06-03-2016

Have gotten so many complements on my original bag, I’m making more! This time, will make strap longer (did I measure the last one? Hope I made a note!!!) and attach it to the zipper side of the bag: directions are kind of unclear - so I originally attached the side without the decreases… In use, it always felt like things inside the purse were going to fall out. I snipped the stitches at the base, added some more rows to the strap and ran it through a few more times… MUCH better!

06-08-2016

Almost done with strap: bag dimensions: 37” x 19” - slightly smaller than the previous one. Strap is 31” so far, but I think I’ll try and match length measurement, if I don’t have to start another skein.

06-17-2016

Felted while visiting my mom - she has a top loader - but usually my front-load washer does just fine (I think I read recently they recommend the former simply because you can stop it mid-cycle… the top-loader wasn’t any easier to unlock than my front-loader!).

For the first cycle, the strap got tangled around the agitator in the middle - so felted mostly sideways (usually it’s much more dramatic top to bottom)… was soooo weird looking. 2nd time, I turned inside out and pinned the opening closed… much better. The orange/pink/white yarns are an alpaca/wool blend… I love how the fibers mingled with the Lana Wool…

Finished Strap was 40” and is a bit long after felting. Pattern says to make 10” shorter than bag length - but that was too short on my other bag!!! I’m hoping a 3rd cycle will shorten it… otherwise, might have to do some ‘surgery’… Nice thing that ‘felting’ will hide the seam!

Got a zipper today and some heavy brown cotton for lining at a Hancock Fabric Going-Out-Of-Business sale :(