Productivity, at last

I got a lot done this weekend. First, I'm over halfway through with the leg on this Child's French Sock ... again. I still made several of what used to be fatal mistakes, but caught them all in time to rescue the sock and keep on going. I'm so familiar with the pattern that I don't even have to look at the charts any more.

While ranging around downstairs doing laundry this morning, I spied the knitted base for Ms. Poppins' Bag, and decided on the spot to finish it for once and for all. I had to make a couple of compromises to get it done, but I finally did it. First, I attached some Wonder Under to some unbleached cotton fabric, massaged the knitted piece to fit inside a squared area, and tacked the knitting down.


Next, I folded the piece in half and sewed it together, through all of the layers. This gave the bag some body as well as firm seamed sides. Using this piece as a pattern,

I made a lining that would show when the bag was finished. I had hoped to use some impossibly bright color of cotton, but didn't have it in the stash and didn't want to stop the momentum, so I settled on a serene lavender calico.

I put this inside the bag, and sewed it through all layers in order to hide the inside lining.

I made small tucks at the edge to give it a shape, and then sewed handles on. These aren't the handles I envisioned originally, nor are they the wooden handles I settled for a few months ago -- I found these in a yarn store in Arizona in April and stowed them until they seemed right for this project and Voila! Finished bag!

It's sturdy, attractive, and big enough to serve as a purse, or to hold a small or medium sized knitting project. I'm still toying with maybe adding buttons near where the handles are attached to the bag, but I like it plain, too. So I have officially moved Ms Poppins' Bag to the done pile.

Hope your weekend was as productive as mine. Off now to make enchiladas!!