Isabeau, small and quick... anyone game?

[Necia]

Yep, everything falls into place, just fine.  Nice and even looking.

Necia

[seneca]

okay, no problem.  i've forged ahead and so far so good.  going right through the seed and coming up the other side.  i'll post a photo as soon as Soon comes 'round here. 

[Fun4Bambi]

I will do it but after the olympics.

[Lothruin]

Jane_101, I hope you found the absolute perfect lining fabric, but if you didn't, and your yarn does, as you described it, sometimes look like denim, you might consider actually lining it with old jeans scarps.  Maybe the back (lighter) side.  Maybe you're going for a more sophistacated look, but I just thought it was something to consider.  I always like juxtapositions of materials like that... something classy like lace paired with something more common.  You could even use the back pocket on the inside of the purse to hold smaller items. 

[jane_101]

FINISHED!!!

A couple of things I have discovered about my crafting abilities while making this bag:

a)My sewing skills are really not that bad at all; I am so pleased with the way the lining came out, I decided to really go over the top and added a pocket for my phone.  Show off?  Moi?   I chose cheap and cheerful hot-pink poly-cotton (double thickness) because I wasn't at all confident about my lining skills, but next time I will be more brave (and less mean, ) and splash out on something a bit more luxurious.  I slid a piece of thin plastic in the bottom, between the two layers of lining, just to give the base a bit of stability and rigidity, being married to the James Bond of the Plastics world really does have it's benefits sometimes…

b)I cannot crochet   I managed the sides of the bag OK, but after three attempts at closing the handle, and each time it being scrunched-up and ugly, I just gave up and fudged it with a darning needle and yarn.  Not that you would know, unless you had seen the pattern and knew how pretty it should look(!), it's OK, but I HATE to be defeated; I WILL learn to crochet, and properly (either that or the next one I make will have an i-cord handle!)

Excuse the Big-&-Brown button, it's far from perfect but the yarn store I visited had quite frankly the UGLIEST selection I have ever seen, so I stole this 'spare' from my son's duffel coat and the quest goes on.  I'm thinking, actually, that a silk flower (iris?) stitched on the flap and a magnetic closure under it might be oh-so-pretty.  In case anyone is interested, the yarn was from ebay, it’s 100% wool but very thin so I double-stranded it and I used what I thought were 5mm needles but it turns out they’re 5.5mm (I don't check gauge, can you tell?!).  The finished dimensions are base - 25cm x 10cm and height 12cm.  My handle's almost 20cm long as I couldn't find my tape measure so I just stopped knitting when it was almost as long as my DPNs – scientific aint got NOTHIN' on me.

Oh, and whilst I was weaving in the ends, I managed to snip right into the side of my finger with the scissors, much blood and general swearing ensued, but I realised that was the first time I have injured myself knitting; maybe I should look at it as a bizarre rite of passage to being a 'proper' crafter rather than an irritating little nick which reopens every time I straighten my finger.

Lothruin, I love, love, love the idea of lining with jeans; I had thought of denim but just in the context of buying new, not using old jeans I had lying around, that's genius , especially using the pocket as I despise my mobile not being to-hand.  To be honest, I think with this project it might have been a bit small to fit a pocket in but if I love little Isabeau as much as I think I'm going to, I can see me buying the pattern for the tote and using jeans for that; thanks for the brilliant suggestion.

Anyhoo, pictures!  Closed, and empty:


A close-up of the lining, and phone-pocket:


And finally, Isabeau holding all my daily essentials; mobile phone, purse (which is LARGE), diary, pen, MP3, lipgloss and leather gloves.  I can't believe how much it holds, it looked so small when it was blocking I thought it would be a going-out bag and nothing more, thankfully I was wrong:


Thanks to you all for your helpful suggestions, I am a Craftster newbie but you all seem so friendly I think I'll end up hanging round

Happy knitting, Jane. x.

[Trendy Wendy]

Your bag looks great Jane you did a great job.  I am still looking for lining for mine so I can finish it.

[jane_101]

Thanks, Trendy Wendy!  I bow down in honour of your FABULOUS username

The purse is adorable but the tote is what I'll really get more mileage out of.  (Read: two kids and too many Hot Wheels toys)

I had a big laugh reading that Seneca, I have three kids myself (although it often feels like more ) and I get so fed up of dragging all their stuff around with me that nowadays I make them carry it in their own bags.  Evil Mummy strikes again! 

Jane. x.

[Necia]

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!  I've yet to show a picture of mine complete with lining, and for good reason too.  My sewing sucks just as much, if not more as I originally proclaimed.  I'm gonna stuff the hell out of my bag too.  I made it, I can do what I want.

I love the idea of using jeans too.  Have ya'll seen this pattern
http://www.magknits.com/Nov05/denim.htm

I soooooooooooo want to make this.

Necia

[loisgriffinwannabe]

jane_101! I love your bag!!!! It looks fan-freekin-tastic!

Good on everyone, I love how everyone's is turning out... I am thinking of making another one, this time using purse handles...

Ah! I have Isabeau-itis... an unhealthy desire to make this purse more than once...

Emms 

[seneca]

Jane 101:  Yes, I absolutely loathe the many Spidermans, PowerRangers, Hot Wheels, Lip Smackers, hair barrettes,  slips of tissue, and half eaten lollipops that seem to always want to JUMP into my purse.  Ah, but not so for my Isabeau (hey that's a rhyme, isn't it??)  I'm like Emms, I think I've got a case of Isabeau-itis too.  Onto the tote after I get this little number done and there will be no space for Spidermen or any of his friends. 

And Necia:  that little denim number is adorable!  Go for it.