Wednesday, August 17, 2005
French Market Bag - try it for yourself
Sunday I started a French Market Bag from Knitty. I use the handle variation described here. I did three already this Spring, and just felt ready for it from a project for the mood standpoint, and general utility. They may even be Xmas presents. In my experience, they come out about the size of the standard plastic grocery two-handled bag, but weigh a bit more. When I do it, I use a full skein of a dark color for the bottom through the increases, and then, times that I've used whole skeins, a bit more than 1/2 - 3/4 of a skein of two colors on the top, striped randomly.
In any case, what surprizes me is how many questions I get about these bags when I bring them to a knitting group setting. I can understand people being enthused about something they take a shine to, but think about what you're asking folks. Do I have Ultimate Answer Person tattooed on my forehead? If I give you a reference to go look something up, please go look it up. If I suggest you try your idea for yourself because I haven't done it, and therefore I can't tell you how it will turn out, please go try it for yourself. Intelligent discussion, fine. Tell me about what you've done already. But at 8:45 at night my tolerance for speculating based on my experience so you don't have to try your idea is very low. I don't mind people asking for information they will use, but my sense is that these folks are just wasting my time and being annoying.
The worst was the week after I had had a bag there because I used it to carry books from the Library, and an occasional attendee was hearing about the week before, she dem
anded to know why I hadn't brought it that week so she could see. I am overwhelmed by the sense of entitlement some folks have. Yes, we have a responsibility to share knowledge. But there's a limit.
Enough rant. Above is what I've done so far. The colors are a grab bag off the shelf, just playing to see what might go together.
Here's the shelf (note, not all is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, which is what I've been using for the bags). We'll see how it turns out. This is going to be a soothing project, which I could use now. It's not high art. If you want to do one, please go figure your permutations out for yourself. I did and it wasn't difficult. Trust me.
In any case, what surprizes me is how many questions I get about these bags when I bring them to a knitting group setting. I can understand people being enthused about something they take a shine to, but think about what you're asking folks. Do I have Ultimate Answer Person tattooed on my forehead? If I give you a reference to go look something up, please go look it up. If I suggest you try your idea for yourself because I haven't done it, and therefore I can't tell you how it will turn out, please go try it for yourself. Intelligent discussion, fine. Tell me about what you've done already. But at 8:45 at night my tolerance for speculating based on my experience so you don't have to try your idea is very low. I don't mind people asking for information they will use, but my sense is that these folks are just wasting my time and being annoying.
The worst was the week after I had had a bag there because I used it to carry books from the Library, and an occasional attendee was hearing about the week before, she dem
anded to know why I hadn't brought it that week so she could see. I am overwhelmed by the sense of entitlement some folks have. Yes, we have a responsibility to share knowledge. But there's a limit.Enough rant. Above is what I've done so far. The colors are a grab bag off the shelf, just playing to see what might go together.
Here's the shelf (note, not all is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, which is what I've been using for the bags). We'll see how it turns out. This is going to be a soothing project, which I could use now. It's not high art. If you want to do one, please go figure your permutations out for yourself. I did and it wasn't difficult. Trust me.
