Madame Purl has a mother. I know shocking, but true.

Today Monsieur Purl had a few errands that I knew would take some time, so I asked to be dropped off at the JoAnn Fabrics in the same shopping center. He took about 45 minutes came in and headed to the Halloween section and entertained himself for awhile. Actually he bought more stuff in JoAnn’s than I did. (lol) I picked out a few Simplicity bag patterns, because they were $1.99 and like most knitters – I’m a bag ho. Plus, they looked simple enough. After that, I picked out a bag and started to pick out some Quarter Flats for the construction. I’m having a lot of confidence in myself right now – because the change purse I gave Bev my secret pal came out so good. When we arrived home, Madame Purl’s mother called. Here is how our conversation went…

Mme Purl – “I bought a few simplicity patterns and picked out some Quarter Flats for it.”

Mother – “Don’t you remember the last sewing project you totally F-up’ed. I’m still living with the horrible results.” (I was on an extended visit with her and it was just a little needle roll.)

Mme Purl – (laughing) “Yes, I remember but I think this is easy. I can do it.”

Mother – “Just send it to me and I’ll sew it up for you. Stick with the knitting, you’re good at knitting.”

My mother is quite blunt. My friends will tell you I am too – I don’t mean to be, but you see what I’m used too. Anyway, I’ve learned over many, many years that it is really no use arguing with her over dumb stuff like this. So I will send it to her, but I also went back to the store and bought the same patterns and new fabric and will try a different model. This way if I ever get the bag back from her, I will have two.

I think that she really doesn’t have the time. She is an excellent, professional sewer, but I never get anything done because she is really too busy. I figure in a year I will get it back – maybe. If I get it sooner, I will let you know.

After a conversation with Monsieur Purl he agreed that I should try it again too. If I gave up everytime I had a failure, I would have never learned to knit, let alone spin. Those results were disastrous. I think I threw an entire 8 ounces away before I got anything that even remotely looked like yarn. Heck, I would never eat if I gave up when things failed – see yesterday’s post for that oops.

So what did I buy? 

Here are the three patterns altogether… The one on the left I’m making and the one on the right Mother is making.

These are the close ups – I’m making the bag on the left – I arranged the squares as follows – left to right – outside, inside, contrast.

Here is the one Mother is making. The one on the right as well -same with the squares, but in this one, one of the contrasts is the inside fabric too. So it’s outside, inside, and contrast.

Anyway, the way I see it is everyone will be happy. She will be happy she is helping me, I will be happy in double time because I will have a homemade bag from my Mother in fabrics I picked out and get to make one on my own to see if I can really do it. She never comes to visit me, so she will never see it – I’ll take her bag when I go to visit her. Sneaky I know, but it keeps everyone happy.

Anyway – Happy Fall. Let the knitting begin… I’m signed up to do the Zimmermania and I’m hoping to get swatched really soon.