Sunday 21 April 2024

Marguerite Bag

Hello and thanks for visiting! Its been ages since I did a "proper" blog post - all my recent ones have just been to tell you about my podcast, but I've really missed chitty chatting so I thought I'd rectify that with a post today.

We're just back from a lovely dog walk at Greys' Court, which is a National Trust property. We didn't go into the house, or take many photos, as we had a reluctant teenager with us, and had to keep moving, but here are a couple of pics of the bluebells, which was our primary reason for choosing Grey's Court.




Back home, in making news, I have finished a beautiful bag, the Marguerite Bag. It's a pattern by Emma Wright, as featured in issue 166 of Inside Crochet magazine.


The pattern called for Wool Couture Cotton but I used Drops Muskat, which is a mercerised cotton, in colours Denim, White and Sunflower.


I blocked all the squares on my lovely wooden blocking board, by simply spraying them with water and leaving to dry. Once blocked I was able to really easily assemble them into the bag shape, which is such a clever design.


The next job was to add the straps. I went a bit off piste here - the pattern called for a chain of 64 stitches for each strap but I wanted my straps longer so I did 130 chains. Then I felt like it needed to be wider than the one in the pattern, so I added a row of trebles all around. 


Finally I chose some lovely bright fabric with which to line it.

I used the sewing machine to make a rectangle taller than the bag, then I cut down in a big zig-zag around to mirror the points and dips of the squares (diamonds ?). I ironed a seam allowance and then hand stitched the lining in place.


And here is the lovely Brenda modelling the final result...



I'm totally in love with this bag, I love how summery and bright and sunny it is. Now we just need some weather to match!

Til next time,

Jillxxx




Podcast Episode 12

Hello and thankyou for visiting! Episode 12 of the Emerald Cottage podcast is now available, and you can find it here.


::LINKS AND USEFUL STUFF TO KNOW::

::Finished Objects::
Make A Wish shawl by Sylwia Witty of @wittycraftsdesign
Marguerite Bag by Emma Wright, Inside Crochet issue 166, in Drops Muskat in Denim, White, Sunflower
Basic 4-ply sock pattern  by Christine Perry “Winwick Mum”
Book is Super Socks by Christine Perry

 

::Works-in-progress::
Virus shawl by Julia Marquardt using Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze Prints (Saltburn)
Three Springs shawl  by Deanne Ramsey, yarn  by @botanicalyarn

Emotional Support Chicken by The Knitting Tree
Simple Lace Scarf by Knit One Kits
Temperature Blanket using King Cole Pricewise DK And Stylecraft Special DK (Denim, Aspen, Spring Green, Kelly Green, Parchment)

 

::Cracking The WIP::
Trillium shawl by Elisabeth Davis de Herraiz

 

::Acquisitions::
Stylecraft Special DK in Parchment, from Wool Warehouse

 

Podcast Episode 11

Hello and thankyou for visiting! Episode 11 of the Emerald Cottage podcast is now available, and you can find it here.



::LINKS AND USEFUL STUFF TO KNOW::

::Finished Objects::
Triantan shawl by Anne-Michelle Phelan
Hoppy Easter bunny wreath bunny pattern from Crochet Now issue 105, using ricorumi yarn
Stitcher’s Paradise SAL by Durene Jones as featured in World of Cross Stitching magazine
Hans Christian Andersen SAL by Cloudsfactory

 

::Works-in-progress::
Shawl with no name, no pattern available yet by
https://www.instagram.com/wittycraftsdesign/ using King Cole Pricewise (Cranberry) and Stylecraft Special DK (Pomegranate, Magenta, Fondant, Proper Purple, Black)
Simple Lace Scarf by Knit One Kits
Virus shawl by Julia Marquardt using Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze Prints (Saltburn)

Emotional Support Chicken by The Knitting Tree
Temperature Blanket using King Cole Pricewise DK And Stylecraft Special DK (Denim, Aspen, Spring Green, Kelly Green, Parchment)

 

::Cracking The WIP::
Socks by WinwickMum’s sock-along using Sirdar Heart and Sole

 

::Acquisitions::
Yarnsmiths Lagoon in Kasegaluk Lagoon from Wool Warehouse
Stylecraft Special DK in White from Wool Warehouse
Drops Muskat in Denim, Sunflower and White from Wool Warehouse
Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk 4ply from eBay
Cocorose Diaries Harlequin Blanket

::Patterns::
Spring Bunny Wreath, by Alice Tarry, Crochet Now issue 105
Floral Whisper motif jumper by Chloe Elizabeth Birch, Simply Crochet issue 147
Spectral Swirl Jacket by Stylecraft Design Team, Stylecraft Summer Crochet supplement
Marguerite Bag by Emma Wright, Inside Crochet issue 166
Sweetpea Blanket, Woman’s Weekly Crochet Blankets
Golden Rays Shawl by King Cole Design Team, King Cole Stylish Spring Essentials supplement
Warm Florals Hottie Cover by Zoe Potrac, Crochet Now issue 106

 

::Other bits and pieces::
Clover Amour Crochet Hook
Making Mandalas by Emily Littlefair