HYPHEN BOY MODULAR FELTED BAG KAL

Neglect!

2007-11-09T10:44:00.000-05:00

I want this bag so bad. However, my bag swap projects have gotten in the way. I'm almost done! I have one more to finish and then back to my bag. How is everyone else doing?

Michele in Washington,DC

The litle trian that could?

2007-09-30T23:50:00.000-05:00

I finally made a working copy of the pattern to keep the original one nice, I hope. I dug my bag of supplies out from behind the bedroom door where I set it when I knew I could not get it done in time for what I wanted to have it done for last year. Glad I marked it all back then. =-) Still only one lonely triangle made. =-(

I need to get going. I have some gloves and socks in may carry bag, since this one will be bigger it is my sitting at home project. I just need to stay at home to work on it! Then again I hope to go to knitters club tomorrow evening so it might make the trip again, I am sure I took it when I started it.

Surely was mistaken

2007-09-30T11:25:00.000-05:00

I surely was mistaken. I thought that I had to knit 5 tiers. DUH! I surely read that wrong. I'm using 5 colors and the smaller needles, but still have to do the same amount of knitting. I wish I would have read that correctly the first time around. I would have surely knitted with the bigger needles and just purchased more yarn. Did anyone else have this problem or am I slow all by myself? lol

Progress!

2007-09-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

Here is my progress. Did everyone else feel the same way I feel about knitting this bag? I love a challenge. I was so worried about putting it together. So, far I'm not having an issues, but to know Ang and you girls are here I can get through it. Happy Knitting!

A little help please?

2007-09-19T10:14:00.000-05:00

Ok, I have looked over the pattern so many times. I know I can follow the actual knit pattern without a problem (I hope!). I'm going to use 5 colors to knit the smaller version of the bag. On page 3 of the pattern, under modules Tier #1, I see it has two rows. I'm not sure how to do this part here, I'm thinking the first row under 5 colors, Modules state 1,2,5,6 then the next row for Tier #1 has 3,4,7,8.
I should knit 4 of the MC=A(blt grey) and CC=E(smoke grey, the base color) for 1,2,5,6 and then MC=B(tan) and CC=E(smoke grey) for 3,4,7,8 then apply the AcAdBcBdAcAdBcBd?

I'm just nervous my first time. I won't bug you about putting them together until I get the 8 knitted. Be back in a day or so!

Soon

2007-09-13T22:21:00.000-05:00

I am so excited that Michele and I will be knitting our bags together! We can help each other and encourage each other. Since she is waiting for her needles and yarn, I will wait, she has been so kind. Yippee, Skippie, joy, joy! =-) VBG

I Am Ready To Get Going Again =-)

2007-09-13T01:16:00.000-05:00

Well Michele has been patiently waiting for me to be ready to re start my bag, which got derailed last year. So I will wait until I hear back from her to get going again. I still have the June/July socks from SixSoxKAL in progress and Karen's gloves that I started and found I had too tight of gage for. So they stalled while I frogged, started the socks I do a row on now and then on them. My goal for the gloves is to have them done before it is cold. Then behind my bag is waiting the Ram horns I wanted to make for a Super Ram Fan Spirit before home coming week. So I better get the bag going again soon. Even though I had wanted to finish one or both before I knuckled down on this one. My sock, dishcloth, bag groups will always have one more pattern I have to make now. =-)Then I need to work on some of my aunts UFO I inherited. =-) The bag can be my home project, while my socks and gloves are smaller travel projects. I even made three baby afghans this year! (The first one I made took me three to four years 20 years ago! So I never started another until this year, thanks to my cousin giving me my aunts yarn and UFO's she had a Grandmother's Favorite baby blanket sized UFO. She had started but not finished, I finished it last year and gave it to her first great grandchild (son), this April when I went up real sudden like.

I even have a row counter ready. =-)I'll be glad to get my Denise needles, cable, put back in the case soon.

Need a partner

2007-07-16T11:52:00.000-05:00

Hello Fellow group Members,

I'm a little apprehensive about knitting the Hyphen Boy Modular bag; I would like for someone/anyone to partner up with me to work on this bag. Is there anyone who is up for the challenge? I haven't started yet. I do have yarn that I want to use for the bag and the needles. I don't think there is much else I need. I dont' have the pattern in front of me so, not sure. You can email me or just reply here. (smiles6404@aol.com) I have knitted several felted bags and I have designed and creating some of my own, which I'm still working on. You can check my blog to see my recent workings. http://things-that-interest-me.blogspot.com As you can see there I am in love with felted bags. I love knittine and creating them. I'm really excited about doing this bag. I hope someone contacts me soon. You know sometimes we need someone to hold our hand or talk us through somethings and this may be one of those times.

