Knitting is the new black.....

don't you know!! Well it is and here at it's a creative world we are going on a new adventure and let me warn you now, it's addictive so take care ;)

I first started knitting as a child, taught by my mom, aunt and darling gram. It seemed they were always making something, from jumpers, to blankets, hats and scarfs. My aunt even knitted us tank tops (aarrgghh the 80's, lol) using the most scrumptious cotton in beautiful candy colours! My gram was most inspired my Kaffe Fassett and I have to say his use of colours is just awesome!

My project today is this gorgeous little coco bag from the Felted Handbag Workshop blog, and is so easy to make. The best bit is, it's a felted bag so if you are still learning this little gem will hide any mistakes and uneven tension!

Now to get you started, here are a few great sites that give you the knitting basics, how to hold the needles, cast on, knit, purl, pick up stitches and bind off.....

Learn to knit, is the one of the best sites I found to 'teach' me when I picked up my knitting needles after far too many years. Once you have got the knack take a look at Learn 2 Knit for instructions on picking up stitches as you will need to do this for the little coco bag! And in case you are left handed visit Learn-to-Knit for left handed knitting instructions. I love that all these sites have the same name, only written differently!

I used big fat 8mm circular needles and cascade 220 yarn that I bought from Get Knitted, their service is superb, they have a good range of colours and are extremely helpful if you call up!

Now the only 'issue' with the cascade yarn is that it comes in hanks, which is NOT a ball and therefore not exactly easy to knit with. Here you have two options, you can either roll it into a ball, and please get someone to help you or else you'll get into a right muddle and big knot! Or you can knit with it as is, which is what I do, again this isn't easy but possible. I hang my hanks (heehee) over the back of the couch, unwinding just enough to use for a few rows at a time, this way you won't get knots :)

FYI- for the body of my bag I used cascade 220 tweed shade 7634 and for the handles and edges I used cascade 220 shade 8910.

If you have any problems reading the pattern, selecting yarn or finding needles please email me at [email protected] with HELP PLEASE CAZ, lol, as your subject or leave me a message in the comments and i'll do my best to help!

Thanks for looking!!

Comments

[joanna]

I find all of that really useful and helpful, Caz - as a novice (very novice!) knitter, it's great to have some handy hints and tips :)

[joy]

Caz, this is really beautiful x

[Diana]

What a great post Caz. So chatty. And all thinfo on how to knit, where to get the wool etc. I must try this:))

[Karen]

Hehe, I have a lovely vision of you 'hanging your hanks'. :D

[Trish]

Caz, thank you for the link for lefties, it will be very helpful to us cackhanders lol

[Scrapbookmomof3]

Wicked cute bag. I'd love to make that.