My first sewing FO of 2008!

Hi Everyone!

Let me introduce the double duty bag from Sew Baby Pattern F868. This pattern is great for a sewing beginner as it is very simple and has step by step directions. I've found in a number of patterns that the manufacturer expects you to know what to do until you reach a certain step and then explains the intricacies of that one step. That is not the case with this pattern. Each step is carefully and completely explained leaving minimal guess work for the beginner. I chose this project as I thought it would make an excellent knitting bag as it is reversible and includes 6 pockets around the middle for yarn and notions.

The following shot is what I will use as the exterior of the bag as I made a few mistakes on the pocket side that make it better suited to serve as the lining.

The interior includes 6 pockets that go the entire way around the bag. I think these will be useful not only for notions but also for putting different colored balls of yarn in while doing color work.

I bought both the pattern and the fabric at JoAnn's Fabric with a gift certificate my brother got me for Christmas. (Thanks John!!!) I started working on this project Saturday afternoon, March 15 and finished by Sunday, March 16.

I had put my March socks, the Embossed Leaves Socks from Interweave Knits aside to focus on my sewing and to read a book, The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory, but have made it a bit further along than these pictures indicate. I am through the heel and gusset on one sock and now have the heel and gusset on the other sock to complete before they are both back on the needles. I am hoping to work on them this week and to finish them up by the end of the month so that I can stay on track for my sock a month goals.

I am quite pleased with how the pattern looks in this yarn, Miss Babs Superwash Sock in the Grasshopper colorway. This is my first time knitting from a chart and I have realized that I have been reading the chart backwards. Fortunately, it has not messed up the pattern, just reversed the direction of it. I guess you do learn something new with each project.