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Bernat Mill Complex Burns

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Firefighters from 45 communities battled flames. (ALAN J. BRACKETT)Photo supplied by (ALAN J. BRACKETT)

July 21, 2007 the former Bernat Mill in [tag]Uxbridge MA[/tag], which housed 65 local businesses, burned to the ground. This 10-alarm fire shocked the community, and destroyed one of the few remaining Northern Mill facilities still remaining in this country. While many old mills have undergone renovation and falling into disrepair again, the Bernat Mill was a vital part of Uxbridge, MA. The mill had long ago stopped producing yarn from wool, but it was now a mixed use facility.

Quoted from a story By Linda Bock [tag]TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF[/tag] – The Bernat Mill was not only home to more than 60 businesses, some of which were subletting from others, but also several Uxbridge Public School programs, including the Mosaic Mill program for alternative students. This program also served the special education requirements for the high school.

“The Mosaic Mill and Youth Center shared space in the mill, and this disaster will have a major impact on several hundreds of kids in town,” Mr. Stefanilo said. “In the last 48 hours, we’ve reached out for emergency space.”

Students in the Explore & Discover program won a grant several years ago for a testing program for the Mumford and Blackstone Rivers through the use of the River Classroom. The Mumford River, which feeds into the Blackstone River, runs directly under the Bernat Mill. Permanent displays were created to educate students and the community about the health of the rivers.

Parts of the [tag]Bernat Mill[/tag] complex, 19 Depot St., off Route 16, were at one point transformed with interactive exhibits, mosaics, stained-glass windows and murals, and miraculously, some of those survived the fire.

Looking for more Stained glass style knitting patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

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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!