Camera Bag

I love my camera. I really do. It's an Olympus Pen. The problem is, I have never been able to find a case to keep it safe on my adventures.

So here's what I did.

I tore apart an old camera bag and used the padding to make a section inside.

The trim is some kind of faux leather that I hand-stitched all the way around. The trim is the reason this project sat in the dreaded basket of unfinished things.






The straps (although I would have preferred a more sturdy material) are convertible and adjustable. If I pull them from the side, I can wear it as a backpack, but if I pull the strap from the top, I can use it as a messenger bag.




I used it on a recent trip to Arizona and it was great. As a backpack it was perfect for some hiking, and as a messenger it was great to take out around town.

It's Magic!

Knitting is a great way to pass time that I would otherwise spend twiddling my thumbs. Oil changes, doctor's visits, and long car rides are no longer total wastes of my life.

People react to a pair of knitting needles in different ways. Sometimes a get to hear a story about a favorite aunt, sometimes people bemoan their lack of creativity (Total nonsense, by the way. Anyone can be creative, they just need the practice and encouragement), and sometimes they pull out their own needles and show off their current project. Kids are, by far, my favorite though. They have all kinds of questions. When I have the patience, I slow down and show them how it works, but most of the time the answer is simply, "It's magic." I get to call myself a wizard, and the kids get a good giggle. Win-win.

However, there is one problem.

My purse is generally a mess.

I could carry a bag just for the knitting I guess, but then I would be lugging around two, separate but equally messy, bags. Hello, crazy bag lady.

So, here's the solution: a bag that I can toss in whatever purse I'm already carrying, without fear of lost stitches or sunglasses getting stuck in the middle of a row.

Pretty simple design. It's about 11" square, lined with muslin, zipper closure, and one outside pocket (handy for storing a copy of the pattern).

I wanted the embroidery to be messy, so I used a straight stitch back and forth.

I would have like a bigger opening, but I happened to have a 7" zipper laying around and couldn't justify buying a new one.

I love it. My knitting is now safe from errant sunglasses and lost stitches. Plus, it makes it slightly easier to switch purses.