Take this classic motif and bag style and make it modern and fresh with these fun and bright colors. It’s the perfect summer bag for all of your adventures.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: About 9½” wide x 12¾” tall (not including handle)
Gauge: Each motif = 4¼” after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 110 yards [101 meters]/50 grams): 24655 Orange (A), 1 ball; 24272 Jalapeno (B), 1 ball; 25064 Semolina (C), 1 ball; 25983 Peapod (D), 3 balls.
Hook: US size G/6 (4 mm)
Notions: Tapestry needle; two ½” diameter Dowel ( about 8½” long); fabric glue (optional)
Special Stitches
Puff Stitch
(Yo, insert hook in st, yo, draw through 1 lp) 4 times in same st (9 lps on hook), yo, draw through all lps.
Beginning Cluster (Beg CL)
Ch 3, (yo, insert hook in sp indicated, yo, draw up a lp, yo, draw through 2 lps) twice in same st, yo, draw through 3 lps on hook.
Cluster (CL)
(Yo, insert hook in st or sp, yo, draw up a lp, yo, draw through 2 lps) 3 times in same st or sp, yo, draw through 4 lps on hook.
Pattern Notes
This bag is made up of motifs worked separately and joined to create the front and back of the bag.
Pattern
Bag
Motif Square (make 12)
With A, ch 5, join with sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 4, (counts as dc, ch-1 sp), (dc, ch 1) 15 times in ring, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4. Fasten off A – 16 ch-1 sp.
Rnd 2: With RS facing, join B in any ch-1 sp, ch 3, (Puff Stitch, ch 1) in each ch-1 sp around, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off B.
Rnd 3: With RS facing, join C in any ch-1 sp, Beg CL in same sp, *(ch 1, CL) in next 3 ch-1 sp, ch 3**, CL in next ch-1 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once more. Fasten off C – 16 CL.
Rnd 4: With RS facing, join D in any ch-3 sp, ch 3, work 2 dc in same sp (half-corner made), *3 dc in next 3 ch-1 sp**, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp (corner made); rep from * twice, then from * to ** once more, 3 dc in same sp as beg half-corner, ch 3, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 (corner complete).
Fasten off. Block each motif.
Front
Assembly
With D, join squares using preferred seaming technique, following photo as a guide.
Rnd 1: Join with sl st in any ch-3 corner (working a short side first), ch 3, dc in same sp, dc around in each st around, working 3 dc in each corner, join with sl st.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in each st around, working 3 dc in center st in each corner, ending with dc in beg corner st, sl st to join. Do not fasten off.
Note: Rep Rnd 2 for a larger bag.
Handles
Row 1: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 13 sts, turn – 14 sts.
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in next 14 sts, turn.
Rep Row 2 until Handle meas 4”.
Fasten off.
Sk center sts, rejoin yarn 14 sts from end, ch 3, dc in each st across last 14 sts, turn.
Next Row: Ch 3, dc in each st across until this side of Handle meas 4”.
Fasten off.
Work Back same as Front.
Finishing
Block Front and Back.
Sew Front to Back along the sides and bottom.
Fold tops of handle towards the inside of the bag, leaving a wide enough opening to insert dowel, sew in place.
Weave in all ends. Insert dowel.
(Optional) Place a few dabs of glue onto the ends of the dowel after inserting in Handles. 