Rock Star Bag

Kelley Deal, from the band the Breeders, joins Vickie Howell to create a felted bag with a gorgeous Swiss darning design. This is a perfect project for beginners because it's worked entirely in stockinette, and it offers a great opportunity to explore felting and Swiss darning.

Design and step-by-step instructions courtesy of Kelley Deal.

Figure A

The body of the bag is worked in stockinette (st st) (figure A). Kelley starts off her bag by casting on in a dark color. She then switches to a lighter color for most of the body of the bag and, when she reaches the end, goes back to the original dark color; finally, she casts off.

Materials:

Cascade 220 yarn (or any non-superwash wool yarn), 1 skein each dark (B) and light (A) green*
scrap yarn, hot pink (C)
needles (1 pair each U.S. sizes 7 and 9 or sizes 8 and 10)
2 darning needles
1-1/2 yd. piping
safety pin
*Many yarns are seasonal and may be discontinued. Purchase a substitution yarn that comes closest to the specified gauge in your pattern. And be sure to make that all-important swatch to see whether the yarn works for your particular pattern.

TIP: The rule of thumb for this project is to use a larger needle on the darker yarn, because it felts up more than the lighter colored yarn.

Figure B

1. With size 7 (8) needles and A, CO 49 stitches, k 4 rows in st st (figure B).

2. Change to B and larger needles; k 141 rows.

3. Change back to color A and k 4 rows; CO.

Swiss Darning
Note: For Swiss darning instructions, go to www.studioknits.com/bookpage55.htm.

Kelley created a charming design for her bag using Swiss darning. Because this stitch is embroidered over the knitting (hence its other name, "duplicate stitch"), you can use any design that can be worked on a grid. Cross-stitch or needlepoint patterns can be adapted very well for this type of stitch.

1. Using the Swiss darning technique with colors A, B and C, embroider the design of your choice onto the piece.

2. Block piece or steam-press the edges with an iron on the wool setting to prevent the edges from rolling.

3. Using corresponding color yarn and tapestry needle, sew the sides together, right sides facing.

Felting

Note: For general felting instructions, go to www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_3033593,00.html.

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

1. Once the body is finished, seam it up and throw it in the washing machine to be felted.

2. Slip a book inside the bag to form the piece (figure C); allow it to dry overnight.

Straps

The straps are worked in stockinette, seamed up and then felted. Kelley uses piping for extra support and tacks the handles down to the bag.

1. With size 7 (8) needles, CO 9 stitches in A, work st st 22" (approx. 110-120 rows). Make 2.

2. Sew strap edges together to form tubes (figure D).

3. Felt (in washing machine).

4. Use a large safety pin to help you thread piping through tubes (figure E); allow to dry overnight.

5. Trim off excess piping and close ends; using color A, sew onto bag.

Next: Disco Bangle Fever Purse

RESOURCES :

Cascade yarn
Website: www.cascadeyarns.com

GUESTS :

Kelley Deal
Website: www.kelleydeal.net