ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Angie. You will have to toss out that white plastic shopping bag and whip up a pretty just for you. Kim xx

      Delete
  32. Lovely knitting bag Kim, such pretty colours and I love how you have done the machine stitching.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have to say that my mouth fell open when I saw that thread sketch!!! Wowzers. Here I thought I had done a great thing today when I stitched a few stems and leaves on the machine - certainly burst my pride bubble when I saw what you've done...lol. Your bag is absolutely darling!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. semplicemente favoloso! Anche le immagini, le foto che hai fatto sono di grande impatto, sei un'artista! un grosso abbraccio <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your beautiful comments. Kim Xx

      Delete
  35. Machine doodling?!!! I couldn't produce something that cute with a pencil, never mind a sewing machine. It's awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I had to come by and look at this pretty bag again. It's perfect!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog, I love hearing from my blogging sisters.
    You're so sweet. :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. You needed a knitting bag; you created a work of art!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have always admired your thread painting. This one is so lovely, so comfy! Hopefully this sweet new bag will entice you to finish the cardi. Hmm...may be that's what I am missing too, a new bag for my knitting :)

    -Soma

    ReplyDelete
  39. Of course you needed a beautiful knitting bag. Love the fabrics and the ruching! Your art work is always amazing!
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew you would understand, lovely Jann! =) Kim Xx

      Delete
  40. This is absolutely beautiful. I love the fabric choice, love your embroidery, love everything!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, just to let you know your lovely bag was one of the features at this weeks Handmade Monday :-)

      Delete
  41. Kim. Oh I have missed your beautiful posts! Happy Winter to you. Like a bad penny, I have returned to the world of blogging. I look forward to catching up. I'm your newest follower. xx

    ReplyDelete
  42. Your knitting gal is perfect!x

    ReplyDelete