fall VU
A mini "pumpkin-in-basket" bag for filling with little autumnal treats! This pattern combines both knitting and crochet to give a unique look to the project. The basket and handle are worked in crochet for sturdiness, and the pumpkin bag top is worked in knitting for flexibility and smooth texture. Both the crochet basket and knit top are worked in the round. The bag is drawn together at the top with a leafy tendril drawstring made from knit cord. Yarn DK or Sport weight yarn. Beige: Approx. 60 metres (66 yards) Orange: Approx. 40 metres (44 yards) Green: Approx. 20 metres (22 yards)
Gauge
Crochet: 41/2 sts and 5 rounds in 2.5 x 2.5 cm (1 X 1 inches) in SC stitch. Knit: 5 sts and 8 rounds in 2.5 x 2.5 cm (1 x 1 inches) in stockinette (stocking) stitch. Yarns shown are: DMC woolly (orange) Women's Institute Soft & Silky (beige) B&M Supreme Double Knitting (green).
Hook/Needles/Supplies
Size 3.5 mm (US E) crochet hook (or size needed to obtain gauge). Size 4 mm (US 6) double-pointed knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge). Stitch marker (1) Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and sewing on handle. Height of bag: 11.5 cm (41/2 inches), excluding handle.
Abbreviations
Crochet Basket Section
Basket Base
Using beige, make a magic ring. Rnd 1: work 6 SC all into the magic ring, then tighten up to close the ring. Rnd 2: ch1, work 2 SC into each of the sts of the previous rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join rnd (12) Rnd 3: ch1, \*1 SC in next st, 2 SC in foll. st; rep. from \* to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join (18) Rnd 4: ch1, \*1 SC in next 2 sts, 2 SC in foll. st; rep. from \* to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join (24) Rnd 5: ch1, \*1 SC in next 3 sts, 2 SC in foll. st; rep. from \* to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join (32) Rnd 6: ch1, \*1 SC in next 4 sts, 2 SC in foll. st; rep. from \* to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join (38) Rnd 7: ch1, \*1 SC in next 5 sts, 2 SC in foll. st; rep. from \* to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join (42) Rnd 8: ch1, \*1 SC in next 6 sts, 2 SC in foll. st; rep. from \* to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join (48) Rnd 9: ch1, \*1 SC in next 7 sts, 2 SC in foll. st; rep. from \* to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join (54)
Basket Upper
Rnd 1o: ch1, work 1 SC into the back loop of each st, Sl st in ch1 to join. Rnds 11-13: ch1, work 1 SC into each st to end of rnd, Sl st in ch1 to join. Rnds 13-16: Repeat rnds 10-13, fasten off.
Handle
Chain 38 Step 1: ch1, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work 1 SC into each chain; at the end of the starting chain, do not turn, ch1, then work 1 SC into the back of each chain. (76) Step 2: work 1 SC into each ch1 and each of the 76 SC worked in Step 1, Sl st to join. Fasten off. Set handle aside, this will be sewn to the basket at the end.
Knit Bag Section
Using orange and dpns, with the outside of the basket facing you, pick up and knit 1 st from t backloopofeachofthe54crochets forstartofrnd.. Rnd 1: \*k8, kfb; repeat from \* to end of round (6o). Rnd 2: \*k8, p2; repeat from \* to end of round. Repeat Rnd 2, until work measures 10 cm (4 inches) as measured from the bottom of the crochetbasket.
Eyelet Top
Rnd 1: Knit to end of round. Rnd 2: \*k3, yo, k2tog, repeat from \* to end of rnd. Rnd 3: Knit to end of round. Bind off all sts.
Knit Leaf and Tendril Drawstring
Using green and two dpns, cast on 1 st, leaving a long tail. Then work Little Leaf, as follows: Little Leaf (worked back and forth in rows) Row 1 (RS): kfb and k into the front of the st again (3sts) Row 2: knit Row 3: kfb, k1, kfb (5) Row 4: knit Row 5: ssk, k1, k2tog (3) Row 6: knit Cord: next, work i-cord for approximately 25 cm (1o inches), using the instructions below: To work i-cord, knit the 3 sts, but do not turn the work. \*Slide sts over to the other end of the dpn, knit the 3 sts; repeat from \* to length. Note: while working i-cord, the yarn is always coming from the wrong edge of the work. Tug yarn firmly when working the first st, to tighten up the cord. Once length is reached, continue by working the Large Leaf at the end of the cord, as follows: Large Leaf (working back and forth in rows again, turning at the end of each row) Row 1: kfb, k1, kfb (5) Row 2: knit Row 3: kfb, k3, kfb (7) Row 4: knit Row 5: ssk, k3, k2tog (5) Row 6: knit Row 7: ssk, k1, k2tog (3) Row 8: knit Row 9: k1, k2tog (2) Row 10: k2tog (1) Fasten off the remaining stitch, leaving a long tail. To make the tendrils at the end of the drawstring, simply loop and knot the tails at the end of each leaf in a few places and trim the ends of the tails to desired length when happy with the look.
Making Up
Using beige yarn, stitch the handle in place to the top crochet round at each side of the basket. You can also use a few stitches to secure the handle to the knit section if required. Thread drawstring through eyelet loops with leaves emerging at the front. Draw up and tie to close the bag. Note: the bag will always look its best when filled with goodies; when it is empty the pumpkin will be somewhat deflated! The bag pictured is filled up to achieve this round shape.
