Phat Fiber Boxes on Sale This Sunday!

Do you know about Phat Fiber? This is one of the coolest ideas for knitting-related business ever. What it is is a sampler box that includes all sorts of cool yarn, fiber and other yarncraft-related goodies.

You get things like little skeins of yarn, samples of fiber to spin, stitch markers, patterns and all sorts of goodies related to whatever the theme is that month (for July, it’s Seaside Cottage). The idea is that you get to sample all these independently produced yarns and fibers and then you can decide to buy more from those people whose products you really like.

I got the lovely Jenn to send me a sample of the sampler box a few months ago and wrote about it for About. (She was also kind enough to do an interview with me about Phat Fiber.) I’m enchanted by the goodies I got and wish I had time to play with them all. Maybe someday, when my book is at the publisher’s and I can knit for fun again!

Anyway, the boxes go on sale once a month and supplies are very limited, so you really have to be on it if you want to get your mitts on one. This month they’re going on sale on Sunday, July 15, with some available at 11 a.m. and some at 6 p.m. Central US time. Even if you can’t get your hands on a box, check out the videos on the blog (that’s the first link above) to see all the eye candy for yourself.

Have you ever scored a Phat Fiber box? Spill it!

[Photo is a peek at the sample I received. Yum!]

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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!

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