Warning: Knitting and felting is not an exact science. The results vary depending on the yarn you choose, the tension of your knitting, the temperature of the water, the agitation of your washing machine, etc. The fun is in not knowing exactly what will come out. Keep an open mind, and be prepared to occasionally rethink you're original vision for your piece. Hats can become bowls and totes can become clutches.
Finished Measurements (after felting): Approx 11"wide $\times\,10^{\prime\prime}$ high $\times\,3^{\,\prime\prime}$ deep (excluding approximately $29^{\prime\prime}$ strap)
Gauge: Not critical
Yarn:
Purple Colorway Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted $(85\%$ wool, $1\,5\%$ mohair, 190 yds/4 oz) Main Color (MC): 2 skeins Wild Violet M173 Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein Chianti M28 Optional: 3 skeins Crystal Palace Waikiki $g2\%$ rayon, $38\%$ cotton, 105 yds/50 gm, Color $\#3005$ , Purple Days)
Needles:
US Size $10\;1/2\textrm{-}24^{\prime\prime}$ circular needle US Size 10 1/2 double pointed needles
Other Supplies:
Stitch Markers (3 of one color & 1 of a 2nd color, & 2 split ring markers) Stitch Holders Tapestry Needle Oid pillowcase Heavy-duty rubberband 1/4 cup baking soda 1/4 cup detergent
Instructions:
Base:
Using circular needle and MC and novelty yarn held tog, CO 50 sts. Work 30 rows back and forth in garter stitch (knit every row). Next Row: Knit across and place a marker (PM).
Body:
Pick-up stitches around the base: Continuing in the same direction, pick-up and knit 15 sts along the $1^{\mathrm{\,st}}$ short side, PM. Pick-up and knit 50 sts along the cast-on edge, PM. Pick-up and knit 15 sts
Katinka Kuits
Striped, Felted Tote along the $2^{\mathsf{n d}}$ short side and place a different color marker. (130 sts) Body of bag is now worked in the round from bottom to top. Rnd 1: Purl Rnds 2-20 (19 rnds): Knit Dec Rnd: Knit to $1^{\mathrm{\st}}$ marker, $^{*}\!s|$ marker, k1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before the $2^{\mathsf{n d}}$ marker, k2tog, k1, sl marker\* Knit to next marker, repeat from \* to \* to the end of the rnd. (126 sts remain, 13 sts on each short side) Rnds 22-35 (14 rnds): Knit Rnd 36: Change to CC and knit Rnds 37-40 (4 rnds): Knit Rnd 41: Repeat Dec Rnd (122 sts remain, 11 sts on each short side) Rnds 42-57 (15 rnds): Knit Rnd 58: Change to MC and knit Rnds 59-61 (3 rnds): Knit Rnd 62: Repeat Dec Rnd (118 sts remain, 9 sts on each short side) Rnds 63-71 (8 rnds): Knit
Top Edge:
Change to CC and work I-cord BO as follows: $**C O\ 3$ sts and move them to left needle. $\ast\mathrm{K}2$ ssk, slip 3 sts back to left needle\* Rep from \* to \* to next marker. K9, to next marker.\*\* Place 3 rem icord BO sts and 9 sts just worked on a stitch holder. Rep from \*\* to \*\* to the end of rnd. (12 sts on needle)
Straps:
\*Pick-up and knit 3 sts from beg of I-cord BO on the left side of the strap, K12 (15 sts on needle). Straps are worked back and forth from edges of bag upward and grafted tog in the middle. Next Row: K1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1 (12 sts rem) Next Row: K9, yf, sl 3, turn Rep last row, in stripe pattern as follows: Strap Stripe Pattern: 16 rows: CC 10 rows: MC 6 rows: CC 4 rows: MC 2 rows: CC 74 rows: MC 2 rows: CC 4 rows: MC Place rem 12 sts on a holder.\* Place 12 sts from the 1st holder on a double-pointed needle, and repeat from \* to \*. Place held strap sts on a needle and graft the two ends of the strap together, being careful not to twist straps. (Note: Since this bag will be felted, you may use a 3-needle BO to join the ends of the strap.)
I.r laut Uag Il all Uiu pillowcase and secure the open end with a heavy-duty rubber band. 2. Place pillowcase in washing machine with approximately $^1/\!_{4}$ cup detergent and approximately $^1/_{4}$ cup baking soda. 3. Set washer on lowest water level, highest agitation, and hottest wash, and run through cycle. 4. Open pillowcase to check your bag.
Katinka Kuits
Striped, Felted Tote
Abbreviations
BO - bind off CC - constrast color CO - cast on gm - grams K1 - knit one stitch k2tog - knit two stitches together MC - main color OZ- ounces PM - place marker Rem - remain/remaining Rep - repeat Rnd - round sl - slip one stitch ssk - slip one stitch as if to knit, slip a second stitch as if to knit, and knit the two slipped stitches together. sts - stitches yds - yards You may need to repeat this process, until the bag is a size you like, or until you can no longer see the knitted stitches.
Easy -Intermediate Advanced
Optional Colorway: Teal
Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted ( $85\%$ wool, $1\,5\%$ mohair, $190\ \mathrm{yds}/4\ \mathrm{oz})$ $\clubsuit$ Main Color (MC): 2 skeins Persian Peacock M124 $\clubsuit$ Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein Spruce M52 Optional: 3 skeins Crystal Palace Waikiki $42\%$ rayon, $38\%$ cotton, 105 yds/50 gm, color used has been discontinued. One possible substitute is Color $\#3007$ , Seafoam) Note: The bag pictured here was continued for one more stripe and one more decrease round than are described in the pattern.
