Knitted Bag Pattern

COATS & CLARK'S O.N.T. "SPEED-CRO-SHEEN" MERCERIZED COTTON, Art. C.44: 3 balls of No. 12-A Blue Sparkle and 2 balls of No. 1 White.
Clark's O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 4 (3½ mm. size).
Clasp … ¼ yard of silk for lining … Cardboard and cord.

GAUGE: Pattern Stitch—6½ sts make 1 inch; 12 rows make 1 inch.

BOTTOM … With Blue Sparkle, cast on 16 sts. Work in stockinette st (k 1 row, p 1 row), increasing 1 st at both ends of every other row until there are 36 sts on needle, ending with a purl row. Now dec 1 st at both ends of every other row until 16 sts remain. Bind off.

Note: The 2 slipped sts in the pattern are slipped as if to purl—when slip­ping the 2 sts in the knit row, keep yarn in back of sts; in the purl row keep yarn in front of the 2 slipped sts.

SIDE PIECE (Make 2) … Starting at lower edge with Blue Sparkle, cast on 62 sts. 1st row: K across. 2nd row: P across. Now work in pattern as fol­lows: 1st row: With White, k 2, * sl 2, k 6. Repeat from * to last 4 sts, sl 2, k 2. 2nd row: With White, p 2, * sl 2, p 6. Repeat from * to last 4 sts, sl 2, p 2. 3rd row: With Blue Sparkle, * k 6, sl 2. Repeat from * to last 6 sts, k 6. 4th row. With Blue Sparkle, * p 6, sl 2. Repeat from * to last 6 sts, p 6. 5th and 6th rows: Repeat first and 2nd rows. 7th row: With Blue Sparkle, * sl 2, k 2. Repeat from * to last 2 sts, sl 2. 8th row: With Blue Sparkle, * sl 2, p 2. Repeat from * to last 2 sts, sl 2. The last 8 rows constitute the pattern. Work in pattern, increasing 1 st at both ends of next row and every 8th row thereafter until there are 70 sts on needle. Work in pattern without increasing until piece measures 9 inches in all. Bind off.

HANDLE … With Blue Sparkle, cast on 7 sts and work in stockinette st for 9½ inches. Bind off.

STRAP … Starting at point with Blue Sparkle, cast on 3 sts. Work in stock­inette st, increasing 1 st at both ends of every other row until there are 11 sts on needle, ending with a purl row. Work in stockinette st for 2 rows. Next row: K 3, bind off 5 sts, k 3. Following row: P 3, cast on 5 sts, p 3. Now work in stockinette st, until piece measures 5¾ inches in all. Bind off.
    Cut a piece of cardboard the same size as bottom of bag. Cut 2 pieces of cardboard for Side Pieces as shown in diagram. Sew up side seams of Bag. Sew Bottom to Side Pieces. Insert card­board bottom and side pieces to inside of bag. Line with silk. Sew Handle around cord and sew in place 2 inches from each side of center of one Side Piece. Cut a piece of cardboard the same size as Strap. Line Strap with silk, inserting cardboard and cutting button­hole to match the buttonhole on knitted Strap. Sew Strap to center of same Side Piece 2 inches down from top. Sew clasp in place. Fold sides in to shape Bag.