Tuesday 3 July 2012

Pipped to the Post by a Pinwheel Purse


Have you ever had a really great idea, only to find out that someone else has already had it. I guess this happens quite a lot with knitting.

Well, I had this great purse idea. It started because my daughter's DT (design technology) project at school is to make a felt purse. As research she asked if she could take an old leather purse of mine into school. I'm quite fond of this purse, as a school friend bought it for me many years ago, in Tunisia. For some reason I keep it in my sewing box.






Anyway, on its trip to school, a boy, whose name I won't mention, snatched at it and ripped the leather. 





So I had been wondering if it would be possible to sew or knit a purse with the same sort of opening. I wasn't sure if it would work with wool, as I thought might just be too bulky with all the layers. And then I was browsing through Ravelry to see what someone who had hearted one of my things had also hearted, and there it was. A perfect little knitted version of my leather purse had already been designed. It is called the Pinwheel Purse in Frankie's Knitted Stuff, which seemed equally strange as that is my daughter's name.



So I have knitted a new purse, to replace my old leather one. It clearly is a great idea, as you can see by the enormous number of people who have knitted this little purse, and linked their projects to the pattern. What I particularly like about the pattern is that it is so simple that once you have done a few rows you don't even need to refer to it.  



I also thought I'd photograph the wool that I used. It came to me in a bag of oddments. I really love the mixture of colours. It had no label, and wondered if anyone knows what it is?

Oh well, back to the drawing board I guess....

16 comments:

  1. Great little purse, love the way it opens up......it looks very tactile
    The leather one from Tunisia is beautiful, what a shame it was damaged.

    Claire :]

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  2. What an unusual purse! I shall have to google and see if I can find a sewing pattern for one! (great wool too!)

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  3. I've never seen this idea before, I love how your knitted design turned out.

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  4. Oh, a really very nice purse! Thanks for sharing your photos and the info.

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  5. the yarn looks like some sort of sock yarn, but beyond that who knows!

    great little pattern, sorry about your leather one!

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  6. Eres una artista !!!!! y por eso , si no te importa , te sigo desde YAAAA!!!!
    Un besazo

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  7. Gracias por su amable mensaje. Yo no hablo español, así que estoy usando Google Translate. Un nuevo beso grande para ti.

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  8. That purse is gorgeous - isn't it amazing just how many things are already out there, pattern wise?
    And how spooky that the name of the pattern is also your daughter's name - this purse pattern was waiting for you to find it!

    I hear you on your comment on my blog - I really have no idea why blocking works and it amazes me every time!

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  9. Love it that came out so cute...And I love that yearn I made a dress for my newborn in that same yarn!

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  10. This is such a beautiful purse!

    Thank you for sharing on Creative Friday!

    Warm regards
    Linda

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  11. I am going to have to look on ravelry for this...great stocking stuffer idea. Im alrady thinking of Christmas. But when you make your own gifts you have got to.

    With All That I Am
    Carrie "The Handmade Homemaker"

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  12. That purse is adorable. I may have to find it and knit one too.

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  13. The yarn, I imagine, is Opal. Not sure the colorway but if you go to their website you'll be able to find it. That little purse is a work of genius. Thank you so much for bringing it to the blog-o-sphere.

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    1. Thank you. I've found it really easily now on Ravelry. It's called RendezVous, and seems to mainly be a sock wool. But now I can put the details on my project, and look for some ideas for the rest of the ball.

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  14. I find it's true of lots of things... I have a brilliant idea, draft it out, then do a little research and find I'm late to the party. :-/

    I think the leather purse is beautiful!

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  15. Thanks for sharing your purse with me and my readers on Sharing Saturday and Sunday. Its just too cute.

    With All That I Am
    Carrie "The Handmade Homemaker"

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