Felted Wool Handle SUMMER STRIPES LARGE PURSE BAG
Felted Wool Handle SUMMER STRIPES large Purse Bag All knit from the bottom to the top!
The Knitty Details..
? US circular knitting needles size 15 ( Ilove to use Addi Turbo'sthe yarn just glides right off of the needles!) $\circledcirc$ Tapestry needle to weave in ends $\circledcirc$ CASCADE 220 wool yarn; I used 7 different colors of Cascade 220 in shades of pinks, coral, yellow and leaf green. You can choose as many colors as you would like or even knit this in one solid color! $\circledcirc$ View the entire Cascade 220 color choices at the following website: 1. http:/www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-220.asp $\circledcirc$ FINISHED SIZE: Base of bucket purse is approx. 14" wide x 16" deep $\circledcirc$ TECHNICAL ELEMENTS: FELTING, KNITTING IN THE ROUND, DECREASING Heather's Hot Tip: The first time you knit a bag like this, keep really good notes...Then you will be able to refer to them as you knit these bags in the future! The possibilities for shapes in this style of knitting are endless!Just rememberyou will needmore
yarn!
1. You will be knitting this purse in the round from the top to the bottom. 2. Begin by casting on 120 stitches. Place a marker after stitch 60 and stitch 120. That will mark the middle and the end of each round. \*\*Do not twist the yarn in the first row when kniting in the round\*\* 3. Work in the round for 3 rounds. (For the purse in the picture, I knit the initial 3 rounds. If you would like a wider handle at the top, knit here for some additional rounds. I would suggest a total of 4-5 rounds, not more than that.) 4. For the next two rounds, you will be binding off some stitches and then in the next round you will be casting them back on. This will create the handle for the purse. 5. Next round knit as follows: k17, bind off 26, k34, bind off 26, k17 6. Next round knit as follows: k17, cast on 26, k34, cast on 26, k17 7. Knit in the round for 3 additional rounds in the medium pink color (or your desired color). 8. Decrease row as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together (You decreased by 4 total stitches. Now there are 116 total stitches in the round.) 9. Switch colors to deep pink. Knit for 9 rounds. 10.Switch colors to bright orange. Knit for 8 rounds. 11.Switch colors to medium pink. Knit first (one) round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 112 stitches now) 12.Knit for 5 additional rounds in medium pink. 13.Switch colors to pea green. Knit two rounds. 14.In pea green, Knit one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 108stitches now) 15.In pea green, knit for an additional 2 rounds. 16.Switch colors to pale yellow. Knit for 2 rounds. 17.Switch colors to peachy pink. Knit for 5 rounds. 18.In peachy pink, Knit one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 104 stitches now) 19.Switch colors to pale pink. Knit for 4 rounds. 20.Switch colors to pea green, knit 2 rounds. 21. In pea green, Knit one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 100 stitches now) 22.In pea green, knit for an additional 5 rounds. 23.Switch colors to medium pink. Knit for 3 rounds. 24.In medium pink, Knit one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 96 stitches now) 25. In medium pink, knit for 1 additional round. 26.Switch colors to pale pink. Knit for 2 rounds. 27.Switch colors to pale yellow. Knit for 4 rounds. 28.In pale yellow, Knit one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 92 stitches now) 29.In pale yellow, knit for an additional 2 rounds. 30.Switch colors to deep pink. Knit for 5 rounds. 31.In deep pink, Knit one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 88 stitches now) 32.In deep pink, knit for an additional 1 round. 33.Switch colors to pea green. Knit for 2 rounds. 34.Switch colors to peachy pink, Knit for 5 rounds. 35. In peachy pink, Knit one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 84 stitches now) 36.Switch colors to light pink. Knit for 3 rounds. 37.Switch colors to pale yellow. Knit for 3 rounds. 38.Switch colors to deep pink. Knit for 4 rounds. 39.Switch colors to medium pink AND PURL one round while decreasing as follows: 1. Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 together, marker (you decreased 4 stitches here to make a total of 80 stitches now) \*\*Now at this point it is time to start shaping for the bottom. However,if you want your striped tote to be even TALLER, just add some additional rounds here keeping with the same striping technique!\*\* IMPORTANT: Now you will be knitting and decreasing every row until about 56 stitches remain...The decreasing is the same. You will decrease by 4 stitches every row. 1. For the next 8-10 rounds, you will decrease every row as follows: : Knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before the marker, knit 2 together, marker, knit 2 together, knit to 2 stitches before the marker, knit 2 together, marker. (you will be decreasing by 4 stitches every round) : You will be creating an oval shaped base. 2. Cut the yarn, leaving a $\pmb{24^{\circ}}$ tail. Pull the tail through all of the remaining stitches. Pull through tightly. 3. I find it helpful to turn the purse inside out to weave in all of the yarn ends from changing colors. Trim all ends after securing them. 4. Turn the purse right side out and you are ready to felt! 5. See my hint and tip guide for felting instructions! The purse pictured was felted about 4 times to achieve the desired size and look just to give you some context. While drying you may find it to be helpful to turn it upside down and stand it up.
