Everyone Wants a Booga!

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[Ed.  -- Warning - the author appears to have ascended the Knitting Soapbox before drafting this post - forgive her.  She's new here.] 

Looks like I’m going to continue knitting some serious baggage in the foreseeable future.  Knitting and felting bags is what got me back into knitting in November, after a 30-year time out.   I have made four in about 8 weeks (with time off for learning how to do mittens, hats, socks – did I tell you about my sock?? -  and cables).  I have another one on the needles now. 

It’s the Boku in a modified Sophie pattern (’cause I never think the bottom of the bag is going to be big enough when I cast on).

I love the felted bag project because it doesn’t require strict attention to a pattern, yet it knits up quickly so as not to bore.  It’s forgiving, because felting hides a multitude of sins.  It’s exciting, because you never know exactly how it will turn out.  It’s satisfying, because you wind up with a useful and pretty object in the end.   Turns out lots of people are crazy for these fun handmade bags – who knew?

One of my nieces was the first to ask if I would make her one if she bought the yarn.  Of course!  Another such request led to the Boku bag pictured above.  Yesterday, one of my fellow soccer moms started raving about my own bag, and then nearly fell off the bleachers when she learned I made it.  That led to a request for two more – for her, and her daughter.

Then there are the folks who get inspired.  My hairdresser just about flipped when she saw my bag the other day.  She’s incredibly handy herself (cutting on other people’s hair and all would be enough, but she also makes jewelry and furniture), and after seeing my bag (and the newly-started project I was carrying in it) she resolved to learn to knit.  She was also practically begging me to bring some bags into the shop to sell.  Well, I can’t do that, because I’m using a free pattern, and even if I weren’t, I think that would take all the fun out of knitting, anyway.  Frankly, I’m going to have to put the brakes on this “sure, I’ll make you a bag” thing, or I’ll never make anything for myself again.  It does tickle me, though, how my peeps have gone flat out gaga over something so simple. 

On the flip side, some folks are indifferent, and still others (not many, actually, but a couple stand out) outright scoff at the idea of knitting.  This got me thinking, as I imagine it has anyone who indulges in a craft. 

People who don’t get the knitting thing are wont to ask such questions as “why would you work that hard on a pair of socks when you can just run to Target and buy some?”  Valid inquiry.  Many answers.  One, it’s challenging and fun to make something yourself.  That’s why knitting is called a “hobby.”  (I can’t imagine having to knit to keep a whole family in socks for life, but luckily this is 2008.)  Two, hand knit items really do look and feel wonderful.  Three, it’s rather uplifting to think about wearing even one article made locally, rather than by some poor child in Sri Lanka.  

I hardly think I’ll either effect global change or convince anyone who thinks knitting is a waste of brain cells otherwise.  The fact remains that I wouldn’t have enough to write about if I weren’t knitting – and I do love to lay down the prose.  Anyway, I’ll bet even the scoffers secretly covet one of these:

Who wouldn’t??

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Tags: booga, felting, Knitting, sophie