Beautiful Knitted Bag...

Design by:  Cecily Glowik MacDonald

Finished Size:  12 inches wide x 7 inches tall

Materials: 
Chunky weight yarn* (75 yds/ 50g per ball): 4 balls genteel gray #1003

• Size 9 (5.5mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge 
• Stitch markers 
• Cable needle 
• 2 handles with 12-inch opening BH-MED/B 
• Cardboard (optional) 

*Sample project was completed with Duchess (40% merino wool/28% viscose/15% nylon/10% cashmere/7% angora) from Classic Elite Yarns and handles from Trendsetter Yarns.
Gauge:
16 sts and 20 rows = 4 inches/10cm in St st.
To save time, take time to check gauge.
Special Abbreviation
Make Bobble (MB): Knit in front, back and front of st, turn; p3, turn, k3, turn; p3, turn; sk2p.
Pattern Stitches

Front/Back Panel: See Chart A.

Side Panel: See Chart B.

Slip St (multiple of 2 sts + 1)
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): Purl across.
Row 2 (RS): *K1, sl 1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 4: K1, *k1, sl 1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep Rows 1-4 for pat.

Front/Back
Make 2
Cast on 51 sts.
Row 1 (WS): P17, place marker, work 17 sts following Chart A, place marker, p17. Continue working outer sts in St st and sts between markers following Chart A until 1 full rep of chart has been worked, and then work Rows 1-9 of Chart A once more.
Next row: Work as for Row 10 of chart except do not work bobble; purl the st instead.
Next row (WS): P16, p2tog, p15, p2tog, p16 -- 49 sts.
Work 4 rows in St st.
Bind off.

Side
Make 2
Cast on 23 sts.
Work Chart B.
Bind off pwise.

Bottom
Cast on 23 sts.
Work even in Slip St pat until piece measures 12 inches, ending with a RS row.
Bind off pwise.

Finishing
Block pieces.
Sew cast-on edge of 1 front/back piece to 1 long edge of bottom. Rep with other front/back piece.
Sew cast-on edges of side pieces to short edges of bottom. Sew side seams, leaving 1 inch unsewn at top of all pieces.
Slide bound-off edge of 1 front/back piece through slit in handle. Wrap around bottom of handle and sew bound-off edge of front/back piece to inside of bag. Rep for 2nd handle.
Fold top 1 inch of side panels to WS and sew to inside of bag. Weave in ends.

Optional: For a sturdier bottom, cut a piece of cardboard to measurements slightly smaller than bottom piece and place inside bag.