BAGS of Fun!

Weavers met for our February meeting today. We welcomed two new members, Neta who we know already from Guild and Kathy who is new. Neta spins, knits, felts and is about to add weaving to her repertoire. Kathy has been a weaver in the past but has given it a rest to breed miniature schnauzers. She is keen to revitalise her weaving skills now that she has moved to Blenheim. 

Show and Tell photos will be posted in a few days but for now this post will be a tutorial for a nifty little bag that captured the imagination of several members at the last meeting.  It's quicker and easier to make than to describe so don't be put off by the instructions. Some people tried their hand at making one today but most will be finishing them - or even starting - at home.  Some people missed out on the bag discussion as they were busy helping whoever needed assistance and having mini tutorials on whatever was needed. Thanks to those who willingly share their knowledge and experience. So for them - and for those who didn't quite "get it", here is the "Bandana Bag." A bandana or square scarf is easy because it is already hemmed.

Start with a bandana or a square of your chosen fabric. It is well worth while squaring up your piece first if it is not quite square, If you have raw edges you need to deal with them first.

Divide it into three across the diagonal as shown. (Measuring's good!)  Check the width at top and bottom to make sure it's straight.  Fold the east and west points across as shown and stitch where they overlap. Stitch only the top two layers or you will not be able to use the envelope pockets. TIP: If you are using a bandana with printing on one selvedge, fold that side down first so it will be covered.

Fold in half with the stitched points inside (i.e. inside out)  Don't be fooled by the "right side" written on the flap - trust me!  Stitch the side seams where marked x - - - x leaving 2.5 cm clear at the top for the casing. Turn the bag to the right side.

Fold the flaps down, one on each side. Now stitch across the top of each flap to make a casing for the draw strings.  Thread two cord or ribbon draw strings through both casings, one from each side, and tie the ends.

Options include an iron-on interfacing over the whole square if you want a bit more body, or lining the square with another fabric before you start (a good way to deal with raw edges).  This is not necessary for the main part of the bag which is self-lined but it gives a lining to the two envelope pockets on the outside.

Embellish as you wish. Cheap jewellery is fun!  You can go casual . . .

or upmarket with a silk scarf . . .

or you may like to go off on a different tangent and make a book. Use interfacing and slip a piece of card into each envelope pocket. This sketchbook has pencils in one of the pockets but you may think of many more ideas.

By October we want each member to make a handwoven bag for a display at our Area Exhibition. This is just one simple idea; there are dozens of others. Have fun finding them.

Show and Tell at May Meeting

This is the first instalment. The items in this post are all from the Richmond members, beginning with 2 lovely bags.. Note the bead closures and the kumihimo braid trim.

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Ooops! I got that wrong.  The bags were made by Sue Baskett. I originally attributed them to the wrong person.  Sorry Sue.

 This silk wrap is Julia's. It can be worn as a fabulous fashion garment and then folded up into a neat flat package.

 And now for something different!  Esmae wove this bag out of plastic grocery bags. It is lined and has strong kumihimo handles. It will last for ages.

 Back to Julia again, this time with exquisite work in linen. What an inspiration!

This is one of several table runners made by Esmae (I'm pretty sure I have the names right. If not I hope someone will let me know.

A few more photos to come in a few days.

Bags, by Tricia Jane

A conscientious member that she is, on the morning of our last meeting of 2009 Tricia made a memory stick bag. Which, in turn, was carried in this fabulous knitted bag she made a few years ago. The asymmetrical shape hangs nicely when being carried.


This post concludes our series of bags, the group's project in 2009, shared/disclosed/shown/told/felt/admired during our November 2009 end-of-year meeting. But we had so much fun I wouldn't be surprised if there are more to come.

by Meg Nakagawa

A Plan, by Noelene Gratton

Noelene didn't have her bag, yet, but she has a plan, and we were shown a download from Interweave Press website and a sample.

