Fanciful Felted Bag with Instructions

Felted Bag with Instructions

 

Sue, the founder of our quilt group is a master at knitting and crocheting.  She surprised me and texted these photos plus the pattern.  She said this bag is really easy and fast to knit.  If you make one please share - I would love to post the photos!!

 

 

 

 

Fanciful Felted Bag with Novelty Top

Size 11 circular needles

3 skeins (140 yds) wool for small bag

Novelty yarn for top

Small Bag (Medium, Large)

 

Cast on 34 (38,42) stitches on circular needles. Knit back and forth in garter stitch for 34 (38,42) rows.

Pick up and knit 16 (18,20) stitches along the first edge of the rectangle. There are 17 (19,21) ridges, so you just pick up one stitch between each ridge.

 

Pick up and knit 34 (38,42) stitches along the bottom of the rectangle.

Pick up 16 (18,20) stitches along the last edge just like you did for the first edge.

You will now have 100 (112,124) stitches. Place a marker and begin to knit in the round.

Knit for 50 (55,60) rows. On last row decrease as follows: knit 2 together, knit 10 * repeat to end of round.

Add novelty yarns to main yarn. (You are knitting with both the wool and novelty yarns together. I use 1-4 different novelty yarns depending on the fullness and look I want) Purl for approx. 10 rounds. This should measure about

2-3 inches as preferred.

Cut novelty yarn and with main wool yarn Knit 1 round, Purl 1 round, Knit 1 round, Purl 1 round. Bind off all stitches.

 

Handles

Cast on 7 stitches

Knit 4, yarn in front, slip next 3 stitches as to purl, turn

Repeat until handles measure 26 inches.

(I made a smaller piece using 3 stitches approx. 4 inches long for a button closure)

Sew handles and button closure to bag.

Felting

Place the bag in a mesh bag or zippered pillowcase. Set washing machine to hot wash, small load setting and add 1 tablespoon of Eucalan No Rinse Fabric Wash. Add a few pairs of old jeans and the bag. Wash on high agitation cycle.  Stop the cycle every 5 minutes and check the bag for size. When you can’t see the stitches anymore, it is usually done. You can always felt more if the size doesn’t seem right. There is no need to rinse the bag. Remove it and press out as much water as possible from the bag.

 

Block the Bag

Find a box the same size as the bag (it can be taller and stick out of the top) and place the box in a plastic grocery bag. Put the plastic covered box into the felted bag. Allow the bag, bottom side up, to dry completely (1-2 days). Blocking the bag creates a flat bottom so the bag will sit flat.

 

Good Luck!  If you have any questions, please use the "comment" box and we will supply the answers for you - hopefully! 

 

Thanks again Sue!