Striped Felted Bag
By Christie Pruitt MATERIALS: Worsted weight, 100% wool, 220 yards each, in a natural color, 1 skein for each color desired Size 10.5 Circular Knitting Needle, 32" 10-12 packages of Kool-Aid Unsweetened drink mix, 2 in each color of choice. (or more if you want a more intense color.) I chose Green Apple, Cherry, Grape, Strawberry, Lemonade, Orange and Berry Blue. Large Spaghetti Pot, Tongs, Colander Washing Machine Stitch Holder HOW TO DYE You will want to dye your yarm in hanks, rather than in skeins. f you purchased your yar in skeins, and don't have an umbrella swift, then unwind the skein around the back of a chair and tie in at least 4 places, evenly spaced. this will prevent yarn tangling during the dyeing process. Hold the hank lengthwise in each hand, and twist loosely, then fold it double until the whole hank twists. Pull one end through the other end to secure. To begin, fill a large spaghetti pot with water, about i" from the rim. Bring to a boil on high heat. When the water begins to churn, add your Kool-Aid drink mix, (2 or more packages, depending on intensity of color) Stirto dissolve. Reduce heat to medium high,then ad your hank. using yourtongs, push the yarn into the waterto saturate. Using the tongs, movethe yarn around in the waterto achieve an even dye. if you would rather have a more "mottled" look, then let the hank simmer and don't turn. Allow the hank to simmer for at least 10 minutes, or until the water starts to turn clear using tongs. remove the hane from the pot and place in a containerto transport itto yoursink. Allow itto drain in the colander until cool. NoTE: Yarn will be hot and steamy! Be careful handling it! Continuethis processwith each hank and each coloryou chose. You wil haveto change outthe waterin the dye pot if there is color remaining and you are changing colors. Once the hanks are dyed, rinse them in your sink in warm tap water and squeeze out the excess. Then place them in yourwashing machine onthe spin cycle, and spin out the excess water. Hang the hanks to dry, alowing at least 6to & hours of drying time. oncethe hanes are completely dry you may wind theminto centerpull ballsif you havea ball winder f you do not, you can wrap them around the back of a chair untie them, and slowly wind them into a ball. or have someone hold the hane so that winding is easier! You are now ready to knit! GAUGE: (unfelted) 3.5 stitches $^+$ 4 rows = 1" Bag Measurements (before felting) 28"tall 21.25" wide Approx. 5.75" deep 56" strap Bag Measurements (after felting) 13.5" tall X 16" wide About 3" deep 18" drop from strap Cast On Go stitches Knit 22 rows in stockinette stitch, beginning with a purl row, ending aftercompleting Row 22, on the right side. Pick up 22 stitches from the next short edge of piece, pick up 60 from the long edge of piece, pick up 22 from remaining short edge of piece. Place marker. (164 stitches) Purl one row. Wore inthe round, in any colorsequence you choose (1 knit 4" of each color) until bag measures 28" from punl ridge. STRAP Remove marker bind offthe next 66 stitches, knit 11, place these last 12 stitches on a holder, bind off the next F0, knit 11, bind off remaining 5. Worethelast12 stitchesthat youjust knit, by ataching yarm at beginning ofright side row and work as follows: NOTE: watch yourgauge at thispoint! Nowthat you are knitting and puring, yourgauge may be slightly loserortighterthan when youwere nitting inthe roud.fyourgaugeistoo looe, thestrap will be too long, and if your gauge is tootight, the strap will be too small! Slip first stitch as ifto purl, knit the next 11, turn Slip first stitch as ifto purl, purl the next 11, turn Repeat these 2 rows until strap measures 56". Kitchener stitch this strap to the waiting 12 stitches on the remaining holder. CLOSURE There are 2 closures to choose from. Forthe first closure (pictured on page 1), omit the flap instructions and knithei-cod only. LoopClosure Knit a 4 stitch i-cord for24". Seam both ends ofi-cord togetherto form one large loop. FLapp Cast on 11 stitches and work in stockinette stitch until flap measures 6", ending on wrong side. Shape as follows: Row 1: knit 4, k2tog, knit 5 Row 2: purlrow 4: purl 2, cast on 6, purl 2 Row 3: knit 2, bind off 6, knit 1 Work 4 more rows then bind off Attach flapto center back of purse, with wrong sides of bag and flap facing you. Trim all yarn ends before felting!
FEUTING
Set washerto Heavy Soil, Hot wash/cold Rinse, and place bag and i-cord in a zippered lingerie bag. Add a small amount of liquid laundry detergent to the water and alow the washerto complete one cycle. (1f you used Knit picks yar, one trip through the wash is all you should need. Other wools may take Longerto felt.) Checke bag often! You may haveto shape the strap as it felts to prevent curing. Attaching the Loop Closure: For first closure: lay bag flat, so front is facing you. With a sharp pair of scissors, cut a small hole about 2" from top of bag, in the center. Make a matching hole on the back side ofthe bag. Your i-cord will serve as the closure.
For second closure, while bag is wet, lay flat, so front of bag is facing you. with a sharp pair of scissors, cut a small hole about 3" from the top ofthe bag, in the center. (Use the flap to check the hole's location if you want to.) Cut another hole about a half an inch above the first one. Place youri-cord loopthrough the first hole, intothe inside ofthe bag,then pull the same end through the second hole toward you,tothe outside ofthe bag. You should now have 2vertical loops, with asmall section of bag holding it in place. Toclose: Sliptoploopthrough holeinfap,slip same loopthroughthe remaining bottomloopand cinch tight. Allowto dry completely, usually overnight. Enjoy! care of your Bag Toss it in the washer on a delicate cycle in the zippered lingerie bag. Use a cold wash/cold rinse. You may toss itinthe dryeralsoto speed drying, but checkit often! The kool-aid colors should not fade over time, unless the bag is exposed to excess sunlight. Copyright 2006-2007 christie Pruitt
