the before and after...

ok apparently still having issues with my camera...
so flippin mad lost another 80 photos!
including the before pics of the bag i salvaged one partial photo though!!

so here is the bag before and after,
you really cannot tell anything of its size proportion, but it was at least 1/3 larger before.

i love it!!
totally makes me happy!!
and no i didn't dry it...i patiently waited and washed it about 3 times (no rinse or spin) before i got it to where i was happy with the felting. the last time i took your advise and threw a pair of jeans in there with it AND fortunately i used a zippered pillow case, although i do not think i would have had a woolen mess, i think your advise was wise. thank goodness the garment bag wasn't large enough!

cant wait to make another, i have so many ideas...now just to find the time!!

Comments

[tracy]

Super cute! On of my goals this winter is to learn to knit and I bought the pattern and fixin's to make a brown and green striped bag. Your result is motivating me to get on it!

[Melissa]

That looks awesome. I love the colors. Where'd you find the pattern for that? I've always been into crocheting but would love to try my hand at knitting.

[Deanna]

i love that donna.
another teacher at my school has been a knitting fool. you both make me want to try it, even though I have been a disaster in the past trying to take on anything with needles. lol- it turned out just gorgeous! congrats on the new adventure!

[tara]

oh my gosh-its soooo cool donna! love it!

[Crystal]

oooooh I love it!! And you can't leave us hanging...where did ya find the pattern? Most of the ones i have come across are so small.

[Nancy]

I think there are some programs out there that you can use to recover lost pics from cards....

[Jan]

You're kidding me! This is your first attempt at knitting? You kill me, just absolutely kill me. You are like King (in this case, Queen!)Midas-everything you touch (in this case, make) turns to gold! ;) Lovin that bag, just lovin it!

[jen g]

O.k. I Love this bag! You did an awesome job. Please share your pattern as I thought I read that you made it up yourself. Please share! What type of yarn did you use and needle size? Great color combo!

Thanks!

[Tawnya]

Super cuteness! Love it!

[Jaymie]

very cute! Hey,where did you get your apron? I am crazy for dress forms because of you and I love the apron! =-)

[Betsy]

De-lurking myself to say that your bag is completely adorable!

I've been reading your blog for quite some time and I've often thought to myself, "you know what would make Donna Downey 800 times cooler than she already is? If she learned to knit!"

And now you've gone and done it.

Way to be 800 times cooler than you already are! =)

[Deborah]

Must. Resist. Urge. To. Knit.

You're not helping! The bag is divine.

[zielske]

Seriously. Donna. Seriously?

So cute. I'm not kidding.

See me? I am a lemming. And i am standing on the edge of the cliff. I think you know what that means.

[Kris in TX]

Way, way cute Donna!! Great job on the knitting (your stitches are so even!), and isn't it cool when it felts?

I made totes for my mom and my aunt, loosely based on the french market tote from knitty.com. Then I crocheted some flowers for them, and used beads for the center (the wooden beads are from when they were both in Blue Birds), and felted the bags with the flowers stitched on. The crochet was easy...just eye shaped pieces, loosely attached at one end. Kind of a camelia looking flower.

It's addicting, isn't it? Wait till you try socks! I'm at 20+ pair now.

And that's a great apron, too.

[Emma]

The bag looks wonderful!!! I love the colors you chose! I am going to start making one in January. I have been knitting for years but have never felted... I can't wait to make my bag. And thank everyone for your felting tips... they really helped me out!

[Michele]

Donna--I am so impressed! I cannot believe you just started knitting?! Seems like your creative talents have no end!! :) Knitting is such an awesome hobby--I can't wait to see what else you come up with. Now, are you gonna share that pattern? Pretty please? :)

[budletsmom]

Wow I am so impressed. You just started knitting and you have already made a bag. It looks great and I love the colors. I have wanted to do this for years. I guess I better attempt it soon. Also curious how long it took you to knit as it looks huge?

I am also curious about the pattern you used and the yarn you used. Wonder how many people will start knitting because of this. Again it looks great. If you didn't already figure it out you will now be hooked on knitting. Currently I am taking a break from my knitting as I was cursing it earlier (one of my first attempts with double pointed needles. Thanks for all the inspiration.

