Parcels..............................numero uno

I have had a few parcels turn up this week. The first is my swap parcel from Craftythreads'n'yarn forum February swap parcel. We swapped a small, approx 20 grams of sock yarn, some stitchmarkers and as an extra my swap pal also sent me a lovely treat. Thank you!!

Side-Along-Bag..........................

I finally wrote up this pattern. I had scribbled it down as I knitted the first bag and then followed the pattern for the second bag knitted and felted here.

From one skein of Yarn Yard Pencil Roving.



To this knitted bag............this bag has a stocking stitch base, the first bag had a garter stitch base.



Close up...........



Felted and blocking........



Felted close up.................


Free Pattern
Side-Along-Bag: by Gilraen

Materials: Pencil Roving 100gms, 9mm circular needles or DPNs, 4 stitch markers, darning needle to finish bag.
Optional: button

Using one skein of Pencil Roving cast on 13 stitches and knit 6 rows in Garter stitch or 5 rows in stocking stitch, for which ever effect you prefer. Garter will give you a firmer base but stocking stitch leaves a rounder bottom and allows for more yarn for the handle.
Then using circular needles or DPNs pick 3 stitches on each side and another 13 stitches on the opposite side, placing a stitch marker at each corner, so you have a total of 32 stitches.

Knit 3 rounds then
KFB, K11, KFB, K3, KFB, K11, KFB, K3, (36 stitches)
Knit another 3 rounds then
KFB, K13, KFB, K3, KFB, K13, KFB, K3 (40 stitches)
Knit another 5 rounds then
K2tog, K13, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K13, K2tog, K3 (36 stitches)
Knit another 5 rounds then
K2tog, K11, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K11, K2tog, K3 (32 stitches)
Knit another 3 rounds and then
K2tog, K9, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K9, K3 (28 stitches)
Knit 2 more rounds then

K1 casting this stitch off, K9 and turn work (leaving the remaining stitches on a cable/needle etc)
Now knit in stocking stitch for 9 rows ending on a knit row, on the next purl row decrease one at the end by P2tog.Continue this decreasing 5 times until you are left with 4 stitches, SSK on next knit row and P2tog on the following Purl row, SSK on last row and cast/bind off.
Returning to the remaining stitches hold the bag with the flap to your left and knit across the remaining stitches, casting off until you have 3 left on the needle. You can I-cord this or knit back and forth which ever is your preference. I knit back and forth to leave an asymmetrical cast off at the end as a feature, but it’s up to you.

Then felt the bag as your machine allows or by hand if no machine. Block: I used plastic bags stuffed tightly to ‘shape’ the bag, and stretched the handles. Allow at least 24 hours to dry and then decorate as you see fit.

If anyone finds a mistake in the pattern please please let me know, I'm only human. :D

EDIT: I forgot to tell everyone that the creative genius who came up with such a great name was Linz. Thank you!! :)

Roving............Knitting..................Felting................Bags

I had long admired the Pencil Roving on The Yarn Yard site and wanted to try it out for a felted bag. This colourway is Jeanie, very appropriate indeed! :) No pattern for roving? nevermind I will make one up. So I do...............here it is .....

Knitted, it looks nice knitted up, doesn't it? :)

The assymetrical flap not only looks nice but it also lets the roving go further. I finished the strap end in the same way...........



The big button weighs down the flap and adds character, though as this bag is really for a teenager I might do a different button, that one is a bit too 'fancy'??


What do you guys think? Would a teenager like this as a Christmas pressie with some lip gloss and costume jewellery in it? I have test knitted up the pattern with a different roving colour, I will post that one too and hopefully get the patttern typed up. :)