IT'S HERE!!!

The following are the free flowing instructions for the buttoned up bag. Insert your own measurements. The thing I love most about making bags is not being constrained to counting. Follow my numbers where I've given them, or make your own!!! This is my first pattern, so i'm sorry for any mistakes. I'm currently making one trying to use the instructions, if you find any mistakes please let me know!

Have fun, and send me pictures of your finished project on ravelry (my username is daisiechain)

DaisieChain’s Messenger Bag

The great thing about this bag is it can be made using any worsted weight, feltable wool. Sizes are for small (medium). To make a larger size, upgrade to chunky and bigger needles. Half the fun of felting is you don’t have to have perfect sizing because it’s all going to change, anyway!

Before starting, take a measuring tape and loop it over one shoulder like you would hang the handle of the bag- figure out approx. where you would like the top of the bag to be, add an inch or two to account for felting (remembering that the strap will probably stretch as well as felt), and that is your “desired length” for the strap.

Strap/Sides/Bottom:
CO 40(50) sts and work in garter st until piece measures desired length. Continuing in garter st, work as follows:
Rows 1-K 5, bind off 4, k to last 9, bind off 4, k 5
Row 2- P5, co 4, P to last 9, co 4, P 5 (button holes made)
Rows 3-14- work even in garter st
Continue these rows until 6 rows of button holes have been made. Length can be adjusted as desired.

Front:
CO 40(45) sts. Working in st st and begin with a WS row as follows:
*Row 1: P
Row 2: K1, inc in next st by knitting into front and back of st, k to last 2, inc in next st, K1.*
Repeat from * 4 times, 48(53) sts.
Continue in st st until piece measures approx. 12(15) inches. Bind off on next RS row.

Back:
Work as for front, except do not bind off. Flap:
On next WS row, work 1 row as a RS row.
Work 10 rows even in st st. (If you want a longer flap, add more rows here and after row 23)
Row 11: K1, K2tog tbl, k to last 2, k2tog, k1
Work in st st, repeat dec row on rows 23, 31, 33.
Next RS row, k2tog 20 times.
BO loosely.

Sew bag together:
Sew in loose ends. Starting with the front of the bag and the end of the strap without button holes, attach strap to the entire edge of the front. Attach the back in the same way, making sure you end up at the same point on the strap so the bag stays even. Create a loop in the middle of the edge of the flap. Place the bag in a pillow case to felt so the strap doesn't get stretched out too badly. Felt. Block. Dry. Attach buttons to correspond to the button holes on the right side of the bag, and on the front for the loop.


if this works out, I'm making the pattern for "vaslyn's bag" next!