Stained Glass Felted Bag

STAINED-GLASS FELTED BAG (knit)

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Skill level: Intermediate

Size before felting:

Full-size bag: approx. 18" w. x 20" h.

Half-size bag: approx. 11" w. x 10" h.

Finished size after felting:

Full-size bag: approx. 12" w. x 12" h.

Half-size bag: approx. 6" w. x 6" h.

Materials:

Note: Do not use white, off-white or superwash-treated wool as it will not felt.

Quantity given makes one full-size bag and one half-size bag, with wool leftovers.

Five colors of a 100% wool that felts easily:

2 skeins (190 yds. ea.) Color A, 1 skein each Colors B, C, D, E

(sample bag shown in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted Sage Green, Fuschia, Royal Blue, Purple and Black)

4 novelty carry-along yarns (approx. 75-100 yds. ea) to coordinate with chosen wool colors:

1 ball each of: ladder ribbon, eyelash, short flag, novelty long flag/metallic/nylon blend - OR - carry-along novelty yarns of choice

(Sample shown in assorted novelty yarns: Dazzle (ladder ribbon in blues/greens); Flutter (eyelash in olive); "Spice" short flag (blue/pink/yellow multicolor); "Fling" long flag/metallic/nylon in lavender/purple mix)

Needles:

Full-size bag: Size 10.5 (6.5 mm) circular needle (24” length), plus a set of size 10.5 (6.5 mm) dpns

Half-size bag: Size 10.5 (6.5 mm) circular needle (16” length), plus a set of size 10.5 (6.5 mm) dpns

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 13 sts = 4”, 4 rows = 1" in stockinette stitch on size 10-1/2 needles

Terms/Abbreviations: beginning (beg), bind off (BO), cast on (CO), decrease (dec), knit (K), knit two together (K2tog), increase (inc), place marker (pm), repeat (rep), slip slip knit (ssk), stitch (st), stockinette stitch (st st), yarn over (yo)

Pattern notes: Work somewhat loosely to allow for maximum felting action. In color stripe pattern, cut and rejoin color combos as necessary, weaving in yarn tails as you start each new stripe. DO NOT CUT accent color, but carry it loosely up inside bag on each round.

Bag

Bottom (worked back and forth)

Cast on 40 sts loosely. K 3 rows.

Next row (increase row): K2, increase in next st by knitting into front and back of st, K across to last 3 sts, inc in next st, K2 (42 sts)

Knit 3 rows.

Rep increase row (44 sts)

Knit 3 rows.

Rep increase row (46 sts)

Knit 16 rows.

Next row (decrease row): K2, ssk, K across to last 4 sts, K2tog, K2 (44 sts)

Knit 3 rows.

Rep decrease row (42 sts)

Knit 3 rows.

Rep decrease row (40 sts)

Knit 2 rows.

Next row/round (pick-up round): Knit across 40 sts, then work along left side of piece and pick up 1 st in ea ridge on end of piece (20 sts), knit across 40 sts on third side of piece, pick up 1 st in ea ridge on last side of piece (20 sts). You should have 120 sts on the needle.

Place marker and begin to work remainder of bag in rounds, following color sequence and instructions as follows:

Color Pattern (shown on sample bag) - modify as necessary to fit your color & novelty yarn choices

Wool color Novelty

Combo A: Color A (sage) + "Dazzle" ladder ribbon (blues/greens)

Combo B: Color B (fuschia) + "Flutter" eyelash (olive)

Combo C: Color C (royal blue)+ "Spice" short flag (blue/pink/yellow multicolor)

Combo D: Color D (purple) + "Fling" long flag/metallic/nylon lavender/purple)

Accent Color: Black (used alone)

Bag (worked in rounds)

Knit 1 round color A.

Begin color stripe sequence:

Knit 4 rounds using Combo A.

Knit 2 rounds Accent color.

Knit 4 rounds using Combo B.

Knit 2 rounds Accent color.

Knit 4 rounds using Combo C.

Knit 2 rounds Accent color.

