Let your knitting travel in style on your next vacation with the vacation knit project bag. Perfect size for your current WIP and all the notions, as well as your favorite book/e-reader, and sunscreen!
The clever i-cord corner cinches keep everything where it should be, not rolling all over.
Couple the pattern with your favorite color of worsted weight yarn and you have your next go-to project bag or market bag.
Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me cover the cost of publishing my blog. Should you choose to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small percentage of the sale.
CLICK HERE GO TO RAVELRY AND CHECK IT OUT!
(coupon code does not work if you click the buy now button)
MEASUREMENTS
Finished Size: Base of bag is 12” x 12”, Body of bag is 10” in height (not including handles)
Gauge: 18 sts and 28 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch
MATERIALS
Yarn: Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird™ (100% wool, 3.5 oz / 100 g, 186 yd / 170 m),
- Color A— Poolside — 4 balls
- Color B— Creme de Mint — 4 balls
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) 24” circulars, and dpns; US5 (3.75mm) dpns.
Notions: tapestry needle
ABBREVIATIONS
K: knit
P: purl
p2tog: purl 2 sts together (1 st decreased)
M1L: make 1 left
M1R: make 1 right
yo: yarn over (1 st increased)
CO: cast on
BO: bind off
PATTERN STITCHES
Stockinette Stitch (St st): Straight — Knit on RS, purl on WS. Circular — Knit all sts, every rnd.
Garter Stitch (Gtr St): Straight — Knit all sts every row. Circular — Rnd 1: Knit. Rnd 2: Purl. Rep rnds 1 and 2 for Gtr St.
SPECIAL STITCHES
M1R: (make 1 right slanting) Insert lhn under horizontal strand between st just worked and next st from the back to the front, knit through the front loop (1 st increased)
M1L: (make 1 left slanting) Insert lhn under horizontal strand between st just worked and next st from the front to the back, knit through the back loop (1 st increased)
Backward Loop Cast-on Method: *Wrap yarn around left thumb from front to back and secure in palm with other fingers. Insert needle upwards through strand on thumb. Slip loop from thumb onto rhn, pulling yarn to tighten. Rep from * for desired number of sts.
NOTES
- Hold the yarn double throughout — 2 strands of color A, 2 strands of color B.
- Change colors every 2 rows for stripes.
- Use the jogless stripes technique at the color change. Learn how here: https://youtu.be/hqoIawPmvos
- Carry the unused color up the inside of the bag; do not cut at each color change.
VACATION KNIT PROJECT BAG PATTERN
Base Garter Tab
With color A, CO 3 sts with size 7 DPNs.
Knit 6 rows in Garter st.
Without turning the work, pick up 3 sts on each edge of the Garter tab, evenly distributing them between 3 more size 7 DPNs –12 sts total [ 3 on each needle].
Knit one round even.
Increases
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: *K1, m1L, knit to 1 sts before end of needle, m1R, k1 * repeat 3 more times — 8 sts increased [2 at each corner].
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 alternating colors every 2 rounds after round 2.
When there are 172 sts [43 on each needle], change to size 7 circular needles. Placing a marker at the beginning of the round and at each corner. There will be 43 sts between each marker.
Turning
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: Purl
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: Purl
Body
Work in Stockinette st, maintaining 2 round stripes, until the body is 8 inches tall. [sample was worked with 64 rounds, including turning rounds, ending with color B]
Cut color B and continue working only in color A. Work 8 rounds in Gtr St (circular).
Handle and Eyelets
Round 1: K 14, BO 15 sts, k 14, sl marker, k 43, sl marker, k 14, BO 15 sts, k 14, sl marker, k 43.
Round 2: P 5, yo, p2tog, p 7, CO 15 sts with backward loop, p 7, p2tog, yo, p 5, sl marker, p 5, yo, p2tog, p 9, yo, p2tog, p7, p2tog, yo, p 9, p2tog, yo, p5 * repeat to * once more (172 sts).
Work in Gtr st (circular) for 8 more rounds (9 ridges total). BO.
Finishing
Use the bury in ends method to weave in ends. Learn how here: https://youtu.be/8_NBGUKjO-E
Block bag if desired.
Make 2 I-cords as shown below and thread through the eyelets on each side of the bag as shown.
I cords
With color B, CO 3 sts with size 5 DPNs. Slide the sts to the other end of the needle without turning, knit. Repeat until the cord measures 24 inches long. Cut yarn and thread the end through the 3 live stitches, pull tight and weave the end into the center of the cord.