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Tip: Keeping cutting info for bias tape right where you need it

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DSC_9048I love bias tape.  Love, love, love it!!  Love it so much I could marry it.  I especially love custom bias tape out of printed fabrics. 

Given my jr. high crush on custom bias tape, it should come as no surprise that I’m constantly MAKING bias tape.  The only problem is, I’m always forgetting how wide to cut my fabric to go into the different sized bias tape makers.  To make matters worse, not all of them are clearly labeled with a size.  One has the number 18 stamped into the plastic, but the others have no measurement indicated at all.  In order to figure out the width to cut my strips, I have to first determine the size of the bias tape maker, then cross-reference that on a chart that came with one of my bias tape makers.   What a hassle!

I decided this morning that there was a better way.  I measured my bias tape makers and determined the strip widths for each, then marked that on the top of the bias tape maker in permanent ink.  Voila!  Simple solution, and it only took me a year to come up with it.  Yeah, I’m swift like that.

Technorati Tags: sewing, tip, bias tape, bias, strip, width

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Knitting Market Bag Patterns

There are certain things that just make sense to knit at this time of year, and market bags are one of them. We tend to use our canvas bags more often in the summer with trips to the farmer’s market and the library, but string bags and market bags are great to use all year.

I love the Three Oranges Bag by Hana Cho, which looks just like a knit version of a plastic shopping bag, but with three cute oranges stitched on. The bag uses intarsia to make the oranges, but you could use duplicate stitch or intarsia to add a different design if you like. It calls for fingering weight yarn and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Sharyn Anhalt’s Market Square bag (also on Ravelry) uses worsted weight yarn and a mosaic pattern to make a pretty bag you’ll want to use every time you go shopping. The bag comes in two sizes and is worked in two colors of the same yarn for a fun mixed up effect that’s almost like weaving.

Speaking of fun colors, the Market Bag from Hubbabubbie Art uses a multicolored cake yarn (specifically Lion Brand Mandala) to produce fun color changes without any extra work. This bag is worked from the bottom up with a crocheted bottom and knit mesh sides. It’s a free pattern on Ravelry.

The Pike Place Market Bag from Blue Bird Pine Shop looks like a massive bag to hold all your market goodies (that is a child holding it, but still). The bag calls for worsted weight cotton yarn and the mesh is worked on extra large needles to help it open up to hold everything you want held.

The Knit Farmer’s Market Bag form Design BCB is another good one, made mostly of mes with a little stockinette for extra stability. The base is also worked in stockinette so items you put in it will sit flat.

This mesh bag from Sheep and Stitch doesn’t have a base, and the body is worked flat before being joined in the round to make the top and handles. That makes it easy to make the bag just the size you want because you can stop knitting whenever you feel it’s big enough. The pattern includes a step-by-step video if you need extra assistance.

And the Eco Market String Bag from Mama in a Stitch has a solid knit base worked in a contrasting color from the mesh body. It’s an easy project that comes out a great size for your market needs without being too huge.

Do you have a favorite knit market bag pattern? I’d love to hear about it!