In the picturesque town of San Juan Bautista, about an hour's drive from here, is one of the 21 California missions which is now a State Park. Each year, the town has a festival called "Early Days" which includes an assortment of characters from the past. San Juan invites visitors to "meet the people of early California". There will be a Victorian ball, horse-drawn wagon rides, old-fashioned sodas and card games in the saloon, craft and cooking demonstrations and an encampment of mountain men.
I will have my loom and be part of the demonstrations, of course. I didn't get a lot of things woven in preparation for this event, but here are a few things I finished this week with the yarns I acquired last week at the weavers' guild swap.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bbx68DfiUr0/TBeaEcpmBmI/AAAAAAAAA6g/NozDTsAW6zU/s400/San+Juan+2010+009.jpg)
And I have completed the first blanket bag! Last summer I purchased two wool blankets for the purpose of cutting them up and making bags. I washed and dried them twice and they produced a great, thick felted wool fabric. A few weeks ago, my friend Elise helped me make the pattern and cut and sew the first few bags.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bbx68DfiUr0/TBebHiO-6ZI/AAAAAAAAA6o/FdxhWNTbP_4/s400/San+Juan+2010+017.jpg)
I did a blanket stitch around the flap with black wool and added a strap. The bag looked a little plain and I had some leftovers from the strap, so I added a trim piece on the front. When I stitched this trim down, I folded it at top and bottom and left a little open "tube" on each end.
The top one then became a way for me to add a twisted cord to fasten over the button.
The bottom one will allow the owner to tie something on if he/she wishes.
The silver button is hand formed and decorated by my friend Larry.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bbx68DfiUr0/TBebQvTQLZI/AAAAAAAAA6w/S8e4xxyRVEU/s320/San+Juan+2010+015.jpg)
Pretty! I've never been to San Juan Bautista for an event, just on regular days when it's pretty sleepy. Would love to hear how it goes when you get back!
ReplyDeleteoooh, pretty. I love the middle band of the three in the top picture :)
ReplyDeleteMrs T- I'll give you a full report.
ReplyDeleteSarah- Thanks. Even the most simple patterns can be interesting. I love the strong colors of the bottom one, myself.
The band down the front of the bag makes the whole thing pop! Beautiful.
ReplyDelete