a simple yarn

Have you ever begun a project with great enthusiasm, only to have it repose on the shelf in a state of hopeless unfinished-ness?

Okay, so I’m a few months tardy, but I’ve finally finished the Autumn Vertical Stripe Messenger Bag intended for the Dublin Knit Collective October Show n Tell. Well, sort of… While the pattern is not complete, I’m calling this one done and moving on. I had great hopes of creating a pattern for this felted messenger bag to prove that the first one I had made was not a fluke. But feeling like a sprinter in a field of long-distance runners, I’ve run out of steam and so I post this almost-complete-pattern with absolutely no step-by-step pictures…

Autumn Vertical Stripe Messenger Bag

Yarn:
Lamb’s Pride worsted weight, used double strand
2 skeins – Spice
1 skein – Oregano
1 skein – Rust
1 skein – Gold
1 skein – Purple
1 skein – Turquoise

Needles: US 11/8mm straight needles
Gauge: 12 sts x 17 rows – 4 inch square

CO 96 sts
Knit in stockinette stitch until work measures approximately 18 inches, changing colours at random intervals for striping.
Bind off (BO) all sts.

With right side facing, turn the work sideways and along a short side of the work, pick up 68 sts.
Knit stockinette for approximately 6 inches. With right side of work facing:
K12, Bind Off (BO)10, K24, BO10, K12
P12, Cast On (CO)10, P24, CO10, P12
Knit garter stitch for 6 rows.
Bind off (BO) all sts.

FLAP and TABS
With right side facing, pick up 68 sts on other short side.
Knit 6 rows in a garter stitch.
BO12, K10, BO24, K10, BO12

For each tab—
Knit garter stitch for 12 rows.
Next row SSK, K6, K2tog
Knit 1 row plain
Next row SSK, K4, K2tog
Knit 1 row plain
Next row SSK, K2, K2tog
Knit 1 row plain
Next row SSK, K2tog
K2tog

GUSSET & STRAP
CO 7 sts
Knit stockinette, for first side of gusset, with random striping or in a solid colour if you choose, until piece extends about 1 inch past the side of the bag—approximately 16 inches.
End with a wrong side row.

To knit strap, slip work to dpns of the same size as working needles.
With right side facing, K4, yarn forward, slip next 3 sts purlwise to right hand needle
Turn work
K4, yarn forward, slip next 3 sts purlwise to right hand needle
Turn work
Repeat until strap measures approximately…..

Warning: Great Unfinished Diversion Ahead
Right, so I didn’t measure how long the strap should be. Arg. Anyway, in pre-felted form, it was long, REALLY long—60 inches perhaps? But the Lamb’s Pride shrinks quite efficiently and ended up the right length. So, here is where you use your best judgment and you have my apologies for being air-headed…

So, after making your strap as long as you like, then knit the 7 sts in stockinette for the second gusset, working until it is like the first side of the gusset, approximately 16 inches long. Make sure that the right side of your work is oriented to the same side as the other side of the gusset.

CONSTRUCTING THE BAG
Before washing, using the same yarn in whatever colour choice, stitch the gusset into the sides of the bag. For extra definition, using a contrasting colour, I did a single crochet around the side edges of the bag.

Single Crochet Instructions
Work from right to left with the right side of the knitting facing you. Insert hook into knitting stitch, yarn over hook, pull loop of yarn through the knitting to the front, yarn over hook, and pull it through the first loop. *Insert hook into next stitch of knitting yarn over hook, pull loop of yarn through stitch, yarn over hook, and pull through both loops on hook. Repeat from * to end.

FELTING
I tossed the whole lot into the front loading washer, threw in some old tennis shoes for good agitation, added a small amount of wool wash, put it on 60° C and let it go. When it comes out in all its shrunken glory, let air dry. Add snaps to the tabs for closures and it’s done.

And here’s hoping that someone is able to finish one!