Design by Julie Schramm

(finished size – approx. 10” x 8”)

Materials:

200 yards Worsted weight wool (I used Lion Wool)

Size 11 circular needle, 16”

4 Stitch markers

Stitch holder

Velcro dots

Bead or button for front of flap

Abbreviations used: K- knit, P- purl, k2tog- knit 2 together, pm- place marker, sm- slip marker, yo- yarn over

Directions:

Cast on 30 stitches.

Knit 16 rows (garter stitch)

Bottom:

Pick up and knit 8 stitches across short side, pm

Pick up and knit 30 along cast on edge, pm

Pick up and knit 8 stitches across 2nd short side, pm

Knit 30 across front, pm (this marks the beginning; use a different color marker)

Body:

*P1, K6, P1, sm, P1, K28, P1, sm, P1, K6, P1, sm, P1, K28, P1* Repeat until bag measures 8 inches

Flap rounds:

1. P1, K6, P1, sm, P1, K12, (yo, K1) 5 times, K11, P1, sm, P1, K6, P1, sm, P1, K11, bind off next 6 stitches, K10, P1

2. P1, K6, P1, sm, P1, K12, (slip yo to holder, K1) 5 times, K11, P1, sm, P1, K6, P1, sm, P1, K11, cast on 6 stitches, K11, P1 when slipping the yarnovers to holder, be sure to place the holder behind the working stitches (inside of bag)

Work Body pattern for 3 rows.

Body Finishing rows: Remove markers as you come to them, keeping only the beginning marker.

1. slip 8 side stitches to stitch holder, Purl 30, slip 8 side stitches to holder, Purl 30 (keep held stitches on inside of bag)

2. Knit around

3. Purl around

4. Bind off in knit stitch

Button tab: (Use double strand of yarn for button tab):

Pick up and knit 5 stitches from holder on back inside of bag

Knit 13 rows (garter stitch)

K2tog, K1, K2tog Bind off

Strap: (Use double strand of yarn for strap):

Pick up and knit 8 stitches on holder on one side

1-4. Knit

5. K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1 (6 stitches)

6. Knit

7. K1, K2tog, K2tog, K1 (4 stitches)

Continue knitting each row until strap measures 14 inches

Place stitches on holder

Repeat for other side and graft together using 3 needle bind off

Finishing:

Felt the bag: Place bag in washer with old jeans; use hot water and very small amount of soap; start washer agitating. Check the bag every couple of minutes until it is the desired size. Do not let it spin in the washer. When bag is desired size, rinse in cold water and roll in a towel to dry it a bit. Let bag dry over a plastic covered cereal box (or any other object that is the right size and shape).

When bag is dry, sew Velcro dots to front of bag and back of tab. Use either superglue or hot glue to attach the bead or sew the button to the front of tab.

You’re done!

© 2007 Julie Schramm

for personal, non-commercial use only