Finally I am at the point on the Mitered Tote where it all comes together. When I last left you, I was finishing up the “scarf” section. It wrapped up quickly (as garter stitch scarves tend to do ;)) and then it was on to the construction phase. I chronicled this phase in photos so you could see how nicely the bag comes together (and because it is too hard to describe in words alone).
First, pick up 240 sts around three sides of one of the large squares:
The “crinkled” edge is due to the fact that I am using Denise needles for some of the pick ups — I didn’t have enough Size 8 needles, and it takes a lot for this project.
Then pick up 240 sts along one edge of the “scarf”:
Join the pieces together using a 3-needle bind off (I used a Size 9 needle to do the bind off):
It gets a very nice-looking edge — similar to piping. Here’s the bottom, where the true miter is hiding:
Repeat for the other side and voila:
You’ve got one honkin’ big bag!!!!! Whoa! That’s a stash-keeper if I ever saw one.
The next step: the top edge. The pattern says to pick up and bind off, but I chose to do an i-cord bind off to give it a clean and bit heftier appearance:
Now it’s time to knit the strap. A fellow knitter who made this bag suggested that I make the strap wider to be more in scale with the bag’s girth — and I agree tote-ally. I have been playing around with different ways to make it wider and finally came up with a plan that I hope works — we’ll see in the next installment of the “Mitered Tote Turns” ;)! I’ll knit like Seabiscuit between loads of laundry today…
I hope to be able to felt this puppy this week. Woo Hoo!
Very cool bag! Nicely done.
Comment by Karen B. — May 28, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Oh, cool.
I want one. Maybe if I ever finish knitting the border on this Cap Shawl.
Comment by surly — May 28, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Oh,that’s a COOL bag!! Nice to see how it all comes together. Can’t wait to see the finished (felted) project.
Comment by Cathi Myers — May 28, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Wow — it’s a beautiful thing. Thanks for sharing the construction process. I hope you’re knitting the straps even as we type, ‘cuz we’re anxious for the felting to occur: Felt it! Felt it! Felt it!
Comment by Wendy O — May 28, 2007 @ 10:23 am
Very nice! And well thought out. I like how the sides narrow at the top.
Comment by Marina — May 28, 2007 @ 10:25 am
It looks great even before felting. Thanks for the details in putting it together.
Comment by Gale — May 28, 2007 @ 10:29 am
That’s a really interesting construction, and your photos/descriptions really show how it comes together nicely. It looks great!
Comment by Octopus Knits — May 28, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Tres cool bag- and it won’t be so honkin’ huge after the felting.
The colors and construction are very interesting. Yet another success.
How do you live with yourself?
Comment by Lorraine — May 28, 2007 @ 11:37 am
Wow, I didn’t realize it was so big! I still have not felted my tote, waiting for an opportune time to sit by the washer and make sure it doesn’t spin (it’s a front-loader, and new to us).
Comment by AuntieAnn — May 28, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
That is one gorgeous bag. Me want.
Comment by kmkat — May 28, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Wow! I must confess, at first I thought ” Another felted bag, ho-hum”, but wrong, wrong, wrong. It is fabulous. I must have one, and it will eat up a lot of (well, at least some of) my stash. Ask Surly.
Comment by Marsha — May 28, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Wow! I must confess, at first I thought ” Another felted bag, ho-hum”, but wrong, wrong, wrong. It is fabulous. I must have one, and it will eat up a lot of (well, at least some of) my stash. Ask Surly about The Stash.
Comment by Marsha — May 28, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
Wow! I must confess, at first I thought ” Another felted bag, ho-hum”, but wrong, wrong, wrong. It is fabulous. I must have one, and it will eat up a lot of (well, at least some of) my stash. Ask Surly about The Stash.
Comment by Marsha — May 28, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
Marsha, is there an echo in here?
Comment by surly — May 28, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Thanks for the photos because otherwise I would have had no clue. Wow ! I love the looks of it now and can’t wait to see what happens when it felts?
Comment by katomliz — May 28, 2007 @ 10:46 pm