Frankie's Knitted Stuff
These three drawstring pouches will hold all manner of treasure; the large one is big enough to carry a small knitting project while the smallest is just the right size for jewellery. They all feature a slip stitch pattern which, although it looks intricate, only uses one colour on any row.
Facts and Figures
Size Large 45cm / 18" circumference and 23cm / 9" tall. Medium 30cm / 12" circumference and 15cm / 6" tall. Small 15cm / 6" circumference and 8cm / 3" tall. Yarn I used a double knitting weight yarn for all the bags, Sirdar Click DK (150m / 50g) in four different shades: 0130 (red), 0123 (blue), 0122 (green) and 0144 (beige). The large bag took 45g of the main colour, the medium bag 20g and the small one just 10g. One ball of the beige made all three bags.
Tension
13 sts and 18 rows = 5cm / 2"2 worked in stocking stitch with 3mm / US size 21/2 needles. The bags are worked in the round throughout, the plain parts on 3mm needles and the patterned section on 3.5mm / US size 4.
The Large Bag
The Base The base of the bag is worked in the round, using the darker colour yarn and 3mm needles. Using the long tail method cast on 8 sts. Round 1: Kf&b into every stitch (16 sts). Round 2: (and all even numbered rounds) Knit. Round 3: \*K1, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (24 sts). Round 5: \*K2, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (32 sts). Round 7: \*K3, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (40 sts). Round 9: \*K4, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (48 sts). Round 11: \*K5, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (56 sts). Round 13: \*K6, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (64 sts). Round 15: \*K7, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (72 sts). Round 17: \*K8, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (80 sts). Round 19: \*K9, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (88 sts). Round 21: \*K10, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (96 sts). Round 23: \*K11, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (104 sts). Round 25: \*K12, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (112 sts). Round 27: \*K13, kf&b, repeat from \* all round (120 sts). Round 28: Knit. That's the base knitted and you should have a nice swirly pattern on it. Now purl the next three rounds for the edge and then change to 3.5mm needles to start the patterned section.
The Sides
The main body of the bag is worked in a slip stitch pattern using the darker colour used for the base (D) and a lighter colour (L). There are 20 rounds to this pattern, the letters in bold tell you which colour to use for that round. All slipped stitches should be slipped purlwise. Rounds 1 & 2: L. Knit. Round 3: D. \*K1, sl 1 wyif, repeat from \* all round. Round 4: D. Knit. Round 5: L. \*Sl 1 wyif, K1, repeat from \* all round. Rounds 6 - 8: L. Knit. Round 9: D. \*K1, sl 1 wyif, repeat from \* all round. Rounds 10 - 12: D. Knit. Round 13: L. \*K1, sl 1 wyif, repeat from \* all round. Round 14: L. Knit. Round 15: D. \*Sl 1 wyif, K1, repeat from \* all round. Rounds 16 - 18: D. Knit. Round 19: L. \*K1, sl 1 wyif, repeat from \* all round. Round 20: L. Knit. For the large bag work this pattern three times, 60 rounds in al Next round: L. Knit. Now change back to 3mm needles and work the top of the bag in the darker colour only. The Top Knit 1 round and purl 2 rounds to give an edging. Knit 11 more rounds before working the buttonholes for the drawstring. Remember that, after casting off for each hole, the number of stitches to knit next includes the stitch already on the right needle. Next round: K4, \*cast off 2, K8, repeat from \* to last 6 sts, cast off 2, K4. Next round: K4, \*cast on 3, K8, repeat from \* to last 4 sts, cast on 3, K4. Next round: K3, \*K2tog, K9, repeat from \* to last 8 sts, K2tog, K6. The top of the bag is worked in garter stitch (purl one round then knit one round). Work 16 rounds like this. Change to the lighter colour to cast off your bag, using the picot point cast off: \*Cast on 2 sts, cast off those 2 sts, cast off 2 more sts in the normal way then transfer the stitch on the right hand needle to the left and repeat from \*.
The Drawstring
Using 3mm needles and the lighter colour cast on 3 sts and work in moss stitch (K1, P1, K1 every row) for about 60cm.
Follow the same pattern for the smaller bags with the following alterations.
The Medium Bag
The Base Work 18 rounds only (80 sts). The Sides Work two repeats of the 20 round slip stitch pattern, 40 rounds in all. Still work one more round in the lighter colour before changing needles. The Top Knit 8 rounds before working the buttonholes for the drawstring Next round: K3, \*cast off 2, K6, repeat from \* to last 5 sts, cast off 2, K3. Next round: K3, \*cast on 3, K6, repeat from \* to last 3 sts, cast on 3, K3. Next round: K2, \*K2tog, K7, repeat from \* to last 7 sts, K2tog, K5.
Work 12 rounds in garter stitch before casting off. The Drawstring Using 3mm double pointed needles and the lighter colour cast on 4 sts and work I cord for about 40cm.
The Small Bag
The Base
Work 8 rounds only (40 sts). The Sides Work only one repeat of the 20 round slip stitch pattern. Still work one more round in the lighter colour before changing needles. The Top Knit 5 rounds before working the buttonholes for the drawstring. Next round: K1, \*cast off 2, K3, repeat from \* to last 4 sts, cast off 2, K2. Next round: K1, \*cast on 3, K3, repeat from \* to last 2 sts, cast on 3, K2. Next round: \*K2tog, K4, repeat from \* all round. Work 8 rounds in garter stitch before casting off.
The Drawstring
Using 3mm double pointed needles and the lighter colour cast on 3 sts and work square I cord (K1, P1, K1 each row) for about 20cm.
Finishing the Bags
I wanted my bags to have a firm base so I covered plastic canvas circles with material and put these in the bottom. You could use cardboard instead. Cut a circle of material bigger than the plastic canvas and sew running stitches just in from the outside edge. Pull these tight to gather them round the plastic and secure with a few small stitches.
I sewed this base to the base of the bag with a few stitches in the centre and then added a button to the outside just because I like buttons!
w all you have to do is decide what treasure to keep in your bag
Abbreviations
st / sts stitch / stitches Kknit Ppurl kf&b knit into the front and back of the stitch sl1 slip one stitch purlwise wyif with yarn in front K2tog knit two stitches together I cord Knit every row but don't turn the work at the end of rows, just pull the yarn round from behind the sts and carry on.
Frankie Brown, 2011. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale.
