Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Something Special Gift Bags

Something Special Gift Bags
Something Special Gift Bags

Now that I live in Switzerland, much of my life revolves around chocolate. More specifically, where to buy it, how to distribute it, and whether or not I should ship it back to friends and loved ones or just lock myself in the bathroom and gobble it up while the children bang on the door (note: I have never actually done this. I have a much cleverer hidden chocolate-eating system that involves a cupboard door and pretending to look for the ingredients I need for dinner). What was I talking about? Oh yeah, gift bags! A friend of mine recently divulged her cost-saving practice of buying chocolate at the factory store and then rebagging it for Christmas gifts, and a light turned on in my head. What better summer knitting project than these little gift bag delights, after all, which are not just scrap-busters, but also earth-friendly and quick-knitting?

Sizes: Small (Medium; Large) (Finished dimensions roughly as follows, with a note that the closed hole pattern will be slightly narrower than the open hole pattern in all sizes. That being said, the small is roughly 3.5" wide x 4.75" tall, the medium 4.75" x 6.25", and the large 6" x 7.75")

Yarn: Maddison Bio Baby (100% Organic Cotton; 197 yards [180 meters]/50 grams); #06 Purple - one skein; #03 Tan - one skein, & #01 White - one skein

Something Special Gift Bags
A better look at the openwork pattern;
you can find a close-up of the
closed version below.
Needles: One set of double pointed needles (dpns) in size US 4

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 26 stitches = 4 inches 

Which brings us to the pattern! Please note that I used the yarn I had leftover from the Crystal and Pearl Cowl for these gift bags, and, while I've identified the colors above, I haven't prescribed colors in the pattern since you can pick whichever color you dang want for each piece. Having said that, cast on 48 (64; 80) stitches in whichever color you'd like to use for the body of the bag and then divide between 3 or 4 dpns (whichever you prefer) as evenly as possible while still maintaining groups of 8 stitches. Join in round. Then we'll work the following edging rows, which are the same for all sizes:

Edging Rows 1 - 4: * k2, p2; rep from *

Edging Row 5: knit

Edging Row 6: * k2, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, k2 *

Edging Row 7: * k3, (k1, p1) in double yo, k3 *

Edging Rows 8 & 9: knit

Knit edging rows 1 - 9. Then we'll begin our main pattern, which, as you can see from the pictures, you can do with an open-hole or a closed-hole design. The pattern rows are the same for all sizes, and I'm giving the open-hole pattern first.

Open-hole Pattern:

Row 1: * k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k3 *

Row 2: knit

Row 3: * k2, yo, ssk, k4 *

Row 4: knit

Row 5: * k3, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1 *

Row 6: knit

Row 7: * k4, k2tog, yo, k2 *

Row 8: knit

Closed-hole Pattern:

Row 1: * k1, m1r, ssk, k2tog, m1l, k3 *

Row 2: knit

Row 3: * k2, m1r, ssk, k4 *

Row 4: knit

Row 5: * k3, m1r, ssk, k2tog, m1l, k1 *

Row 6: knit

Row 7: * k4, k2tog, m1l, k2 *

Row 8: knit

Knit rows 1 - 8 of whichever pattern you like until piece measures roughly 4.5" (6"; 7.5") and you've just finished row 4 or row 8 of the pattern. Divide remaining stitches evenly between two double pointed needles and graft together using the Kitchener stitch. To help you out, I've even posted a video of the technique below! (Also note that you don't have to graft; you could use a three-needle bind off or just bind off and seam the bottom, if you'd prefer.)


Once you've completed your bag, you can move on to the i-cord tie. So, again, using whichever color you'd desire, cast on 3 stitches loosely. Work in i-cord until piece measures roughly 10.5" (13"; 15.5"). Bind off loosely. Tuck in ends of both bag and tie and block. Knot one end of tie, weave through double yarn overs at top of bag, and then knot the other end. Insert gift in bag, and distribute with pride.

