HELLO


Hi there, welcome to my blog! and thankyou for stopping by. I have designed this blog to share with you knitting patterns that are my favourites and, i'll be trying out some new ones along the way. I also hope to help knitters new and old (i don't mean your age LOL) by sharing information, handy hints and tips, answering quieries and helping solve your knitting problems. Before you go, please help me by making a comment and suggest any knitting project you'd like to see.

Thanks again. Have a nice day!


Dianne
Showing posts with label tote bag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tote bag. Show all posts

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Smiley Tote Bag + Happiness Survival Kit


Finding the perfect present for Mother's Day isn't always easy. Instead of buying a gift this year, try knitting one. Everyone needs a sturdy and reliable bag that's able to carry multiple items. This bag has a happy smiley face that will make your mother or any special lady smile and the happiness survival kit is an added extra. The perfect gift!

Smiley Tote Bag

Materials:

2 skeins Cotton type yarn
6mm needles
1/2yd material for lining
Cotton thread and sewing needle
Abbreviations used
 K = knit, p = purl,
k2tog = knit 2 together, yo = yarn over.

 x means to repeat the stitches in parentheses as many times as the number before the x.
Stitches in [bsst ] are border seed stitches,



Instructions:
Cast on 48 sts
Row 1 *k1, p1, repeat from * to end
Row 2 *p1, k1 repeat from * to end
These two rows form seed stitch repeat until 68 rows have been completed then place marker.
Work a further 14 rows of seed stich ending on a wrong side.
Smiley Face
The first 5 sts and last 5 sts of each row keep seed stitch border
Row 1) [5bsst], k37, [5bsst]
Row 2) and all wrong side rows [5bsst], p37, [5bsst]
Row 3) [5bsst], k12, (k2tog, yo), 6x k13, [bsst]
Row 5) [5bsst], k9, k2tog, yo, k15, yo, k2tog, k9, [5bsst]
Row 7) [5bsst], k6, k2tog, yo, k 21, yo, k2tog, k6, [5bsst]
Row 9) [5bsst], k4, k2tog, yo, k25, yo, k2tog, k4, [5bsst]
Row 11) [5bsst], k14, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k15, [5bsst]
Row 13) [5bsst], k2, k2tog, yo, k8, k2tog, yo, k9, yo, k2tog, k8, yo, k2tog, k2, [5bsst]
Row 15) [5bsst], k10, k2tog, yo, k13, yo, k2tog, k10, [5bsst]
Row 17) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k6, k2tog, yo, k15, yo, k2tog, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 19) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k3, (k2tog, yo) 2x, k17, (yo, k2tog) 2x, k3, yo, k2tog,
k1, [5bsst]
Row 21) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k5, k2tog, yo, k17, yo, k2tog, k5, yo, k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 23) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k9, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo,
k2tog, k9, yo,k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 25) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k8, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo,
k2tog, k8, yo, k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 27) [5bsst], k11, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k11, [5bsst]
Row 29) [5bsst], k2, k2tog, yo, k7, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo,
k2tog, k7, yo, k2tog, k2, [5bsst]
Row 31) [5bsst], k12, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k12, [5bsst]


Row 33) [5bsst], k4, k2tog, yo, k25, yo, k2tog, k4, [5bsst]
Row 35) [5bsst], k6, k2tog, yo, k21, yo, k2tog, k6, [5bsst]
Row 37) [5bsst], k9, k2tog, yo, k15, yo, k2tog, k9, [5bsst]
Row 39) [5bsst], k12, (k2tog, yo) 6x, k13, [5bsst]
Row 41) [5bsst], k37, [5bsst]

Row 42) [5bsst], p37, [5bsst]
Work 12 rows seed stitch.
Cast off.

Handles Make 2
Cast on 6 sts
work in seed stitch until required length ( can be as long as you'd like)
Cast off.

Finishing
Fold bag in half (the markers are the middle) place cast on edge to cast off edge and sew side seams.
Pin handles in place then sew. Line if rquired. I lined with a red coloured material to show off smiley face.





