Knit your own shopping bag

by PAMELA MacKENZIE
STAFF WRITER

Knitters and crocheters every-

where are joining the cause to
eliminate plastic bags by knitting
their own.
On the social networking Web
site for yarnsters, www.Ravelry.
com, a quick search of the patterns
database will yield dozens of free
patterns that members have de-
signed for shopping. Some patterns
call for “plarn,” strips of plastic
bags that are used instead of yarn.
Other crafters use cotton, usu-
ally “”kitchen cotton,’’ such as Lily
Sugar ’n’ Cream, Pigsah Peaches ’n’
Cream or Lion Brand’s Cotton yarn.
All these yarns are knitting worsted
weight and virtually interchange-
able.
The bag described here is an orig- Three small stitch holders. 8 stitches.
inal design that shows the maker’s Round 1: kfb of each stitch: 16
love of bags and the environment Note: This bag is knitted in the stitches
with lacy leaves on the sides that round and the bottom can be done Round 2: k16
make the bag expandable. It’s great on a set of doublepoints or with the Round 3: (k1, kfb) eight times:
for grocery shopping or farmers Magic Loop method on the circular 24 stitches
markets. Any of the kitchen cot- needle. Round 4 and all even numberd
tons mentioned here can be used. rounds: knit
Someone who wants to use just one One stitch marker to mark the end Round 5: (k2, kfb) eight times,
color can certainy do so, but comb- of a round. Optional: 10 stitch 32 stitches
ing colors, sometimes combining a markers between each leaf Round 7: (k3, kfb) eight times,
varigated yarn with a solid color, pattern repeat may help you keep 40 stitches
will give you a custom look. track of your work. Round 9: (k4, kfb) eight times,
48 stitches
Materials: Round 11: (k5, kfb) eight times,
56 stitches
Abbreviations: Continue to increase the odd
Three balls of Lily Sugar ‘n’ Cream numbered rows by 8 evenly spaced
or Pigsah Peaches N Cream yarn, or k = knit stitches until you have done it 15
two balls of Lion Brand p = purl times (round 31), for a total of 120
Cotton. One ball can be the con- yo = wrap yarn over the needle, stitches. If you are still on the dou-
trasting color, or you can combine which will be knitted as a new ble point needles, switch to the cir-
three colors. One large stitch in the next round. cular needle and place your marker
skein of Bernat Handcrafters yarn k2tog = knit 2 together so that you know where one round
will also work well. kfb = knit in the front and back of ends and the next begins. This is
the same stitch also a good place to change colors,
Size 6 needles: one set of double- if you’re planning to do it.
point needles and/or a circular
needle, 24 inches long.
One size 10 circular needle, 24
Instructions: Round 32: knit
Round 33: (k9, kfb) 12 times,
inches long. Cast on: With main color, cast on 130 stitches.
 Round 34: begin seed stitch: k1, p1 across 130 stitches
Round 35: p1, k1 across 130 stitches
Repeat rows 34 and 35 until the side of the bag measures at leat 6 inches. The side of the bag starts with
round 31 or 33, not the center of the bottom.

Begin leaf pattern over 10 rounds: In next round, switch to size10 needle and
*p2, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, p2, k4, k2tog, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 2: * p2, k5, p2, k3, k2tog, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 3: * p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2, k2, k2tog, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 4: * p2, k7, p2, k1, k2tog, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 5: * p2, k5, k2tog, p2, yo, k2tog, yo, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 6: * p2, k4, k2tog, p2, k3, repeat 9 more times.
Leaf Round 7: * p2, k3, k2tog p2, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 8: * p2, k2, k2tog, p2, k5, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 9: * p2, k1, k2tog, p2, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, repeat from * 9 more times.
Leaf Round 10: * p2, yo, k2tog, yo, p2, k4, k2tog, repeat from * 9 more times.
Do these 10 rounds of the leaf pattern three times for a total of 30 rounds. Switch to size 6 needles and knit
the seed stitch for 12 rounds (about 2 inches). Begin set up for handles.

Making Shoulder Straps

Bind off 25 stitches. Work next 10 stitches in seed stitch and put on holder. Bind off next 20 stitches. Work
next 10 stitches in seed stitch and put on holder. Bind off 25 stitches. Work next 10 stitches in seed stitch and
put on holder. Bind off 20 stitches. Work last 10 stitches in seed stitch for 20 inches or desired length of strap.
Use kirchener stitch to attach to 10 stitches on first holder, Pick up 10 stitches from second holder and attach
yarn. Work in seed stitch for 20 inches or desired length of strap. User krchener stitch to attch to 10 stitches of
third holder.

Pamela MacKenzie: 732-565-7295; pmackenzie@mycentraljersey.com.

Visit Pam MacKenzie’s knitting blog, InStitches, at http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/institches. You can leave
questions about this pattern as comments there, or e-mail her.

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