The Fuzzy Shoulder Bag Pattern

Notes: 

Gauge isn't important with this, as long as you make it loose enough to have a good amount of stretch. 

I wanted a bag big enough to hold an A4 notebook, but that would also fit comfortably over my shoulder/across my body. You can make it as big or small as you like, and with a strap as long or short as you like, just remember that if you want to felt it, you'll loose 15-20% of the size, so make it bigger than you want the finished project to be. 

Once finished my bag measures 8 inches long and 13 inches across. 

Tools

4mm Circs. 

4mm DPNs.

5mm Circs.

4mm DPNs.

100m/  90g Aran Wool. 

1 Button. (1 inch across.) 

PATTERN 

Using Knitty’s magic cast on for socks (link at the bottom of the pattern) , C/On 102 stitches on 4mm Circs.

Place stitch marker.

Knit 5 rounds. (This makes the bottom of your bag.) 

Switch to 5mm Circs. And knit in the round until the bag side measures 11 inches (so 21 inches from side to side.)

Switch to 4mm Circs and knit in the round until bag the bag side measures 12 inches (so 24 inches from side to side.) 

Move 3 stitches to spare yarn and c/off 20 stitches. 

Move 5 stitches to spare yarn and continue to c/off another 20 stitches. 

Move 6 stitches to spare yarn and c/off 45 stitches. 

Keep the final 3 stitches on your needle and add the next 3 stitches on the spare yarn back onto your needle ready to knit. Knit in garter stitch (knit/purl alternative rows) for 1 inch. 

Switch to 5mm dpns and continue to knit in garter stitch until strap measures 14 inches and then switch back to the 4mm dpns for the final inch. (So your strap will measure 15 inches in total) 

Graft with Kitchner stitch to the 6 stitches on the spare yarn on the opposite side of the bag and weave in your ends (I used my yarn end to really make sure the seam on my strap was secure.) 

Finaly, using the 4mm dpns knit the clasp on the bag. Knit the 5 stitches you still have on the spare yarn in garter stitch for 2 inches. 

Then on the next knit row, K1f+b, k3, K1f+b. 

P7. 

K1f+b, k 5, K1f+b. 

P9. 

K1f+b, k 7, K1f+b. 

P11. 

K3, c/off 5. K3. 

P3. C/on 5. P3. 

K2tog. K7. K2tog. 

P9. 

K2tog. K5. K2tog. 

P7. 

K2tog. K3. K2tog. 

P5. 

K2tog. K1. K2tog. 

P3. 

K2tog. Move stitch back to left needle. K2tog. 

P2. 

C/o and weave in ends, and block.

Sew button on to the front of your bag.

It’s up to you weather you then want to Felt your bag or not. I found 30 mins in the washing machine on 40oC shrank the bag about 20%. 

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html

Pre-Felting

 Post Felting

 Just to prove it does hold an A4 notebook!