Materials –
4 - 50 gr balls Crystal Palace Fjord in Sable (Color A)
1 - 50 gr ball Crystal Palace Party in Jet Set Black (Color B)
2 - 50 gr balls Crystal Palace Fjord in Rosewood (Color C)
Crystal Palace 26" Circular Bamboo or DAISY 29" Circular Needle US Size #11
Tapestry needle
Purchased shoulder strap
Four ½" grommets (available at home repair stores such as Home Depot)
Two metal purse handle loops (for attaching shoulder strap to grommets)
Purchased buttons or other closure hardware

Gauge – 3¼" stitches per inch

Dimensions –
14½" tall, 21" wide, 3¼" deep before felting. Flap is 21" x 10¾" before felting
9½" tall, 17" wide, 2½" deep after felting.

Bottom of bag –
Cast on 65 stitches with Color A and work 20 rows of garter stitch. Do not cut yarn.
Begin sides of bag –
With one strand of Color A and one strand of Color B and working around the bag bottom, pick up 10 stitches across the first short end , then pick up 65 stitches across the other long side, and finish by picking up 10 stitches across the remaining short side.
Place marker, join, and begin knitting in the round. Knit one round with Fjord Color A and Party Color B held together, then cut Color B and continue knitting in the round with Fjord Color A for a total of approximately 14" from the row of picked up stitches. On the last round, add one strand of Party Color B, knit one round, cut Color B, then bind off 75 stitches. Continuing with Color A, knit 65 stitches, turn, and bind off 10 stitches. Knit back across the remaining 65 stitches and turn the work. Cut Color A.

Begin working flap –
Using Fjord Color C and begin working flat in garter stitch. On Rows 21, 31, 41, and 51 add one strand of Color B for 1 row, then return to knitting with Color C only. Work in garter stitch for a total of 55 rows and then bind off all stitches.

Finishing –
The carry handle is constructed of three pieces of felted wool.
Cast on 6 stitches with Fjord Color C and work in garter stitch for approximately 42 inches. Felt the bag and the strap using your preferred felting method. Shape and dry. After felting, cut the strip into three equal pieces, sew across one end and braid. Secure the end and then sew to the middle top of the flap.

Install grommets according to manufacturer’s instructions. The center of the grommet opening should be approximately 1" from both the top of the bag and the corner edge of the bag. There will be two on the front and two on the back of the bag.

Use the two metal purse handle loops (one on each end) to attach the purchased shoulder strap ends, and then connect the two end grommets with the loops. (Tip: If you think outside the box, you can think of many unusual items to use as shoulder straps. The briefcase featured in the photo uses corded satin drapery tiebacks which have loops on each end.)

Sew buttons to the front of the bag under the flap, and then cut a vertical slit in the strap for each button to pass through, being careful not to make it too large.

Pattern Copyright 2006 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying CPY Yarns Fjord and Party Ribbon are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns - email cpyinfo -at- straw.com

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988, fax: 510-237-9809