I fell in love with Meema’s Marsupial Tote from SnB the first time I saw it.  I especially loved the little attached pouch!  I knew I’d get around to it one day, and it’s finally done.  It seemed like the world had conspired against this bag from the start - needle problems, lack of time, and the bag even very nearly completed once before being ripped completely out.

I re-learned one big lesson with this bag - lifelines - because trying to tink a right twist is nearly impossible.  I could never get the stitches back on the needle right.  I also used a cable cast-on for the handle stitches rather than the backward loop it called for, because the backward loop left me so much give in the stitches, I was afraid the handles just wouldn’t be strong enough.  Oh me of little faith - it felted so much that it probably wouldn’t have mattered, and I’d have had a bag 3 weeks ago.  That’s ok, though, I’m probably going to be overly proud and obnoxious about this bag after all the headaches it caused me!  And since I dyed the yarn too, I’ll be sure to mention that too when someone asks if I made my bag.  The last time I said that, a girl at work asked if I was trying to put the Amish out of business!  More socks on the needles, but I don’t know if I’ll tackle those for a few more days.

Oh - and if you decide to knit this bag, here are some things you should know:
1. The pattern calls for about 1/3 more yarn than it really needs.
2. If you follow the directions for the pouch, you will NOT get the color ordered like it is in the picture.
3. The pouch felted down to about 2″ x 2″.  It’s only the size it is because I stretched the heck out of it over and over again.  I wanted my cell phone to fit, and even punched a hole in the top for the antenna.  It fits, but just, and my cell phone is pretty small.  I still have to figure out some sort of tiny closure for that flap.

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