Yessir, Yessir, Four Bags Fulled

Some time ago (I think it was Labor Day weekend?), I was handed a free pattern from the craft shop for fulled handbags and asked if I would like the pattern. Now, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, I know a broad hint when I see one. I planned to make one for SIL Faye, Nieces Jane and Lisa, and family friend Sharon, and originally intended to have these done in time to deliver them on Christmas Day. I must have been temporarily (?) insane, because I obviously came nowhere near having them done by then. In fact, I was still knitting on the second one right up to the moment Niece Jane put the roast beast was on the table. I finally got the last one done today and fulled all of them in the washer this evening.

Here's the pre-washer view:


And after they came out of the washer and dryer:

I think you can tell the size difference. They each lost about 25% in length and width. I used all my bulky handspun yarns out of the stash. I still have some of the dark brown and the greens left. I started with the Buttonhole Bag pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting; those are the ones on top. The other two are ones I just made up as I went along. I did sew on leather buttons to secure the braided handle on the gold/green/brown one, and magnetic closures on all four.

I haven't gotten much spinning done and even less knitting. This will likely be the last for the year. I do have a secret knitting project to work on for the next couple months, but you'll have to wait until at least spring before I can tell you about it. I'll try to at least have pretty yarn pictures to look at in the meantime.

ToolMan and I went to Niece Jane's for Christmas Day. She is an excellent cook and really outdid herself this year. There was Beef Wellington (made with a center-cut prime rib!), a cream sauce with green peppercorns, roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus and yellow peppers glazed with balsamic vinegar, and cherry pie with whipped cream for dessert. She may be "volunteered" to host Christmas every year. I told her she could have one of the felted bags, but she hesitated almost one full second before reminding me that she had asked for a set of the #!%$ Golf Club Covers like I made her dad. In white and purple, please. I tell you, that girl knows how to get handknits.