Cake Bags
The cakes that decorate these bags are knitted separately and sewn on afterwards. The larger bag measures about $25\;\mathrm{cm}\,/\;10^{\prime\prime2}$ and the smaller one $13\;\mathrm{cm}\,/\,5^{\mathfrak{m}}$ . Both bags have knitted linings but they could be lined with fabric instead. The bags are knitted in double knitting weight yarn on 3.25mm / US size 3 needles, worked to a stocking stitch tension of about 12 sts and 18 rows to $2^{\mathfrak{m}}$ . The larger bag used just over $100\mathrm{g}$ of the main colour yarn, the smaller one much less.
Knitting the Cakes
These are knitted in double knitting weight yarn on 3.25mm needles, using a variety of appropriate colours. You will need eight cakes for the larger bag and two for the smaller. Cake Using the case colour, cast on 9 sts. Row 1: P1, $\ast\mathrm{Kl}$ , P1, repeat from \* to end of row. Row 2: K1, \*P1, K1, repeat from \* to end of row. Row 3: P1, K1, (P1, ml, K1) twice, P1, K1, P1 (11 sts). Row 4: K1, P1, (K1, P2) twice, K1, P1, K1. Row 5: P1, m1, K1, (P1, K2) twice, P1, m1, K1, P1 (13 sts). Row 6: (K1, P2) four times, K1. Row 7: P1, K2, (P1, m1, K2) twice, P1, K2, P1 (15 sts). Row 8: K1, P2, (K1, P3) twice, K1, P2, K1. Row 9: P1, m1, K2, (P1, K3) twice, P1, m1, K2, P1 (17 sts). Change to the cake colour. Row 10: Knit. Row 11: (and all odd numbered rows) Purl. Row 12: SSK, K13, K2tog (15 sts). Row 14: SSK, K11, K2tog (13 sts). Row 16: SSK, K2, SSK, K1, K2tog, K2, K2 tog (9 sts). Cast off purlwise. Icing Cast on 16 sts. Row 1: (and all odd numbered rows) Purl. Row 2: K2, (m1, K1) twice, K2tog four times, (m1, K1) twice, K2. Row 4: SSK, K3, SSK, K2, K2tog, K3, K2tog (12 sts). Row 6: SSK, K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog (8 sts). Row 8: SSK twice, K2tog twice (4 sts). Thread through the remaining 4 sts and fasten off. Sweet Cast on 2 sts. Row 1: (and all odd numbered rows) Purl. Row 2: K1, m1, K1 (3 sts). Row 4: K1, (m1, K1) twice (5 sts). Row 6: Knit. Row 8: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 sts). Row 10: S1 1, K2tog, psso and fasten off. Use the cast off end to run gathering stitches round the edge of the knitting, pull tight and tie the cast on and cast off ends together.
The Larger Bag
Using double knitting yarn and $3.25\mathrm{mm}$ needles, cast on 60 sts. Work 16 rows in moss stitch as follows: Row 1: \*K1, P1, repeat from \* to end of row. Row 2: \*P1, K1, repeat from \* to end of row. Now work 30 rows in panel pattern as follows: Row 1: K1, (P1, K1) four times, K18, (P1, K1) three times, K18, (P1, K1) four times, P1. Row2: P1, (K1, P1) four times, P18, (K1, P1) three times, P18, (K1, P1) four times, K1. Work 10 more rows in moss stitch followed by another 30 rows in panel pattern. Now work another 34 rows in moss stitch for the bottom of the bag. The second side of the bag is worked in the same way but in reverse: 30 rows in panel pattern. 10 rows in moss stitch. 30 rows in panel pattern. 16 rows in moss stitch. Cast off in pattern. Don't worry if your knitting is all lumpy and bumpy, block it to shape now and all will be well.
Before lining the bag sew the cakes on to the panels, first the main cake pieces, then the icing and the sweets. The Lining I lined this bag with a patchwork of the colours used for the cakes, it reminds me of Battenberg cake.
Cast on 56 sts, 28 in Colour A and 28 in Colour B. Work 40 rows in stocking stitch. Change to Colours C and D and work another 40 rows. Change to Colours B and A and work another 40 rows. Change to Colours D and C and work another 40 rows. Cast off. Pin the lining to the wrong side of the bag just inside the edge and, using the bag colour, sew in place.
Now fold the bag in half and oversew the two sides together.
The Handles (make 2)
Using the main bag colour, cast on 11 sts and work in moss stitch for 100 rows or until the handle is about 24 cm / $9\%"$ long. The Handle Linings (make 2) Using a contrasting colour, cast on 10 sts and work in stocking stitch for 80 rows or until the lining is a little shorter than the handle.
Pin the linings to the wrong sides of the handles and, using the main bag colour, sew them in place. Sew the handles to the top of the bag, about 8 cm / 3" apart.
The Smaller Bag
Using double knitting weight yarn and 3.25mm needles, cast on 30 sts. Work 10 rows in moss stitch as follows: Row 1: $\ast\mathrm{Kl}$ , P1, repeat from \* to end of row. Row 2: \*P1, K1, repeat from \* to end of row. Now work 30 rows in panel pattern as follows: Row 1: (K1, P1) three times, K18, (P1, K1) three times. Row 2: (P1, K1) three times, P18, (K1, P1) three times. Now work another 22 rows in moss stitch for the bottom of the bag. The second side of the bag is worked in the same way but in reverse: 30 rows in panel pattern. 10 rows in moss stitch. Cast off in pattern and block to size. Now sew a cake to each side of the bag, first the main cake pieces, then the icing and the sweets. I also added some old pearl buttons to this bag.
The Lining
I used the same four colours to line this bag, this time in a striped pattern. Cast on 28 sts and work 80 rows in stocking stitch, changing colour every two rows. Cast off. Pin the lining to the wrong side of the bag just inside the edge and, using the bag colour, sew in place. Now fold the bag in half and oversew the two sides together. The Handles (make 2) Using the main bag colour, cast on 7 sts and work in moss stitch for 6 rows or unti the handle is about 15 cm / 6" long. The Handle Linings (make 2) Using a contrasting colour, cast on 6 sts and work in stocking stitch for $44$ rows or until the lining is a little shorter than the handle. Pin the linings to the wrong sides of the handles and, using the main bag colour, sew them in place. Sew the handles to the top of the bag, about $4\,\mathrm{cm}\,/\,1\%"$ apart.
Mini Cake Charm
If you knit the cake pattern in 4 ply yarn on 2mm / US size 0 needles you can make a little charm to hang from the handle of the larger bag. You will need to knit two of each piece and then sew them together back to back. Add a crochet chain to finish the charm.
Abbreviations
st / sts stitch / stitches K knit P purl ml make 1 by lifting the thread before the next stitch and knitting into the back of it K2tog knit 2 stitches together SSK slip, slip, knit (see below) psso pass slipped stitch over slip, slip, knit Slip 2 stitches knitwise (or knitwise followed by purlwise) one at a time, insert tip of left needle into stitches from above, put yarn round right needle and knit both stitches together. $\copyright$ Frankie Brown, 2010. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale.
