I first saw this purse early last fall in the Lion Brand catalog... I know, some of you are rolling your eyes and saying "Lion... I thought better of you, Birdsong", but they really do have some decent yarns and good designs. I think the problem is that the stores that carry their stock simply won't offer the better selections... Berrocco has gone through much the same image problem in recent years.
I had to order the kit direct, the colors weren't available locally. I started and mostly finished the knitting at a conference back in September, and then didn't like the idea of the finish work and let LOTS of other knitting come first.
Well, ya know what? I was right.. the finishing was a b**ch! I crocheted the purse's live stitches at the top to the two handles and that probably wouldn't have been too bad, but then I also had to crochet AROUND the plastic handles to cover with matching yarn....I spent more time passing my ball of yarn back through the handle to untangle it than actually crocheting the stitches to cover the handle, though that took a ridiculous amount of time too. Which is why I saved this particular UFO for March, when I could chat with my quilt guild buddies while I worked.... a distraction that helped keep me from dwelling on how mind-numbingly tedious the process was.
I knew I would love the results, if I could only persevere... and I do. I bought a pretty marbled fabric and made a quick liner, which I hand-stitched inside.
I would highly recommend doing this to you purse-makers out there... it will keep the inside of your creation tidier, keep lint off the lens of that camera you bloggers are always carrying, and since I went for a light green, my lining will make it easier to see inside!
I was tickled to get a compliment on my new bag as I toured the central office for our Headstart program today... I lost track of all the people I met, but will have to go back and see if that Executive Assistant is a knitter.
I hope that many of you are getting to enjoy the taste of spring we are having in the West this week... oh, and be sure and go by and wish Margene a very Happy Birthday today!
