Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook (39 page)

US 8 (5mm) knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

G
AUGE

18 sts and 24 rows = 4" in St st

D
IRECTIONS

FRONT AND BACK PANELS (MAKE 2)

CO 68 sts in MC.

Work in St st for 11".

Work in garter st for 1".

BO all sts.

GUSSET

CO 10 sts in MC.

Work in garter st for 39".

BO all sts.

STRAPS (MAKE 2)

CO 112 sts in MC.

Work in garter st for 7 rows (approx 1¼").

BO all sts.

INSIDE POCKET

CO 23 sts in CC.

Work in St st for 4".

Work in garter st for 1".

BO all sts.

With MC, sew front and back panels to gusset.

With CC, sew on straps 2 inches in from the left and right edges and add detail stitching to the front (as shown). With MC, sew pocket to inside of back piece 2" from the top edge and centered between left and right edges.

ABOUT TINA

I’m twenty-seven years old and live in southern California (you have to be creative about finding things to knit in this weather!). I first picked up knitting needles and yarn at my local thrift shop, when I was in between Web design jobs and had plenty of time on my hands. I didn’t even know what the numbers on the needles meant—I chose mine because they were pink. After getting thoroughly confused by a few online knitting tutorials, I turned to Mom for help. Cast on! My first project was a hat. It was lime green and oh so sassy, but way smaller than I’d planned. Darn cute on my little niece, though. Next I started a sweater in a pretty pink thrift-store yarn. I ran out of yarn and ended up with a bag instead. Ta-da!

It’s been four months since that first pair of pink needles, and I’ve been sticking to the small stuff—hats, scarves, bags—and adding my own finishing touches. I like the instant gratification they offer. One day, I hope to have the patience to tackle a larger project. Like a bikini.

MEEMA SPADOLA

I was first inspired to make a felted bag when my brother returned from Morocco with a pound of yarn. The fibers were too rough for a garment, so I decided to try to make a bag. The result was way too floppy and not durable enough for daily use. Felting the bag—just throwing it in a hot washing load—completely changed the nature of the fabric, creating a sturdy, less homemade look. I started playing around with different kinds of yarn, colors, shapes, and sizes.

This latest pattern is the easiest yet because the bag itself requires no sewing or assembly (except for the cute little pouch). The pouch was inspired by my habit of misplacing my keys and wallet.

You knit the bottom of this bag first, then pick up stitches and knit in the round “up” to the top of the bag—no sewing is needed at the end! Attach the small pouch to the inside of the bag with I-cord.

S
IZE

10" tall at sides and 27" around base of bag, after felting

M
ATERIALS

Brown Sheep Company
Lamb’s Pride Worsted
(85% wool/15% mohair; 4 oz/190 yds)

MC:
3 skeins #110 Orange You Glad

CC:
2 skeins #M38 Lotus Pink

US 15 (10mm) 24" circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge

4 stitch markers

2 large metal snaps

G
AUGE

Approx 10 sts = 4" in St st with 2 strands of yarn held tog

S
TITCH
P
ATTERN

RIGHT TWIST (RT)

K 2nd st on needle without slipping sts off needle; k 1st st on needle; then slip both sts off needle.

D
IRECTIONS

Note:
Don’t be dismayed if your bag looks floppy with loose stitches while knitting. It will shrink anywhere from 15 to 25 percent when felted and will look completely different. The instructions here can be changed to create new versions and new sizes. Use your imagination and experiment.

With 2 strands of MC held tog, CO 16 sts. Work 44 rows in garter st. With 16 sts on needle, place 1st marker; pu 22 sts across long side of bag, place 2nd marker; pu 16 sts along short side, place 3rd marker; pu 22 sts across rem side, place 4th marker and join the rnd. Don’t worry if you get 1 more or 1 less st. The idea is to evenly fill the sides of the bag with sts.

*RT, k to within 2 sts of marker, RT, sl marker; rep from * around. Rep this row every row until bag meas 10" from base. Switch to CC and k 4 rnds, then BO 22 sts between markers on each of the 2 long sides of the bag. On next rnd, CO the same number of sts as was BO using single cast-on method and k 6 rnds more. BO all sts.

MARSUPIAL POUCH (WORKED FLAT)

With a
single strand
of CC, CO 30 sts. Work 5 rows in garter st, then switch to MC and work 2" even. On next row, BO 15 sts and work 3" even on rem 15 sts, then BO rem sts. Fold width-wise and sew side and bottom edge. (You should have a small purse with a flap.) Cast on 3 sts in MC and make I-cord 14" long. Attach one end to small purse and the other end to interior of bag near top of MC section.

FELTING

You should do this in a top-loader, not a Laundromat-style machine, because it’s best to open the washer frequently to check on the bag. Pop the bag in a half-filled machine with very hot, sudsy water, agitate on the longest cycle, and rinse in very cold water. Pull out your bag from time to time during the hot sudsy part, because if it’s felting quickly you want to stop agitation. If it’s not felting, throw in a pair of jeans to add to the agitation process. More agitation will result in a tighter, smaller bag. Roll in a towel to get moisture out, shape as desired, and lay flat to dry completely.

Attach snap to center of tote opening and to flap of small purse. Enjoy!