Special Effects: Finished!

The Special Effects bag is finished. I think it turned out nicely. I still have to sew in the liner, but the crochet part is finished.
Changes to the pattern:
The pattern calls for crocheting 4 pieces, then attaching them to make a panel. Two panels are whip-stitched on three sides to make the bag, and then a handle is attached. I decided that I wanted 2-inch sides so that the bag would be functional. After attaching the four pieces of each panel, I added a row of hdc on the three sides of each panel so that adding the sides would not affect the special effect look of the panels. I used the row join method mentioned in the pattern to attach the sides to the panels. I attached the panels to the posts of the hdc row I added so that there would be distinct edges.

I used white thread for one stitch all the way along the panel that has white facing the sides. I had originally tried using straight black for the sides, but it was too visible on that panel. Sorry for the pictures - black and white yarn doesn't photograph well!

Here are the directions for the side panels:

Hdc on three sides of each panel, with 5 hdc in the corners to turn to the next side. Make sure that there are the same number of hdc on each panel or they will not attach evenly.

All Row joins are attached to the back post of the hdc of panel. This creates an edge between the panel and the side and give the bag a 3D shape. The panels are attached to the side panel wrong-side to wrong side.

Attach white yarn to the back post of the first hdc at the top of white panel, 1 ch, change to black, 5 ch, row join to black panel.
Row 1: Ch 1, row join, turn. 5 sc in black, change to white, 1 sc. Turn, row join.
Row 2: Ch 1, row join, 1 sc in white, change to black, 5 sc, row join.
Repeat rows 1-2, making sure to get every hdc on the panels, including the 5 hdc on the two bottom corners. This will cause the side to curve cleanly, so that only one side panel is needed to attack to all three sides.
When you finish the side of the bag, do not fasten off the black yarn. Instead, continue with the handle:
First half:
Row 1: Turn, Ch 1, 6 sc in black.
Row 2-45: repeat row 1. Fasten off.
Second half:
Attach black yarn to the beginning of the side panel.
Row 1: Ch 1, 6 sc. Turn.
Row 2-45: repeat row 1. Fasten off.

Whipstitch ends of handle halves together.

I edged both sides of the bag. Hdc in matching color across the top of each panel, with the first and last stitch attached to the first stitch of each handle with a row join. SC in black on both sides of the handle for the remaining stitches.

I like this bag, and may do it in black and a different color at some time in the future. I am considering what kind of liner I am going to sew into the bag.

I did finish on Thursday, but I have been busy since then and did not have time to write down the changes to the pattern.
Friday was my night out with my friends, so I never have time to post then. Today I went to the New Kent Winery Festival with my mom and sampled wine from several wineries, including New Kent's of course. I bought a leather wine glass holder that hangs from the neck ($5!). Sorry, I forgot to take a picture.
After the festival, we went to Michael's, Barnes and Noble, and a shoe store in between the two stores. The shoe store and B&N were disappointing. Very little in my Mom's or my shoe size, and not much was nice in there anyway. My mom couldn't find a new book, and none of the new knitting magazines had anything I was interested in. Until I am employed, I can't afford magazines that have nothing I definitely think I will do eventually. Although, if I could get my hands on Rowan magazines I would make an exception!
The Michael's at Virginia Center Commons mall has renovated since the last time I was there. The yarn section is in the front (and smaller!), next to a new bead section. The store looks pretty cool, but it is mostly the same selection with fewer actual products to make the place look more spacious. The only improvement was the beading section is bigger and is carrying a selection similar to that at the A.C. Moore's in Fredericksburg. I at least got the paper I had gone in for, though.
A display of clearance yarn was right next to the door at Michael's. It was a little discontinued yarn and a lot of yarn that had lost their labels. The discontinued yarn was about half off, but the unlabeled yarns were $0.45 or $1! Woo! More stash! I got two skeins of Patons Classic Wool Merino in the Palais colorway. One had the wrapper on, so it was $1.99 (from 4.99!). The other one has no label at all, so I got it for $1! I didn't even have to ask. It's still on the Patons website, so I don't know if it is discontinued or if this particular Michael's stopped carrying it. There are three Lily Sugar'n Cream cotton skeins, two light blue and one cream. One Bernat Baby Coordinates in pink. One Vanna' Choice in Brick and one Fun Fur in Sandstone (Lion Brand). One Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather.
Normally I try not to buy one skein of a color because I am afraid I can't use it, but most of these can be used with skeins of other colors from the same brand. These are all staple brands at Michael's (how I was able to tell what they were), so if I need to I can buy more. I figured I could make a baby item out of the baby yarn without needing more, and scarves, hats, or purses out of the rest, unless a bigger project comes along. The Sugar'n Cream is definitely enough to make a baby jacket with. At $1 each I couldn' pass these up! I'll make gifts out of most of it. There was a lot more yarn, but I didn't like any of it or it was still in the wrapper and I didn't want to spend more than a dollar on it. If you live in the Richmond area, check Michael's out before it's all gone!
Oh, and check out the cute free pattern I found. Too bad there weren't 3 more skeins of the Caron Simply Soft yarn; I could have made the shawl. I don't think I would want the shawl in grey anyway, but the grey goes very well with the brick red Vanna, so I may go look for a light weight dark red yarn to use with the grey. Vanna's is worsted weight and too heavy for matching with the Simply Soft, unless I was careful.

Next projects:
1) Socks for me: Knitting! I need to get a new set of DPN's - I have #4's and my swatch came out too big. I need #3's. Maybe eBay? Also, most of the patterns in the book I bought want sizes 0-3 DPNs. I found one elsewhere that took #4's since I had them already, but the needles are a size too big. Funny. It seems I crochet one hook size up for most patterns and knit one needle size down for at least this first pattern. Only time will tell if that will repeat.

2) A short sleeve cardigan for Mom: We picked out the yarn online, so now I have to wait for THAT as well. I'll post the pattern later.

3) Now I need something to keep me happy until I have needles for 1) and yarn for 2). AHH! I actually hung out with my friends on Friday without yarn in my hands! First time in 6 months! It felt wrong. I kept a laptop on my lap instead. I wasn't the only one, but still. I am thinking something with that skein of Bernat baby yarn I just bought.