Big Knitted Bag

Combine all of your skills-knitting, crocheting, mixing color, blending yarns, and felting-to create a sophisticated classic. The reinforced lining makes it strong enough for the long haul.

Size
13 ¼” wide x l3 1/2" tall x 5 3/4" deep (33.5 x 34.5 x 14.5 cm), excluding Handles

Materials
Lion Brand Lion Cotton 100% Cotton Solids 5 OZS 100(GMS) 236 yards (212 m) Prints 4 OZS {112 GMS) 189 yards  (170m)
2 balls each #098 Natural (A) #214 Naturals and Denim (B) or colors of your choice

Lion Brand Lion Boucle 79% Acrylic, 20% Mohair, 2% nylon 2 ½ oz (70g) 57 yd (52m) Ball
1 ball #213 Taffy (C) or color of your choice

Lion Brand Fishermen's
Wool 100% Pure Virgin Wool 8 oz (226 g) 465 yd (425 m) Skein
1 skein #098 Natural (D)

Size N-13 (9mm) crochet hook or size to obtain gauge
Size 8 (5 mm) 29" (70 cm) circular needle
Size 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles

Scraps of contrasting yarn to be used as markers
2 sheets plastic canvas mesh in gauge 10
½ yd (0.5m) unbleached cotton muslin

1 pack Orbit Drip Master 1/4" (6 mm) Soaker Tubing
Off-white sewing machine thread
Large-eyed, blunt needle

Gauge
9 single crochet + 10 rows = 4" (10cm) with 1 strand each of A and B or 1 strand each of B and C held together. Be sure to check your gauge.

Note
Front, bottom, and back are worked in 1 piece in 2-row stripes. Carry unused colors loosely along side edge.

Tote
Starting at top edge of front, with 1 strand each of A and B held together, chain 31.

Row 1 (Right Side)
Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. Turn—30 single crochet.

Row 2
Chain 1, single crochet in each single crochet across. Turn.
Drop A. Join 1 strand of C.

Row 3
With 1 strand each of B and C held together, chain 1, single crochet in each single crochet across. Turn.

Rows 4-82
Work even in single crochet in the following color sequence: 1 more row with 8 and C; 2 rows with A and B; 2 rows with B and C; repeat from * throughout. Mark beginning and end of Rows 34 and 47 to identify bottom of Tote. Fasten off.

Side Panel
Row 1
With right side of Tote facing, join 1 strand each of A and B in first marked stitch on one side edge of Tote, chain 1, single crochet in each of next 13 row-end stitches to next marker. Turn—13 single crochet.

Rows 2-34
Work even on 13 single crochet, maintaining established color sequence. Fasten off. Repeat Side Panel on opposite side of Tote.
With right sides together, using large-eyed, blunt needle and B, sew side seams. Weave in ends.

Plastic Canvas Half Lining
Cut 3 rectangles, each 5 1/2" x 13 1/2" (14 x 34.5 cm) of plastic canvas. Cut a piece of muslin 12" x 42" (30.5 x 106.5 cm). Fold in half lengthwise forming a 6" x 42" (15 x 106.5 cm) folded piece. Sew an L-shaped 1/4" (6 mm) seam across the bottom 6" (15 cm) and along the 42" (106.5 cm) long side.

Turn right side out and press. Slip 1 plastic canvas rectangle inside pocket and push to the end. Sew a line of stitching to secure in place. Slip another plastic canvas rectangle inside pocket and push to the line of stitching.

Sew a line of stitching to secure in place. Slip the last plastic canvas rectangle inside pocket and push to the second line of stitching. Fold on seam allowance and topstitch or whipstitch closed. Place lining to fit bottom and sides of Tote and tack or slip stitch in place.

Knit Handles—Make 2
With double-pointed needles and D, cast on 8 stitches.

Row1 (Knit 1, purl 1) across

Row 2 (Purl 1, knit 1) across. Repeat Rows 1-2 for 7 more times.
Row 17
Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 1—6 stitches. Join for working in the round. Knit 80 rounds.

Row98
Turn work to begin knitting back and forth. Purl 1, purl into front and back of next stitch, purl 2, purl into front and back of next stitch, purl l —8 stitches.

Rows 99-114
Repeat Rows 1-2. Bind off.

Vertical Strips—Make 2
With D, cast on 6 stitches.
Row 1 (Knit 1, purl 1) across.
Row 2 (Purl 1, knit 1) across. Repeat Rows 1-2 for 89 more times. Bind off.

Horizontal Strip— Make1
With circular needle and D, cast on 144 stitches

Row 1 (Knit 1, purl 1) across.
Row 2 (Purl 1, knit 1) across. Repeat Rows 1-2 for 5 more times. Bind off.

Felting
Cut 2 lengths 20" (51 cm) of the soaker tubing and pull the Handles over the tubing before felting. They will be cut down to approximately 15" (38 cm) after the felting.

The handles should be adjusted and pushed tighter up the tubing during wash cycles. Put the knit Strips and Handles through the hottest wash cycle at least twice until knit panels have felted.

The Handles may need a third wash. Steam-press the flat panels. Pin the Vertical Strips to the Tote along the Front, Bottom, and Back. The outside edge of the Strip should line up with the outside edge of the Tote.

Trim the Strip if it is too long. It's felted, so it won't run or rip. Sew both edges of the Strips to the Tote with B, using a running stitch. The stitches and gaps should both be 1/4" (6 mm) wide.

Pin the Horizontal Strip to fit. You might need to stretch it to fit in the ease. Sew both edges with a running stitch all the way around the Tote.

Pin the bottom of the Handles to the top of the Tote about 4" (10 cm) from the top of the Tote and 11/4" (3 cm) from the Vertical Strip. Sew a rectangle of running stitches to secure to Tote. Weave in ends.