A little bit of writing, a little bit of knitting...

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Sentimental Stripes Felted Tote Pattern

Someone asked about this pattern last week, when I brought my bag to S&B -- so I wrote it up. If you have any questions, feel free to email me...

If you'd like to see another version of the bag, check out the one I made for my sister-in-law.


Stripey Tote: Post Felting Posted by Picasa

Sentimental Stripes Felted Tote

Materials:

For the main color (MC), I used wool recycled from a thrift store sweater (crafty of me, don’t you think?). I used around 750 yards

For everything else:
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes [100% wool; 110 yards]:
1 ball Blue Bonnet (CC1)
1 ball Tulip (CC2)
1 ball Avocado (CC3)

#10½ circular needle
stitch holders

Directions:

To knit the base, CO55 sts. using MC
Work in garter stitch (knit all rows) for 40 rows

Pick up stitches around the base of the bag: 19 sts. on the two short sides and 55 sts. on the long side. Place a marker to signify the beginning of the round. (You should now have 148 sts on your needle)

Join and continue in the round, working in stockinette stitch (knit all rounds). Now comes the sentimental part. I created my stripes based on important numbers/dates (for instance, I did 10 rounds of blue and 6 rounds of pink to signify my anniversary, October 6). You can pick your own numbers for your stripes (as long as they add up to 110 rounds), or you can follow my pattern, which is:

12 rounds MC
10 rounds CC1
5 rounds MC
6 rounds CC2
7 rounds MC
20 rounds CC3
7 rounds MC
5 rounds CC2
6 rounds MC
7 rounds CC1
25 rounds MC

(NOTE: If you decide to make up your own stripe pattern, keep in mind that 1 ball of Wool of the Andes adds up to about 20 rounds)

To finish the top of the bag:
K12 and place on holder
BO31 (I used an I-cord bind-off, but any old bind-off will do)
K12 and place on holder
BO19 (this is the short side of the bag)
K12 and place on holder
BO31
K12 and place on holder
BO19 (for the other short side)

To knit the handles:
Place 12 stitches from the first holder on a needle and attach a double strand of MC.
Work flat in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 170 rows (or desired length)
Graft stitches to the 12 stitches on the second holder, using Kitchener stitch

Repeat for second handle, working from the stitches on the third holder and grafting them to the stitches on the fourth holder.

Finishing:
Sew in all ends.
Felt and shape.
Stuff with plastic grocery bags to hold shape and hang to dry.

46 Comments:

Blogger Shelly said...

Your Sentimental Stripes Tote is gorgeous!

3:05 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

Thanks so much Shelly! I needed a[nother] nice big bag to lug all my [knitting] stuff around in, and this is turned out to be just the perfect size. And I loved working with the KnitPicks yarn -- the colors were even more gorgeous than I expected!

3:16 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HI,
Love your felted tote, and want to knit one, could you give me the size of the bag after felting, and exactly how much yarn did you need?
Thanks
Shirley
Shirpick@aol.com

6:32 PM

 
Blogger Snarsh said...

Basically I want to reask all the questions that the anonymous poster asked.

I love the bag, i'm wondering how big it is in the end. Also the total yardage (i'm confused because of striping) as I'm planning on doing this in all one colour (variegated).

Thanks.
Angela

6:09 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

Hi Angela,

The finished size is about 14h x 14w x 4d (though it all depends on your yarn and how well it felts). Total yardage is about 1080. If you'd like, I can send you a PDF of the pattern -- just email me (kdk at nightsandweekends.com).

11:49 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this pattern. I am
very excited about it. I can't wait to make one. May I know if 10 1/2 x24" circular needle would work? Just single strand , right?
Tessa

8:37 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

Hi Tessa,
Just a single strand -- and a 24" circ should work just fine. When it comes to working with circular needles, I think the most imporatant thing is which one you feel comfortable using. I use Denise needles, so I tend to add cable and take it away whenever I feel the need. After you finish your bag, be sure to send me a picture -- I'd love to see it!

8:32 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm almost done the knitting part - I can't wait to see how it felts up. It's my first felting project. I used totally different colors, but it was so easy.

1:37 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

Hi Tammy! Felting is so much fun -- and totally addictive! I'd love to see how your bag turns out! Email me a picture when it's done at kdk at nightsandweekends dot com.

1:40 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

Deegees -- I'd be happy to work out a smaller size for you. Email me at kdk at nightsandweekends.com, and we can figure out the right size together.

9:06 AM

 
Blogger Jenifer said...

Hi, I have a question about the stripes. If you don't add up to 110, can you just knit the difference in the main color above or below the striped pattern?
Thanks in advance. I look forward to making this bag for my best friend, and really want to use her special numbers.

3:02 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

Hi Jenifer! If your friend's numbers don't add up to 110, just use a little extra from your background color. Send me a picture when you finish -- I'd love to see it!

4:02 PM

 
Blogger Jenifer said...

Help! I think I messed up. I ended my bag with one color, but want my straps to be another color. Can I do this and still use the kitchener stitch to connect them? I have never done kitchener before, and can't find anything in my books about using different colors. (I already did my bind offs.)
ALSO-
I already bound off, and made a counting error. I have now 3 sections with 13, and one with 11, in between my bind offs.
So, I think I can fudge by starting with the 11 and doing an increase on the strap. Do you think this will felt up ok, or will I see the increase very much?
Have never felted before either.
Any suggestions will be helpful.
Jenifer

10:39 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have made 2 of these. My 16 year old grandaughter loved it so much I made her one for her birthday. I am ready to start one for my daughters birthday. Thank you so very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chris

10:59 AM

 
Blogger Chris said...

