GAUGE: 10 sts = 4"; 14 rows = 4" in St st with 2 strands
before felting. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needle to
obtain the gauge.
SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS: K5B (Knit in the st 5 rows below) = slip next st
off left needle and unravel it for 4 rows; insert point of right
needle into the stitch on the 5th row down under the unraveled strands
and Knit the stitch catching the strands behind it at the same time.
NOTE: Felting is not an exact science due to the
many different variables, however up to 25% of the height and 15%
of the width may be lost in the felting process.
BASE: With one strand each of CA and CB held together
(CA/CB), cast on 45 sts. K 13 rows. Pick up and K6 sts across first
short edge, 45 sts across cast-on edge, and 6 sts across last short
edge – 102 sts.
BAG: Place marker to indicate beg/end of rnd.
K every rnd until approximately 113/4" above base, inc 2 sts
evenly spaced on the last rnd – 104 sts.
DO NOT CUT YARN.
Join double strand of CC.Work
upper pat as follows:
Rnd 1: With CC/CC, K. Rnd 2: With CC/CC, P. Rnds 3-6: With CA/CB, K 4 rnds. Rnd 7: With CC/CC, * K3, K5B;
rep from * around. Rnd 8: With CC/CC, P. Rnds 9-12: With CA/CB, K 4 rnds. Rnd 13: With CC/CC, * K1, K5B,
K2; rep from * around. Rnds 14-20: Rep Rnds 2-8. Cut CC/CC. Rnd 21: With CA/CB, K 1 rnd.
Work Cable bind-off as follows: * sl next 2 sts from left needle
onto a cable needle and leave at front, K next 2 sts from left needle
and bind one off, then K first st from cable needle and bind one
off, K next st from cable needle and bind one off; rep
from * across.
Handle Tabs (Make 4): With CA/CB, cast on 6 sts.
K 12 rows. Bind off.
Flowers (Make 4): With ONE strand CC, cast on
10 sts. Row 1: K, inc in each st across – 20 sts. Row 2: K, inc in each st across – 40 sts.
Bind off as follows: K1, * yo, sl the K st over the yo, K1, sl the
yo over the K st; rep from * across.
FINISHING:Weave in all loose ends. Felting: Place
all pieces (bag, handle and flower pieces) in the washing machine
in the smallest
load with hottest water setting and a small amount of liquid detergent
through one wash (agitation only) cycle. (Option: 1 tablespoon of
baking soda in the wash may speed the felting process.) Remove bag
and check on amount of felting during this process. Two or more
wash cycles may be needed before you will be satisfied with the
effect. Repeat until pieces are felted and bag is desired size.
Rinse in cold water to stop the felting process and to remove the
soap.
Pull pieces into shape and allow to dry away from sun or heat for
a day or two.
Felting will cause a certain amount of pilling which is easily removed
by brushing briskly with a hard nylon brush.
Once pieces are dry, attach handles to bag with the handle tabs.
Coil the flower strips into a rose shape as pictured and attach
to bag.
