the blue blog archives: sophia

Here's the first sophie bag. It came out perfectly after felting. I stuffed some plastic bags in it to hold the shape as it finished drying and now need only to sew in a snap. What a great little pattern! I enjoyed it so much that I immediately searched through my stash to find more wool. And what do you know, I had about a ball and a half of Kureyon left over from my new year's stripey sweater. It wasn't enough for a full-sized sophie, but I like it as a short, rectangular bag too.

posted by alison at 12:13 am | in bag lady

Comments

ooh, both sophies look great! Isn't felting fun? I love the kureyon one, what a beautiful colour that is..

Posted by: kerrie at May 25, 2004 3:41 AM

Bella Sophia! Now, are you going to keep both for yourself, Mamacita?

Posted by: other alison at May 25, 2004 3:45 AM

Very nice sophie's...I loved making this pattern, my sophie's still blocking, although I did take a couple pics in progress, I am tempted to make another! if I do, I think this time the french market though...

I love the pinky kureyon!

Posted by: Heather at May 25, 2004 6:44 AM

Will you show details of the snap when you sew it in? I've been making the loveliest felted bags with wool odds and ends, but I'm not sure how to add a closure. I need closure! Any suggestions you have will be appreciated.

Posted by: roseanne at May 25, 2004 7:11 AM

How very sophie-sticated.

Posted by: Stephanie at May 25, 2004 7:45 AM

Wow, they both look great! I made a felted bag with that same color of Kureyon...it's so happy!

Fabby Sophia, dahling!

Posted by: carrie at May 25, 2004 8:41 AM

I love your so much that now I have to dig through my stash for my own sophie!

Posted by: monica at May 25, 2004 9:09 AM

beautiful! and what a great way to use up every last bit of kureyon goodness :)

Posted by: jody at May 25, 2004 9:30 AM

what lovely sophia you have!

I want to go home and make one right NOW. (I have no restraint.) Especially love the kureyon springy stripes... do they go with any of the spring fling tops?

Posted by: Chelsea at May 25, 2004 9:42 AM

Both of them are beautiful! What do you think of the handles? I've heard some people say they don't find them strong enough. Maybe there's a summery Sophie in my future.

Posted by: Karen Heinig at May 25, 2004 10:14 AM

I love BOTH Sophies! I would say that you now have the bag-making - felting bug! I look forward to seeing more great felted creations from you.

Posted by: Brenda at May 25, 2004 11:10 AM

Love your Sophie's! Can't wait to see more!

Posted by: Julie at May 25, 2004 11:28 AM

Your bags look wonderful!I want to knit one right now. Ack! Must finish working in the garden first...

Posted by: Amy at May 25, 2004 2:13 PM

Ahh, you have the felting bug, I think. There are lots of fun patterns out there. Cascade is a great felting yarn.

Posted by: Loose Ends Melissa at May 25, 2004 3:01 PM

Wow. Great sophie. Now I've got to work on one. May need to swing by the LYS to pick up some Cascade this weekend.

Posted by: rayne at May 25, 2004 3:36 PM

Great bags! I love them both. Two very useful sizes. I really like the shapes of them.

Posted by: froggy at May 25, 2004 6:08 PM

Love your Sophies! I've made two so far, and have yarn for at least three more. Fun!

Posted by: Jane at May 25, 2004 6:37 PM

I love the Sophias!! BTW, I also finished a Spring Fling tank. I used Patons Fresco in Berry. I have a pic on my blog.

Posted by: Lynn at May 25, 2004 8:33 PM

Now aren't you wondering, "what took me so long?" I knew you couldn't stop at just one!

Posted by: Kerstin at May 26, 2004 6:24 AM

These snappy little totes make me want to try my hand at some serious felting, already. Beautiful!

Posted by: Becky at May 26, 2004 7:24 AM

It seems the knitter's I've connected with here in Honolulu have gotten the felted bag knitting bag. Thanks for providing more eye candy for us all :-)

Posted by: Opal at May 26, 2004 10:53 AM

Alison, the Sophita is so cute! I have some Kureyon in my stash that I'd like to use. What was the finished dimensions of the smaller bag and what did you do to alter the pattern so you could work with what you have? I might have just enough Kureyon left to make the smaller version. Thanks!!

Posted by: Sara at May 27, 2004 9:57 AM

Thanks everyone (especially Julie for the pattern!). I really did catch the felting bug!

Roseanne, I still haven't put a snap in. I'm looking for magnetic snaps. Can't find them yet.

Karen, I like the handles. I'm a small purse person, so I don't really have too much to put in a purse anyway. So I think they'll be strong enough for my needs.

Sara, they Kureyon bag is almost as wide as the other sopie, but about half as high. I cast on about four or five fewer stitches, cause I knew I didn't have enough yarn for a full sized bag. I only did
28 rows of garter stitch and then picked up only 14 stitches for the sides. I had exactly enough yarn to do three decreases and then one i-cord. I knew there wouldn't be enough for two i-cords, so I bound off a few more stitches on front and back and left just the 5 middle stitches from each side and made a 5-stitch i-cord. Play with the numbers and just knit until you've only got a handful left for the strap. And have fun!

Posted by: alison at June 1, 2004 9:25 AM