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BERROCO DOES BAGS

Today, you will take a tour of our pattern booklet #257 Bags.2. It's full of irresistible projects for all of you knitters and crocheters who can never have enough bags. #257 is a collection of 8 knitted and 6 crocheted bags including totes, handbags, evening purses, shoulder bags and felted bags in a variety of our bestselling yarns. If your appetite is as big as ours is for handbags, get ready for temptation.

For the FULL STORY of each bag, photos and other additional information click here.

For several years, Berroco's Suede™ yarn has been a favorite yarn for shawls, sweaters and jackets. Without a doubt, Suede is indeed the perfect yarn for leather look bags and for adorning felted woolen bags. This season we have added new shades to our range of leather inspired shades. Have a look at the 30 colors in our shade range.

NEVER ENOUGH BAGS!   This week is all about bags, so we are posting 2 free bag patterns. Val is a handbag crocheted in 3 shades of Suede. We fastened it with a metal latch that we found at the local hardware store, but any button or buckle would work. Veera is a beachie little knit handbag that is playfully striped by alternating Zodiac™ and TuTu™. Bamboo handles finish the look.

Janette from cyberspace wrote: "I am an artist and craftswoman. I make jewelry and pottery. I love mixing yarn and colors and creating my own striped fabrics. I have quite a stash. I want to use it up so that I can buy more. I love cardigans and vests, but I when I get the part where I have to shape my armhole, neckline and shoulder seams, I give up. I just can't finish the project. Am I alone?"

Janette,
You are not alone. I cannot tell you how many projects I have abandoned at the crucial neck and shoulder shaping. For me, this is the "Bermuda Triangle" of knitting angst. The words "at the same time when piece measures" can cause anxiety. Many knitters have trouble finishing their sweaters because they stop at that point. During my years at Berroco, I have been experimenting with designing simple shapes with rectangles. Here are some links to very easy rectangles with and without sleeves. You will find these shapes are easy to knit and flatter all figures.
Wayland | Issey | Angelica | Sarena | Surplus & Plaid

Make changes according to your stitch and row gauge. You can use the recommended yarn or use the schematics for size and you can translate them into fabric that you have created from your stash. Enjoy the simplicity of the rectangle and you can relax while you knit your cardigan or vest.

All the best,

Margery Winter Creative Director