The happiness survival kit :

An eraser to make all your mistakes disappear.

A penny so you will never be broke.

A rubber band to remind you to be flexible.

A string to tie everything together when all falls apart.

A mint to remind you that you are worth a mint to family and friends.

A marble so no one can say that you’ve lost all your marbles.

A Band Aid to remind you to heal hurt feelings.

A pencil to list your blessings every day.

A piece of gum to remind you to stick to it and you can accomplish anything.

A teabag to remind you to relax daily.

A toothpick to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.

A kiss to remind you that someone, somewhere cares about you.

 Place all these together in a box and put the box in the bag with the smiley face.... A guarantee to make everyone smile.


Saturday, January 14, 2012

Felted Tote Bag

 After the knitting is finished this bag is thoroughly felted by a simple washing then it is stretched to dry.  This perfect bag is washable and no lining is required!

Materials

2 Balls 100% wool (185yds/170m per 100grms)
1 Ball yarn for handles
Several legths cord to embelish
Size 6.5mm (10.5 us) needles or size to obtain guage
Felting needle

Finished measurements

Unfelted: 59''x 19''
Felted: 39'' x 13''

Gauge:
15 sts and 20 rows over 4'' (10cm) in Stocking stitch

Bag

Cast on 75 stitches and work st st for 300 rows or 60''
Cast off loosely.
Fold knitting in half and sew seams.

Felting the Bag

Note: weave in any loosed ends before felting.
 Set washing machine to hot on a low water, high agitation cycle (80-90)C and use a little detergent.
The felting process can take anywhere from four to twenty minutes. Check frequently, if cycle is complete and the piece isn't felted to your satisfaction reset the machine and start again.
 Rinse under cool running water.
Squeeze out excess water by rolling the piece in a terry cloth towel.
Arrange into shape and pin to a dry towel and leave to dry.

Dry felting, creating designs with a felting needle

The first thing to note about a felting needle is that it is long, barbed and extremely sharp. Therefore care needs to be taken when working to avoid injury. The process of holding and using a felting needle is very different to using a sewing needle. The felting needle punches through the fabric from top to bottom.  Whether working with a single needle or a needle felt tool, the principle is the same and that is to push or punch the needle through layers of fiber or fabric. This means that it is important to do this on a surface which the needle can sink into.
With a marker or chalk draw whatever design you want on the bag.
Place a foam block or a felting block (looks like upside down yard sweeping brush) inside the bag.
Being careful not to jab your fingers place the yarn along the drawn shape then jab with the felting needle to secure to the bag.
Holding the felting needle or tool in the hand, punch the needle through the layers of fabric and fibers. Work on a small area at a time, until the layers start to mesh and then move onto the next area. Continue needle felting until all shapes have been filled and firmly compacted.
Fold over 4'' at top of bag.
 Monks Cord straps
Sraps are made by over twisting yarn then folding it in half, this allows the opposite twist to lock strands of yarn together making a stable simple braid.
Make 2 as follows:
Cut 6 legths of yarn 5rds (60'') long, holding each of thecut ends twist the yarn (this maybe easier with another person helping) after twisting find the centre point and putting the cut ends together fold in half. Don't let go of the ends! The yarn will seem to untwist a little but will settle into a cord. 
Tie a knot in the cut ends.
Sew the ends securely in place onto the bag.

Tote it around wherever you go!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Happy Bag + Happiness Survival Kit

First of all I want to thank Janet Callaway - The Natural Networker who has been a great source of inspiration since I started this blog and who gave me the idea for this pattern after reading her blog at
http://www.janetcallaway.com/12-essentials-for-your-happiness-kit
I thought it would make a great gift idea and decided to make a bag to go with it, so of course what would be better than to have a bag with a smiley face!
So here is my Happy Bag + Happiness Survival Kit

Happy Bag

Materials:
2 skeins Cotton type yarn
6mm needles
1/2yd material for lining
Cotton thread and sewing needle
Abbreviations used
 K = knit, p = purl,
k2tog = knit 2 together, yo = yarn over.