Something Special Gift Bags

Something Special Gift Bags

Something Special Gift Bags

Something Special Gift Bags

Something Special Gift Bags

21 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Hi there! An ssk is a left-leaning 2-to-1 decrease: you can find a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ohoxYqOT-s

      And m1r and m1l are ways of adding stitches - you can follow the links embedded above or go here for more info: http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/92-how-to/1046-make-1-left-or-right-m1-m1l-m1r

      Finally, I do occasionally miss stuff but most of your terminology-related questions can be answered on my glossary page (the link is at the top). Let me know if you have any other questions! :)

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    2. really cute. thanks for caring enough to share

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  2. How cleaver! Thank you for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like them! It strikes me as a very good way to use up scraps!!! :)

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  3. Replies
    1. It means to knit one, purl one in your double yarn over, and it's basically just the technique you use to deal with any double yo because, as you'll see if you try it, you can't just knit twice! :)

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  4. So clever! Love the pattern! Great idea for gifts! Thank you for sharing. Can I use a 12 inch Circular needle,size 4 to knit the little gift bags? I am going to review UTube to learn some of the stitches. I am a cut above beginner. Thanks again for the pattern. Jacque Dooley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jacque!

      The 12" circular should be just fine if you're making the large size. And I'm glad to hear you like the pattern! :)

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  5. Can i use the 2 needle method the bags are so beautiful and i have loads of wool left over

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    Replies
    1. Yup, you can find the flat-knit pattern below. As always with a conversion, I haven't actually knit it this way but I think everything should work out; just let me know if you have any questions! :)

      Using your gauge-sized straight needles, cast on 50 (66; 82) stitches in whichever color you'd like to use for the body of the bag. Then we'll work the following edging rows, which are the same for all sizes:

      Edging Rows 1 & 3 (wrong side): p1, * k2, p2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Edging Rows 2 & 4: k1, * k2, p2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Edging Row 5: purl

      Edging Row 6: k1, * k2, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, k2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Edging Row 7: p1, * p3, (k1, p1) in double yo, p3; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Edging Row 8: knit

      Edging Row 9: purl

      Knit edging rows 1 - 9. Then we'll begin our main pattern, which, as you can see from the pictures, you can do with an open-hole or a closed-hole design. The pattern rows are the same for all sizes, and I'm giving the open-hole pattern first.

      Open-hole Pattern:

      Row 1 (right side): k1, * k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k3; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 2: purl

      Row 3: k1, * k2, yo, ssk, k4; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 4: purl

      Row 5: k1, * k3, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 6: purl

      Row 7: k1, * k4, k2tog, yo, k2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 8: purl

      Closed-hole Pattern:

      Row 1: k1, * k1, m1r, ssk, k2tog, m1l, k3; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 2: purl

      Row 3: k1, * k2, m1r, ssk, k4; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 4: purl

      Row 5: k1, * k3, m1r, ssk, k2tog, m1l, k1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 6: purl

      Row 7: k1, * k4, k2tog, m1l, k2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 8: purl

      Knit rows 1 - 8 of whichever pattern you like until piece measures roughly 4.5" (6"; 7.5") and you've just finished row 4 or row 8 of the pattern. Bind off loosely and seam bottom & edge.

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    2. Will both edges have the holes to lace the tie through in the closed hole pattern or will you have to repeat the edge on the bottom before you bind off?

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    3. Hi there!

      The bags are made in the round from the top down, so first you'll complete the top edge, with holes all the way around, and then you'll work the body of the bag before grafting the bottom edges together. :)

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  6. Had anyone that actually made this little bag had any trouble with pattern? The closed hole pattern?

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    Replies
    1. I can't remember any feedback like that but if you have questions I'm happy to help! :)

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  7. would you get the closed hole look if knitting TBL of yarn overs?
    very cute pattern!

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    Replies
    1. I've never tried that but I think you would just get a slightly smaller hole... I would use a different increase instead. :)

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  8. Can you use a fingering weight yarn for this bag too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can use anything you want, just do the math on the gauge so you end up with the size you want! :)

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