Sophie Bag With Beaded Handles, Start to Finish - PART III

Now comes the part you've all been waiting for!  This has been like a damn television mini-series.  (I promise to never be so boring in the future.)  To think, you could have been watching the World Darts Championships on BBC Two.  Or snooker. 

Imagine the hushed voices of the sports commentators and a telly camera in my kitchen ceiling:  "And here comes Norma.  She's sizing up the situation.  Is she going to use the pointy scissors or the hammer?  All quiet, please....."

ATTACHING THE HARDWARE

These are the tools you will need:

You do not need one of these sheepy mugs, but I feel certain it would help.  Just don't accidentally hit it with your hammer.  Kindly notice how nicely it complements what I am wearing in the photo.  Please also observe that I am not wearing Plain Vanilla.  This is most definitely noteworthy and rare. 

1.  Decide where you want to place the grommets or eyelets.

2.  Hold one half of the grommet in place, take a knitting needle and poke through the hole, through both thicknesses of the fabric, to line up the holes. 

3.  Using very sharp scissors (I use spring-action ones - they are the coolest things EVER!), poke and twist through hole, ONE THICKNESS OF THE FABRIC AT A TIME, making it a bit larger, then snip away very small bits of fabric to make a hole through which the bottom portion of the grommet/eyelet can just barely fit. BE CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE THE HOLE TOO BIG.  IF YOU DO, THERE IS NO REPAIRING IT WITHOUT GETTING LARGER GROMMETS.

    Nice little hole made.

4.  Place bottom of eyelet through hole, and place top piece over it.  Squeeze together and hold in place.

5.  Place eyelet tool over top portion and hammer sharply a few times.  Be careful to move other fabric out of the way, and hammer on a cutting board or some other surface so as not to damage surfaces below.

All done.

6.  Repeat for other three eyelets -- one behind the one you just finished, and two on the other side of the bag.

7.  Position D-shank over two eyelets, place end rings of two handles over the D-shank.  Screw in rod, adding a small drop of glue before tightening with a tiny screwdriver (from an eyeglass repair kit).

We're done!

Isn't she beautiful?  Is it bad that this was intended as a gift, but now I'm keeping it for myself?  You know what I've learned about myself recently?  My munificence only extends so far. 

But in the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that I did some creative set work for my photography.  In order to get this bag to stand up, I had to fill it with light cotton kitchen towels.  This is what it looks like without the towels: 

But don't worry.  This is what it looks like with my wallet, cell phone, sunglasses and the few other items I would normally be carrying in it:

So everything is ok, albeit a little floppy.  But remember the pink bags?  (see my 2004 gallery)  They stood up all on their own, real perky-like.  I wish this one did, too, but there you have it. 

AND A WORD ABOUT CLOSURES:  This bag could use a closure, but I don't feel it's necessary, and unless I could find just the right thing, I feel it would detract from its appearance.  Magnetic closures are a no-go because they erase credit cards.  A large snap might be ok, but it would have to be covered with a decorative button on both sides, otherwise it would be hideous.  The bag is designed well, so it doesn't really gap open, and it's wider on the bottom than the top, so things would not necessarily fall out.  Kim once did one with a neat shank-style button, and I might consider that with a nice piece of leather or something to hook it shut.  A snap closure would also work if the bag were lined and the snap were placed only in the lining.  I think I will experiment with that a little bit.  For this particular bag, being a bit floppy, the extra fabric might be a plus for adding body, as well.  I have a shop nearby that sells end-runs and seconds of upholstery fabric, and if I could find something really really cool that matched the colors of this bag, how great would that be?! The only hitch will be that I'm really bad with a sewing machine, and I haven't a clue how I would secure the lining to the inside of the bag.  I feel certain that I would fuck it up.  I think this is a job for .....Super Eggplant! Of course you know I will keep you informed! 

Wow!  This story even had a surprise ending and a super hero!  See?  I told you it was going to be exciting!  Thank you for coming to my show.  Please exit single-file and mind the gap....form an orderly queue to pick up a programme on your way out for.... 

Coming Soon:  More About Martin.  Expect a little schmaltz.

Comments

[Stasia]

Thanks for the great tutorial. The Sophie looks great - nice job.

[sandy]

You should have your own show! these entries will go down in google history as the primer for felted purse with handles.
I thank you for sharing all of this.
:)

[Cassie]

I'm sorry. You didn't give a link to the pattern. Can you tell me where to buy it again?

