Viva Las Felted Bag Pattern

Here it is...by popular demand (yeah, right!)

Viva Las Felted Bag

Materials:

Cascasde Pastaza # 072 (3 skeins)
Berroco Lazer FX # 605 (1 skein)
#9 circular needle (I did it on a 12", but I'd go larger if you have it!)
tapestry needle
large toggle button
and of course, a washing machine to felt!


Gauge:
to Pastaza label specs

DON'T FORGET TO SWATCH AND TO TEST FELT YOUR SWATCH!

here we go....

strap:

CO 175 with Pastaza
join to knit in the round...be careful not to twist!
K each stitch for 20 rows
Bind off

now you have the strap section finished...set aside

sides: (make 2)

CO 60 with Pastaza
pick up Lazer FX to carry along
Rows 1-20: knit in stockinette
(for less flash, you can drop the Lazer FX every other row)
drop Lazer FX
Row 21: K1, K2tog, k every stitch until last 3, K2tog, K1
Rows 22-30: knit in stockinette
Row 31: K1, K2tog, k every stitch until last 3, K2tog, K1
Rows 32-38: knit in stockinette
Row 39: K1, K2tog, k every stitch until last 3, K2tog, K1
Rows 40-44: knit in stockinette
Row 45: K1, K2tog, k every stitch until last 3, K2tog, K1
Rows 46-50: knit in stockinette
Row 51: K1, K2tog, k every stitch until last 3, K2tog, K1
Rows 52-54: knit in stockinette
Row 55: K1, K2tog, k every stitch until last 3, K2tog, K1
Rows 56-58: knit in stockinette
Row 59: *K1, K2tog, k every stitch until last 3, K2tog, K1
Row 60: p every stitch*
repeat from * three times (to Row 66)
Bind off

flap:

CO 20 stitches with Pastaza
K in stockinette for 40 rows
Bind off

assembly:

Thread the tapestry needle with Pastaza and stitch the side panels to either side of the bag strap. Stitch the flap onto the top edge of one side panel...

you are now ready to felt...put your bag in an old pillowcase and wash with hot water and a pair or two of jeans...check it often!!! (my swatch took two cycles, while my actual bag only took half of one cycle!)

When its reached the desired feltiness..block it into shape (I used a shoe in the bottom of the bag.)

After it has dried...sew on the button and then cut a TINY (I'm not kidding, it will stretch!) slit into the flap in the appropriate buttonhole place

Voila! Viva Las Felted Bag (I'm mixing my foreign languages here...)

Now...take into account that I have never written out a pattern before, so this may either be redundant or missing things or both...please let me know, and for heaven's sake...show me your bags when you are done!

In progress and finished bag pictures in previous postings!

ENJOY!