Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 55

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 55

On to the next design.

Original Concept

After searching for lots of pictures, I ended up Drawing something that I do believe looks like a Rat. This is my Original Concept. It will take several stages for it to become usable.

Rough Rat

Next, I transfer my Rat onto Graph Paper. This never seems to look as good as the Original.

Cubed Rat

Once I have Drawn my Rough Rat I then have to alter the Rounded Lines into Squared ones. I have Cubed my Rat Drawing. This stage always reminds me of Picasso.

By the Numbers

Now my Rat is Cubed I can do the next part, which is adding the Numbers to my Chart. This is so I know how many Stitches and Rows I will be doing.

If you notice in the above photograph I haven’t Cubed the Ears, Legs or Tail. This is because they will Embroidered on after Knitting.

Humpback Rat

After counting, I have found that the Rat is far too big for what I need. Therefore, I have reduced its size. Unfortunately, this has Squashed it so much the Rat now looks like it has a Camels Hump.

The thing to remember is that this is a Rough Chart. Unlike Cross-Stitch where you can copy the Pattern, exactly Knitting has different sized Stitches and therefore a certain amount of adjusting has to be done whilst Knitting.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 54

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 54

The final furlough of this part.

One Edge

Since the Blanket Stitching I had already done was questionable and with the added possibility of Fraying I decided to Reinforce the Stitching. I was originally going to Blanket Stitch with Brown Wool but I realised that I had quite a few strands of Red Wool. I thought this would be nice, bright, and therefore easy to see.

One Complete Side

After going along One edge and was satisfied, I continued all the way around. This Completed One Side of the Bag.

Both Done

Now that One Side was Completed, I could continue with the other Side. They are now Both Done. On to the final test.

Success

Well it was a lot of Blood, Sweat and Tears not to mention a choice selection of Expletives at times. I Slipped a Baking Tray inside to check for Size. Eureka! It fitted so I declare Success. However, I still have a few more bits to finish it off.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 53

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 53

I had left the Bottom of the Sidepiece unfinished. I am now going to continue.

Two Finger Gap

I have left a Two Finger Gap Unsewn. I trim off the Excess Material.

View from Side

In the above photograph, you can see the View from the Side. I had originally thought that I would Curve the Bottom but then decided against it. The Unsewn part is equal to the Width of the Material that I am adding.

Fold and Pin

I have Folded and Pinned the Hem so it does not move whilst Sewing.

Hem Across

 

This part has been Hemmed Across. I now need to repeat everything on the other Side.

Fraying

 

Drat! I have made another boo-boo. I Cut the Excess too close. Not only that since I had mislaid my Pinking Scissors I had been forced to use ordinary ones.

This has had the unfortunate effect of the Material to start Fraying. Fortunately, I have a solution.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 52

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 52

Here we are folks Part 52. That is a full year’s worth of blogging on this project and it is not over yet.

Blanket Stitch Side

After attaching it at the Top I Blanket Stitch along the Side of the Bag.

Difference in Stitching

The reason there is so many blogs on this project is due to the amount of mistakes I keep making. This time it is loose Stitching whilst Sewing whilst ill. This is going to have to be rectified.

Smaller Stitches

I have gone over the Loose Stitching again. I have Blanket Stitched in-between the ones already there. I will have to do this on the other Side too. However, I am going to Pin it first.

Pin to Side

I have Pinned the Insert to the Other Side of the Bag. If you notice in the photograph above, I have not Sewn all the way down. This is deliberate and will explain in next blog.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 51

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 51

Now the Toggles are finished I can move on to the Sides of the Green Bag

Add Weight

 

Since the Toggles are placed at different Levels on the Bag, I decided it would be a good idea to test it with Weight inside it. Therefore, I placed a heavy Weight in the form of a carton of milk.

I then lifted it up to check where the Levels fell. Then I placed a pin at the Bottom so I would know how much material I would need to add to the Sides.

Pin and Cut

 

I measured a piece of Green Material and Folded it in Half. I then Pinned it in place so I could cut it along the Length with Pinking Scissors. This would stop it moving whilst I cut.

Take Two

 

I Hemmed the Two pieces of Material nearly to the Bottom. I have left some loose for turning later.

