Just off my needles!

I have never done a felting project before - not intimidated by the idea, but have just never given it a go.  Well, I have taken the felting plunge, and may never go back!  Renee, of Spun Right Round, has had a sample of a small felted bag in her shop for a bit now.  I kept going back to it whenever I was there.  I finally decided to purchase the pattern, The Lucy Bag, which Renee carries.  I opted to do the smaller version for my first attempt.  

As you look at the photo below, you will see just how much knitting goes into the small Lucy Bag ~ and the dramatic difference after it is felted.

Hung by the chimney with care.

The same bag after it was felted (three washer cycles later).

I found this to be fairly easy to do, though I'd never done the kitchener stitch (required to attach the handles), and I needed quiet, uninterrupted time to tackle it.  

This bag is destined for a lovely young woman as a Christmas gift, and is made especially "special" because it is adorned by one of her grandmother's brooches.

I enjoyed this project enough that I have a second one already on my needles! The end result is a lovely, dense knit that you know is going to last a lifetime. Renee is offering a class in February that will instruct participants on how to knit The Lucy Bag.  I highly recommend it!