Final Notes:
Measurements for bag are: 21” across the bottom, 14” across the ribbed top, and 12” deep. Can’t wait to find an awesome pair of wooden handles to attach to the top and then I have a very cool knitting bag. :) The doubled DK ends up adding much strength to the bag.

For earlier notes on the journey of this project from sweater to bag:

May 2015 - because I’m using a DK instead of a worsted, I have no idea how this is going to work. I did knit a gauge and it was a bit smaller, so I’m knitting a size up. I started with a size closer to what I’d actually be, but after casting on and knitting the ribbing, I was skeptical that it would fit around my waist. I tore it out and started over with the larger size and hope that it will now progress fine. Taking a break after finishing ribbing to work through the rest of spring and summer on my Christmas presents, but will get back to it soon!

Sept 2015 - back on it the last couple of months, still working on other projects, but doing this as I can and trying to keep track of the number of skeins I’m using as well.

Nov 2015 - I had over 12” knitted on this and just decided I did not like how it was turning out. The DK was causing me to knit way more rows than I would have with a worsted weight yarn, and I had added a bunch of stitches and was worried about figuring out the decreases and arm matching. So with much heartbreak, I tore it all out. I am now casting back on with the yarn held double, which inevitably puts me over gauge, but should make the sweater knit up quite a bit faster! I’ll have lots of time while flying internationally this month to knit on it.

Dec 2015 - With the close of the year it is time to take an honest look at this sweater, which I worked on for much of 2015. It has been a learning experience and it is time to admit that I have learned the hard way. This sweater is a failure, but not a complete failure. It has taught me a number of good points:
1) Yarn weight and gauge matters. Yep, this should be a no-brainer, but even though I swatched and adjusted both single and double-ply, I ended up with disaster. I don’t think I’ll be subbing yarn of different weights for awhile!
2) Stubbornly continuing on even after realizing the sweater is not turning out well will only result in further heartbreak when it’s time to tear it out.
3) Starting over is not the end of the world. There are so many exciting patterns out there and choosing a new one for this yarn will be so much fun!

Dec 31 Update:
I do not have the heart to rip out all the cabling again. It is too beautiful and represents too much work, especially when I dragged it and all the yarn all the way from Spain to Chicago to Atlanta to Washington and back so I could work on it over my vacation (never again, small projects only from now on for traveling). I will instead convert what I have so far into a secondary project, such as a bag or cowl or something. We’ll see. But I’m not ripping it out (and partly because I’m terrified of how to deal with ripping out two strands at the same time).

Jan 1 - After requesting many opinions the one suggestion I liked best was to turn this into a bag. I seamed it up from where I was at (Row 10 of my third repeat through the cabling chart) using the Kitchener method. I’ll wash it up and then wait until I can find just the right handles to complete it.