FREE Sheknits for Knitters purse pattern

Bunnies Got Back - a knit and felted Bag Pattern great for beginners interested in trying out intarsia!

By Sharon Dreifuss -

For more of Sharon's knitting patterns + kits
visit www.Sheknitsforknitters.com

I know spring is here when I see an abundance of those fluffy little white tails hopping away from me as I make my way back to the outdoors. When it warms up outside it means I can size down to a small on the go bag which can be worn on my wrist, or thrown in my ever present big bag if need be. What shouts springtime more then bright pink, green and white? About the sweet and silly pom-poms, well, spring makes me feel giddy. The bunnies aren’t the only ones showing there tails in the sun.

SIZE

One (perfect for cell phone, i-pod, keys, bills, mints)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Before Felting
Height: 7 inches (from below small loop)
Width: 7 inches
Wrist Strap Length: 14 inches

After Felting
Height: 5.5 inches after assembly
Width: 5.5 inches
Wrist Strap Length: 10 inches

After Felting

MATERIALS

[MC] Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky [85% wool, 15% mohair; 125yd/114m per 113g skein] ; M-38: Lotus Pink; 1 skein (or 80 yds)

[CC] Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky [85% wool, 15% mohair; 125yd/114m per 113g skein] ; M- 11 : White Frost; 1 skein (or 50 yds)

Embroidery yarn for bunny detail:

Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted [85% wool, 15% mohair; 190yd/173m per 113g skein];

[A] M-05: Onyx (used to outline bunny) 2 yds;

Pom-pom yarns;

The two Pom–poms are made in Lamb’s Pride Bulky yarn.You will need approximately one yard of white for bunny’s tail, and one yard of green for bag closure pom-pom.

1 set US # 13/9mm double pointed needles

1 set US # 13/9mm straight needles

Tapestry needle for embroidery and assembly

1 red seed bead for bunny eye (optional)

Small Pom-Pom Maker to make 1-2 inch pom-pom or cut cardboard pieces into circles to create your own pom-pom maker

Scissors

GAUGE

10sts/ 15 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (un-felted)

Exact gauge is not important for this pattern

PATTERN NOTES

Intarsia knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colors

i-cord When working I-cord, work is not turned. Instead of turning the work

around to work back on the WS, slide all sts to the other end of the needle, switch the needle back to your left hand, bring the yarn around the back of the work, and start knitting the sts again. After the first 2 sts, give the yarn a sharp tug. Repeat this row to form I-cord. After a few rows, the work will begin to form a tube.

kfb knit into the front and back of the same stitch. (This gives you 2sts.)

m1 make one stitch by inserting left needle, from front to back, under the horizontal strand between last stitch worked and next stitch on left hand needle, forming a loop on the needle, knit through the back of this loop.

Bag is worked from; the small loop closure down the front of bag following colorwork Bunny Chart from the top of chart, Row 20 (then 19,18, 17 and so on) down to row 1, then up the front of bag. Embroidery details are done before felting. Next bag is assembled and wrist strap is knit. Bag is then felted. Pom-poms are added after bag is felted.

PATTERN

With double pointed needle and [MC] CO 2 sts. and i-cord for 3 inches (10 rows) to create loop closure. Leave i-cord on needle. With other double pointed needle pick up 2 stitches from the first row of the i-cord (Figure 1 )
















The picked up stitches will initially be very tight however they will loosen up as soon as you knit across them. Connect those two sets of stitches by knitting the 2 stitches of your left hand needle onto the right hand needle keeping tension as even as possible (4sts.).

Next row: Purl back

You are now ready to begin your increases.

Row 1: *kfb, m1*; repeat from*-* across row, end kfb (11 sts)

Row 2: Purl back

Row 3: K1, kfb in next 9 sts, last stitch k1 (20 sts)

Row 4: Purl back

Switch to straight needles and continuing in Stockinette Stitch follow Colorwork Bunny Chart (see pattern notes regarding Colorwork Chart) from the TOP DOWN (Row 22, the 21,20, etc.) for the next 22 rows

Next: Continue in Stockinette Stitch for 7 inches ending with a purl row.

Next row : On the right or knit side , bind off all stitches.

Side seams

With right sides facing and MC sew sides seams together as close to edge as possible with whip stitch.

Wrist strap

Turn bag so right side is out. Pick up 3 stitches as evenly as possible directly over side seam where bag is seamed together. I-cord those 3 stitches for 14 inches (40 rows). Bind off and sew that end onto other side of bag over other side seam so strap is evenly attached.

FINISHING

Create 2 small (1-2 inch) pom-poms, one in white and one in green. Pom-Poms do not get felted so do not attach pom-poms until after bag is felted.

With tapestry needle and [A] work chain stitch around bunny adding an extra stitch to accent bunny nose profile.

Sew seed bead in for bunny eye if desired

Felt bag

Place your finished bag inside a zippered pillow case (not laundry mesh bag), add an old pair of rubber flip-flops or jeans (for extra agitation) to washing machine set on hottest temperature. Use a little laundry soap. Turn machine on and it will do the felting for you. If you are new to felting run machine on short cycle (15-30 minutes) and check to see felting progress. Felt the bag until it's the size and texture you desire. Under-felting leaves stitch definition and bag will be floppy with knit-like structure. Over-felting leaves bag over shrunken and destroyed so watch your progress until you understand how felting works in your machine.

When finished felting stuff with old plastic grocery bags to desired shape and air dry.

Sew on pom-pom bunny tail smack dap in the middle of bunny backside. Sew on closure pom-pom 1 inch below top of bag back so closure loops fits nicely over it.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Sharon knits, designs, podcasts and parents seven children just outside of Chicago. You can contact her, find more designs and purse kits at

SheKnitsforKnitters.com If you would like an earful of Sharon to keep you company while you knit go to http://she-knits.mypodcast

Contact: Sharon@Sharonbethdesigns.com

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