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A Google Story about Knitting

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yarn mountainI don’t know how long this video has been out there, but I just saw it so I wanted to share it with you.

Google has a series of videos showing how different people use Google+, and one of them features yarn store owner Christina Blount Presnell, who hosts knit night via Google Hangouts. She’s used the Internet and Google+ to help build her yarn business, Yarn Mountain in Harrisonburg, Va., as well as building a community of knitters far beyond those who are close enough to visit her shop.

Go check out the video and add her or the shop to your circles, if you want. (You can find me over there, too, but I’ll admit I update rarely. Maybe when the book is done!)

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Comments

  1. Sarah, Thank you for posting this mini-documentary. It was a very fun project to make and an exciting opportunity to work with the Google Creative Lab. This film was shot in May 2012 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in and around the Yarn Mountain shop. The opening shot of yarn being spun was filmed at the Claudia Hand Painted Yarns studio, also located in Harrisonburg. The folks in the film are our actual customers, and they had a lot of fun being involved, too! Imagine my surprise when that phone call came, and the caller ID said “Google”. We were humbled that they asked us to be a part of this project and help bring the message of the capabilities of Google+ to other small business owners. We are very thrilled with the number of friends we’ve made around the world, yourself included. 🙂
    Cheers!
    Christina

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Knitting Market Bag Patterns

There are certain things that just make sense to knit at this time of year, and market bags are one of them. We tend to use our canvas bags more often in the summer with trips to the farmer’s market and the library, but string bags and market bags are great to use all year.

I love the Three Oranges Bag by Hana Cho, which looks just like a knit version of a plastic shopping bag, but with three cute oranges stitched on. The bag uses intarsia to make the oranges, but you could use duplicate stitch or intarsia to add a different design if you like. It calls for fingering weight yarn and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Sharyn Anhalt’s Market Square bag (also on Ravelry) uses worsted weight yarn and a mosaic pattern to make a pretty bag you’ll want to use every time you go shopping. The bag comes in two sizes and is worked in two colors of the same yarn for a fun mixed up effect that’s almost like weaving.

Speaking of fun colors, the Market Bag from Hubbabubbie Art uses a multicolored cake yarn (specifically Lion Brand Mandala) to produce fun color changes without any extra work. This bag is worked from the bottom up with a crocheted bottom and knit mesh sides. It’s a free pattern on Ravelry.

The Pike Place Market Bag from Blue Bird Pine Shop looks like a massive bag to hold all your market goodies (that is a child holding it, but still). The bag calls for worsted weight cotton yarn and the mesh is worked on extra large needles to help it open up to hold everything you want held.

The Knit Farmer’s Market Bag form Design BCB is another good one, made mostly of mes with a little stockinette for extra stability. The base is also worked in stockinette so items you put in it will sit flat.

This mesh bag from Sheep and Stitch doesn’t have a base, and the body is worked flat before being joined in the round to make the top and handles. That makes it easy to make the bag just the size you want because you can stop knitting whenever you feel it’s big enough. The pattern includes a step-by-step video if you need extra assistance.

And the Eco Market String Bag from Mama in a Stitch has a solid knit base worked in a contrasting color from the mesh body. It’s an easy project that comes out a great size for your market needs without being too huge.

Do you have a favorite knit market bag pattern? I’d love to hear about it!