Laura Irwin

If you knit or crochet on Planet Earth then you’ve seen the cover of Bag Style. If you haven’t, then shame on your local yarn shop for not showcasing it! I didn’t even have to skim the pattern to know that I would knit this bag for my winter purse. The name sealed the deal…The Formal Boot Bag. I had just dug out my boots for winter wear, and have enough of them to know that this was just the companion they needed. This book will solve thousands of winter purse problems not only for the vegan who doesn’t care to carry leather, but for all woman who need a unique carrying case. You know that your purse says everything about you…the color, the shape, the size, the stitch all clue us in on who you are, what you fancy, whether you carry the kitchen sink or make do with chap stick and credit cards! Being a woman of accessories I will eventually knit more bags than I can use (is that even possible?) because of this book. Thank you Ann Budd and Pam Allen for another Style book to shake things up in the world of knitting!

Drum roll please……..from the cover of Bag Style

Today I have the pleasure of bringing you the master mind behind the Formal Boot Bag. Designer Laura Irwin has given us time out of her busy schedule for a little Q&A with SteeleWool and its readers!

Q: What was the inspiration behind your Formal Boot Bag design?
A: I think it was military/1930s feel- fancy simple low budget.

Q: What was running through your head (and fingers!) when Ann and Pam
came to you with their book idea, asking for your design input?
A: Well, I just submitted a design, (if you go to the Interweave Knits
website, there’s all the info about submitting your work). I actually
submitted two designs, and they chose the Boot Bag. When they told me
it was going to be on the cover I pretty much freaked out- That’s an
unbelievable honor.  It’s still weird thinking about it, even weirder
seeing it.

Q: What was it like collaborating with the other designers?
A: For this project I didn’t really collaborate with anyone. They
chose my design and I knit it and wrote the pattern for it. I don’t
know any of the other designers- but think it’s a great collection of
patterns…really appealing to a wide audience.

Q: Besides your own what were some of your favorite bags from the book?
A: I liked the Hemp Market Bag, and the Crochet Needle Bag a lot!

Q: How did you get started knitting?
A: I taught myself how to cast on and the knit stitch, and did that for
a while until I couldn’t stand the way garter stitch looked. Then
I asked someone working in my neighborhood yarn store how to purl…and
the rest is history! No, actually about a year and a half later got a
job at a yarn store where I ended up learning so much, and I’m still
learning!

Q: What was your very first project?
A: I made these really weird hats that I would sew together with my
sewing machine, because I didn’t know or understand the basic
construction of a hat. They were pretty awful.

Q: What turned you on to knitting and felting bags in particular?
A: Felting is so awesome. I think there’s so much potential…still.
Creating a different stable fabric by just knitting and washing is
really satisfying. Especially when you’re calculations work, and you
get what you intended!  I think combining bag making and felting is
just a practical application of technique.

Q: I’ve always heard that knitters don’t crochet and that crocheters don’t knit.
A: Really? I think you get the most out of knowing something about both.
They’re happiest when they are used together.

Q: Do you crochet as well?
A: Yeah- I’m a crazy single and double crocheter.

Q: What ’s in the works for 2008?
A: My First Knitting Book! Fall 2008! Whoo Hoo!

Thank you so much, Laura for sharing your knitting stories with us here at SteeleWool. We’ll all look for your new book to be in 2008!

Check out Laura Irwin at Precious!