Michelle of
Green Kitchen is one of my favorite craft conspirators and a good friend. After she sent me this
this wonderful package, the least I could do was make her a bag.
This bag is totally different from all the others I've made, and I had a great time designing it for her. I actually made Michelle's bag before the
one for my mother-in-law. I loved using my brand-new-for-my-birthday fabric to make a gift.
Since she has a baby to carry, she needed something hands-free. She sent me a
sketch with dimensions, which totally helped me out. The strap is long enough to wear across her chest. I was afraid that the cotton yarn would stretch over time, so I made the strap adjustable. It loops through a rectangle ring and then attaches to itself with three buttons that slip right between the strap's stitches.
The three decoy buttons on the outside of the strap stabilize the functional buttons.
No one sells 1.5 inch rectangle rings, so I liberated one from an unused backpack. I couldn't even find them online. If you know where I can get them, please tell me, because they are the perfect size for all sorts of uses.
I crocheted a removable cell phone holder that hangs from the rectangle ring, and there is a key hook attached to a long strap. I made the key hook strap long enough that the keys rest on the bottom of the bag so their weight won't pull down the top edge of the bag.
I was afraid that my normal felt and embroidery floss embellishments wouldn't be tough enough to withstand the reality of errands with two little ones, so I tried something new. I used cotton yarn to embroider in the spaces created by the single crochet stripes. I love the way it turned out, and I have plans to use the technique again.
I totally took a chance that Michelle would like the kooky fabric and crazy embellished stripes. The fabric is so enthusiastic and bold, and that's how I picture Michelle. And, from a fashion standpoint, with so many colors it would equally match (or not-match) everything. I love thinking about her running around town with a bag I made for her.