Knitted Market Bag

Finally finished and ready for the pattern? Well, the pattern will need to wait a bit, while I reconnoiter it. So many changes! But it's coming.

Here's a pic.



For those who can't wait to begin...

Required: 4 skeins Sugar N. Creme Kitchen Cotton Worsted yarn in two of your favorite colors. Contrast is key, here, to make the stripes pop! Color A should be dark, color B should be lighter. I chose Navy and Spring Green.

Size 9 circular needles in either 16" or 24" (29" works, too)
Tapestry needle
Size I crochet hook, optional, as you CAN knit the edging around the handle, but I think crochet looks better.
1 marker to mark the beginning/ending of your round.

Bag Bottom:
Cast on 44 stitches using your favorite cast on with Color A. Knit two rows. Hereafter carry your colors up the edge of the bag bottom. Attach B, and knit two rows. Bring A up below B and knit two rows. Continue in this manner, alternating your colors, until you have 15 stripes, ending with two rows of your darker color.

Do not break your yarn, do not turn, but pick up 14 stitches along the short edge, 44 stitches along the opposite long edge and 14 stitches along the last short edge. 116 stitches. Purl 1 row. pick up B and knit 1 row, purl 1 row. Add a markerPick up A and follow this pattern around.

Row 1: (K2tog yo), around.
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: (yo, ssk), around.
Row 4: Knit

Change colors every 4 rounds for 6 stripes. Then work knit and purl rows, alternating, at the same time, alternating your colors for 10 rounds, ending with color A. Pick up Color B and work Row 1-4 again for 6 stripes. Then work knit and purl rows, alternating, at the same time, alternating your colors for 10 rounds, ending with your lighter color.

With Color A, bind off 14, knit across 44, bind off 14, knit across 44. This sets up your handle. Turn work, and purl across the 44 stitches. The other 44 will remain on the cable of your needle to be worked later. Turn the work, and

Row 1: K1, (k2tog, yo), across until 3 sts remain, k2tog, k1.
Next row: Purl draw up your color B.

Row 1: K1, (yo, ssk) across until 3 sts remain, ssk, k1
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K1, (k2tog, yo) across until 3 sts remain, k2tog, k1
Row 4: Purl

Repeat these 4 rows until only 8 stitches remain. Note: You should always have an even number of stitches for the handle. If you don't, it's not critical--just decrease so that you do--change your colors, as before, of course. When you're down to 8 stitches, work as follows:

Row 1 K1 (yo, K2tog) 3 times, k1
Row 2 Purl
Row 3: K1, (ssk, yo) 3 times, k1
Row 4: Purl

Repeat these rows twice more. Remove the other 44 handle stitches to a holder so you can work with the last 8 stitches.

You'll end up with Row 4 in Color B. Bring up color A and work k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1 and then work I-cord on remaining 6 stitches for approximately 6-8" or however long you'd like. Cut all yarn.

Attach Color A where you left off with the other 44 stitches and work the other side of the handle in like fashion.

Kitchener the i-cord together, weave in ends.

Attach Color A with a crochet hook and crochet evenly around the handle. Hide these ends, and

YOU'RE DONE!

Enjoy your bag!

OOO! And the yarn for Meisterdecke showed up today!