knit-spiration
Today I made my first round through the knitting websites in quite a while, checking out all the new fall patterns. Inspiration hit when I saw Lion Brand's Cable-Ready Bag.
Apparently, this bag is a knock-off of the Margaret Nicole bags that have been featured in several fashion magazines lately. (I knew I'd seen them before! What I didn't know was that knitting could save me $200 bucks!)
Enough about inspiration, here's where my ideas come in: Wouldn't this design make a lovely tote in Fisherman's wool? If I'm not about to pay Margaret Nicole $200, nor am I going to pay Lion Brand $3.95 for something so simple to draft. I don't like the alternating cable design of the Lion Brand pattern, but I do like that it's a closer cable pattern
than the original. I'm thinking something larger than either of these, probably portrait as opposed to landscape orientation.
Interesting to note: Lion Brand uses cut-out KoolWhip or coffee can lids covered in yarn as a cheaper alternative to ready-made purse handles. A nice penny-saver, but I think I prefer the organic look (not to mention sturdiness!) of wood. I also like the incronguity of wool with something so tropical as bamboo.
The ribbon from the original is a nice touch; I'll have to decide whether I want to incorporate that in my tote design or if it's too delicate. I think I'll use Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for availability's sake, otherwise I'd be tempted to try a little felting (Wool-Ease is only 10% wool). If I don't (felt it, that is), I suppose I'll have to consider lining it.
Again, I plan on making up my own pattern for this purse, but here are a selection of patterns for inspiration:
Lion Brand's Sweater Bag from the same catalog; inspiring in its own right- A cute cabled tote
- A direct knock-off of the Margaret Nicole bag
- Yet another knock-off, this of the clutch
- Not a pattern, but inspiring nonetheless
P.S. While this isn't my cup of tea, I'd love to make this for some of you Star Wars fans out there: a knitted Princess Leia hat!