Such are the words Mary Poppins is purported to have said whenever she was pleased, and today, having at long last, finished my African flower hexagon Mamy bag, the words “Strike me pink,” seem remarkable fitting.
More than seven months ago, on July 13, 2010, I took a 3.5mm Etimo hook in hand and with my vast store of Red Heart Super Saver yarn at my side, I began work on a Mamy bag.
I began the bag as part of a Bastille Day celebration and expected to finish it in two weeks time and enter it in the 2010 North Carolina State Fair.
But the bag had ideas of its own, and not only did I not finish the bag according to my original timetable, the final details eluded me for many months afterward.
After having worked on the bag most of yesterday. I went to sleep with the hope that I would finish the bag today, but if the past seven months have taught me anything, it is that this bag has a time table of its own that cannot be forced
So this morning, when I awoke to the sound of strong gusts of wind and saw the overcast skies, it was as though my life had become the scene in P. L. Travers book, Mary Poppins, where Mary blows into the life of the Banks family at Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane. I took it as a sign.
Except for the wind howling outside my house, it was a quiet morning. I wove in ends, joined straps, stitched down casings, and shortly before lunch, and just seven months, 12 days, and 48 hexagons after it was begun, my Mamy bag was finished:

And like Mary Poppins carpetbag, it is seemingly limitless in it’s capacity to hold life’s necessities:

as well as some light reading:

a few of my crochet friends, my phone, a few balls of yarn:

and a sense of adventure:

So, Strike me pink!
Dear Crochetbug,
Your bag is so beautiful and I love the bright colourful colors. I congratulate you and wish you much fun with your new bag. Thank you so much for sharing the pattern link – I will print out and maybe start my own Mama Bag …
I wish you a wonderful Weekend and send you many, many Greetings,
Marion
Your bag is bEAUTIful. One more thing in my lONG list to try. Love it!
wow, it’s spectacular! very nice work!
It’s beautiful! And you are just as creative and magical as mary poppins. My all time favorite character!
Your Mamy bag is so beautiful and bright it ought to be in the movies!
Love the bag. I’m a sucker for crochet bags. Have made dozens. Can’t seem to part with them. Points to you for staying with it and finishing
To all of my dear readers, thank you so much! Without your support and encouragement, I would not finish nearly as many project as I do.
Just gorgeous. I LOVE the colours, you can’t have too many bright colours as far as I’m concerned!
A total work of art! I know how some projects hang over your head and beg to get done!!! Wonderful!!!
Thank you, Elvee!
Gorgeous! Well worth 7 months and 12 days! I love it!