Another Knitting Bag
Posted by: Peanut in MyBlog on Oct 11, 2015
It almost always happens that just before we go on vacation I realize I need a new knitting bag. I start to plan out my vacation knitting and notice that something is travelling in a plastic bag and decide I can do a bit better. In this case I’d been planning a new bag for a while but only got around to making it when the check-in time for our flight was looming mere days away. When I made my first project bag back in January I’d been a little disappointed with the zipper. Not with my installation of the zipper - I was really pleased with how that turned out - but with the zipper itself. I did a little searching, discovered Zipit on Etsy, and ordered myself a small selection of really nice zippers for bags. I like the longer pull tab on a bag zipper. Somehow it feels more polished.
I made a couple of other changes with this bag. I didn’t have any heavy weight interfacing left so I used cotton twill for the lining and added a layer muslin to the outer fabric. I love the twill interior. I think I'll do it as a regular thing from now on. It holds its shape so much better than regular quilting weight cotton does and supports the pockets really well. I decided on patch pockets instead of a matching notions pouch this time for two reasons: 1) I was constantly losing the pouch at the bottom of the bag and having to hunt through my balls of yarn to find it, and 2) Maisie tended to find it first and claim it for her own - I don’t even know where it is right now but I’m pretty sure it’s full of crayons. I have plans to make Maisie her own special bag (I even got a fancy zipper especially for her) but it hasn’t been done yet so pockets for me. One of the pockets is big and the other is the same size divided in half to make two small pockets. I stuck my label on one of the small pockets instead of on the outside of the bag this time. Still there but not as obvious.
As soon as I was finished sewing I popped in my current cardigan-on-the-needles. A perfect fit. Yarn, knitting, tools, pattern, and buttons all nestled happily together and easy to find when I need them. And yes, I did pick my fabric to match the sweater that was going to go in the bag. It feels so neat and orderly.