CATHY: Knitted Project Bag with Pocket
by Deborah Tomasello
CoeDeborah@ AOL.com
This sturdy, strong project bag can be knitted in two sizes: small for small projects like socks, or larger for larger projects. Cathy is named after one of my local knitting pals who is always knitting a neat pair of socks. I think of her when I think of this. The pattern was used in my Ravelry group mystery kal for May. http://www.ravelry.com/groups/colorworksbydebi-deborah-tomasello-designs So many lovely projects emerged from the kal. Join us for the next kal! But knit Cathy first, so you have something to carry the project in! Size: small (large) Materials: For small bag: Approx 50 g each of any two, highly contrasting fingering-weight wools. (Cover uses The Plucky Knitter Lillian Dandy Lion and Lisa Souza’s Hardtwist Petit Merino Bluegrass.) One 16” #3 circular needle, four #3 DPNs (or size needed to obtain gauge), stitch marker, and tapestry Needle 5” plastic lid For large bag: Approx 75g of any two highly contrasting-worsted weight wools. One 16” #7 circular needle, four #7 DPNs (or size needed to obtain gauge), stitch marker, and tapestry needle 7" plasti id Gauge: Not critical in this project Abbreviations: M1 = make one stitch = increase one stitch by knitting in the back loop of the st just knitted K = knit CO=caston BO =bind off K2tog = knit two sts together
Instructions:
Small bag:
Double yarn, and using two #3 DPNs. CO 2 sts leaving long tail for grafting slit shut later. Work back and forth as follows: NOTE: No Purl rows K1 M1 twice. (4 sts) K1 M1, 4 times (8 sts) K1 M1, 8 times (16 sts) Krow (16 sts) K1, K1 M1, 8 times (24 sts) Move 24 sts to 4 DPNs, placing markers every 3 sts (8 groups of 3 sts) Working in the round, K1, K1 M1, K1 8 times around for 32 sts K1M1, K2, K1M1 around for 48 sts K1M1, K4, K1M1 around for 64 sts K1M1, K6, K1M1 around for 80 sts K1M1, K8, K1M1 around for 96 sts K1M1, K10, K1M1 around for 112 sts K1M1, K12, K1M1 around for 128 sts K1M1, K14, K1M1 around for 144 sts K1M1, K16, K1M1 around for 160 sts
Large bag:
Double yarn, and using two #7 DPNs. CO 2 sts leaving long tail for grafting slit shut later. Work back and forth as written above: NOTE: No Purl rows. You will now knit CAHRT A on 160 sts, ( 16 repeats per round) moving to circular needle when the work is large enough to work easily. NOTE: Remember that, up to this point, each st comprises double strands. You will now be working colorwork with one strand per stitch. So, on the first body row, be sure to pick up both strands in each st and knit with one color strand per chart. Work 6 inches for small bag (large:8 inches).
Next round: k5 per chart, BO 2, k around per chart to last 7 sts, BO 2, k last 5 per chart. Next round: k 5 per chart, CO 2 sts over 2 BO last round. K to last 7, CO 2 over 2 BO last time, k last 5 sts per chart. K an additional 10 rounds per chart. Next round: YO, k2tog around. Cut one color, knit with remaining yarn each YO and each st around. K 12 more rounds solid.Bo. Turn solid rounds under to form picot edging on top of bag. Sew down on the inside, being careful to attach 2 rounds below the holes made in the 2-st BO and CO rounds. Soak. Using a 5' plastic lid in the bottom as shown below(7 for larger size), block bag udside down over a jar.stretching gently and flattening the bottom. Let bag dry.
Meanwhile, on 2 DPNs, CO 30 sts (22 sts for larger size). Work stockinette st back and forth until piece is at least square. Knit 7 rows of 2x2 rib, starting with 2 k sts. BO, leaving long tail for sewing to bag. Block flat. Sew into the inside of the bag once it's dry. Knit i-chord 24” long (34” for larger size). BO. Using locking st marker or large safety pin, feed i-chord through one of the holes in top portion of bag and work around to come out the other hole. This is the drawstring. Tie i-chord securely about an inch up from the ends. Make and attach 2 pom-poms to the ends of the i-chord to finish. On the inside, tack several points around above the i-chord to make a casing to hold it in place. (illustrated by dotted line on photograph.)
Finishing:
1 with long tail from CO. Fill with your favorite project and carry it with you! My ravelry group knitters’ May mystery kal projects:
Katycabot
Cpainter
OrangeLauren