Thanks in advance,
Michele

"Best in the Show"

2007-06-23T17:34:00.000-05:00

My version of the Hyphen - Boy Modular Felted bag won

BEST IN THE SHOW

at the Lake Farm Park Wool Fest being held this weekend in Kirtland, Ohio.

I also took a

Blue Ribbon First Place

in the Mixed Media category since my bag is a combination of knitting and felting.

In addition to $15.00 vouchers to use at the Wool Fest market, I also received a gift basket full of wonderful goodies from the Lake Farm Park gift shop.

I am thrilled !!! So to everyone out there working on this bag, keep knitting !!!

Excited New Member!

2007-05-27T22:53:00.001-05:00

I just order my pattern from One Fine Yarn. I can not wait until it gets here. I want to order my yarn so they can arrive at the same time. I truly enjoy knitting with bigger needles. I felted my first booga bag and feel in love with how fast it knits up. I have now order several felted bag patterns and books. I have so many ideas of bags I would like to knit. Im learning new skills daily. Can someone give me a head up on how much yarn I will need to complete the bag and the needles? And any other tips you think will be helpful with this project.

SonDoras (Michele)

Stilled Stalled

2007-03-07T00:10:00.000-05:00

I cannot wait to get back to making this bag!!! Yet life is not cooperating. I paused for a bag exchange. At first I was going to make this for it. but It was quickly clear I would be late if I did that. So it was shelved for a quicker bag for the exchange. Once that was done dh pressed for me to make Christmas presents and since I had been planning to make a some I figured why not. Well Dec. 20 Christmas was moved 100 miles to my house. Knowing I was pushing it I figured I would manage some how. Then came that fateful day December 21, 2006. It was after 7 maybe 7:30 P.M. my cell phone rang while I was at the high school wrestling meet. Both of my parent were taken to the hospital 100 miles away. Many calls later I rested that night. Yet early the next Day it was clear I was going to me making that 100 mile trip daily for several days. One day taking POA paper to the hospital and nursing home. Next day taking them to the credit union. Back for Christmas with dh's side while spending much of the day in ICU at the hospital and some at the nursing home, when I was with dh's side My mind was else where. Day after I was about to get mom settled into the nursing home until dad could get here out when ICU called I need to get back. By the time I got across town dad was gone. The big fight started with my youngest brother rather his girl friend but it might as well be the same. Now on 3/6/2007. I still need to finish 3 of the Christmas Bags. All they have needed is linings and finish touches but I am swamped with POA and Successor Trustee, Executrix stuff for my parents. Do not miss understand it is a privilege to be chosen for all of this, yet a lot of work. So my bag of supplies sit looking at me calling me and I have not had enough hours in the day to touch it since I put it down?
Want to motivate me to making this priority one again? How dare my friends tell me they are having babies? =-)

I want to make this bag!

I'm off to the races

2006-11-19T00:12:00.000-05:00

I've officially started my bag. I'm taking the easy route and using two main colors and Noro Kureyon as my contrasting colors. I measured the amount I need of Noro for each segment and went ahead and cut up 2 skeins in to little segments. I then grouped them in to ziplocks of 8 different segments each. That has really made things go fairly easy. I'm half way through tier 4. We'll see how long it takes to finish this - I think it will be awhile!

My Bag won 1st PLACE !!!

2006-10-10T13:40:00.000-05:00

I'm on CLOUD 9 !!

Last night at my

Northcoast Knitting Guild

annual competition meeting, I entered my recently finished

HYPHEN - BOY Modular Felted Bag

in the "Accessories" category and I won

1st PLACE !!!

Everyone was raving about the design, colors and the unique quality of this pattern.

I used 1 1/2 skeins Cascade 220 (black and turquiose) and 3 skeins

of Noro Kureyon randomly mixed in.

It took me 2 months to knit this bag and the last thing I wanted to do was knit long I-cord handles. The leather handles I purchased from

HOMESTEAD HEIRLOOMS

at Stitches Midwest fit perfectly!!

bottom of bag

Hyphen Boy Bag Progress

2006-09-30T09:08:00.000-05:00

PROGRESS REPORT

I am doing 13 total tiers (one more to go!)

then on to the creative bottom.

I am making my purse with top handles only, NOT as a backpack, so I will not make

grommet holes on the last tier.

I love the colors and the Noro Kureyon goes a long way using this design.

I'm using 1 1/2 skeins Cascade 220 Black

1 1/2 skeins Cascade 220 Turquoise

3 skeins Noro Kureyon

Size 8 straight needles, I'm using circular for the bottom.

HANDLES Question for MATT

2006-09-28T16:01:00.000-05:00

I posed this ? to Matt, our designer, because I want to make my modular a BAG style and NOT a backpack....

