This bag is the product of two casting ons, two patterns and my own improvisation and two weeks sporadic knitting.
It draws (rather strongly) on this and this. The handles came from Elisa’s Nest Tote, and the drawstring (so you can stuff it inside itself and cosy up tight) from Everlasting Bagstopper. The stich pattern came from both. I liked the idea of a solid base which I gleaned from the bagstopper, but took a different approach. I knitted a “square” and cast it off, then picked up stitches around all four side. Using magic loop (which kicks butt) I knit the first round, yo, k the second round, k the third round, yo, k2tog, the fourth round then alternated round three and four. This gave exactly the right number of stitches to cope with the pattern, with no tricky brain gym. When I got to the top (very arbitary, but about 15 inches) I didn’t cast off, just knit the i-cord handle with the live stitches. Elisa’s Nest Tote describes this far more eloqently than I ever could. I knit both handles at the same time so I knew they would be the same length. If I made it again (which I will) I might experiment with one fat handle coming from the point where the handles meet.
I decided the inside needed a pocket to put all the essentials in- always handy to have them away from everything else. I picked up some stitches above one of the sides of the original square, matching the length. Again I k one row, yo, k the second row, p the thrid row, yo, k2tog the fourth row then alernated rows 3 and 4. (This time knitting back and fourth, hence the purl row). After about 4 or five rows I picked up the sitches back along the rows I had already knit, then joined it to the bag, this gives the pocket some shape and a wee base. From this row onwards I knit the pocket into the bag using a similar method to joining the I cord.
I appreciate that all those instructions are a bit hard to follow. If you want me to clarify anything further then let me know. When I make another one I will take some photos so you can see what I was doing!
I thouroughly enjoyed knitting this bag- and enjoyed using it today. The stitch is great as it allows for seeingly endless expansion- though I’m sure it has it’s limits. But it was figuring out the pocket that gave me the most satisfaction. When I get my hands on some more cotton, you can tell what I’ll be making!
