Pair of no-frills socks, but look at those pretty stripes! LOVE those bright pastels!! Making these has dutifully used up some more of the leftovers from my advent jumper, from the Dingo Dyeworks advent calendar of last year… pretty cute and frugal, huh? *self-back-pat* and this yarn is so soft and divinely snuggly.
the box of socks is looking quite colourful!
Oh! and I also ran up a little bag, specifically for my sock knitting. I’ve been using my pink bum bag for this purpose ever since Japan, which was… fine, I guess, but still not ideal. It wasn’t really big enough, for one thing, and had zero pockets. Hmmm, yes; ordinarily a zero-pocket bag would have its days very much numbered, except that I’m kinda sentimental about it since Mum and Dad gave it to me when I was quite a young teenager and it’s always been … well, one of those forever things, you know?? Anyway, I digress… What I really wanted for my knitting bag was one identical to the one I made for Mum, blogged here. So I rummaged through the old clothing chuck-out bag and came out with a pair of old chinos that I used to wear when the kids were really little. Haven’t worn them in decades and don’t really know why I kept these hideous things but probably for the usual reason, that the fabric would come in handy some day.
The new bag is terrible really; slapdash, ugly, just thrown together in a very uncaring way. But man, it was so much fun to do a bit of rough, random, whatever sewing! Quite a therapeutic project, in fact! And/or cathartic! Slicing, dicing and cutting on the fly, drawing straight onto the fabric, machine-stitching rather wildly, minimal measuring, if any. FELT SO GOOD. THIS HOUSE, IS CLEAN!!!
I used the back of the chinos, and gave the bag a “bottom”, so it can stand up by itself. It is self-lined, using more of the same fabric from a leg of the chinos, and has five pockets including the two outside patch pockets with buttoned flaps, that were originally in situ on the seat of the chinos. Inside, I stitched two new, rectangular open patch pockets to the lining, as well as the tiny and rather adorable coin pocket that I painstakingly unpicked from the chinos just because it was so super cute.
I slipped a few coins in there for … I dunno, just in case
The other pockets hold my kindy scissors, my notebook and pen, a wool needle, and my personal, basic knitting pattern. Which is near-identical to the Patons one I’ve been using for years, but has one or two mods that I’ve developed along the way to make my own idea of the perfect sock. Actually I recently re-typed it all into a new word document so I can print it out for myself any time, and now I no longer have to decipher the old photocopied one from the Patons pamphlet that is almost falling to bits from un-folding and re-folding, and has multiple crossing-outs and arrows and modifications and notes scribbled chaotically in the margins and on the back. Hurrah!
The inside waistband of my old chinos had a rather nice bias bound strip finishing, so I kept this and used it to edge the, also recycled zip for the bag, Goodness knows why I once went to the trouble of ripping out and stowing away an old zip just in case, but hey. I did indeed find a use for it in the end!
So, cute bag? or piece of trash? completely rhetorical questions btw since I know that; yes it is a pretty rubbishy sort of a thing! It’s nowhere near as nice as the one I made for Mum, which I did measure out, cut carefully, and sew somewhat meticulously, and also had really nice fabric going for it. But it only cost me some thread and half a day, and it will do for now. And I had a lot of fun making it! Maybe I’ll treat myself to a proper one, one of these days.
couldn’t resist taking a picture showing my ever-present companion, wondering what the heck I’m doing…
I always love your socks and your new knitting bag is stellar. All those pockets, that wide strap. I hope you’ll show us a pic of you wearing it one day. Did you show us the one you made for your Mom?
thank you Barbara! If you go up to where I mentioned Mum’s bag and click on the blue words “one I made for Mum, blogged here” it should take you straight to the post on the bag 🙂
otherwise, click here
Mum’s knitting bag
I’m impressed that you manage to whip up a new pair of socks every month, on top of all your sewing. This pair would put a smile on my face, with all these pretty colors. And this knitting bag is cool and practical. Bravo!
I don’t think this bag is rubbish at all! I think it is very practical and durable. And it should remind you of good memories, yes? Very smart, Carolyn.
Your bag is great because you recycled, it’s custom made to your needs, and I love that it’s not denim, which is pretty refreshing. It looks completely like summer, and if you ever get completely bored (Ha!) you can always add some embroidery. And congratulations on the monthly socks.
ooh sherbet colours, they are lovely.
What a great knitting bag–you find so many good uses for cast-off clothes. Just wondering: Would you be willing to share your newly typed-up sock pattern, if it’s easy to do so? I have recently found my way back to knitting via socks and have become obsessed. I know foot fit is individual, but I’d love to see how you do your socks.
What a beautiful array of socks. So nice to have made a knitting bag. I love mine. It is so useful and I think of you everytime I see it hanging on the back of the chair awaiting to be used. There is usually a work in progress in it . Hope you enjoy yours too. We should go walking together with our bags 🙂
I, too was hoping you would share your sock pattern with us – I also knit socks, but it takes me six months to knit a pair! You claim to be a slow knitter, but methinks you are way too modest. I love your little sock bag, and have made several myself. It’s so much fun to upcycle garments and give them new life. Thanks for sharing.