May I add that Noelene has the most immaculate, beautiful weaving records I have ever seen. So beautiful I hesitated to photograph for fear of copyrights violation, but I will try to get something from her in the coming year; I shall make that my 2010 project.

by Meg Nakagawa

Bag, by Nancy Taylor

Said Nancy: "My bag started off as a scarf that Judy Johnston (one of our members) made for me when she first got into weaving. At that time I was a bit of a novice with our alpaca fibre and this was made from the necks mixed with a bit of silk on one of the colours but it was always a bit coarse. It never sold!! I tried felting it by the washing machine method as I thought it might be too wide, but that did really work either. Sooo... hence the what I called the excuse for a bag. I used the width to turn it into a bag and to try and brighten it up I put the lambs wool blend on the
bottom. It is lined."

You got it right, Nancy! I could not take my eyes off the funky red-and-black bits while Nancy was talking.

by Meg Nakagawa

Bag, by Anne-Marie Chapman

Lovely colour contrast. (And a good pic in one take!)

by Meg Nakagawa

Bags, by Jan Hannay

The larger one is a felted bag.

The smaller a beaded one, and in the future, we may be able to put our cell phones in here!

by Meg Nakagawa

Bags, by Win Currie

We have seen Win's bags before here. But the newer model comes with magnetic closure!

by Meg Nakagawa

Bag, by Joan McLauchlan

Joan wove with wool and rayon in the warp and rayn, dyed in the cone, on the weft, but the ends didn't seem to work and she didn't know what to do with it. So one day, she cut it up and made a wee bag! Now, Joan, can you please hold still for one second so I can take a pic. Please?


Thank you!

by Meg Nakagawa

Bags, by Rose Pelvin

We saw this one, virtually, before here.

Here is a photo she brought; the top right one is by Win Currie, but the rest, by Rose, were all sold before she had the chance to show us.

This is usually a wine bottle bag, but on this day it carried Rose's umbrella. Woven in leno, it is a very stretchy bag.

"The knot and fringe makes it totally impractical because you cannot stand the bottle on the table," said Rose.

Someone replied immediately, "Get the kind with the dimple in the bottom!"

by Meg Nakagawa & Rose Pelvin

Bag, by Anne Udy

Not difficult to spot Anne Udy colours all the way from this end of the table! Lovely.

by Meg Nakagawa

Bag, by Jenny Murray

Elegant and lovely. This bag is smaller and more delicate than it appears in the photo.

by Meg Nakagawa

Bag, by Sue Timpany

Joan inspects Sue's bag, in cotton.

By Meg Nakagawa

Bag, by Chris Beech

Chris was much too dismissive of this attractive bag, but her view may have been colored by the fact the body of the bag used to be her skirt some years ago. Made of wool, with a lovely new band, this bag comes in a hefty, nice size and a unique shape. Chris is going to use it to haul library books.

by Meg Nakagawa

Bags To Be, by Meg Nakagawa

Every year Marlborough Weavers have a theme or a project that members work towards during the year, and show results to the group at the end of the year. This year one of the projects has been bags, hence Win's beautiful pieces.

I, having belonged to Marlborough Weavers for three years, start thinking about these projects with gusto every February but somehow have not managed to come up with tangible results for the first two years,. So I would love to be able to show at least one bag at the last meeting of this, my third, year.

I was surprised, and impressed, that Win planned a whole weaving project with bags in mind, because I have been thinking all year about bags made of end-of-warp swatches, a kind of recycle/salvage project. Unfortunately most of my fabric pieces are extremely soft, because that is what I aim for when I weave my scarves and shawls, but I do believe there is a bag, or two, in my swatch pile somewhere.

I've exactly 14 days to come up with one!

by Meg Nakagawa

The Bags, by Win Currie

These little numbers have proved to be truly multipurpose. I had been planning to make myself a small bag of similar design to one I had bought many years ago, big enough for a change purse, comb and lipstick, car keys, wear over the shoulder so your hands are free. Then our Weavers group decided to have ‘Make a Bag’ as the year’s challenge, and the group had a stash of fine cotton. So here is the result. The hardest part was making the initial paper pattern so that I got all the folds and fancy yarn parts in the right places. I was very pleased with the result though. I still have to devise an improved closure design. I welcome suggestions.

by Win Currie