It's not easy growing attractive plants, but when the plants are in full bloom, don't you feel a bit sad snipping off flowers to enjoy indoors? I do, but just a little bit. Flowers are the ultimate luxury.. so taking a little bit of the garden into the house just lifts the spirit. The roses are a David Austin variety and the petals are delicately scented. At ATU, we treasure plants that not just looks good but smells good too.
With the warm weather, it's not always easy to pick up something big and woolly to work with, especially as air-con is not the norm in the UK. So, this little blue cotton bag was made from some left over mercerised cotton, from a bag done in 2003. (Raise your hand if you also tend to keep odd balls of left-over yarns).
I knitted this little bag really tightly so that the dry lavender inside would not come out of the stitches. In the end, I did as Alpaca woman suggested and cut a teabag, filled it with lavendar, sewed it up and stuck it in the bag. This little thing was only 4 inch by 4 inch and used 96 beads. Easy-peasy, and looks nice tucked into presents.
To give you a sense of how big the bag is and to show that I've got flowers from my peony, 2 years in a row....
Of course, photographing a navy bag is rather challenging, so what better colour to photograph it against than the yellow corydalis. This little plant is really pretty but seems to self-seed itself rather liberally in my garden.
Hehehe. Really, this was a garden show-off post. Gorgeous. Me and my tar roof are envious.
Posted by: valentina at July 4, 2005 04:13 PMI love the little bag. I am trying to find information on buying yarn in London for a vist next week. I will be staying at the Thistle Hotel t Victoria Station in London - can you direct me to how to find tht kind of info on line or hoe to find knitters in London- i am a newbie to blogs - this is my fiirst post ever.
thanks..debbbietripp@hotmail.com
Posted by: debbie Tripp at June 25, 2005 04:33 PMSweet sweet little sachet bag... and beautiful peonys and roses. Lucky you to have knit something with a ball of left-overs and you've got flowers too!! :)
Posted by: Laura at June 25, 2005 06:29 AMWhat a pretty bag and a good idea. I'd never heard of using a teabag to hold scents but I'm going to try it. I wondor how it would be to just keep one in a purse for a refreshing whiff = ) now and then. I've got lavender coming on in the garden. I saw your balloon flower in the first pic? Lovely pictures, am enjoying a first time visit.
Posted by: Maggie Ann at June 24, 2005 03:49 AMThe bag is beautiful! What a great idea... I also have lots of left-over yarns too!
Posted by: Peggy at June 24, 2005 12:29 AMPolly your peony is just beautiful they are my favourites. The bag looks lovely. I keep thinking I must do some more knitting with beads and I think you might have set me off. And yes, I too keep odd balls although I have given some to the boys' school recently - is that a stash offence??
The bags and flowers are marvelous!
Posted by: st. carrie at June 22, 2005 07:33 AMVery nice little bag. Raises hand.
Posted by: Kelle at June 22, 2005 03:15 AMthat bag is really cute. good job.
Posted by: nik at June 21, 2005 11:50 PMLove the bag Polly, it is really pretty and a great idea for pressies. Is it one of your own designs? the photos of your flowers are great, you can almost smell the roses.... xx
Posted by: Jan at June 21, 2005 11:34 PMI love the bag, absolutely adorable! What pattern did you use? Such a great idea for a small present.
And as for the Corydalis (thank you, I never knew that was what it is called!), it brings back all sorts of memories and nostalgia. It used to grow in my parents' garden but disappeared a few years ago. I've been looking around for it because I would love to grow it again, but I don't think it's something that you can buy... :(
Posted by: merkuria_lyn at June 21, 2005 09:33 PMThe bag is so beautiful and you have such gorgeous flowers and plants in your garden! Lucky, lucky you!
Posted by: Dani at June 21, 2005 03:42 PMI love the bag - it's very sweet. Another thing to add to the to do list - although I am rapidly running out of lavender in my moth battle...
Posted by: Amelia at June 21, 2005 08:17 AMSuch a creative idea. Sounds a lot fun to knit as well!
Posted by: mimi at June 21, 2005 06:24 AMI love the little bag. It's a great idea. I will have to show my 15 year old daughter. She'll love it. I let her use any of the odd ball yarn in my stash. She just finished several mini sweaters from odd yarn and a cute pattern that she got off of the computer.
Posted by: Diane at June 21, 2005 03:33 AMwhat a sweet little bag! i think the corydalis must love the london clay, it's everywhere in my garden too.
Posted by: anna at June 20, 2005 11:57 PMLove the bag and your peonies and roses!
Me keep odd balls? why would you think that?
p.s. first post from new computer
Posted by: Yvonne at June 20, 2005 11:46 PMI just love your little lavender bag and your flowers are to die for. Anything other than weeds that grow in my garden are considered a great delicacy by the ants and are devoured in a trice!
And I'm raising both hands with regards to the odd balls. I stash them all over the place and forget where.
Posted by: Louise at June 20, 2005 11:45 PMThat bag is gorgeous! I have yet to knit with beads...and would love to give it a shot.
I, too, bemoan the plethora of roses that look beautiful but have almost no scent. I like to put my face right in the flowers...
I miss having a garden, so thanks for letting me live vicariously through yours. Too bad there's no such thing as SmellNet :-)
Posted by: Lee Ann at June 20, 2005 11:42 PMWhat a cute bag Polly, and a great idea from AW to stuff a teabag. Love the flowers too!
Dawn:)
Beautiful and so small! I'm raising my hand as one who keeps odd balls. Now I know what to do with them.
Posted by: Mary at June 20, 2005 11:31 PMWhat a lovely idea. It makes a perfect little gift and it is an ingenuous way to use left over yarn.
Posted by: francoise at June 20, 2005 10:47 PM