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These Bags Are Made For Walkin’…

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One of my favorite times to knit is all the time (please don’t knit and drive, I see this ending badly. Scuba diving while knitting isn’t dangerous per se, but it sure does mess with your gauge!). But how about while walking? I love to knit while I walk, it’s just natural. I used to use a large shoulder bag and just throw all my yarn and project into that bag and start off. But recently, I discovered that I’m not the only one who likes to knit while walking and the yarn and pattern companies have heard our pleas! I found two suitable bags at KnitPicks.

One, is called the GoKnits Pouch. Comes in some really cool colors and features a loop inside to hold the yarn and keep it from tangling before it comes out. I especially like that it is made in the US.

The other, kind of cute but maybe a bit small is called the Port-a-Pocket.  The Port-a-Pocket has some neat pockets and I think I’d like something that would attach to my beltloop via a hook, rather than around my wrist. These bags are really affordable, both under 20.00. Gonna have to start on my Christmas List early 😉

        

What? Christmas is months away!

Since I’m all about supporting my local yarn shop  (a mere 45 min. drive from my house), I’ll probably wait until I go there and see if she has anything similar. And, since I’m also all about impulse buying, well, you can see the dilemma. Who’s gonna win? Heck! Even I don’t know!

How about this? Why not go all “knitty” and knit your own? If you have a personal favorite knitted bag, send me a link. I’d love to see it.

Terrye
Knitting Editor
http://knitting.craftgossip.com/

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Comments

  1. Hi – I am the designer of the port-a-pocket. Just want to clarify that the bag that is featured in picks was made special for them without a velcro strap. The others in that line have a velcro strap that can be attached to your belt, stationary bike, buggy etc. Just wanted to keep the record clear.

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]