Materials –
3 - 50 gr balls Crystal Palace Fjord in Sand #4102 (Color A)
2 - 50 gr ball Crystal Palace Taos in Two Gray Hills #11 (Color B)
2 - 50 gr balls Crystal Palace Merino Stripes in #021 Sandstorm (Color C)
1 - 50 gr ball Crystal Palace Blippity in #046 Chocolate-Almonds
Crystal Palace 26" Circular Bamboo or DAISY 29" Circular Needle US Size #11
Tapestry needle
Purchased purse handle, shoulder strap or knit I-cord as desired

Gauge:
3½" stitches per inch in stockinette stitch worked in the round.
[Note when knitting St st in the round all rows are knit.]

Dimensions:
Before felting – 17" from the bottom point of the bag up to the next side point.
After felting – 15" across the widest part of the bag, 10" from the bottom point to the top of the folded down flap, 10"
from the bottom point of the bag up to the next side point, 2" deep

Techniques:
Begin with garter stitch (knit all rows) as two mitered squares, then use short-row shaping to square off the top before finishing with a semi-circular flap.

Abbreviations:
K - Knit
Kf/b - Knit into the front and then into the back of the same stitch
P - Purl
SSK - Slip, slip, knit
K2tog - Knit two stitches together
PM - Place marker
RS - Right side
WS - Wrong side
Sl - Slip one stitch
Sl/w/t - Slip one stitch, bring the yarn to the front, slip the stitch back to the left hand needle, turn the work
St st - Stockinette stitch
St(s) - Stitch(es)
BO - Bind off
CO - Cast on

Body of bag: (make 2)
With 2 strands of Color A, cast on 62 sts, PM after the 31 st to mark the center. Odd rows are the WS.
Row 1 – K
Row 2 – K to the last two sts before the marker, SSK, K2tog, K to the end of the row.
Row 3 – K
Row 4 – Cut Color A, attach one strand each of Color B, Color C and Blippity. Repeat Row 2.
Row 5 – K
Row 6 – Cut Blippity and continue with one strand each of Color B and Color C.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until Row 25 has been worked.
At the same time, on Rows 16 and 17, add one strand of Blippity, otherwise, use only Color B and Color C. (38 sts)
Begin Short Row Shaping:
Row 26 – K20, Sl/w/t
Row 27 – Sl, K2, Sl/w/t
Row 28 – Sl, K3, Sl/w/t
Row 29 – Sl, K4, Sl/w/t
Row 30 – Sl, K5, Sl/w/t
Continue until you have worked Row 59 – Sl, K34 Sl/2/t
Row 60 – K to the end of the row
Row 61 – This side now becomes the RS, since the flap will fold over to the outside. Add one strand of Blippity and K 2 rows. Cut Blippity.
Flap Increases:
Row 63 – (K5, Kf/b) 3 times, K2 (Kf/b, K5) 3 times (44 sts.)
Row 64 – K (all even rows from this point will be K unless otherwise indicated)
Row 65 – (K6, Kf/b) 3 times, K2 (Kf/b, K6) 3 times (50 sts.)
Row 67 – (K7, Kf/b) 3 times, K2 (Kf/b, K7) 3 times (56 sts.)
Row 69 – (K8, Kf/b) 3 times, K2 (Kf/b, K8) 3 times (62 sts.)
Row 71 – Add one strand of Blippity and K two rows. Cut all three strands.
Buttonhole Edging:
Row 73 – Attach two strands of Fjord and K 2 rows
Row 75 – K2 *BO4, K2* BO4, K2
Row 76 -- K2 *CO7, K2* CO7, K2
Bind off.

Gusset:
Hold one of the finished pieces RS facing. Use Color A to pick up stitches beginning where the flap increases start and working down the side, to the bottom point, and then back up the other side to the opposite side where the flap increases start. Pick up 14 stitches to the first point. Pick up 31 stitches to the bottom point. Pick up 31 stitches to the other side point, and then pick up 14 stitches to where the flap increases start on the opposite side. Knit back and forth in garter stitch for 8 rows. BO, and then sew invisibly to the other piece so that the right sides both face out.
To finish the top of the gusset and sides of the flaps, RS facing, pick up 24 stitches beginning at the bottom side (edge of the end buttonhole) of one flap. Work across the gusset to end at the bottom side of the opposite flap. Knit 1 row and then BO. Repeat for the other side.

Finishing:
Felt the bag using your preferred method and shape to dry. Attach purchased purse handles and closure hardware.

Finishing for 2nd Colorway:
Denise knit this bag and used an I-cord strap with grommets which is very successful.
by placing 2 grommets in the top of each side of the bag and knotting the I-cord under the flaps a lovely strap is formed. Below is a view of the top of the bag showing the grommet placements.

Below is a view under one side of the top flap to show the I-cord knotted under the grommet.

Felted Bag Pattern Copyright 2006 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying CPY Yarns Taos, Merino Stripes and Fjord are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns - email cpyinfo -at- straw.com

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988, fax: 510-237-9809