You don’t even need to know how to bind off to make this work bag. It’s just two simple pieces of stockinette stitch sewn together and attached to handles. And it is strong, too, so you can use it for shopping and going out, as well as for your most important activity—knitting!
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The bag took 2½ hours to knit, including attaching the handles.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Sirdar Bigga is a 50% wool, 50% acrylic, thick and soft super-chunky yarn. It’s really quick to knit and has 44 yds. (40 m) to a 100 g (approx. 1¾ oz.) ball.
SIZE
Width: 16½ in. (42 cm); length: 11¾ in. (30 cm) excluding handles
YOU WILL NEED
• 3 x 100 g balls (approx. 10½ oz.) Sirdar Bigga in Delta Blue, shade 688
• pair of size US 19 (15 mm) knitting needles
• tapestry needle
• pair of bamboo bag handles, approximately 12½ in. (32 cm) long
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; k = knit; st(s) = stitch(es); st-st = stockinette st.
BAG
1st side Cast on 27 sts. Beg k row, st-st 28 rows. Leaving an end about 3 yds. (2.5 m) long, cut yarn.
Attach handle. Knot yarn around the last stitch, thread a tapestry needle with the yarn end and slip the stitches, one at a time, off the needle and onto the yarn. Gather stitches slightly, and knot yarn around last stitch. Leaving about 2 in. (5 cm) of yarn between knitting and handle, wrap yarn tightly around handle; take it back through last stitch, then around the handle again. Work buttonhole stitches over yarn between handle and bag. Take end of yarn back through the knitted stitches again and fasten it to the first stitch. Attach the other end of the handle in the same way. Weave in yarn end and trim.
2nd side Work as given for first side.
TO FINISH
Join cast-on edges and side seams, leaving about 3¼ in. (8 cm) open at the top.
TIPS
• If you can’t find ready-made handles, use 2 wooden dowels, cut to 12½ in. (32 cm) long, that have been sanded and varnished.
• If you’re going to carry the bag around, make a lining from 2 pieces of cotton fabric, 17¾ x 12½ in. (45 x 32 cm). Join the pieces on one long and two short sides, leaving an opening at the top. Insert lining in bag, Turn in a ½-in. (1.5-cm) hem at the top edge of lining and slip stitch to the row below the gathered stitches.
Store your knitting projects in this easy-to-make bag.
