What a difference a week makes

Leslie Stahlhut

Last week at this time, I was nearly, but not quite, done with my 2012 North Carolina State Fair project and if the last seven days have reminded me of anything, it is this: what a difference a week makes.

Just seven days agoI had run out of daylight, but still had work to do.

I set myself up at my breakfast/crochet counter:

Working by lamplight in the kitchen on a pet-hair free surface
Working by lamplight in the kitchen on a pet-hair free surface

and worked through the night.

Apparently that work paid off as a search of the 2012 North Carolina State Fair winner’s search shows that my entry this year got first place in its category.

But, I have, at this point, in many ways, moved on to what is next, and what is next for me is to finish the future felted fat bag:

I gather two ends of the future felted crochet fat bag to-be
I gather two ends of the future felted crochet fat bag to-be

but before I do that, I am working out some design questions I had with a more forgiving, unfelted version.

Over the weekend I finished crocheting the body of the bag:

The body of the future unfelted crochet fat bag to-be
The body of the future unfelted crochet fat bag to-be

as well as six curlicues:

Six hyperbolic crochet curlicues for a tassel
Six hyperbolic crochet curlicues for a tassel

Next, I went to Wish Upon a Quilt where (with the help of a woman who works there named Christine) I tracked down a coordinating fabric that I think suits the project perfectly:

The fabric for the lining of a crochet bag with the six crochet curlicues
The fabric for the lining of a crochet bag with the six crochet curlicues

After washing and drying the fabric, I cut it to the correct size to line the fat bag to-be:

The lining for the future crochet fat bag, ready to be sewn into the fat bag to-be
The lining for the future crochet fat bag, ready to be sewn into the fat bag to-be

and sewed it in:

The future crochet fat bag with the lining sewn in
The future crochet fat bag with the lining sewn in

Tomorrow, I will begin working on gathering the edges of the future fat bag and making the straps and a tassel, and if I have the crochet wind at my back, maybe, just maybe, the future fat bag will be transformed into simply “a fat bag,” — one ready for whatever adventure awaits, because, as I have learned, you never know what difference a week makes.

15 thoughts on “What a difference a week makes”

  2. Congrats on first place! I would be surprised if it didn’t win :-). Can’t wait to see the finished felted fat bag.

  4. I knew you were going to win!!! Congratulations, you deserve it!!!

    I can’t wait to see the felted fat bag. It looks like something I might be able to do. 🙂

  7. Congratulation,
    WooHoo, I was sure you would win this year, but then I think you should every year, but then I love your designs.
    Hugs Audra
    6craftyacres

  9. Congratulations! It was so much fun following your crochet adventure with this BEAUTIFUL creation, (thanks). So happy your efforts were acknowledged with first place.

  10. Very many congratulations Leslie on your great achievement. I always knew your quilt afghan was a winner.

  12. Congratulations on FIRST PLACE! I would have been disappointed in the judges if they had been blind again this year. Your work was awesome!

  14. (I start my day with your blog)

    I knew you were going to win! You put nine million hours into this project and documented the whole thing! You are amazing!

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