Irma’s Felted Drawstring Bag

Irma’s Felted Drawstring Bag

This bag is a simple design that could easily be embellished to make it suit anyone's taste.

What you need

3 skeins of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Redwood Forest
Crochet hook size L
Scrap ribbon
2 safety pins
2 wooden beads

Gauge: Not crucial to finished bag

Instructions

PURSE: Ch 4

Round 1: Make 8 dc in 4th chain from hook. Close this and all rounds with a slip stitch in top of first dc.

Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as first stitch), 2 dc in each stitch.

Round 3: Repeat Round 2.

Round 4: Ch 2, dc in first stitch, 2 dc in next stitch, (dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch) around.

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in first 2 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, (dc in next 2 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch) around.

Round 6: Ch 2, dc in first 3 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, (dc in next 3 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch) around.

Round 7: Ch 2, dc in first 4 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, (dc in next 4 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch) around.

Round 8: Ch 2, dc in first 4 stitches, dec over next 2 stitches, (dc in next 4 stitches, dec over next 2 stitches) around.

Rounds 9-21: Work even in dc.

Round 22: Ch 2, dc in first 2 stitches, (ch 2, skip next 2 stitches, dc in next 2 stitches) around.

Round 23: Ch 2, sc in each dc, and work 2 sc in each ch 2 space. Round 24: Work one round even in sc. Cut yarn and weave in loose ends.

DRAWSTRING: Chain 120. Sl st in second ch from hook and in each ch across.

FLAP: Ch 21

Row 1: Dc in third ch from hook and in each ch across. 19 dc.

Rows 2- 8: Ch 2 (does not count as first dc) Dc in first st and in each st across.

Row 9: Ch 2 (does not count as first dc), dc in first 8 stitches, ch 3, skip next 3 stitches, dc in remaining 8 dc. Do not cut yarn.

Edging: Ch 1, work sc evenly spaced along side of flap, 3 sc in corner stitch, sc in each ch on opposite side of beg ch, 3 sc in corner stitch, sc evenly spaced along right side of flap, 3 sc in corner stitch, sc in each stitch and ch of Row 9. Sl st to top of first sc.

Cut yarn leaving a tail for sewing. Sew flap to 20 stitches that form back of purse when drawstring is pulled (one group of 8 stitches, the ch 2 spaces on either side, and 4 stitches on outsides of ch 2 spaces) at bottom of Row 20.

STRAPS (MAKE TWO): Ch 120

Row 1: Dc in third ch from hook and in each ch across. Cut yarn leaving a tail for sewing. Place two safety pins at top of Round 7 so that they are lined up with the corners of the flap. Sew end of straps to center back of purse just below the flap. Sew other ends of straps to ends of strap top of Round 7 where safety pins are. Cut a length of scrap ribbon long enough to thread through the ch 2 spaces of round 22.

Thread ribbon through ch 2 spaces and tie ends together. This will prevent the ch 2 spaces from felting closed. After felting, remove the ribbon and discard. Felt purse according to your preferred method.

Stuff with plastic bags to shape the bag while it dries. When purse is dry, weave drawstring through ch 2 spaces and pull through ch 3 space of flap. Attach one wooden bead at each end of the drawstring and tie a knot to secure bead in place.

This project was contributed by Cristina.

Cristina is a 6th grade bilingual teacher in Indiana and ALWAYS has the best class EVER. One day long, long, long ago when she was ten-years-old, she bought a skein of bright red Red Heart yarn and a size G crochet hook at the local five-and-dime. She promptly checked out a crocheting and knitting book from the library and taught herself to crochet. An obsession was born that summer day. Alas, she couldn’t teach herself to knit so her big sister, for whom this bag was created, stepped in. A second obsession was born. Thirty-two years later she still looks forward to summer vacation as much as her students (some say even more) so she can stitch her little heart out.

Comments

  1. This is really cute, thanks for posting.

  2. I love this idea. You really put your noggin to good use!! :^)

  3. Great idea. You can use it for like an all-caarry tote.

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