Confessions of a Bag Lady

Here is an article in today's local paper the Deseret News.  Guess I can brag a little.  It features one of my needlepoint students (I teach twice a week at the LNS) and tells about our local ANG Guild, The Salt Lake Needlepoint Guild.

Now on to the regularly scheduled post...
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When you do needlework and travel to take classes, either across town, to the LNS or across country, you need a proper bag.  It must have a zipper, be big enough to hold a frame and stand, books of patterns, threads, box of tools and any number of other necessities.  That means BIG.  Now if it’s a small project and only requires a hoop, tools and pattern, then a smaller bag such as an ‘envelope bag’ will suffice.  Keeping your tools and small supplies might mean little bags for inside the big bags. So, that means we end up with a collection of necessary bags…well some of us get carried away with necessities.   It’s the bag lady syndrome. (You must click on the picture for full impact.)

When it comes to a knitting bag the needs change a bit. You might need several sizes (like with needlework bags).  You’ll need smaller bags for socks and other small projects, plus larger bags for sweaters and big projects and, perhaps even medium size bags.  Pockets are a good idea on the inside and if it stands on its own then so much the better.  A zipper is nice if you are flying but not necessary around town. Having the bag open is a big advantage so the yarn pulls smoothly from inside. 

Weeelllll, now for my confession. This is only a FEW of the bags in my possession (I typed 'passion' first!).  Actually you can’t even see all the bags in this picture as there are bags inside of bags and the tiny bags in the front are cut off or buried in the mass.  If I can’t find the perfect bag for a project…well, that just wouldn’t happen! Susan gave me a bag at SNB a couple of weeks ago. It’s a perfect bag for travel (it’s the white one next to Amy’s in the back row).  It folds up flat and would be perfect for the extra bag you need to bring home (full) from a trip. She said they were all the rage in France…chee, chee!
This is Amy's bag (stitch markers were included). It is good looking and a nice size for carrying a couple of socks around (or other small to medium size projects). It has pockets inside as well as a band to hold your needles. The handles are just right to carry in hand or throw over your shoulder.  You too can find one at Amy’s Store.

Now sometimes a bag just isn’t the right thing to carry a knitting project and that means a beautiful basket.  The African Basket in front is my favorite when knitting a Fair Isle project. It’s easy to see all the colors and to hold the full project.  In fact it will hold a couple of good sized projects.

DH says I’ve gone from a Bag Lady to a Basketcase…who me?!

Comments

[Cathy]

Oh yes I agree with that statement going from baglady to basketcase. I think my bag stash is getting as big as my shoe stash. I also use an African basket to hold my yarn, hmmm interesting, I wonder how many others use African baskets? I have about four nice size baskets going right now with yarns and mags or books for projects I want to do. I think I will need more, don't you?

[jillz]

Hi, my name is Jill and I'm a baglady.

My husband thinks I have too many bags but I keep telling him that I don't have nearly enough. I'm going to show him your blog as proof that I don't have as nearly as many as I could.

Btw, how's the progress on the Seaweed wrap coming? Has it been put down in favor of the needlework? Do you fancy starting up a Starmore A Long with me, Margene? :D

[jillz]

Oh yeah, I meant to say that those Longchamp bags (the white one that you refer to) are all the rage here in London too. They come in lots of different sizes too.... I will have to buy one before we move back to Pittsburgh!

[amy boogie]

I like your bag/basket stash.Makes me think I need more bags. Instead of baskets I use pottery bowls to hold my yarn.

[Sharon]

Dear Baglady, You speak the truth. By the way, have you seen the Lantern Moon baskets, which double as a carrying bag when needed? They are wonderful for yarn storage, project work, and toting.