Bridie Reliquary Bag
by E.A. Kelley Once, long ago I had a beautiful dog named Bridie. She was a keen Chow /Golden Retriever mix with a wonderful, downy, auburn under-coat. The idea to spin her hair came across my mind and so I gather her undercoat one year and stowed it away for a later date. Some time later I felt the urge to spin the fleece. As I examined it, I realized it Would be best blended with another fiber, I had some dreamy merino lamb's fleece that I thought would go nicely and so I combine the two. As I spun the yarn I started fall quite deeply in love with it; not only for its ethereal halo, but for its attractive muted yet bold color. I knew this yarn had to become something that would be just as precious to me as the yarn and dog were to me. I thought about it for a while and decided a bag to hold all my precious possessions would be the perfect solution and so the Bridie Reliquary Bag was born. SIZE One size $5\,\%$ inches wide by 5 inches high
MATERIALS
Fiber: Mountain View Weavery [fiber content; Merino]; color: natural; 2 ounces Bridie's Hair [fiber content; Chow/Golden Retriever undercoat]; color: Bridie Red; 1 ounces ( I would like to suggest Angora, Yak, or Quivet as comparable substitutes for this fiber)
This should produce approximately 40 yards of yarn with a thick/thin quality to it Both fibers started out as Fleece and were blended with a 72 point Ashford set of carders. Commercial alternative: [MC] Plymouth, Encore Chunky $[75\%$ Acrylic, $25\%$ Wool; 143yd/131m per $100g/3.53$ Oz skeinl; color: 1201; 1 ball 5 US #7/4.5mm double-point needles Darning needle Stitch marker SPINDLE Semi-circular, top-whorl, 2.75 ounce drop spindle
WRAPS PER INCH 6 (1-4 twists per inch)
DRAFTING METHOD
A combination of Worsted and Inch worm GAUGE 4 sts/5 rows $=1^{11}$ in stockinette stitch
PATTERN NOTES
CO- cast on K2tog- knit 2 stitches together YO- yarn over K- knit P- purl
PATTERN
Iop: CO 40 stitches and distribute evenly over 4 needles. Join for working in the round by placing the first stitch on the last needle, bring the last stitch over the first stitch (as if you were binding off), and place on the first needle. Mark the end of the round. Knit even for 3 rounds. R1: \*K2tog, YO\* Repeat for entire round R2: Knit even Body: R1: $^{\star}\mathrm{K}1$ $\mathrm{P1^{\star}}$ repeat for entire round R2: $\mathrm{{}^{\ast}P1}$ $\mathrm{K}1^{\ast}$ repeat for entire round Continue repeating Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 4 inches from the top Bottom: R1: $^{\ast}\mathrm{K}2\mathrm{tog}^{\ast}$ repeat for entire round R2: \*K2tog, K1, $\mathrm{K}2\mathrm{tog}^{\ast}$ repeat for entire round R3: $^{\ast}\mathrm{K}2\mathrm{tog}^{\ast}$ repeat for entire round R4: Knit even
FINISHING
Cut yarn and, using a darning needle, thread tail through remaining stitches, pull tail through the center of the stitches to the inside. Weave in ends. CO on 3 stitches and make a 22 inch I-cord or make a 22 inch crochet chain. Finally thread I-cord or crochet chain through the eyelets on top of bag and pull tight.
