Felted Gym Bag!

Don't you hate it when your knitting needles are too long to fit into your knitting bag? Or when they poke through the bottom or sides of your bag because it just isn't large enough?

Or, have you been looking for a distinctive bag to take to the gym with you??

Then check out my newest pattern!

The felted gym bag! Or, the knitting bag that can handle any size needles! :)



My son was nice enough to model the bag for you!



**The usual disclaimer: This pattern is my original, copyrighted work, and is meant for your personal use and enjoyment. Please do not distribute or sell copies of this pattern or present it as your own design or Guido the knitting design enforcer shall visit you in the night. :) Please don't post the pattern itself to other websites, but feel free to link to this page. :) **

If you like this pattern, or the other original patterns posted at my website, please take a moment and vote for my site on the Crochet & Hook List. Just click on the link in the left hand margin of this webpage! Thank you for your support!!

Here's the pattern!

Supplies:

2 contrasting colors of 100% wool – feltable
1 22 to 24” zipper in coordinating color
Coordinating sewing thread and needle
4 large buttons
Size 10 24” or 36" circular knitting needles

The pictured bag was made using Lamb's Pride Wool in Amethyst, and Lopi wool in Emerald. It is best to use the same brand wool for both colors to ensure comparable shrinkage in felting. But, you can use other brands if you do a felted swatch. Lopi and Lamb's pride felted at very close to the same ratio when I swatched. The bag stripes are only 3 rows wide and spaced 6 inches apart, so some difference in shrinkage is acceptable.

Pattern:

Using Color 1 (main color), CO 60

Work in garter stitch using Color 1 until piece measures 5 inches. You will be knitting flat (rather than in the round).

Pick up and knit stitches around – example: I picked up 15 on side, 60 across bottom, 15 up other side. 150 stitches. Now you will be knitting in the round. Place stitch marker on first stitch to mark beginning of rounds.

**NOTE: These stitch counts are what I got using the listed yarns and needle size. Your stitch c0unt might vary due to the # of rows or tension differences. On the sides of your 5" starting piece, each 2 rows create a bump in garter stitch. Pick up one stitch at each bump (# of rows/2). That will be the # of stitches you pick up along each side. Mine was 15.....yours might be different. Adjust accordingly. That will make all stitch counts in the pattern come out slightly different. To adjust the Make One instructions in each row, find a low number like 4, 5 or 6 that comes out even when divided into your stitch count after picking up stitches, for row 1, use that # and for each odd row, add 1 to that first #.)

Knit each round in garter stitch until sides measure 4 inches.

Row 1: *K5, make one* repeat all the way around. 180 stitches

Row 2 (and each even # row through row 14): Garter stitch around.

Row 3: *K6, make one* repeat all the way around. 210 stitches.

Row 5: *K7, make one* repeat. 240 stitches.

Row 7: *K8,make one* repeat. 270 stitches

Row 9: *K9, make one* repeat. 300 stitches

Row 11: *K10, make one* repeat. 330 stitches

Row 13: *K11, make one* repeat. 360 stitches

Row 14: garter stitch around.

Row 15: At beginning of round, tie on color 2 and place stitch marker. Knit 2 stitches using color 1. Carry unused color in back. Pick up color 2, knit next 2 stitches using color 2. Drop color 2, pick up Color 1. Repeat alternating colors all the way around. **When carrying unused color along back of work being careful to pull it close enough to not have kinks or loops, but not tight enough to pucker.**

Rows 16 and 17: Repeat row 15 two more times, starting each new row with the alternate color. Row 16 will start with color 2. Row 17 will start with color 1. This will create a checkerboard type effect.

At end of Row 17, break off color 2 leaving a 5 inch tail to weave in.

Continue with color 1 in garter stitch for another 6 inches. Then repeat rows 15-17.

Continue with color 1 as before, for another 6 inches. Then repeat rows 15-17 again.

Continue garter stitch with color 1 until bag measures about 30 inches in height. Bind Off. Weave in ends.

Using either Color 1 or Color 2 , make two 6 foot sections of I-cord. Do not attach until after felting.

Felt bag and I-cord. Let dry. Sew in zipper and attach handles. Sew buttons where each end of both handles attach to the bag.

Most likely, the bag opening will be a few inches longer than the zipper. Center the zipper on the opening and sew just below lip on each side. Then sew open space closed by folding in excess length in towards zipper end like this:



The tip of the fold should touch the end of the zipper. Secure the two inner edges with thread. Tack the end of the zipper down securely to this inner fold. Then fold outer lip of bag over and secure. See photo. :)



TTFN!!!