Can I order the grommets from you?

And stop padding your .... you know what.

[Kim]

Sophie is great and the tutorial is even better! One question though?? If those D rings go completely thru the bag from one side to the other on both sides?? How do you get it open enough to cram things in?

[Melanie]

Oy! Don't knock snooker! I have very fond memories of watching snooker matches on TV back when I lived in England. For a while there, my mom and I were completely hooked.
Meanwhile, great tutorial and I love those handles! What great colors!

[Mary Beth]

What are grommets? Where do you buy them? I like your sweater. Where did you get it? Norma, seriously, this is amazing and must have taken you HOURS to put together with all the photos and text! Have you been calling in sick?? I only hope this wins you a best of in 2005 - Best of Tutoritals goes to Norma!

[maggi]

Hi, Norma ~ great tutorial! I knit a Sophie and ran out of yarn, so am planning to add plastic handles and will line the bag, using lining fabric to attach them. It's due for a Mardi Gras auction, so I'll let you (and everyone else!) know how it goes ~

[Lisa in Oregon]

I got totally caught up at the pottery link...wow, what a talented gal!

Oh, yeah. Your bag stuff is okay too. Really.

[Ann]

Thanks for posting the very helpful how-to guide! The bag turned out beautifully. I can see why you're keeping her!

[Alyx]

Well, I've been watching your beaded Sophies for a while now, and this is the final straw. I have to have one. They are so lovely, and just the perfect size for me. I adore them, every last one I have seen. Then you went and wrote out all the instructions. I have no more excuses (please don't mention all of the unfinished things that must become finished before I can start something new, I'll cry).

[Julia]

Hey, Norma, it just occurred to me, that if you add a lining (yes I know that is another step and another skill, but heck, we've already been to the yarn store, the craft store and the Home Depot, what's one little extra trip to the fabric store?), then you could add any closure you want and attach it to the lining - no tell-tale brads on the outside. You would want to anchor the lining to the innerds well at the bottom corners, but hey, what a cool bag, and secure!

[Julia]

Ack! Okay, so I promise to read the entire post before posting again.

[Susan]

Here's how to attached magnetic snaps that won't show through.
Knit two small squares in garter stitch from the same yarn you used for the bag. Felt them when you felt the bag. Attach the magnets to the small felted squares. Sew the squares (with the magnets already attached) into the inside of the bag using a blanket stitch.
Voila.

[Yolanda]

Thank you so much Norma for the Sophie making lessons! You just don't know how much I appreciate it! And what great timing! I just finished a Sophie and was wondering exactly how to attach the handles. Thanks to you, now I do!

[Donna]

Great tutorial and kudos to your photographer too!

[Kristen]

I love the image of your husband doing the voiceover! Cracked me up!

[Nancy]

Thank you so much for the tutorial! Would you believe I was so clueless I originally thought you must have put the eyelets in somehow before felting. In retrospect no wonder I couldn't imagine how that could be done.

[Lauren]

Hey Norma, my boyfriend had some thoughts on the magnetic closure issue which he will now share with you:

"You can definitely use a magnetic closure on a purse without fear of erasing your credit cards. In order for a change to occur in the magnetization of one of the very tiny ferromagnets on the back of your card you have to have a very strong time change in the magnetic field parallel to the magnetic moment of the ferromagnet. In english, you either have to use a VERY powerful magnet or move your card VERY fast next to it in order to destroy the information in the strip."

Isn't he cute? His first (and probably last, unless someone posts something else science-related) comment!

[Beth]

Thank you SO MUCH for the grommet photo-lesson. I've purchased some for my bag-in-progress and can't wait to try it.

[Amy Boogie]

Thanks for the plug :) And you gave such an awesome detailed tutorail. You totally kick ass!

[KarenK]

Well, I've cancelled my Metro pass via one of those magnetic purse closures. Maybe they're much weaker than the credit cards, but it does happen.

[Julie]

Thanks for posting such wonderfully detailed and complete directions!

[Kris]

Have you or can you make your beaded handles and if you can what type of handle materials do you use? ie. how heavy a gage of wire and hardwear etc. Thanks. Kris

[knittingnurse]

Holy Sh** Batman@! That is one FABULOUS bag! I am definitely printing out all this and trying that.