Guilty Hostess, but Well-intentioned!

Okay, much apologies to my secret purse pal. It's taken much longer than I would have liked to make this project, but I had come across various obstacles along the way that required me to use some limited creativity. Here is my purse - almost near completion!



More details about it can be seen on my blog: Counting Sheep

1st obstacle: I had run out of yarn. I had to improvise by pulling some dark purple yarn from my own stash of Cascade 220 Superwash wool. I know, I know, you're not supposed to use superwash in felted items, but I risked it anyway. I didn't feel like buying another skein just to knit the cast off edge of the ruffles.

2nd obstacle: Felting - After I felted it, it was supposed to be a clutch purse. But when I did the actual felting, it looked.. um... a bit too long lengthwise to me. So I decided to do the next best thing and make it a shoulder bag. On to hunting for a suitable purse handle.

The initial pattern calls for weaving a ribbon through the eyelet holes and leaving it as that. However, I needed a purse handle, too. I didn't like any of the purse handles I saw availabe because most of them were too short. However, after shopping at Joann's ribbon selection to look for an appropriate one, I was inspired by the leather ribbons they had availabe. A purse strap was born...

3rd obstacle: Finishing the purse strap. Should I sew the ends together or find a buckle? The hunt continues today. :)

I hope she will be patient with me. I just don't want to give her a goofy looking bag because that's how it looked like to me initally after I felted it. Heh. :P