It’s Awl Out Of The Bag!

This project got started last summer when I was on holiday – and all through the winter has languished, unfinished in a carrier bag. But now everything has come together and at last I can reveal the finished article.

It began when I kept seeing these gorgeous woven straw “French Market Bags” everywhere, particularly in North Norfolk, round places like Holt and Burnham Market. That’s where some rather wealthy folks have their holiday homes, and the shops charge an arm and a leg for the most basic things. Bags like this…

I considered the options – buy one in Norfolk [the cheapest I saw in BM was £28] or zip over to France and pick one up there [but the trip will cost more than £28] or make one. Then I saw this bag on the “Quilt While You’re Ahead” blog – it is crocheted in twine! The pattern is available on the blog [thank you so much, Monica!]

Monica used Nutscene Twine in order to get the pretty colours. I went into Dereham Wilko’s and my friend Ann [she was in Girls’ Brigade with me in the 60’s] served me with a couple of large spools of plain Wilko Jute. I set to and made a bag – trying to follow the pattern.

The first attempt came up in a shape I was not too happy with [must get back to Hookery for some more crochet lessons] but #2 was fine. I wanted to put strap handles on, so I just left four neat buttonholes near the top, rather than making handles in crochet like QWYA. Bob suggested using the leftover red leather from the chair. At this point the project stalled.

Then this summer, back in Burnham Market, Bob spotted this calico Land Girl’'s Bag. The strap was one continuous loop of leather. I liked that.

Bob cut me 4 strips of the red leather and I sewed them [with our new awl]to make a loop 10 feet long!

But what about the lining? I wanted some heavy cotton twill type cloth.

My cousin Gill gave me this lovely Marmite tea-towel a few Christmases back – and I have never been able to bring myself to use it. But it is such a lovely heavy piece of twill cotton – and was exactly the right size to line my bag. Just the deep red edge shows when the bag is loaded, and goes well with the leather.

Here’s the finished article…

The straps thread through the holes and are stitched at the top for extra support. I am really pleased with it – the cost of the twine came to less than £5. And nobody else has one quite like mine.

So next time I am in Holt, if I do bump into Camilla when she is popping into Byfords, I shall feel very chic.[My SIL tells me that the Duchess of Cornwall is quite fond of dining there]