Oh no, not another one! Yes, its true. I'm making yet another bag, a purse this time. This is not for me, so its all good! I'm using up the leftovers from the felted entrelac bag shown before. This is a totally improvised pattern. I made it up as I knit along!
I started out with the bottom of the bag. I made a stockinette stitch rectangle, long & rather narrow. This is the bottom of the bag. Then I picked up stitches around the rectangle & started my stitch pattern in the round. I just love the way this stitch looks! Bright, festive, fun, I think I'll use this one on a few chemo hats later on!
Anyway, I kept the side panels in plain stockinette, with a slip stitch at both ends of the panel to define it a bit. After a few inches, I started decreasing the side panels, so the bottom of the bag would be wider than the top. It worked out just like I wanted! Wow! The side panels sort of fold inward, so it makes the bag look more square when empty, but it will have give when it has goodies in it.
I did an attached I-cord around the front opening, then worked the flap back & forth. I used a garter stitch side edge to help stop the curl & put garter stitch at the bottom of the flap as well. The flap still curls from the bottom, so I'm hoping that after felting, it will lay flat. If it doesn't, I don't know what I'll do yet!
The handle gave me the most trouble. I had cast on about 15 sts, & was going to work it in a long strip. I started with just the blue, but quickly found out I wouldn't have enough. So I added some of the pink, but didn't have enough of that either. I had already run out of the green, so that was out. I started again, adding the yellow, which I had the most leftover. Ick. I went back & forth with this for quite a few days. I would be motivated, start knitting, then realize it wouldn't work. I would have to put it aside for a day to stop my frustration! Then I would frog what I had done & start again. This went on for about a week or so. Argh.
Then it hit me! Why not knit the strap lengthwise? This way I could determine how much yarn & had & give myself a better idea of when to stop! I put a knot in the center of each length of color, then rewound them into balls. When I would get to the knot, I knew I only had enough to repeat what I had already knitted. So, I cast on with the blue, about 130 sts, worked till I saw that knot, then stopped. Picked up the yellow & did the same. I had the least amount in the pink, so it only got 2 rows, then yellow again & finished with blue. I barely made it with the blue. I guess binding off takes more yarn than casting on does.
But the strap is done, & while it is not as long as I had hoped, it will just have to do! I have no more yarn, except for a few lengths to sew the strap on. I had intended on making an inside pocket too, but I was over confident in my yarn quantity! I'm going to felt it today or tomorrow, & I will post pictures of the final result! Cross your fingers for me!
