Monday, December 20, 2021

Ghosts of Purses Past

Last week was a just-get-through-the-week kind of week. I haven't touched anything yarn-related. So, no new pictures. 

I have been sort of contemplating what I want to do next. But I can't seem to focus on it. A new purse. It's time. 

So many decisions to make. What shape? What color? What yarn to use? What pattern? 

I thought I'd explore my previous purses. That might help me narrow some things down. 

This is the purse I'll be replacing. It's not as bright and shiny as it was then, but it still does the job. I like the size and I like how it fits me crossbody. I do not like how the corners of the flap curl. My next purse flap should be more rounded, I think. 

This was the purse before. I discovered from this one that cables aren't a good idea, especially if I plan to line the purse (which I do). Cables draw in, and while that's great for a garment that you want to fit a little tight, for a purse that you want to be one size, it's not. 

I also was not a fan of this yarn. But the size was good. I didn't carry it for very long before knitting my current purse. 

This one never made it into heavy rotation for me. It's a bit too big. And awkward. I loved how the colorwork looked in the pattern, but I'm not a fan of colorwork, and it didn't come out all that great. I'd be willing to try something similar again, but I'd shape it differently. 

I did love making this one, but the shape, again, didn't quite work for me. I think the strap ended up being too long here. And with felting, it was hard to know how big the final purse was going to be. I think I have this somewhere still. I should find it and see if I could maybe make it work for me now.

This isn't the purse I carried. I made this one to sell. But it's the same pattern as one I carried 20-ish years ago. It was a good size for me at the time, but I have since found that the under the armpit length of strap isn't great for me in my day-to-day. 

This one was an experiment. I never did get a good picture of it. It turned out to be way too big and a bit too orange. That strap was way too long, too. I still have it somewhere. I don't think I successfully ever wore it out (as a purse, not as in "worn out"). 

And this one I still use. It's my "car purse". I carry my wallet in my school bag. If I go to the grocery store (or other errands) after school, I don't want to carry my school bag, so I pull my wallet out and put it in this purse. And it's the right size for that. Alas, it is too small for days when I carry a purse out. 

I don't think I want to felt a purse again, though. I like the t-shirt yarn I used for my current purse. 

Ah, choices. One choice limits the other choices, though, so by deciding I'm not felting a new purse, that eliminates some stitch patterns. (This is a good thing. Too many choices mean I'll be deciding on what to do for way too long.) 

Designing takes time. Right now I have some time.

18 comments:

  1. They are all very beautiful. I especially love the last one.

    Happy Monday, Liz!

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  2. Very nice work. I hope you can narrow it down soon.

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    1. I went to the yarn store today, so yarn is picked. That'll help narrow down some choices.

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  3. If you can combine everything you like, you can create a Super Purse more powerful than any other purses.

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  4. Very clever. The colors are beautiful


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  5. You've learned from previous experience, so it will be fine once you sort it all out. I only made a purse once and it was for money, back when I was in college and occasionally crocheted for money. I'll be interested in your project. I want to know how to do it right instead of the struggle it turned out to be.

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    1. How to do it right: find a pattern. It's easier to not have to figure things out. For me, part of the fun is designing exactly what I want, so I'll flail about a bit until I figure out what I want to do.

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  6. I have thing about purses, but I'm fairly picky on them. I like to make purse someday, never have.
    Coffee is on and stay safe

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  7. They are all so neat. Each one is different and some love the long straps while others like small purses. I like the 3rd last one

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    1. That one is actually for sale. Or it was. I let the listing expire.

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  8. They all look good to me. I like the rope-type strap on the last one - looks very sturdy.

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  9. Hi Liz - they all look fun ... enjoy making the choice! Cheers Hilary

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  10. What an impressive collection of bags! They are very pretty, I love the "car purse".

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  11. I'm seriously impressed that you've made so many purses. The 5th one is gorgeous! How do crocheted or knitted purses hold up compared to other kinds? I usually carry a huge, very stuffed purse and have broken a lot of straps over the years. I wonder if something like this would hold up better.

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    1. The fifth one is for sale, actually. As for how they hold up, it depends on the yarn used, mostly. I like felting for purses, although the t-shirt yarn I used on my current one held up great. (Alas, I can't find that yarn in store right now.)

      As for straps, that's the best part. You can replace the straps as needed as many times as you like :)

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  12. Choices, choices. All of these are very cute!

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