Bag Base [in the round]
Using double pointed needles and CC, CO 8 sts.
Divide so that there are 2 sts on each of 4 needles.
[Although it is possible to divide using 3 needles,
I recommend using 4 needles as it makes the increasing
a lot easier. The increases occur before and after
the first stitch of each needle.]
Join by slipping first st onto Needle 4. Pull last
st over first st and move the last stitch onto the
Needle 1.
Round 1: Knit [8 sts]
Round 2: *K1, M1* around [16 sts].
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: * K1, M1, K3, M1 * around [24 sts].
Round 5: Knit.
Round 6: * K1, M1, K5, M1 * around [32 sts].
Round 7: Knit.
Round 8: * K1, M1, K7, M1 * around [40 sts].
Round 9: Knit.
Round 10: * K1, M1, K9, M1 * around [48 sts].
Continue in this manner, so that all odd rounds
are knit and all even rounds have 8 stitches increased
until you have 200 sts. Since you are increasing
before and after the first st of each of the needles,
the first st is going to "pop" up, off
the knitted fabric.
Switch to circular needles when there are too many
stitches to work comfortably on the double pointed
needles.
The circumference of the bag should be approximately
44 inches.
Continue with Bag Body [skip next section]
Bag Base[alternate flat knit version]
These are the alternate instructions for knitting
the base back and forth. On circular needles, with
CC, CO 50 sts. Work piece in St st until piece measures
12.5 inches, ending with a knit row. [You need to
increase the fabric length-wise to take into account
the vertical shrinkage.]
Do NOT bind off.
Pick up 50 sts along each of the 3 other sides
of the rectangular piece [200 sts].
The circumference of the bag should be approximately
47 inches.
Continue with Bag Body.
Bag Body
Work 9 more rows in CC. Break off yarn and join
MC. Work in St st until body measures 8 inches long.
[Knit this longer if you would like a deeper bag].
Bag Handles
K12, BO 25, K25, BO25, K25,
BO25, K25, BO25, K13 (for a total of 200 stitches.)
Each group of 25 sts will be worked separately.
Put 3 groups of 25 onto stitch holders and work
the current 25 sts. Turn work.
Row 1 : P25.
Row 2 : K25.
Row 3 : P25.
Row 4 : Ssk, k21, k2tog [23 sts].
Row 5 : P23.
Row 6 : K23.
Row 7 : P23.
Row 8 : SSK, k19, k2tog [21 sts].
Continue decreasing as set every 4th row.
When 17 sts remain, break off MC and join in CC.
Continue decreasing every 4th row until 9 sts remain.
Work 4 more rows in St st. Put these 9 st onto
a stitch holder.
Work remaining 3 groups of 25 sts the same. You
will have 4 groups of 9 sts.
