Ditty Bag
By Lauren Irving
We use these bags in my home to tote around all manner of bitty electronics, headphones and other modern paraphernalia. They can be in any weight yarn and any dimension you choose to accommodate your goodies.
Materials
Fingering Weight yarn. Yarn used was two small balls of Knit One, Crochet Too Soxx Appeal. Size 2 1/2 (3 mm) DPNs, cable needles or long cable needle. Use what works with your yarn, anywhere between a 1 1/2 and 3 would be just fine.) 10" Polished cotton lacing cord, rubber lacing cord, leather cording or a skinny shoelace. (Anything durable enough to hold up to the repeated action of the speed lacer.) 1 speed lacer Finished size: 3"wide x 4" high Gauge: 8 sts/in x 9.5 rows/in (you can play with this, gauge isn't very important)
Pattern
CO 48 sts. (16 on each DPN, 24 on each cable or each size of your long cable) Join together and mark the beginning of the round. Rnd 1-3: k2, p2 around. Rnd 4: k2, yo, k2tog around. Rnd 5-7: repeat rnd 1 Rnd 8-38: k around, or until you achieve your desired length. DPN only: Divide stitches onto to DPNs so you have 24 sts on each needle. Holding 2 needles parallel, work 3 needle bind off. K 1 st from each needle together and hold on your right hand needle, \*knit next stitch from each needle together, then draw the first stitch on the right needle over the second stitch\* and repeat from \* to \* until all stitches have been used. Weave in ends. Weave the lacing cord into the eyelets at the top of the bag starting at a side edge. Work your way all the way around. Even up the ends of the lacing cord and slide them through the speed lacer. Tie an overhand knot into the ends of the lacing cord.
To modify this pattern:
Cast on any multiple of 4 stitches to make a larger or smaller bag. Use a heavier weight yarn with larger needles for a bigger ditty bag. This is a great way to use up leftover sock yarn, add stripes work it anyway you wish to use up your leftovers. Embellish, use duplicate stitch or better yet, if it's for your kid, let them decorate it. Buttons, bows, sea shells, anything can be used to personalize a ditty bag.
Common sizes in fingering weight yarn at this gauge:
Ipod: cast on 56 stitches, work ribbing, then work 45 knit rounds before the bind off. Kindle Touch /Nook Simple Touch: cast on 88 stitches, work ribbing, then work 75 rounds before bind off. Kindle Fire / Nook Tablet: cast on 88 stitches, work ribbing, then work 85 knit rounds before bind off. Ipad: cast on 120 stitches, work ribbing, then work 95 rounds before bind off.