QUESTION FOR MATT ABOUT HANDLES AND GROMMETS:

"Do you have any suggestions on how to make it a regular bag and not a backpack?

Would it just mean not doing gromets in the final (bottom) section and doing some other kind of handle instead?"

MATT'S REPLY:

"One option would be to keep the grommets & holes as written but knit two I-cord tubes, felt those tubes, then thread each one through four of the eight grommet holes and tie the ends of each tube to each other to create handles.

Another option would be to omit the grommet holes in the first tier. Then you could either knit separate handles that you sew into place (either before or after felting) or you could pick-up and knit handle stitches (I-cord or garter stitch, depending on the desired width of the handles)."

QUESTION

"What happens to the other 4 holes I've made if the handle is going thru the other 4?"

MATT goes on to say:

"I was thinking two handles; one handle goes through four of the eight holes, and the other handle goes through the remaining four holes: First handle starts on the outside of the bag, goes in hole #1, out of hole #2, in hole #3, and out hole #4; then, ties these two ends together at a good handle length using a square knot or other decorative knot.

The second handle starts outside of the bag, goes in hole #5, out of hole #6, in hole #7, and out hole #8; then, ties these two ends together at the same handle length as the first one. When you pull up on both handles, the top of the purse will draw closed with accordian-type pleats with holes #1-4 lining up in a row with two "points" sticking out (one between #1 & #2 and one between #3 and #4. Ditto on the other side with holes #5 - 8."

Knitting Needle Question for MATT

2006-09-10T19:45:00.000-05:00

TO MATT: Which knitting needles do you like to use for your Modular Felted Bag?

MATT'S REPLY:

"When I decided to start knitting the prototype that would become the Modular Shell Felted Backpack, I had just bought a pair of Bryspun double-pointed needles. I absolutely love the tip shaping on their needles and have found the degree of friction to be somewhere between metal and bamboo. I don't recall which circular needle I used on the bottom circle, but my favorites include Addi Natura, Addi Turbo, and Crystal Palace Bamboo. More recently, I acquired a set of double-pointed needles from Lantern Moon. The finish on these dpns is phenomenally smooth and silky, and they are my new favorite double-points and were the needles I used on the most recent backpack."

2 Tips

2006-09-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

1. Use a post-it note to mark what line you are on in the pattern.

2. Re-write the basic pattern for ONE MODULE on a separate piece of paper. I color coded it ----the lines for MC and CC---- and I laminated it. This way, you only have to carry and refer to one short page for all the knitting, (until the last tier), and you can easily keep track of your place.

Online Pattern Support

2006-09-05T18:37:00.000-05:00

Greetings everyone.

I strongly suggest that you print out the supplemental instructions and photos from the

Hyphen Boy website

CLICK HERE

Click on "Pattern Support" on the left side under the title, "Modular Felted Backpack", listed under the category, "Patterns"

You will also find the designer's email address and you can email him

questions directly.

He's already answered several questions for me so please feel free to contact him.

P.S. Stay tuned and check back often !!!

I started today.

2006-09-04T22:31:00.000-05:00

I did start on the drive from rural Madrid, Iowa (Mad-rid not like we think it should be) to Ames to see dear son, before the long drive home. Only I will be going to the frog pond and I barely got started! I put it aside as I knew I had to frog and the sock wanted done on the trip home.

I have a few questions though. I can p2tog and ktbl. Yet when I try to do the p2tog-tbl (I left the pattern up stairs when I came down, I hope I got that right.) I end up with a yo that does not belong there. Bringing the yarn to the other side changed the stitch. Has any one else had trouble with that. How are you doing that.

Next thing was in row 17 or 19 I wonder if there is a symbol missing? You have (YO) 2 it did not say to K or P. Like I said I am trying to work from memory as I left the pattern up stairs and am determined to get to bed early as we start school in the morning here. I will get this right some how but right now I am not sure how.

Tier 4

2006-08-31T19:37:00.000-05:00

Just dropping by to show everyone my progress starting Tier 4.

I'm really enjoying this pattern and the way my colors look.

I am making the small version with 5 skeins of Noro Kureyon

(color #165),

1 single skein of Cascade 220 Black,

and 1 single skein Cascade 220 Turquoise

****************************

I am using the Noro as my CC,

Black Cascade 220 as MC in odd # tiers,
and Turquoise Cascade 220 as MC in even # tiers.

From, JUDY

http://waldenknits.blogspot.com

Shells Ahoy!

2006-08-30T13:57:00.000-05:00

Hi, my first shells are coming along nicely, and I love knitting them! It's great to take a break from whatever and knit a couple shell modules :) Ahhhh, soothing!

