DIY Network

Knitting With Balls Women aren't the only knitters: here's a travel bag that will make any man want to learn how it's done. From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-802

That next big trip may be just around the corner — and it'd be perfect to have Michael Del Vecchio's fantastic travel bag made and ready to use. Here's how to create the body of the bag.

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Michael Del Vecchio's felted travel bag

Materials:

Manos del Uruguay 100 percent wool yarn: 2 skeins #104 (MC) and 1 skein #40 (CC)
26" circular needles, US size 11
set of 5 double pointed needles, US size 11
1 yd. 1.9-oz. coated waterproof rip-stop nylon
small container of waterproofing sealant
sewing thread
1 yd. heavy-duty fabric interfacing
double-sided tape
tapestry needle
stitch markers
10" brass zipper
2 yd. dental floss
several pieces of plywood, cardboard or hard plastic (or several CD jewel cases) for blocking

Finished measurements: 10"x4-3/4"x5-1/2"

Gauge: 13 sts & 16 rows = 4" in st st (before felting).

Take time to check gauge.

Note: The first stitch of every row is slipped purlwise.

Note: Although every attempt has been made to make sure the bag is waterproof, don't leave it to chance: be sure everything is sealed tight when you close up the bag to travel. Also, if you're traveling and not checking luggage, be sure to check TSA requirements for how toiletries need to be packed.

Figure A

Bag:
With circular needle and MC, CO 78 sts (figure A). P1 row.
Sl 1 purlwise, k8, p2, place marker (pm), k18, p2, pm, k16, p2, pm, k18 p2, pm, k9.
Slip 1 purlwise, p8, k2, p18, k2, p16, k2, p18, k2, p9.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 3", ending on a WS row. Continue to work as set, change colors according to the following stripe sequence: 1-1/2" CC, 6" MC, 1-1/2" CC; always switching colors at the beg of a RS row. Switch to MC and continue to work as set until piece measures 15" from start. Bind off all stitches and weave in ends.

Tricks of the Trade

Michael Del Vecchio stitches up the body and felts it; he also shares his tricks of the trade regarding felting and blocking (he uses empty CD cases!).

Figure B

Thread dental floss onto a tapestry needle and, with the WS facing, sew selvage stitches from both sides of piece together to form a short tube (figure B). Make sure the ends are secured and the seam is tight. Turn the tube inside out so that the RS is facing out.

With double-pointed needles and CC, starting at the left edge of the seam, pick up and knit 9 sts on the WS of the work, using the k2 line as a guide for the edge of the side. Continue down side of the inside of the work and on the second double-pointed needle, pick up and k18 sts. Working across the bottom of the bag and with a third double-pointed needle, pick up and k 18 sts. With the fourth double-pointed needle, pick up and k 18 sts. Working now with the other end of the first double-pointed needle, pick up and k 9 sts on the other side of the seam, placing a marker after the first stitch you pick up (to note the beginning of the round) (72 sts total). K1 round.

Decrease for end:
Knit to 3 before the end of needle.
K2togtbl K1. Knit to 3 before end of needle.
K2togtbl K1.
Continue in this fashion on needles 3 and 4 (4 sts decreased).
Knit.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 (4) more times (52 sts rem), and then just row 1 (12) more times (4 sts rem). Thread yarn onto a tapestry needle and pull through remaining stitches.

Repeat Stitch Pickup and decrease for other end. Weave in all ends.

Strap (optional)::
With MC, CO 12 sts. Still slipping the first st of every row purlwise, knit in stockinette stitch until piece measures 12-1/2". Bind off sts and weave in ends. Do not attach to the bag.

Finishing:
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Felt bag in hot water in the washing machine until the fibers lock. When complete, the bag should be approximately 10" long and the two ends of the bag should lie flat. Once the bag and the strap are completely felted, take them out of the washing machine and run them under cold water.

Alternately, to felt without a washing machine, find a 10-quart bucket and a clean plunger. Fill the bucket about halfway with hot water, add a capful of soap (a wool wash or a liquid soap such Doc Bronner's is great; don't use any commercial laundry detergent), and put the unfelted bag in the bucket. Agitate the bag until it's thoroughly felted by churning the plunger up and down. Check the sizing and water level regularly. Once the fibers are locked, run the felted bag under cold water and squeeze out any water.

Roll the bag and strap up in a towel to squeeze out any remaining water.

Working on a flat space, cut away the dental floss to open the bag. Using several pieces of cardboard, plywood or plastic, insert the blocking materials into each of the sides in order to set the shape of the bag (CD jewel cases work great on shaping the ends). If you're making a strap, it should dry flat. Allow both pieces to dry for at least 24 hours.

Finish It Off

When both pieces are completely dry, remove the blocking materials. Cut one piece of interfacing to measure 10"x4-3/4," and two additional pieces measuring 5-1/2" and 4-3/4". With the double-sided tape, tape around the edges of one side of each of the pieces of interfacing. Insert the large piece in the bottom of the bag and the two smaller pieces in the ends. Then cut the rip-stop nylon into two 5-1/2"x4-3/4" pieces of fabric and one 191/2"x10" piece of fabric. Using the polyester sewing thread, hand-sew the two smaller pieces into the bag ends and the large piece in place, securing it at the corners of the bag. Run the waterproof sealant over the stitches to lock out any possible moisture. Hand-sew the zipper to the top seam and sew the strap to one end of the bag.

RESOURCES :

Knitting With Balls
2007, Dorling Kindersley
Website: us.dk.com

GUESTS :

Michael Del Vecchio
Website: www.menknit.net