Process, In a Bag.

I crocheted this bag. It was a four month project, which is a very, very long time to make something, but I love it.

I love the idea of slow process; of the gradual building of things. Slow multiplicity is very human, and I am really captivated by it. It's sad how it appears to be the enemy nowadays, in this age of high-speed encapsulation. There's something very fleeting about that, something breathless and unstable. The concept of slow growth, with its calm dependance, moves me.

The crochet part of this bag was fairly easy. I just used the same stitch over and over. All of the other parts, like the lining and strap, were much more challenging. I am a much better crocheter than I am a sewer, so hand-sewing a lining into this bag was a big test of patience. I think that the beauty of sewing is not the act of it, but the preparation behind it. It requires a hearty dose of mathematics. It's much more right-brain than one may think. I might be too emotional for it, but I've promised myself that I will improve. 

I couldn't envision this bag with a strap. The idea of one just didn't sit well with me. I wanted it to be more like a haphazard paper bag, with a makeshift "something" holding it together. After much deliberation (I deliberate very intensely about a lot of things), I decided to a braid some synthetic twine I had and sew it inside the bag. This rope wraps around the bag, and keeps it closed. Of course, such a closure makes this bag a bit impractical, but I have enough practicality in my life. I sometimes need impracticality. It keeps things in balance. 

I hope to make more of these bags; ones that are bigger and ones with traditional straps. For now, this one will do. I'm proud of it. 

 In the photos, I am also wearing:

• A thrifted Calvin Klein sport shirt. It's probably from the early-mid 1990s.
• A pair of thrifted plaid, linen pants from Bugle Boys. They're my favorite but, then again, I have a lot of favorites.
• Leaf necklaces from two costume jewelry shops in New York. One of the shops is now closed, and the other one is near Union Square. I forgot the name, but they were really cheap (like under 3 dollars). 
• Flip-flops from H&M. 

Run.

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