Knitting the outer layer of the bag is easy to do—it’s all just simple shapes in stockinette stitch. Adding a fabric lining, zippers, click fasteners, and pocket detail takes a little more time but gives an authentic holdall style.
MAKING TIME
The bag took 13½ hours to make, including the lining and making up.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Sirdar Bigga is a super-chunky yarn that’s a mix of 50% acrylic and 50% wool. It has 44 yds (40 m) to each 100 g (approx. 3½ oz.) ball.
SIZE
Width 19 in. (48 cm); height 13½ in. (34 cm); depth 9 in. (23 cm).
YOU WILL NEED
• 8 x 100 g balls (approx. 28 oz.) of Sirdar Bigga in Nocturne, shade 677
• pair of size US 19 (15 mm) knitting needles
• set of size US 10 (6 mm) double-pointed needles
• 1 x 12 in. (30.5 cm) and 1 x 26 in. (66 cm) heavyweight plastic zippers
• 59 in. (150 cm) of 1¼-in. (3-cm) wide strong cotton tape
• 2 plastic click fasteners
• 39½ in. (100.5 cm) x 61½ in. (156 cm) firm cotton lining fabric, such as light canvas or denim
• sewing thread to match lining, and long, sharp pins
• 19 in. (48 cm) x 10 in. (25 cm) piece of stiff cardboard or hardboard
GAUGE
6 sts and 9 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over st-st on size US 19 (15 mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg = beginning; cont = continue; k = knit; p = purl; RS = right side; st(s) = stitch(es); st-st = stockinette st; tog = together; WS = wrong side.
NOTES
• The measurements allow for 1 stitch to be taken into each seam.
• You will need only three of the double-pointed needles for the handles.
• If you set the pocket zipper in with a sewing machine, back the knitting with Stitch ‘n’ Tear or with tissue paper so that the knit fabric doesn’t get caught in the feeder teeth.
• The handles are knitted in the round, enclosing the tape as you work. This makes them strong and seamless and saves threading the tape through a narrow tube of knitting.
• Check all lining measurements against the knitted pieces before cutting and adjust, if necessary, if your tension is not quite correct.
Using size US 19 (15 mm) needles, cast on 31 sts.
Beg k row, st-st 33 rows.
Bind off knitwise.
POCKET LINING
Using size US 19 (15 mm) needles, cast on 17 sts.
Beg k row, st-st 13 rows. Leave sts on a holder.
FRONT
Using size US 19 (15 mm) needles, cast on 31 sts.
Beg k row, st-st 12 rows.
Pocket opening row (RS) K7, bind off 16 sts purlwise, one st on right needle, return this st to left needle and k2tog, k6.
Pocket lining row P7, p17 sts of pocket lining, p7. 31 sts.
St-st 19 more rows.
Bind off knitwise.
SIDE PANELS
(Make 2) Using size US 19 (15 mm) needles, cast on 16 sts.
Beg k row, st-st 33 rows.
Bind off knitwise.
BASE
Using size US 19 (15 mm) needles, cast on 31 sts.
Beg k row, st-st 21 rows.
Bind off knitwise.
HANDLES
Cut tape in half to give 2 x 29½–in. (75-cm) lengths.
1st handle Using set of size US 10 (6 mm) needles, cast on 2 sts on first needle and 2 sts on 2nd needle, use 3rd needle to knit with and set 4th needle aside. Join the 2 needles to form a round and insert a length of tape in the center. As you knit, the tape will be covered. K every round for st-st until handle tube measures 21½ in. (55 cm). Bind off. Adjust tape so that approx. 4 in. (10 cm) shows at each end of the knitted tube.
2nd handle Work as given for 1st handle, checking that the length of the knitted tube is the same before binding off.
LINING
Cut 1 piece of lining fabric 39½ in. (100 cm) x 20 in. (51 cm) for the back, base and front lining, 1 piece 21 in. (53.5 cm) x 21 in. (53.5 cm) to cover the base board and 2 pieces 10½ in. (27 cm) x 14½ in (37 cm) for the side panels. If there is a RS to the lining fabric, make up the lining with the seams on the WS, taking ½ in. (1.5cm) into seams. Placing center of a shorter side of one side panel to center of one longer side of the back, base and front lining, set in first side panel. Set 2nd side panel into the other edge in the same way.
TO FINISH
Slip-stitch row-ends of pocket lining to WS of front. Set 12-in. (30.5-cm) zipper into pocket opening.With RS facing, using mattress stitch and taking 1 st from each edge into each seam, join front and back to side panels. Set in base of bag. Turn bag inside out and slip-stitch lower edge of pocket lining to base seam. Turn bag RS out. Placing WS of lining to WS of bag, starting at the corners and working up each seam, pin lining and bag together. Fold top edge of lining down to match height of bag and pin or tack in place. Remove pins holding lining in place and take out lining. With WS of lining facing, place front and back seams together and fold top edge in half. With zipper tag uppermost so zipper will be sandwiched between lining and bag, leaving a small space at each end, set in 26-in. (66-cm) zipper. Insert lining into bag and attach corners at lower edge of WS of lining to corners at base of WS of bag. Smooth knitted bag over lining, then insert handle ends through knitted fabric just above ends of pocket on front and in corresponding position on back, and pin tapes to lining. Check that the handles are level and that the tape ends don’t show on the outside of the bag. Removing pins, sew tape at handle ends firmly to bag lining. Sew knitted handle ends to knitted bag.
With RS together, fold base board lining in half, check amount to take into seam to give a tight fit and sew seam. Refold lining so seam is in the center and sew along one short edge. Turn lining RS out and insert base board. Fold in excess and slip-stitch along edge to hold board in place. Open bag and fit base board into base of bag. Overlapping zipper fabric, pin, then sew cast-off edges of knitted bag in place to set in zipper. Fold ends of bag down to meet side panels and mark position for click fasteners just below the center of each panel. Sew one half of each click fastener to an end of top edge of bag and the other half on each side panel.
TIPS
• It’s fine to use open-ended zippers. Although you don’t need to undo the ends when using the bag, it’s easier to set in the zippers if you can separate them for sewing after pinning them in place.
• Always set pins in at right angles to the zipper teeth, it holds the layers in place without slipping and makes it easy to remove the pins or even work right over them if you are machining the zipper in place.
• You can hand sew the whole bag but if you have a machine, then use it to sew the lining and set the longer zipper into the lining, and to set in the top edge of the pocket zipper.
• If you make the base board lining a really tight fit, the tucked-in end will be sure to stay in place without being stitched.
• There will be enough lining fabric left to line the pocket if you want. Just cut a piece of lining fabric 12 in. (30.5 cm) x 12 in. (30.5 cm), fold it in half, and sew each side seam. Insert lining into pocket, fold down top edges to fit, and slip-stitch to cover zipper fabric.
Chunky and capacious, this roomy bag will hold all you need for a weekend away.