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Special Companions

V2.1  Ó2002 KnitKit.com   Janet Scanlon

            SpecialCompanions is a miniature of the knitbag, MyConstantCompanion       

            This little bag was designed to hold business cards...but can be used as a gift bag for little treasures.

Materials: Small amounts (100 yards) of worsted or bulky weight wool or wool blend yarn.

Size 10 1/2-11 16 inch circular needle for worsted weight (3 sts/inch), or bulky weight (2 3/4sts/in) 

Dimensions after felting are approximate: 4" by 2" by 2 3/4" high

Knitting The Bag         

  Cast on 16 stitches.             

  Knit a garter stitch rectangle of 10 ridges (20 rows).

  Knit one more row. Pick up around the edge of the rectangle. 

  Pick up 10 stitches for each short side and 16 stitches at the cast on edge.

  Knit around on 52 stitches for 4 to 4 ½ inches or to the desired height. Bind off.

 These bags can be made in different sizes.  

    The bag should be knit 1/3 to 1/2 again larger than the desired finished dimensions. 

    A good proportion for the width of the base is 1/2 to 2/3 of its length. 

    The height of the unfelted bag should be 40 to 50 % taller than the desired finished height after felting.

    Suggestions for base proportions:

    Cast on 16 stitches, work 8-10 ridges (16-20 rows)

    Cast on 12 stitches, work 6-8 ridges (12-16 rows)

    Cast on 20 stitches, work 10-12 ridges (20-24 rows)

  Felting  

 After knitting the bag, secure all of the loose yarn ends and felt it:

 Place the bag into an enclosed pillowcase if you wish.

Fill your washer to its lowest level with hot water and a small amount of dish washing detergent.

Let the washer agitate on its longest cycle. Check the bag regularly for the amount of felting. 

You may have to reset the washer for more than one cycle. 

When the bag is felted to your satisfaction, spin the water out.

Remove the bag and refill the washer with hot water again to the same level. 

Agitate the bag on a delicate cycle for a few minutes.

Spin out the water and repeat the process until the water is clear and the bag is adequately rinsed. 

Finishing  

Shaping the bag: Stretch the bag over a suitable sized form and let it dry completely.

Creating the strap eyelets: Use the point of your needle to form holes in the bag where desired after it is thoroughly dry. 

 You should make 8 holes, 2 on each of the 4 panels of the bag, evenly spaced from each corner.

 Plied Cord: Cut 3 pieces of yarn approximately 3 times the desired length of the finished strap. 

Holding the three lengths of yarn together, fold the strand in half. 

Hook the fold onto something sturdy and twist each group of three ends  in a clockwise direction until they are very tight and begin to kink.

Hold both twisted ends together and let them twist back on themselves in a counterclockwise direction creating a single twisted cord. Knot the ends to keep it twisted.

To thread the cord: Tuck the sides of the bag in at the top matching the eyelet holes to those of the front and back.

 Using a large yarn needle, lace the plied cord through the top edge catching the folds at each side.                                                                             

            Please feel free to print this pattern for your personal knitting pleasure.

                        This pattern is my gift to you. Knit it for your special companions.

  Thank you for knitting along with me. Have a great holiday season.

                                                                                        Enjoy!                                                                                                                                             Janet  

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