 x means to repeat the stitches in parentheses as many times as the number before the x.
Stitches in [bsst ] are border seed stitches,



Instructions:
Cast on 48 sts
Row 1 *k1, p1, repeat from * to end
Row 2 *p1, k1 repeat from * to end
These two rows form seed stitch repeat until 68 rows have been completed then place marker.
Work a further 14 rows of seed stich ending on a wrong side.
Smiley Face
The first 5 sts and last 5 sts of each row keep seed stitch border
Row 1) [5bsst], k37, [5bsst]
Row 2) and all wrong side rows [5bsst], p37, [5bsst]
Row 3) [5bsst], k12, (k2tog, yo), 6x k13, [bsst]
Row 5) [5bsst], k9, k2tog, yo, k15, yo, k2tog, k9, [5bsst]
Row 7) [5bsst], k6, k2tog, yo, k 21, yo, k2tog, k6, [5bsst]
Row 9) [5bsst], k4, k2tog, yo, k25, yo, k2tog, k4, [5bsst]
Row 11) [5bsst], k14, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k15, [5bsst]
Row 13) [5bsst], k2, k2tog, yo, k8, k2tog, yo, k9, yo, k2tog, k8, yo, k2tog, k2, [5bsst]
Row 15) [5bsst], k10, k2tog, yo, k13, yo, k2tog, k10, [5bsst]
Row 17) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k6, k2tog, yo, k15, yo, k2tog, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 19) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k3, (k2tog, yo) 2x, k17, (yo, k2tog) 2x, k3, yo, k2tog,
k1, [5bsst]
Row 21) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k5, k2tog, yo, k17, yo, k2tog, k5, yo, k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 23) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k9, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo,
k2tog, k9, yo,k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 25) [5bsst], k1, k2tog, yo, k8, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo,
k2tog, k8, yo, k2tog, k1, [5bsst]
Row 27) [5bsst], k11, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k11, [5bsst]
Row 29) [5bsst], k2, k2tog, yo, k7, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo,
k2tog, k7, yo, k2tog, k2, [5bsst]
Row 31) [5bsst], k12, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k12, [5bsst]


Row 33) [5bsst], k4, k2tog, yo, k25, yo, k2tog, k4, [5bsst]
Row 35) [5bsst], k6, k2tog, yo, k21, yo, k2tog, k6, [5bsst]
Row 37) [5bsst], k9, k2tog, yo, k15, yo, k2tog, k9, [5bsst]
Row 39) [5bsst], k12, (k2tog, yo) 6x, k13, [5bsst]
Row 41) [5bsst], k37, [5bsst]

Row 42) [5bsst], p37, [5bsst]
Work 12 rows seed stitch.
Cast off.

Handles Make 2
Cast on 6 sts
work in seed stitch until required length ( can be as long as you'd like)
Cast off.

Finishing
Fold bag in half (the markers are the middle) place cast on edge to cast off edge and sew side seams.
Pin handles in place then sew. Line if rquired. I lined with a red coloured material to show off smiley face.





The happiness survival kit :

An eraser to make all your mistakes disappear.

A penny so you will never be broke.

A rubber band to remind you to be flexible.

A string to tie everything together when all falls apart.

A mint to remind you that you are worth a mint to family and friends.

A marble so no one can say that you’ve lost all your marbles.

A Band Aid to remind you to heal hurt feelings.

A pencil to list your blessings every day.

A piece of gum to remind you to stick to it and you can accomplish anything.

A teabag to remind you to relax daily.

A toothpick to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.

A kiss to remind you that someone, somewhere cares about you.

I placed all these together in a box and put the box in the bag with the smiley face to remind you to smile and thought this would make a perfect christmas gift.

Wishing you all  happiness this Christmas and throughout the New Year!





smiley face designed by Susan Mrenna 2006 Knit A Little http://knitalittlestore.blogspot.com