# Knitting Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317 "2005-08-09T18:37:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/1 "2005-08-09T18:37:16Z")
Hi - I recently bought some ribbon “yarn”, just cause it was so pretty. Well, now I’m looking for suggestions on what to make with it. A little bag perhaps? I’m not good at making up a pattern as I go along so any help/ideas from you knitting dopers - I know you’re out there; I’ve lurked your threads - would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/2 "2005-08-09T18:42:39Z")
Scarves are the all-purpose answer to novelty yarns… but if you want to make a bag, maybe try the Booga Bag (pattern free–google it) or find a pattern on the Lion Brand website. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/3 "2005-08-09T19:10:23Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Scarves are the all-purpose answer to novelty yarns… but if you want to make a bag, maybe try the Booga Bag (pattern free–google it) or find a pattern on the Lion Brand website. Booga Bag would be good, but you should probably skip the felting part. I don’t think most ribbon yarns felt. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/4 "2005-08-09T20:26:13Z")
Knitting bags using narrow strips of fabric[quarter to half-inch wide] is/was very poplular. Don’t see why you couldn’t use your ribbon. You won’t get the frayed look, since ribbons almost always have finished edges. You’ll need an awful lot though. I hefted one of them once, and they’re heavier than they look. The bags I’ve seen have dowels at the top edges to provide a bit of stability. You might be able to dispense with those if you knit fairly tightly, or if you make a round one. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/5 "2005-08-09T21:59:15Z")
I don’t think I’d recommend the booga bag pattern for ribbon yarn; it’s not knit densely enough for the bag to support itself. If it’s a varicolored ribbon yarn, I’d recommend the Multidirectional Diagonal scarf available here: [http://douma.net/Karen/knitting/Accessory-Scarves/Multidirectional\_Diagonal\_Scarf.htm](http://douma.net/Karen/knitting/Accessory-Scarves/Multidirectional_Diagonal_Scarf.htm) Or try knitty ([http://www.knitty.com/](http://www.knitty.com/)) and see if any of the bag patterns there appeal to you. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/6 "2005-08-10T00:52:46Z")
What timing! I was just reading “Ribbon Knits” by Judi Alweil and planning how to alter her Cropped T-Shirt pattern to longer sleeves and longer length! The book was published in 1998 but the designs are fairly classic and a lot for beginners…check your library for a copy (except the library in my town, because I’m not returning this for a while) She has a cute drawstring bag pattern that only takes 200 yds of ribbon yarn, and it looks very easy. A scarf or shawl would ork up quick. I plan to make this t-shirt in a multi-colred ribbon to wear under a jacket this fall. My Yarn Of The Month selections came the other day and one is the perfect color and weight. just google her name for a link to the book…I can’t remember how to create a link right this minute… ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/7 "2005-08-10T00:55:12Z")
I also plan to learn how to type soon…don’t like this notebook computer of my son’s, but mine is toast. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/8 "2005-08-10T01:21:15Z")
What kind of ribbon yarn is it? (what’s the fiber that the ribbon is made of? rayon? wool? cotton?) How thick is it? And is it shiny/dull? Slidy? Tell me about the yarn. Oh, and how many yards have you got? That said, tank tops and t-shirts are generally good for ribbon yarns. ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitting-question/316317/9 "2005-08-10T07:53:22Z")
Unless it’s got natural animal fibers, it won’t felt. Knitting it with another, different novelty yarn or even crocheting thread makes a beautiful scarf. Plus, it’s just so easy, garter stich on like size 15 needles. It’ll go really fast.