STASH-BUSTER BAG by Fiona Mill This bag is a great stash-buster. It uses 2 balls of the main colour (shown in natural) and makes the most of the wonderful colour range available in elann.com Sonata, Sonata Print and other cotton-based elann.com yarns. The slipstitch rib pattern gives a firm body to the bag softened by the seersucker stripes. It is simple to work on circular needles as you are only ever working with one colour on each round. You first knit the base of the bag, picking up stitches to form the body. You then knit a facing around the top to give strength and stability to the handles and the magnetic closures. This bag lends itself well to a variety of colourways and would also look great worked in two colours only. Size: Approx. 10" x 6”. Gauge: 24-25 stitches = 4 inches. Materials: - 3 colours of elann.com Sonata: 2 balls in main colour (natural), 1 ball in colour A (coffee bean), 1 ball in colour B (tapestry blue). - 10-metre (11-yard) scraps of 13 other graduating colours of Sonata, Sonata Print or other cotton-based elann.com yarns. Note: if you are using two colours only, you will need 2 balls of main colour and 2 balls of the contrasting colour. - Pair of 3.75mm (US 5) straight single point needles. - 3.75mm (US 5) 16” circular needle. - 1 stitch marker. - Tapestry needle. - 2 magnetic closures. - 2 bag handles. Optional Materials: - Cotton fabric to line the purse. - Needle and thread. Base: Using A and 3.75mm (US 5) straight single point needles, cast on 14 stitches. Purl one row. Row 1: (With MC) K1, *K1, Sl 1 with yarn at WS of work*, repeat from * to * until last stitch, K1. Row 2: (With MC) K1, *Sl 1 with yarn at WS of work, P1*, repeat from * to * until last stitch, K1. Row 3: (With colour A) K1, *Sl 1 with yarn at WS of work, K1*, repeat from * to * until last stitch, K1. Row 4: (With colour A) K1, *P1, Sl 1 with yarn at WS of work*, repeat from * to * until last stitch, K1. These 4 rows form the pattern. Repeat these 4 rows 12 times. Continuing with colour A, Knit 1 row. Cast off. Body: Using A and circular needle, with right side of base facing, pick up and knit 55 sts along the long side of base. Cont around the base, pick up and knit a further 77 sts, giving a total of 132 sts. Taking care that cast-on edge is not twisted, join stitches into a circle, and place a marker for beginning of round. Note: Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round. This will make it easier to change colours in sequence. Knit 1 round. Purl 1 round. R 1: With main colour, *K10, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1*, repeat from * to * twice more, K10, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, *K10, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1*, repeat from * to * twice more, K10, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1. R 2: Repeat R 1. R 3: With colour A, *K10, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1*, repeat from * to * twice more, K10, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, *K10, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1*, repeat from * to * twice more, K10, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1, Sl 1, K1. R 4: Repeat R 3. These 4 rounds form the pattern. Sort out your colours in the order you intend to use them, and continue working these 4 rounds, alternating the main colour with your chosen colour sequence every 2 rounds, ending with round 4 (colour B), until bag is your preferred length. If you are using only two colours , continue until you reach your preferred length, ending with round 4. Break off main colour. Cont with colour B, knit one round. Purl one round. Cast off. Facing: You are now going to pick up stitches along the inside of the cast-off edge, making spaces for your handles. To do this look into the bag and pick up stitches into the purl round just below the cast-off edge. Using colour B and circular needle, *pick up and knit 10 sts, cast on 5 sts, skip 5 stitches corresponding to 5-st slipstitch rib, pick up and knit 25 sts, cast on 5 sts, skip 5 stitches corresponding to 5-st slipstitch rib, pick up and knit 21 sts *, repeat once more. (132 sts). Join and place marker. Next round: Knit R 1: With main colour, *Slip 1, K1* to end. R 2: Repeat R 1. R 3: With colour B, *K1, Slip 1* to end R 4: Repeat R 3. Repeat these 4 rounds once more. Break off main colour. Knit 1 round. Cast off. Optional Lining: Secure loose ends. Lay the purse on top of the fabric and cut out two rectangles about 1/2 inch wider than the purse. Cut two strips of fabric for the sides and 1 strip of fabric for the base, remembering to leave ½ inch margins all round. Sew all pieces together to make lining, press and place in purse. Matching the shapes, sew top of lining beneath facing at top of bag. Finishing: Attach the two magnetic closures to facings just beneath the spaces for the handles. Attach handles. Sew facing in place. Abbreviations: approx - approximate(ly), cont - continue(ing, K - knit, P - purl, R - round or row, Sl - slip, st(s) - stitch(es). Please note this pattern is copyrighted material and the entire contents of this pattern are copyrighted as a collective work under the copyright laws of Canada and the United States. You may print a copy of this pattern for your own personal use and enjoyment, but editing, publishing, transmitting, e-mailing, posting it to a list service or database, or otherwise commercially exploiting this pattern is strictly forbidden. Copyright Elann.com Inc.