Marvelous Mint Messenger Bag

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 14” x 10” x 4”; Strap Length: 35”

Gauge: 18 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Basketweave patt after wet blocking; Gusset patt = 4” [10 cm] wide

Materials

Yarn:

 Fibra Natura Good Earth (53% cotton, 47% linen; 170 yards [155 meters]/100 grams): #112 Jade (4 hanks)

Needles: US size 6 (4.0 mm) straight needles, 2 dpns

Notions: Markers, tapestry needle, cable needle (cn), 1 yd lining fabric, 1 yd heavyweight fusible interfacing, matching thread and sewing needle, magnetic purse closure, 1 1/2” button

Special Stitches

2×2 RC: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in back, k2 from left ndl, k2 from cn.

2×2 LC: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in front, k2 from left ndl, k2 from cn.

2×1 RPC: Sl next st to cn and hold in back, k2 from left ndl, p1 from cn.

2×1 LPC: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in front, p1 from left ndl, k2 from cn.

2×2 RPC: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in back, k2 from left ndl, p2 from cn.

2×2 LPC: Sl next 2 sts to cn and hold in front, p2 from left ndl, k2 from cn.

4-stitch I-Cord: *K4, slide sts to other end of dpn and place back into left hand; rep from *.

Pattern Notes

This bag is worked in pieces and seamed.

When shaping bottom of Sides and Flap, use the Sloped Method: On the last row before binding off, slip the last stitch of the row. On the bind off row, sl 2, pass first slipped st over the first slipped st, bind off rem sts as usual.

Pattern

Front

CO 63 sts.

Work Rows 1-8 of Basketweave patt, 5 times.

Shaping Section

Row 1 (RS): K1, k2tog, work in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (61 sts rem)
Rows 2-4: Work even in patt.
Row 5: Rep Row 1. (59 sts rem)
Rows 6-8: Work even in patt.
Row 9: Rep Row 1. (57 sts rem)
Row 10: Work even in patt.
Row 11: K1, p2tog, work in patt to last st, p2tog, k1. (55 sts rem)
Row 12: Work even in patt.
Rows 13-16: Rep Rows 9-12. (51 sts rem)
Row 17: Rep Row 1. (49 sts rem)
Row 18: Work even in patt.
Row 19: Rep Row 11. (47 sts rem)
Row 20: Work even in patt.
Row 21: Rep Row 1. (45 sts rem)
Row 22: P1, ssp, work in patt to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. (43 sts rem)
Row 23: Rep Row 1. (41 sts rem)
Row 24: P1, k2tog, work in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (39 sts rem)
Rows 25-28: Bind off 2 sts, work in patt to end. (31 sts rem)
Rows 29-30: Bind off 3 sts, work in patt to end. (25 sts rem)
Rows 31-32: Bind off 4 sts, work in patt to end. (17 sts rem)

Bind off rem sts.

Back

Work as for Front.

Flap

Work as for Front.

Gusset

CO 24 sts.

Knit 4 rows.

Inc Row (WS): P1, k4, *[m1p, p1] 2 times, k4; rep from * to last st, p1. (30 sts)

Rep Rows 1-16 of Gusset patt, 12 times.

Rep Row 1 once more.

Dec Row (WS): P1, k4, *[p2tog] 2 times, k4; rep from * to last st, p1. (24 sts rem)

Knit 4 rows.

Bind off all sts.

Finishing

Block Front, Back, and Flap to 14” wide x 10” high. Block Gusset to 4” wide x 30” tall. Using Front, Back, and Flap as templates, cut 2 pieces each of heavyweight fusible interfacing. Using Gusset as a template, cut 2 pieces of interfacing. Fuse all interfacing to WS of lining fabric, adding 1/2” seam allowance to all sides. Pin 2 Flaps tog with WS tog. Sew around curved edge leaving top/flat edge open. Turn RS out and steam seam. Insert one half of magnetic purse closure on underside of Flap.

Main Bag Linings: Pin a Front and Back piece to a Gusset piece with WS tog. Sew seams. Rep for other set of Front, Back and Gusset pieces. Place main bag linings WS tog. Turn under top seam allowances.

Assemble Knitting

With RS facing, pick up and knit 135 sts along one side of Gusset. Break yarn. With RS facing, pick up and knit 135 sts evenly around Front piece, excluding cast-on edge. Holding Gusset and Front with WS tog, join 135 sts using 3-needle BO. With RS facing, pick up and knit 135 sts along other side of Gusset. Break yarn. With RS facing, pick up and knit 135 sts evenly around Back piece, excluding cast-on edge. Holding Gusset and Front with WS tog, join 135 sts using 3-needle BO. Sew cast on edges of Flap and Back tog.

Edging

With RS facing, pick up and knit 24 sts along one side of Gusset, 63 sts along cast-on edge of Front, 24 sts along other side of Gusset, and 135 sts around curved edge of Flap. Bind off all sts using I-Cord bind off.

Place linings inside knitted bag. Position Flap over Front of bag to determine placement for other half of magnetic closure. Insert other half of closure into knitted portion of Front. Whipstitch edges of lining to inside of bag around sides of Gusset, Front, and all around curved edge of Flap. Sew button on top of knitted portion of Flap directly on top of magnetic closure. Button is purely decorative.

Braided Strap

I-Cord 1

With dpn, pick up and knit 4 sts along one side of Gusset behind I-Cord. Work in 4-St I-Cord for 50”. Place live sts on holder or safety pin. Cut yarn leaving 6” tail.

I-Cords 2-6

With dpn, pick up and knit 4 sts next to previous I-Cord. Work in 4-St I-Cord for 50”. Place live sts on holder or safety pin. Cut yarn leaving 6” tail.

Braid I-Cords into 6-strand flat braid. When there is about 1” left unbraided on each I-Cord, secure all the I-Cords together using a safety pin so they don’t come unbraided. Sew live sts from each end of I-Cord to opposite end of Gusset.

Weave in ends.