Upon inspection, however, I noticed consistently tight edges along the color changes/ striping, so I frogged everything and re-knit the first few. That's right, frog 'em! To me there's no choice about it, the pieces must be re-knit since there is absolutely nothing worse than a missed improvement opportunity. Frog is my middle name: Petunia Frog Honeysuckle!

here are the first 2 shells, now re-knit with equally stretchy sides:

the phone handset is shown for size reference, it measures 6.5" long without the antennae, and the shells measure 5" x 7" at the widest points. They are so beautiful.

(Again, these are bulky wools, knit on 10.5US bamboo double point needles.)

my pattern arrived

2006-08-27T23:43:00.000-05:00

On Saturday the mail man brought me a large yellow envelope from NeedleWorks, Inc., it had my pattern in it for this bag. =-) I want to get yarn(s) picked out for the colors.

However, I had been waiting since March of 2005 to make the "My Constant Companion" bag. I just got the hanks wound into balls the first Monday of August 2006. That is what had stopped me starting it earlier. I frogged it after I had knitted 440 yards +, likely 550 yards or so of Cascade 220 for it. I am past where I frogged it by and inch now. I am plugging away at it having used almost 660 yards of yarn so far. With the finish line not in sight. This is not a cary around project as the plastic yarn bag has wholes after this long. I am not going to risk loosing anything anywhere but in this house on it. My current socks are traveling with me wherever.

I am hoping my exchange partner wants a backpack style bag as this is what I will make her. If not it will go right behind her request. I hope to be casting on the first tier soon. I am debating making the Garterlac Dishcloth as I have never done entraloc before. This bag was screaming make me to me.

Another Joiner

2006-08-27T17:13:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody!
I'm knitting the bulky version using Cascade Ecological Wool #8095, a dark brown-charcoal, and Noro Big Kureyon #17, reds with lots of colorful variegations.
I heard about this KAL from Judy at YahooGroups Felted Bag KAL, thanks Judy!!
~Jules

4 Color Options from MATT, our designer

2006-08-20T20:13:00.000-05:00

Judy writes: "Dear Matt, I would like to use Noro Kureyon and 2 corresponding colors of Cascade 220. What do you suggest for my color scheme?"

Matt's reply:

Option 1: If you have enough Kureyon, you can use it as the main color throughout with a single solid used as the contrasting color throughout.

Option 2: If you have enough Kureyon, you can use it as the main color throughout, using one solid color as the contrasting color in odd-numbered tiers and the other solid color as the contrasting color throughout.

Option 3: Use a single solid color as the main color throughout and use the Kureyon as the contrasting color throughout (one difference between #1/#2 and #3 is the relative amounts of yarn used, with the MC taking more than the CC; another difference is that the slow color changes of the Kureyon mean the the adjacent modules will have contrasting colors with pronounced module definition with #1/#2 and less with #3).

Option 4: Use one solid color as the MC on odd-numbered tiers and another solid color as the MC on even-numbered tiers, using Kureyon as the CC throughout. This option has the greater module definition of #1 and #2 but uses less Kureyon.

"Thank you Matt. I will use Option 4. I'm using Noro Kureyon Color 165 as my CC, Cascade 220 Color Black in odd tiers, and Cascade 220 Turquoise in even tiers. Size 8 needles. From, Judy

Where to find the pattern

2006-08-17T17:23:00.000-05:00

Two fellow members have found the pattern here:

needleworksinc@msn.com

http://www.cu-needleworks.com

217-352-1340

--------------------------------------------------------

Also received this from Kara,

"You can call Needleworks and they'll send the pattern out to you. They shouldn't run out of patterns because it is the home base of the designer"

--------------------------------------------------------

On 8-17-06 Ang W writes that One Fine Yarn has the pattern back in stock.

I am having trouble finding the pattern.

2006-08-11T11:54:00.000-05:00

I emailed Amy at the almost local yarn shop. She sent me back that that is a pattern she does not carry. =-( If I can find the name of the bead/yarn shop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and get there, I'll try that. Any other suggestions for where to get it.

WELCOME

2006-08-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

I have started this KAL blog for knitters making the

HYPHEN BOY MODULAR FELTED BACK

You can see photos of this amazing bag,

find pattern support and detailed pictures for each step -- PLUS

learn more about the designer,

Matthew Hesson-McInnis

here:

HYPHEN BOY MODULAR FELTED BACKPACK

There is also a LINK to our KAL on the official website !!!

PLEASE JOIN

send an email to:

smiledr710 - at - gmail - dot - com

(that's the number zero not the letter O --- not clickable to avoid spam)

and I will send you an INVITATION TO JOIN !!

STAY TUNED AND CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR TIPS, INSPIRATION, and MORE

including an EXCLUSIVE interview with Matthew

MEMBERS: Please post photos of your project, your progress, any questions, comments, suggestions, and remember to list the yarns you're using for your bag

here on our KAL blog.