Rustic Tote

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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.

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