Knit 4 rounds using Combo D.

Knit 2 rounds Accent color.

Repeat 24 rows of color pattern twice more, for a total of 3 repeats (72 rows). Cut Accent yarn, leaving 6" tail for weaving in. LEAVE ALL STITCHES ON CIRCULAR NEEDLE. You will work them off one at a time as you work the applied I-cord around top edge of bag as follows:

Applied I-Cord

With dpn and single strand of Color A, cast on 7 sts. With second dpn, knit across 6 sts, slide remaining st to left needle (the circular needle point), then knit the first stitch on circular needle together with the stitch you just placed next to it (7 sts will now be on dpn).

Slide all 7 stitches to right of dpn, pull yarn across from back and knit 6 sts, slide 7th st to left needle (the circular needle point), knit 1 st from circular needle together with stitch you just placed next to it (7 sts on dpn).

Repeat last row all around the top edge of bag, until all sts on circular needle have been worked off into the applied I-cord. When you reach the starting point, weave the 7 sts on dpn to the cast on row of the I-cord (don't worry too much if your weaving isn't perfect--the felting process will hide any flaws.)

I-cord handles

Lay bag flat with "side seams" aligned. Measure across top of bag and mark the center point, then mark halfway between side seam and center point to determine the one-quarter point from each side seam. Mark the four quarter-points with a contrasting yarn marker or bobby pin. This is where the handles will be attached.

With double strand of Color A and dpn, cast on 5 sts (leave a 6" tail for sewing handle to bag). Knit across 5 sts, slide sts to right of dpn, pull yarn across from back and knit the 5 sts again. Repeat until I-cord measures 18". Bind off. Cut yarn, leaving 6" tail for sewing handle to bag. Place one end of handle on inside top of bag at marked quarter-point, then sew securely through end of handle and through bag fabric (just below the applied I-cord edging). Place other end of handle at other marked quarter-point on same side of bag and sew securely.

Repeat with second handle on other side of bag.

Felting instructions: Set washing machine to low water level, hot water, heavy duty agitation and add a drop or two of mild liquid soap (such as Ivory Liquid). Place bag in washer along with old faded denim jeans to improve agitation. Let the machine agitate the bag for about 5 minutes, then check to see how bag is felting. Do NOT let the water drain out or go to rinse cycle, but continue to check every 5 minutes until bag has reached desired amount of felting (sample bag took about 15 minutes to felt completely). Keep resetting machine to agitation cycle if necessary. When bag is desired size, remove from washer and rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water in sink. Press between dry towels to remove as much water as possible, then lay flat on more dry towels. As bag dries, shape bottom of tote so it can stand up on its own. Leave to dry completely. Trim loose strands and fluff up eyelash trim.

Half-Size Bag (approx. 6" x 6" after felting)

Bag Bottom (worked back and forth)

Cast on 20 sts loosely. K 1 row.

Next row (increase row): K2, increase in next st by knitting into front and back of st, K across to last 3 sts, inc in next st, K2 (22 sts)

Knit 1 row.

Rep increase row (24 sts)

Knit 1 row.

Rep increase row (26 sts)

Knit 8 rows.

Next row (decrease row): K2, ssk, K across to last 4 sts, K2tog, K2 (24 sts)

Knit 1 row.

Rep decrease row (22 sts)

Knit 1 row.

Rep decrease row (20 sts)

Knit 1 row.

Next row/round (pick-up round): Knit across 20 sts, then work along left side of piece and pick up 1 st in ea ridge on end of piece (10 sts), knit across 20 sts on third side of piece, pick up 1 st in ea ridge on last side of piece (10 sts). You should have 60 sts on the needle.

Place marker and begin to work remainder of bag in rounds, following color sequence and instructions on full-size bag, BUT work only one 24-round repeat plus 12 more rounds before applying I-cord trim. Make two 12" I-cord handles, USING ONLY A SINGLE STRAND OF YARN. Sew to top of bag as instructed above.

For personal or charity use only. Do not duplicate pattern for commercial purposes