Sonoran Desert Bucket Bag

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 16” tall with 12” circular base

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn:

 Cascade Yarns Avalon (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic; 175 yards [160 meters]/100 grams): 01 White (MC), 2 skeins; 25 Georgia Peach (CC1), 1 skein; 17 Enamel Blue (CC2), 1 skein; 06 Tannin (CC3), 2 skeins

Needles: US size 6 (4 mm): 29” and 16” circular needles, and DPNS

Notions: Markers; stitch holders or waste yarn; tapestry needle; eight ⁷/₁₆” eyelets and eyelet setter; 3 yards ³/₈” rope or cording; 12” square piece of needlepoint mesh; needle; thread to match CC3.

Special Stitches

Garter St (worked in the rnd)

Rnd 1: Knit.

Rnd 2: Purl.

Rep Rnds 1-2 for patt.

Pattern Notes

This bag is worked in two intarsia panels from the top down. The panels are seamed together at the sides, then the base of the bag is worked in the round in garter stitch. The bottom of the bag is a circle created with simple decreases. Applied I-cord finishes the top edge. Purchased eyelets and rope create the handles, and a base of needlepoint mesh makes the bottom of the bag hold its shape.

Pattern

Bag Panels (make 2)

With MC, CO 91 sts.

Work 7 rows in St st as follows:

Row 1 (WS): Purl.

Row 2 (RS): Knit.

 

Eyelet Row (RS): K11, k2tog, double yo, (k20, k2tog, double yo) 3 times, k12.

Next Row: Purl, purling just once into double yo, dropping second loop from needle.

Work 12 rows in St st.

Begin working from chart, using the intarsia technique of twisting each new color together with the old color, joining CC1 and CC2 when needed.

When chart is complete, place live sts on holder or waste yarn.

Block pieces and weave in ends.

When both panels are complete, seam sides using MC.

Bag Base

Carefully remove holder or waste yarn and place live sts on longer circular needle. PM at one side seam to indicate the beg of the rnd, join CC3 – 182 sts.

Rnd 1: P2tog, p to second side seam, p2tog, p to end. Exact location of decreases is not important – 180 sts.

 

Work in Garter St for 4”, ending after a Purl Rnd.

Next Rnd: Purl (this is a turning rnd).

Note: Switch to shorter circular needle, then DPNs as needed.

Knit 3 rnds.

Dec Rnd: *K8, k2tog; rep from * to end – 162 sts.

Knit 5 rnds.

Dec Rnd: *K7, k2tog; rep from * to end – 144 sts.

Knit 5 rnds.

Dec Rnd: *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end – 126 sts.

Knit 4 rnds.

Dec Rnd: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end – 108 sts.

Knit 2 rnds.
Dec Rnd: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end – 90 sts.

Knit 2 rnds.

Dec Rnd: *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end – 72 sts.

Knit 2 rnds.

Dec Rnd: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end – 54 sts.

Knit 2 rnds.

Dec Rnd: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end – 36 sts.

Knit 1 rnd.

Dec Rnd: *K2tog; rep from * to end – 18 sts.

Knit 1 rnd.

Dec Rnd: *K2tog; rep from * to end – 9 sts.

Knit 1 rnd.

Break yarn and draw through rem sts, cinching tight.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

Applied I-cord Edging

With CC2 and DPN, CO 3 sts.

*K2, sl 1, yo, pick up 1 st in the beginning CO sts of one side seam, pass slipped st and yo over picked-up st; rep from *, picking up 1 st in every CO st all the way around Bag.

When you reach the end, break yarn and sew live sts to CO sts of I-cord.

Set eyelets into yo holes using eyelet setter and hammer.

Cut a piece of plastic needlepoint material the same size as base of bag. Sew into base of bag with needle and matching thread.

Cut length of rope into two equal pieces. Beginning at side seams, thread rope through eyelets. Pull up on center of rope to create handles. Tie overhand knots with both rope ends at sides and let rope fray after knots.