There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.
So I finished my “I’m stalling” project, which was another bag. I did this to a) use up a skein in my stash, b) see what happens when you use a lighter weight than is called for, and c) put off working on that pink bag again.
I finished it up just before tonight’s DR wedding/party/free-for-all, and decided I’d pop it into the washing machine for a quick felt. So I did, and it felted to just about the size I wanted! But then I thought, well, I’ll just give it another couple of minutes to firm it up just a little more.
But then, as always happens, I gave my DR event my full attention and totally forgot about the bag in the washing machine. Which really shrank. It’s now a handbag in the literal sense, in that the body is just a bit bigger than my hand.
On the up side, I did learn that you can sub in a lighter wool, if you’re willing for it to be a little floppier and to felt down a little more. And as I’d hoped, the Araucania Nature Wool, which has a great variation in color within the skein, gave a nice effect. I think it looks kind of like blue tiger striping. It’s a little more subtle in person than in the picture. Hard to believe that this is the same pattern (more or less) as the Tessima.
I have two skeins of this yarn in blue-jean colors, and may knit it again, holding it double to see what the extra bulk does for the size. There’s enough of this blue left over to add in a nice, rich stripe or to do the handles with it. I’m considering these ‘mistakes’ to be exercises in learning about what the materials will do.
All in all, it’s not the effect I thought I’d get – but I’m still happy! I’ll add some kind of closure, and it’ll make a nice little kicky purse.
Tomorrow, I start on the pink bag again and do another DR wedding.