Join at Top

 

I take one of the pieces of Material I have Hemmed and Joined it at the Top of the Green Bag with a Blanket Stitch.

 

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 50

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 50

The Toggles are finally dry and I am no longer getting ink on my fingers so are ready for use.

Extra Loop

 

I have Knitted another I-Cord and Sewn it to form a Loop. I have added the Extra Loop in the Centre of the others.

Mark with Pins

 

I need to match up the Toggles with the Loops. This is not as straightforward as the other side as the Material Length is slightly Wider. I have placed the Material and Marked with Pins where the Toggles should be Sewn

Three Toggles

 

I decided to use the Original Toggles first. I have Sewn them at the two ends and in the Centre.

Vertical Toggles

 

I have encountered a problem. I had been so concerned about making sure the Loops were Sewn on the thicker Material that I had not thought about the amount of space between.

Therefore, I have Sewn the new Toggles Vertically. Perhaps losing a Toggle and having to use Smaller ones has become an advantage.

Finished Toggles

 

I have Finished Sewing all the Toggles in place. Whilst not perfect I am satisfied with the End result.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 49

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 49

It never rains but it pours.

Toggle Problem

 

Okay I have a problem. I did have extra Wooden Toggles and now I am short. I think that they must have dropped on the floor and been swallowed up by the Hoover.

I searched for any Toggles that I might have in my button collection. I have some but they are completely the wrong Colour. I know these are going to be on the Inside but even so, I like to try my best.

Marked Toggles

 

I am going to have to Colour some Toggles to try to match them better. The Toggles that I have are some that I have taken off an item. Unfortunately, they have become Marked. Therefore, I have selected ones that seem to be the worst to be used.

Coloured Toggles

 

I have Coloured the Toggles in with a Permanent Marker Pen. As you can see in the above photograph, they are now much darker. If they were to be on show, I would not have been happy with the overall result.

However since they are not it does not matter too much. The Thread will cover the light areas. The next problem to tackle is the fact that they are smaller than the others are. I have therefore decided that I will add an extra Loop. This should help spread the weight.

 

 

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 48

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 48

On to the next set of Loops

Four Loops

 

I have spaced out the Loops differently on the Strengthener. This is because it has extra Material on the Outer Edges. I may need to add another Loop for more support.

Thumb Joint

 

Before I can add the Toggles, I need to make a Stronger Hem. I Fold it over so it is roughly a Thumb Joint Width.

Hem Across

 

I proceeded to Hem it all the way Across. Then I went to add the Toggles. However at least one has gone walkies. I need to rethink this. Either buy some more or find one the same size in a different Colour.

Bumpy Yellow

 

Whilst I am sorting out the Toggles, I decided to do something about the nasty Bumpy Yellow patch that I have spotted.

Nice and Neat

 

On closer inspection, there was more than one section of Yellow that needed addressing. Therefore, I added two Leaves, an Orange one on the Right and a Golden Yellow on the Left.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 47

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 47

I am going to continue to add the Loops

Two Loops

 

I decided to start at the Outer Edge. The Material here is Stronger because of the Wide Hem. I added Two Loops using the same technique as before.

Unfinished

 

It was difficult adding the Right Loop because of the Material hanging down. This was something that I had left Unfinished. I decided I had better do it before carrying on with the other Loops.

Fold Hem

 

I Folded the Material and Sewed it to make a Double Hem. This made it both Shorter and Tidier.

Tuck Under

 

I then decided to Tuck the Hem Under the Strap. With a few more Stitches, this should hold it in place.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 46

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 46

Another quick blog. On to the Toggles.

Marking Pins

 

The Side I am working on is the Strengthener attached to the Main Bag. I thought it best to do this Side first as it will not move. Before I start Marking out I Pin, the two ends.

Confident that it is now Secured I move the Hem so I can see the Loops. Next, I Mark with a Pin in the Hem.

Either Side

I am using some scrap Wool to Sew the Toggles into place. I am Sewing Either Side of the Pin to ensure that the Toggle does not slip.

Toggle and Loop

I have now Sewn all four Toggles in place. I have put the Loops around them. The Bag will slightly give a little but that is to be expected. I have to confess that I am not entirely sure whether I should have done the Toggles Horizontal or Vertical. If needs be I can always change later.