Sunday, October 01, 2006

Samm's Bag - knit

Samm Bag

SAMM’s BAG

Materials: Worsted weight yarn, appox. 550 yards
Size 7 circular needles 24” & 36”
Stitch Markers
½ inch elastic (for top of bag)
Piece of plastic canvas (for bottom of bag)
Fabric for lining (approx ½ yard)



Directions:

Cast on 45 stitches
Knit for 45 rows (garter stitch), slipping 1st st purlwise at beginning of each row

At end of last row, pick up and knit 23 across side, place marker (pm)
Pick up and knit 45, pm, pick up and knit 23, pm, knit 45, pm (different color for beginning of row) (136 sts)
Purl 1 round
Work seed stitch over 23, knit 45, seed over 23, knit 45
Work one row even (always work seed stitch over 23 side stitches)
Increase Round: K2, inc, *k4, inc* to last 3, inc, K2 (154 sts)
Work 2 rows even
Work Inc Round (174 sts)
Work 2 rows even
Work Inc Round (202 sts)
Work even (no increases) until front & back measure 8 ½” from purl row to top
Decrease Round: K2, dec, *K4, dec*, to last 2 sts, K2 (176 sts)
Work 2 rows even
Work Dec Round (154 sts)
Work 2 rows even
Work Dec Round (136 sts)
Work 2 rows even
Work 5 rows seed stitch putting side seed stitches on holder on last row
Work back and forth across front in stockinette stitch for 5 rows, bind off
Attach yarn to back and work in st st for 5 rows, bind off

Set bag aside and work strap as follows:

Provisional cast on 23 stitches.
Work seed stitch 2 rows.
Dec 1 stitch each edge next row (21 sts)
Work even in seed stitch
Repeat last 2 rows until 7 stitches remain
Work even in seed stitch until strap measures 20”
Inc 1 stitch each edge nest row (9 sts)
Work even in seed stitch
Repeat last 2 rows until 23 stitches remain
Work even for 2 more rows
(do NOT bind off)

Attach straps to bag using 3 needle bind off.

Pick up and knit 23 stitches on inside of strap join.
Work St. St. for 5 rows, bind off
Repeat on other end of strap edge.

FINISHING:
Cut plastic canvas to fit in bottom of bag and attach to bag with a few stitches on the corners.
Line bag with fabric.
Fold over the 5 st. st. rows at top and sew to lining (leaving an opening for elastic)
Cut elastic to about 1” less than you want top opening to be and thread it through top of bag. Sew ends of elastic and opening of lining.

Optional:
Attach button about 1” from top of center front.
Attach a crocheted chain to center top of back of purse to loop around button.