Striped Satchel

A stylish satchel to take you from the working week to weekends away. This bag looks so good that no one will ever guess how easy it is to knit .

YOU WILL NEED

• One 5 oz (140 g) hank of Peace Fleece Russian American in each of purple (A), mauve (B), and yellow (C)

•   US 13 (9 mm) 32 in (80 cm) circular needle

•  Pair of US 10(6 mm) double-pointed needles

• Tape measure
• Knitter's sewing needle

 Finished size 

approximately 14 x 12 in (35 x 30 cm); strap measures 20 in (50 cm).

To make Satchel
Note :Work with two strands of yarn together throughout.

Using US 13 (9 mm) needle and A, loosely cast on 38 sts. Working back and forth, knit 7 rows garter stitch.
Pick up sides
Pick up 6 sts along first row-edge,
38 sts along opposite long edge, and 6 sts along second row-edge. (88 sts) Place marker at round end.
Working in the round, knit 65 rounds in stripe patt as folls:
8 rounds A.
8 rounds B.
3 rounds A.
3 rounds C.
3 rounds A.
8 rounds B.
8 rounds A.
5 rounds C.
5 rounds A.
3 rounds B.
3 rounds A.
8 rounds C.
Shape flap
Next round: Using C, k38 then loosely bind off 50 sts. (38 sts)
Working back and forth on these 38 sts, work 45 rows st st in stripe patt as folls:
5 rows A.
5 rows B.
8 rows A.
3 rows C.
8 rows A.
8 rows B.
8 rows C.
Bind off loosely.

Strap
Using US 13 (9 mm) needle and C, loosely cast on 10 sts.
 Work in st st in stripe patt as folls:
15 rows C.
15 rows B.
Rep until strap measures 59 in (150 cm) long.
Bind off loosely.

Trimming
Measure around the flap and the open top of the bag.
Using US 10 (6 mm) double-pointed needles and B, cast on 4 sts.
Work an I-cord the measured length, plus 3 in (8 cm).
Bind off.

Making up 
Weave in any loose ends. Using the knitter's needle and one strand of B, and starting at the bottom right-hand corner of the flap, neatly sew the l-cord around the edge of the flap and open top of the bag. When you reach the starting point, coil the remaining 3 in (8 cm) of I-cord up and sew it to the corner of the flap (see photograph below).

Felting

Roll up the strap and pin it together to prevent tangling. Following the instructions for Felting Knitting in the Washing Machine, machine-wash the knitting to felt it. When the felting process is complete, follow the instructions for Drying a Felted Item, putting an object of a suitable size (a large book or telephone directory wrapped in a plastic bag works well for this project) inside the bag to help shape it vvhile it dries.

Finishing 
When the bag is dry, sew one end of the strap to the inside tops of the two short open sides of the bag, using the sewing needle and thread.