inspired by Arne & Carlos

I have worked on the little bag designed by Arne & Carlos, the famous norwegian knitters of christmas balls.
Their new book is all about spring, gardens, flowers and beautiful knitted dolls, bags, afghans, potholders etc...

And so I couldn't resist knitting this delightful little bag. 

There was a little sun this afternoon, unfortunately she was gone by the time I took the pictures. ..

I already started another one....  they make a lovely gift....

And I'm sure you agree, a knitter can never have too many gifts ready.

a felted bag

Last friday, I spent a day at Mieke Recour's atelier, making a felted bag.  I really enjoyed this, although it was pretty hard work.  We started from scratch : first we made a design,  then we choose our colours and worked our way through the many layers of wool, with the aid of soap, and hot water.

It was funny to see that we all had a different bag in the end.

this is how mine ended up.

our hands were sooo soft afterwards !

with an orange inside

Mieke came to help with the details

pretty in pink

everything is felted

a wonderful bag this is !

in black 'n white

with curly endings

this finishing touch !

accents in real sheeps wool

rolling and hitting the felt

and more soap...

Mieke at her table

so, what do you think ?

the black beauty

artistic !

nearly finished !

this one is ready, pffff - now it has to dry

We enjoyed the day very much, it was well organised and we were all proud to go home with the great bags !

granny squares bag for winter

My first granny squares bag was made in all bright and funky summer colours. 
But now, I prefer the more sober and soft autumn colors, just like the colors you see on the trees.

Last year I bought a couple of skeins from Drops, and I used them to make the grannies for this bag :

The wool changed into a variety of colours, so I just kept crocheting and the result was very harmonious. 

I cut some lining and sewed it in by hand.  The handles are old, I used them before.And I added the felted flower too.

It is a nice big soft bag - just what I wanted.

granny squares bag

My first attempt at the famous granny squares ! 

  
 

well, first isn't quite right, I remember having made plenty when I was in my teens.  They were very fashionable then.  I made a poncho and a cushion, for my mum (she still has it !)

Now I'm into bags.  The old felted one is getting a bit worn out, so it's time for a new one. 
I started it with the summer in mind, hoping for some sunshine, and choose beach colours.

 A very bright combination, it makes me happy to walk around with it, even if the sun isn't shining as it should. 

I chose a nice dotted lining, from Rebecca's collection.  But the result wasn't quite what i expected.  too fluffy, it had not enough strenght.
So i undid the lining, and added a plastic sort of lining, I secured it to the grannies on the inside, and then finished with the dotted fabric.  That's much better !

it's light and invisible,  but gives body to the bag

the bag can stand up straight

I added 3 side - grannies for more volume

It can easily hold a book.

I'm happy with my new bag !

Yoko Saito bag - beginnings

At the Paris fair, I have bought a book by yoko saito.  She makes the most wonderful bags, and has redefined the art of quilting. 

these bracelets are amazing too !

I was crazy about this bag :

it's all woven together (panier tressée in french)

Now I started with the beginnings.

I changed the dimensions a bit, I need a bag that can fit my files.

lots of fabric to sew

this part is fun : weaving like in kindergarden

this has taken me a whole morning !  I will continue on another day, it's time to take a break now.
I will keep you informed about the progress. 

hooked on Zpaghetti .... or not !

Last month, my friend Amandine invited me to join her on a Zpaghetti workshop.  I hesitated, I'd seen some zpaghetti items before, and I don't really like them.  They're huge.  And rigid.    I prefer to work with soft merinos and mohairs. 

But curiosity got the overhand and I joined.  Amandine is good company, so what could happen ?

Disaster is a good word for that workshop.  Disaster for me, that is.  The other people made lovely stuff.  Mine was horrible.  I didn't like the colour.  My thread was way to dense and I couldn't choose a  pattern.  I started, hesitated,  took it all out, and started all over again.  Even worse. 


Do you know these days where you shouldn't be doing anything, because it's just not going to happen the way you want ?  This was one of those days.  I should've stayed in bed.

So I took the Zpaghetti home, unfinished, and it remained in its bag.  I pushed it under my sofa. 

And then, yesterday, I found it again.  In a better mood, I thought this wasn't going to beat me.  I took the big hook, and started to crochet in a frenzy.  Half an hour later, I had finished all the zpaghetti and it looked like this....

I used 2 long slings (is that the good word?)

If I hit someone with it, they're dead for sure. Sooo hard...

perhaps flowers will soften it a little

So, this bag is finished.  And my conclusion is that the only zpaghetti I like is served with a good bolognaise sauce...

I'm back !

Well hello friends,
long time no see....   been very busy with lots of other things.  Haven't  knit a lot, so there isn't much to show.
  Every year when the 1st of september hits this house, it's stressful times.   This year I've had 2 different teaching schedules in 1 week.  So plenty of work to make all the photocopies - you want to hand out something to the pupils, don't you...

Anyways, I have also started a new sewing club, gathering, what can I call it ?  We choose the name 'Chic et pas cher', being a local expression that means it's nice and doesn't cost a lot...  Exactely what making you own clothes is...
this is my project for the first gathering :

this bag is called 'boleo' bag

do you recognize the Ikea fabric ?

I have made a seperate blog about the sewing club :chicetpascheroostende

Also, the knitting club has started again too.  Soo busy, When is the next holiday coming up ????

See you soon ! 
Rozemie

a little bag

To take my mind off the son I occupied myself with stupid chores around the house.
Like ironing. 
I mean ironing everything, also the big table napkin that has been deep down below in my ironing basket, beneath all other stuff.  It has been there a while....
And there I also found some old jeans of the above mentionned son.  I kept it just for the fabric - the legs were damaged badly and beyond repair.  (mountainbiking... !)

I used the jeans  to make a bag, the same pattern as the Cath Kidston bag.  I used some leftover fabric from the summerdress I made, the one with the small flowers.  I think it looks good.  It has all the pockets on the outside, so the lining was very straightforward to make  !

So, that's been a busy afternoon.  Tomorrow I'm off with my girlfriends for a couple of days. ( 3 mad women, who know eachother from schooldays,   way back in the good old seventies) 

another bag... to give away !

Yes, I couldn't resist.  I made another bag, same design as the Cath Kidston one.  Made of real 70-ies fabric.  It used to be a curtain in a children's room. 

so many flowers to make me happy

Vintage flower power ! I love the green, it makes me happy.   Perhaps you think it's a bit over-the-top, but hey, it's summer isn't it ?  I always go a bit crazy when it's summer...

I added a piece of vintage lace

In the book C. Kidston recommends to wash the bag a few times and put it in the dryer, to give it a vintage look.  Well, this already has the vintage look....

I made it a little bit bigger than the original one

Do you like it ?  I still have plenty of fabric, I can make another one, just like it - especially for you ...

It's my first give-away, so please :

a) become a follower
b) leave a comment
 c) mention this on your own blog

Perhaps this bag will be yours....   You'll know on july 3rd !