[Denise]

Like I am not already swamped with a million other things in my life and now I have to drag out my knitting stuff from 15 years ago!!! OK...like everyone else said...where did you find the pattern or please share your pattern. Thanks for being such and inspiration!

[kristine]

The bag looks awesome, Donna! Please post the pattern or point us in the direction for where you found it. Thanks!

[Wendy]

Oh that is so cool!
I can hardly wait for winter so I can get out the knitting needles! LOL! It's way too hot for knitting this time of year in Oz.

[Erin C.]

I have been new to knitting for about 2 years now... I say this because all I know how to knit are scarves and I have been to afraid to venture further without guided instruction... but please do share your pattern and how you did it because it turned out fabulous! I want to make one with little felted flowers on it! Too cool!

[Alli]

I'm still crocheting a baby blanket for Alec, who is almost 5 and in a week you learn how to kint and then felt a bag..

I wish I had a 16th of your drive and devotion to a project, that is a truly gorgeous bag, I had never heard of felting before, it is an amazing looking finish.

[Suzanne]

It looks awesome Donna! You did an amazing job!

OK, you've inspired me yet again! My next knitting project will have to be a purse! Yours is just too cute!

[melissa deakin (momteacherwriter)]

this looks amazing!
enjoy your new treasure!

[jill]

LOVE the apron! it is so hip!

[Angie Patterson]

You did a great job! Bag is super cute!

[Stephanie Suswell]

nice!

[Kim Bolyard]

OMG!!!! Daonna that ROCKS!!! I think I am going to have to make one of these. Thanks for sharing the details (love that photo...I think I took that one). My daughter wants to knit and her and I may just have some mother daughter bonding and make a cool purse.

peace
Kim

[Kim Bolyard]

DONNA...sorry for the typo on your name. I was so excited to post I got carried away typing...LOL!!!

have a great day
Kim

[kelly d]

can i add ME to the list of people that would LOVE to know the details of this. i too just learned to knit, but so far can only do a 2 needle mitten and scarf and working on a sock.
can you share your pattern and needle size and yarn? pretty please!?!?
thanks Donna---you ROCK!

[Chris]

cute bag, i love it but do not know how to knit.
you have been tagged, please visit my site to find out how and to play along with the Christmas tag.
Merry Christmas

[juliette]

It's advice, not advise.

[Sarah van Wijck]

It look awesome!!! Well done...wish I could knit :)

[Ali]

DUDE - that turned out so cool!

[Michelle]

Lovely bag, awesome yarn choice, Cascade is one of my favorite felting yarns. Also like a bunch of the Knitpicks yarns (cheap) for felting as well. So may patterns, so little time.

[LorettaV]

I love the fabric of your apron. Is that one that you made or one that is from someone else?

I have recently started to collect dressmaker dummies. I am always on the lookout to add to my collection.

Thanks.
LorettaV

[Cami]

Groovy!

[Traci]

great job on your bag - it ROCKS!!!

[Jeanette]

You are a woman of many crafts, D. Love the bag. And I LOVE the apron!!!!

[erin yamabe]

how awesome is that!!! you inspire me to want to learn...and make the time, too!

[Sarah]

Ok, first off I think you need to wrestle the knitting needles away from Cathy Z, she should play guitar for you while you knit.

The green is almost exactly the same color as the 1st thing I ever knitted - a scarf (how predictable) - had red & white fringe (with olive-y green - hhhmmmm) and it was VERY long since I didn't stop til I ran out of yarn.

And I think I counted 56 rose of green and 21 rows of brown on your bag.

Gotta go - need to take some Advil for the eyestrain now.

[kristen]

uber cute!!!

[claudine hellmuth]

what fun! love your apron too!!!
xxox
claudine

[Jenny~ MFM]

LOVE the bag...it's SUPER CUTE!!! it's a banana bag after all =) Great job women!

[Stacey Bogert]

Love this new bag Donna! Totally YOU!

[AlissaE]

those are totally my website's colors...

[Faye]

Cool bag Donna, it's fun that everyone has the knitting bug and OMG look at that green streak in your hair. Amazing

[kirsty]

oh to even cast on - let alone knit one, purl one, drop ten .......
am hoping either you and Cathy take pity on my inability to knit and wing it my way ;)
either that or link me to a knitting for dummies sitex