Knitting a Stylish Cotton Bag with Bernat HandiCrafter
Yarn
Bernat HandiCrafter 100% cotton, 2 skeins in colors coral and navy.
Needles
Size 9 (6.0 mm). I switched to a size 7 (4.5 mm) 24-inch circular needle for the brim of the bag.
Notions
Yarn needle to weave in your ends, liner fabric, fabric for handles, thread, and a sewing machine.
Size
10 in by 10 in.
Gauge
15 stitches for 4 in and 20 rows.
Stitch Terms
k: knit, p: purl, kfb: knit front and back.
Instructions
Middle of the Bag
Cast on 80 stitches using your favorite cast-on method.
Row 1: With color A, p (80 sts).
Row 2: k (80 sts).
Rows 3-8: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Rows 9-16: Change to color B, continue repeating rows 1 and 2.
Rows 17-24: Change to color A, continue repeating rows 1 and 2.
Bind off.
Sides of the Bag (Make 2)
Cast on 12 stitches using your favorite cast-on method.
Row 1: With color A, p (12 sts).
Row 2: k 3, kfb, k 2, kfb, k 3 (14 sts).
Row 3: p.
Row 4: k 4, kfb, k 2, kfb, k 4 (16 sts).
Row 5: p.
Row 6: k 5, kfb, k 2, kfb, k 5 (18 sts).
Row 7: p.
Row 8: k 6, kfb, k 2, kfb, k 6 (20 sts).
Row 9: Switch to color B, p.
Row 10: K 7, kfb, k 2, kfb, k 7 (22 sts).
Row 11: p.
Row 12: k (22 sts).
Rows 13-16: Repeat rows 11 and 12.
Rows 17-24: Change to color A, repeat rows 11 and 12.
Rows 25-32: Change to color B, repeat rows 11 and 12.
Rows 33-40: Change to color A, repeat rows 11 and 12.
Rows 41-48: Change to color B, repeat rows 11 and 12.
Bind off.
Sewing Your Bag Together
First, fold the sides in half long ways so stitch 1 is touching stitch 12. Whip stitch row 1 together. Repeat on the other side piece.
Then, fold your middle piece together to find the middle stitch and mark it.
Put one side piece and middle piece together with the knit sides facing together.
Whip stitch them together; it won't be stitch-to-stitch for every color change; you will need to skip a stitch for it to come out even.
Repeat on the other side.
Adding a Rim
When all the seams are sewn together, pick up each stitch around the bag opening with color A using circular needles, knit 5 rounds, and bind off.
Weave in your ends.
