Dice Bag of Deon
Finished size: approximately 4" across and 5" tall when lying flat. Materials: <100 yds each of Berroco Comfort worsted colors 9734 (black - contrasting) & 9781 (olive - main) US size 5 (3.75mm) 40" circular knitting needle AND at least 2 dpns of the same size or smaller for I-cord Yarnneedle Safety pins Optional - 2 safety eyes (12mm yellow) Gauge: approx. 6 st per inch - slight differences are not as important for this project but will result in slightly different size bags. Notes: The initial part of the tentacle section and all of the inner bag were worked using magic loop. This technique and other options for knitting small diameters in the round can be found at http://www.knittinghelp.com under advanced. The tentacles themselves are in graduated I-cord which can also be found there. If you're unfamiliar with the techniques, this is a great small project to try them out. The circular needle also makes a great stitch holder while you work on the individual tentacles. Of course, dpns and a stitch holder or waste yarn can also be substituted.
Jentacles!
Using the main color - CO 8 - join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. R1: [kfb]x8 (16 st) R2: knit R3: [k1, kfb]x8 (24 st) R4: knit R5: [k2, kfb]x8 (32 st) R6: [k3, p1]x8 R7: [k2, kfb, p1]x8 (40 st) R8: [k2, p1, k1, p1]x8 R9: [k2, p1, kfb, p1]x8 (48 st) R10-18: [k2, p1]x16 R19: [k2, p1]x4, k2tog, p1, [k2, p1]x9, k2tog, p1, k2, p1 (46 st) R20: [k2, p1jx3, k2tog, p1, [k2, p1jx3, k2tog x2, p1, k2, p1 (43 st) R21:k2, p1, k2tog, [p1, k2, p1, k1, k2tog]x2, p1, [k2, p1]x3, k2tog, p1, [k2, p1]x2, k2tog, p1, k2, p1 (38 st) R22: k2, k2tog, [p1, k2]x3, k2tog, [p1, k2]x3, k2tog, [p1, k2]x2, k2tog, p1, k2, p1 (34 st) R23: k1, k2tog, [p1, k2jx2, p1, k1, k2tog, [p1, k2]x2, [p1, k1, k2tog, p1, k2]x2, p1(30 st) R24: [k2, p1]x10 From here, each tentacle will be worked separately. There will be a lot of ends to work in, but they will also be used to stitch the tentacles into shape, so be sure and leave 6" or so to work with. The numbers for each tentacle are more guidelines than pattern. I made 9 (visible) tentacles in various sizes and lengths, but they could be much wilder or more regular depending on your preference. Tentacle #1 - Knit the next 3 st onto a dpn. Working in I-cord, continue knitting those 3 st for 10 rows, k2tog and knit 2 st I-cord for 7 rows, k2tog, cut yarn and pull through to bind off. Tentacle#2 - Reattaching yarn back to the tentacle base, knit next 3 st in I-cord for 5 rows, k2tog, then 2 st for 12 rows,k2tog,BO. Tentacle#3 - Knit 2, k2tog, k1 Knit 4 st I-cord for 13 rows, k2tog, 3 st for 4 rows, k2tog, then 2 st for 12 rows, k2tog, BO. Tentacle #4 - Knit 2 st for 20 rows, k2tog, BO Tentacle #5 - Knit 3 st for 13 rows, k2tog, then 2 st for 3 rows, k2tog, BO Tentacle #6 - Knit 2, k2tog Knit 3 st for 3 rows, k2tog, then 2 st for 15 rows, k2tog, BO Tentacle #7 - Knit 4 st for 10 rows, k2tog, 3 st for 6 rows, k2tog, then 2 st for 9 rows, k2tog, BO. Tentacle #8 - Knit 2 st for 20 rows, k2tog, BO Tentacle #9 - Knit 4 st for 6 rows, k2tog, 3 st for 6 rows, k2tog, then 2 st for 9 rows, k2tog, BO. Now experiment with what you want your tentacles to look like. I chose to have mine pretty tightly coiled and knotted around each other. Safety pins come in very handy to hold things in place as you play with different configurations. Weaving in your reattachment tails first makes things a little neater. Once you have your tentacular configuration, use the BO tail to secure them against the base. Eyes are optional, but I placed one inside a coil and the other inside my cast on ring before I pulled it tight. Of course you could add more eyes (or less) or even have different colors and pupil shapes depending on what you might have lying about.
Jnner hag:
Using the contrasting color - CO 8 - join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. R1: [kfb]x8 (16 st) R2: knit R3: [k1, kfb]x8 (24 st) R4: knit R5: [k2, kfb]x8 (32 st) R6: knit R7: [k3, kfb]x8 (40 st) R8-30: knit R31: [yo, k2tog, k2]x10 R32-39:knit Bind off loosely. Finishing: Using inner bag CO tail, secure bottom center of inside bag to outside base. Turn everything right side out and smooth inner bag up against base walls, securing with safety pins. Using a separate piece of black yarn, whip upper edge of tentacles to bag, hiding stitches as much as possible. Using approximately 2 yds of black, hold double and twist until tight, then hold ends together and allow to form twisted cord. It should be about 18" long. Thread through eyelet row of inner bag to use as drawstring. Insert suitably epic dice or the trinkets of your choice, and rest knowing they're safe in the clutches of your own personal tentacled horror. All images, pattern and text copyright 2011 Lara Breese More pictures below.
