At a garage sale, in a 25 cent box, I found this gauzy Indian skirt. The colours appealed to me and I wondered just how much fibarn (fibre yarn) I could get from it.
I cut away the waistband and opened up the hem, saved the drawstring tie with the little beads, and then began to rip strips the length of the skirt using the technique of clipping in an inch or so, ripping to within an inch or so of the other end, clipping in an inch or so another width along (about an inch or so), ripping to within an inch or so….etc.
This is how much fibarn I had from the entire skirt which seems a bit piddly when I look at it now but I think it is the angle of the camera because the rock holding the wind wheel is a good size. And that is a handmade (anonymous carver; yes, garage sale) crochet hook larger than a G.
I planned to make a flat base and then when I was nearing the end of the ball bring it up a few rounds and make a shallow basket for a cat.
However I then came across Laughing Purple's easy peasy bag and used that method, starting with an eight inch by three inch base because this felt like it would suit the dimension with the amount of fibarn.
Then, as I was crocheting up the sides and it looked like I would have a bag about six inches deep, I was also reading Dolled up for Murder by Deb Baker where one of the characters trains little dogs to be purse dogs. Well, doggone, or something similar, I thought – I am making a pooch purse. Not that I would carry a dog in a purse – it was the dimensions that suggested it and it made me chuckle.
Then, I began to look for a small dog to photograph in the purse. Asked friends. Cut my eyes to any petite dog passing on the street but none seemed teeny enough. Then at a garage sale yesterday – a chihuahua.
Is he not perfect. Quiet, well behaved. Fits nicely in the bag. Seems quite content to share space with my glasses and cell phone and camera and wallet.
I crocheted two handles and criss-crossed them at either end of the bag and then threaded the drawstring from the skirt into the top of the purse.
Now I know how much fibarn is in a skirt!
Comments
4 responses to “Pooch Purse”
Karen, you are so inventive with your use of old clothing. I love the pooch purse. I just read a book where one of the characters trained purse dogs. It was Goodbye Dolly by the same author you mentioned. I’ll have to look for the one you had the next time I’m at the library.
thanks for linking to me Karen 🙂
What a gorgeous skirt… I wouldn’t have been able to cut that one up… I would have had to add it to my wardrobe
Morning Crafty Yes, I am now on the lookout for Goodbye Dolly at the library. Esther sent me a photo of an old school desk used in the garden and I thought it looked familiar….yesterday at one of our knit cafe’s she told me it was yours and then I realized I’d seen it on your site. Small world!
Hello Laughing My hesitation in cutting up the skirt was that someone else could have enjoyed it as a skirt – which is why I like it when the garment is ‘damaged’ and then I feel I truly ‘rescue’ it. Pooch purse was well received at our knit cafe yesterday and pooch was named “Daisy.” Today she will make her appearance in public and that should lead to some interesting conversations. I love wearable art for this aspect. Still working away at the easy peasy bag in rope – a bit hard on the hands so doing a bit at a time.