We have finished the Ulitmate.  The only KnitPack you will ever need.  Having done a little market research, thanks to the friends at Bliss Yarns who are always willing to give a helpful opinion, and my dear friend in Chattanooga who was willing to see what others (her knitting groups, yes plural) had to say, we have learned a lot about the Ultimate and fret not we are listening.  That being said you would probably be pleased to know that since March is National Craft Month, we are going to be having a sale in the Etsy store.  However, that is another blogpost for another time….check back soon.

While at the fabulous Bliss Yarns, we were asked, nay, challenged to compete with a big wig in the knitting organization industry.  I won’t mention any names, but this company, in my opinion is our only competion, and we have her beat HANDS DOWN!  We have listened to what others have to say about the problems in those products and have fixed them.  But I digress,

The challenge, create a bag that is ideal for small project storage and organization, say for a pair of socks.  The catch was that, get this it wasn’t lined.  There were raw edges everywhere.  For those of you out there who don’t sew, you need to know that that is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination.  I start thinking and talking to mom and low and behold we decide that raw edges are just so NOT erin.lane.

After a Sunday, by the way, coupon commotion is going on pretty much all month at JoAnn’s, spent shopping at our favorite craft store, see previous, we have to track down an essential to our sewing party.  For this item, we have to drive into Franklin from Murfreesboro which takes at least 30 minutes.  We start talking about the possibilities about how to make said Challenge Bag.  We are sure we have it down, we know the dimensions, and we are thrilled to get home and get started.

When we arrive home, we make dinner, and get started.  It was a little slow going, but we did come up with something totally and completely GENIUS!  Our new little drawstring project bag solves all the problems generally “dealt with” from other project bags.  Not to mention it is totally and completely ADORABLE!

This is the answer to the challenge.  It is a roomy 12 inches X 12 inches.  It is perfect for shawls or socks, or hats.  Things you wouldn’t want to get picked or tossed about.  However, the best part is that this bag is completely lined in 100% unbleached cotton fabric.  It is neat and tidy inside to make sure that your yarn or project doesn’t pick up any extra threads from fraying raw edges.  It also means that you can wash this bag if need be, other bags, where you see the raw edges, I would be careful as the agitation of your washing machine could make it fray.  Icky.

Also, as with all erin.lane products, because we are knitters we think like knitters.  I can say with a good deal of certitude that I would not want my sock needle to poke through a drawstring bag possibly pushing my patterned sock off the needles and throwing off my row count and making my life a living nightmare.   Because of this, we actually tested to see if you can push a sock needle though out bag as apposed to the people we were challenged to “give a run for her money.”  It is extremely hard to poke a sock needle though our bag, not so much with the unlined bag that we are challenged to create.

Also, because we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE grosgrain ribbon, we looked at the problem with the drawstring coming open. Solution: grosgrain ribbon.  We couldn’t just let the grosgrain be all black with nothing else to jazz up the fabric, so we also added the colored grosgrain ribbon on exterior.  With that epiphany we wanted to sew one up immediately.  I have to say, I think it was a total success.  I have to say I am happy with the way it has worked out.

I think the part I like best is the fact that it is completely lined.  It really helps you see your project no matter what color it is.  I have to say it was definitely a success.  Not to mention I think it is a way better designed bag than the competition.  Also, I have to say that I would be lieing if I said I would be happy carrying the other bag as apposed to this one.  It really comes down to the fact that I don’t want to make a bag or needle case that I wouldn’t carry or buy myself.