Changed the colorwork chart used in the center of the bag to a design that does not have so many very short floats. Used a design from AS Charts for Color Knitting (reprint).

Eco Wool yarn is classified as bulky, so I used 1 strand per color, on slightly smaller needles.

Leather handles with attached rings, plus hourglass shaped tabs attached with linen thread, from www.homesteadheirlooms.com

Felted in top loading washer. The Eco wool shed heavily. Felted item does have some fibers sticking out of surface.

Shaping tip: slightly stretched felted bag while still wet over a plastic covered cardboard box. Box was covered with a plastic garbage bag, then felted bag was slipped over that for shaping. Allowed felted wool to completely dry prior to removal from box.

Tacked heavy weight sew-in interfacing to the inside of the bag using black sewing thread. 2 rectangular pieces of interfacing were used, one for each long side of the bag in the width between the handle placement, and extended from the bottom to about 1 inch below the top of the bag. The interfacing is not visible when finished, as it is sandwiched between the wool exterior and the lining. Plastic canvas was cut to fit the bottom of the bag, also placed between the wool and the lining. This helps the bag to keep it’s shape, to “stand up” on it’s own. Does not appear to be overly stiff. Satisfied with this technique.

Leather handles attached: Using a backstitch to sew on the “hourglass” tabs required more waxed linen thread than is supplied. Note: after discussion with one of the “Homestead Heirloom” handle ladies, she explained how I can achieve the same visual stitch effect with less thread (thank you!): use running stitch in one direction, then reverse direction to fill in alternate stitches. Start by sewing across top of tab to anchor tab position.

Lined: Two way zipper closure at top of bag, internal phone pockets. Light gray “near solid” lining allows contents of bag to be more visible than if a print is used. The light gray cotton fabric has a “hand dyed” look, which appears rather blotchy in my photo, but looks smoother in person.

12.5.2012 Bag sold to highest bidder in charity auction at a price of $235.00. The winning bidder said it was “a bargain” at that price. :-)