Love this bag. Have made three of these. One for my grandaughter, one for my daughter and one for me. So very simple to do. Made two in yellow, black blue and red and one in red white and blue Thx again so much

12:51 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is this the same one that was in the Pattern a Day calendar 2007?

9:04 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i love the bag!

but... how do you knit with a circular needle?

1:17 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How do you pick up the stitches around the edges to knit in the round? I just finished the base of the bag and have been trying to find out how to pick up the sts all morning.

10:46 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi I just started the handles. the St st is curling. I was slipping the first st of each row, but it's not helping much. How do you do yours?

6:33 PM

 
Blogger Gabriela Mendez said...

I am so excited to have almost finished my first bag/felted project. I'm at the part where I start knitting the handles, but I'm not sure what you mean by "attach 2 strands of the MC." Where/how do I attach it? Thank you!

11:54 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm guessing you might not be checking comments here anymore... But I love your bag and am looking forward to starting on it!
However, I'm curious what size circ you used... I see that you told someone 24 inch would work, but would 16 be ok? Do you remember what length you used? Thank you for your help!

11:45 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i am looking for a hobo felted purse or totes. not like the shopping hobo bags, the one i am looking for has got 1 short handle and 1 long one ,the handles slips throught the short handle. i have been looking for this free pattern for at lease a yr. hope you put one up i know it would be just great. thanks bonnie

10:51 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, I love this bag! I've been searching the internet for a felted tote bag pattern and now I've found it. Yeah!! I want to order the yarn asap and have a question. Are you using worsted weight yarn or bulky weight Wool of the Andes. I want to make sure I order the right one. Thanks so much!!!

5:49 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

I used worsted weight, but I'm sure bulky would work, too, if you want to make the bag a little heavier.

Happy knitting!
k

7:53 AM

 
Anonymous Eastporter said...

Hi there! Love this bag, but I think I want to knit it in bulky and I'm having trouble figuring out how much yarn I'd need. Do you know what your gauge was in worsted?

3:34 PM

 
Blogger kdk said...

When you're felting, guage doesn't really matter. Just make sure that your fabric is nice and loose (for bulky yarn, I'd probably try using 15s -- or maybe even larger). How much yarn you'll need, though...well, that's a tough question. Less than you would using worsted, but I'm not sure how much less. I'd guess about 2/3 what you'd need in worsted, but I can't guarantee that. Sorry!

3:47 PM

 
Anonymous Cialis Generico said...

Nice post! thanks for sharing!

7:35 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel fairly confident in my knitting skills but now need to find the confidence to tackle this tote bag. I love it! I think it's the handles that are freaking me out. Thanks for the post.

2:31 PM

 
Anonymous kdk said...

No need to freak out about the handles! They're just straight stockinette with a little bit of Kitchener in the end. The Kitchener stitch is surprisingly simple -- and, really, if you can't quite get the hang of it, you can always bind off and stitch the handles on.

Happy knitting!

2:47 PM

 
Anonymous www.santa-cruz-3d.com said...

Thanks for your article, quite useful piece of writing.

1:12 PM

 
Anonymous brazilian jiu jitsu said...

I'm impressed. You're truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. I'm saving this for future use.

6:53 AM

 
Anonymous removing skin moles said...

Thanks for making such a cool post which is really very well written. Will be referring a lot of friends about this. Keep blogging

1:38 AM

 
Anonymous skin moles removal said...

I was very happy that I discovered this website. I needed to thank you for this excellent information!! I undoubtedly appreciated every bit of it and I have bookmarked your blog to check out the new stuff you post down the road.

1:32 AM

 
Anonymous travacor review said...

I am very enjoyed for this blog. Its an informative topic.It help me very much to solve some problems. Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy.I think it may be help all of you.Thanks a lot for enjoying this beauty blog with me.

2:12 AM

 
Anonymous mma gear online said...

Interesting post and thanks for sharing. Some things in here I have not thought about before.Thanks for making such a cool post which is really very well written. Will be referring a lot of friends about this. Keep blogging

5:21 AM

 
Anonymous catering supplies uk said...

Thanks for sharing Interesting post. Thanks for taking this opportunity to discuss this, I appreciate with this and I like learning about this subject. If possible, as you gain information, please update this blog with more information. I have found it really useful.

8:29 AM

 
Anonymous skin tag remover said...

I'm impressed. You're truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. I'm saving this for future use.

4:30 AM

 
Anonymous get rid of skin tags said...

Interesting post and thanks for sharing. Some things in here I have not thought about before.Thanks for making such a cool post which is really very well written. Will be referring a lot of friends about this. Keep blogging

4:32 AM

 
Anonymous how to get rid of skin tags said...

I really loved how you have created your site, it’s simple, neat, simple to get around and very easy on the eyes. Can you let me know which theme or designer did you use

4:34 AM

 
Anonymous posicionamiento paginas web said...

In my view everyone have to glance at it.

5:34 AM

 
Anonymous Maralyn said...

This won't really have effect, I consider like this.

11:03 AM

 
Anonymous tadalafil kaufen said...

these stripes really make the bag look great and i like them being natural

3:29 PM

 
Anonymous Paykasa said...

thanks a lot for sharing this awesome information

6:31 PM

 
Anonymous Astropay Bozdurma said...

Really so amazing... very very amazing great..

6:33 PM

 
Anonymous Astropay Bozdurma said...

I want more article about that..

6:34 PM

 
Anonymous Astropay Bozdurma said...

Astropay card is a card used for online shopping. Astropay card uses people make shopping enjoyable. We recommend that you use Astropay card to make purchases without using a credit card.

6:35 PM

 

Post a Comment

<< Home



List Sites in the Free Knitting Patterns Netring

This site in the Free Knitting Patterns Netring
is owned by Pens and Needles.

[ Previous | Next | Random Site | List Sites | Join ]