Free pattern is up!

Mandy’s Bag
by Melissa Sanders
Difficulty: Intermediate



My friend Mandy asked me to make her a purse for Christmas this year, and specifically requested something “cute” and “girly” in pastel pink and green. Not wanting to make yet another basic striped, felted messenger bag, I started swatching various color motifs and texture patterns until something clicked. The combination of curvy, open cables and ribs in green popping against the pink background just seemed right: quirky and playful, just like Mandy herself.

This bag knits up quickly on bulky yarn, but the cabling and stranded colorwork keep you from getting bored. The bright colors and bamboo handles are reminiscent of the first blooming flowers in spring, making it a perfect project for the last dreary weeks of winter when you need a quick little pick-me-up.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width: 8 inches
Height: 9 inches
Depth: 1 inch

MATERIALS
[MC] Knitpicks Sierra [70% wool, 30% superfine alpaca; 110 yd per 100g skein]; color: Wild Rose; 1 skein
[CC] Knitpicks Sierra [70% wool, 30% superfine alpaca; 110 yd per 100g skein]; color: Lettuce; 1 skein

1 16-inch US #10/6mm circular needle
1 spare 16-inch circular US #10/6mm needle
1 set US #9/5.5mm straight needles

Notions required:
1 stitch marker
Cable needle
Darning needle

Optional (for lining and bamboo handles):
Bamboo handles (omit this if knitting straps)
4 pieces of ribbon measuring 1 inch x 3 inches (omit this if knitting straps)
1 piece of fabric measuring 10 inches x 20 inches
Sewing needle and thread


GAUGE
15 sts/18 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
17 sts/18 rows = 4 inches in cable pattern

PATTERN NOTES
This bag is worked top-down in the round using the stranded color technique. To keep the stranding simple, this bag is mostly worked in a 2 x 2 rib where all the knit stitches are worked in the CC and all the purl stitches are worked in the MC (see Chart A).

Notations
C4F = slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold to front of work, [p1, k2, p1] from left needle, [p1, k2, p1] from cable needle

Cable Pattern (worked over a multiple of 12 sts)
Round 1-5: [k2, p2] in color pattern three times.
Round 6: k2, p1, c4f, p1 in color pattern.

Chart A


PATTERN
Bag
Using circular needle and MC, CO 84 sts.
Place stitch marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
K 1 round using MC.
Join CC and work as follows: [p2 using MC, work cable pattern three times, k2 using CC, p2 using MC] twice. Continue until work measures 10 inches from beg.
Transfer 42 sts to spare circular needle, turn work inside out, and BO two halves of work together using three-needle BO using MC. This seam forms the bottom center of the bag.

I-cord edging
Using CC, work a 3 st i-cord for 16 inches.
BO and weave in ends.

I-cord handles (Make 2)
If you decide to make your own handles instead of buying bamboo ones as pictured, work a 3 st i-cord using CC for 14 inches.
BO and weave in ends.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.
Block if desired.
Lay bag flat and measure length and width -- record these numbers for use in cutting lining fabric.

Sew bag gusset, creating a 1 inch gusset, and sew down corners of gusset to bottom seam of bag. [note: detailed info on creating a gusset in the Sueet pattern from the Spring 04 issue]

Attach handles to bag. If you are using bamboo handles, thread ribbon through the handle clasps and fold it in half to form a loop. Sew this loop to the inside of the bag, about 2 inches from the top edge. If you are using i-cord handles, sew the edges of the i-cord to the inside of the bag, about 2 inches from the top edge.

Sew the i-cord edging in place around the top outer edge of the opening of the bag.

Cut a rectangular piece of lining fabric that is the width and twice the height of the bag, making sure to add one inch to each dimension for seam allowances. Fold the lining in half lengthwise and the sides together leaving a half-inch seam allowance. Fold the top edge of the lining down one inch and insert the lining into the bag. Pin the lining in place and sew the top edge of the lining to the bag.




ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Melissa is a graduate student in Michigan who can usually be found knitting instead of doing her work. She views it as a form of productive procrastination, and though a new hat won’t get her an A on her next stats final, it will at least keep her warm on her way to it. You can read about her exploits at her blog.