Rustic
Tote
A
Small Felted Bag
A quick and easy pattern written as an introduction to felting for my knitting group. The bag can be customized with stripes, decorated with buttons or knit with scrap yarn.
Materials
– 150 yards bulky weight wool with size 15 (10mm) 24”circular
needles or
300
yards worsted weight wool double stranded with size 13 (9mm) 24”
circular needles
extra
needle for 3 needle bind off, tapestry needle, 2 markers
Gauge
before felting 10 stitches and 13 rounds = 4 inches Gauge not
critical
Size
before felting 15 inches wide, 12 inches high Size after felting
will be variable,
Sample
knit with Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool doubled is 10 inches wide , 7
inches high
Bag
Working
from the top down, with one strand of bulky or two strands of
worsted, cast on 72 stitches, place marker and join to knit in the
round. Knit 36, place marker, knit to end. Markers will be at sides
of bag. Knit 1 round
Handle
*Knit
12, bind off 12, knit to marker.* Repeat from * to *
*Knit
12, cast on 12, using backwards loop cast-on, knit to marker* Repeat
from * to *
Knit
for 6 inches
Decrease
*Knit
1, knit 2 together, knit to 3 stitches before marker, knit 2
together, knit 1.* Repeat from * to *
68
stitches. Knit 3 more inches – repeat decrease. 64 stitches
Knit
3 more inches
Finishing
Turn
bag inside out. For the three needle bind-off:
Hold
the needle with the ends parallel, with a third needle knit the first
stitch from the front needle with the first stitch from the back
needle together. Do this with the second stitches. Pass the first
stitch over the second stitch to bind off. Repeat until all stitches
are bound off. Cut yarn and pull through last loop. Flatten bottom
of bag to make a triangle, sew across 1” from each corner to shape
bottom.
Felt
Place
bag in a zippered pillowcase and put in a washing machine set with
hot water cold rinse, on shortest cycle. Add a small amount of wool
wash and a couple of pairs of jeans for agitation. Check before
machine spins. You may need another cycle. Shape and air dry.
©2016 OC Knitter
