ILENE BAG

By Hannah Ingalls - iknityouknot.blogspot.com

This is a very stretchy bag,

with a comfortable wide
strap that wont dig into
your shoulder when youve
got a big load of fruit or
yarn or rocks. The yarn is
machine washable and
dryable, so if a tomato
squishes its no big deal.
The strap isnt very long,
which is intentional because
I dont like stretched out
straps that leave the bottom
of the bag dangling by my
knees. If you want a longer
strap, plan on more yarn, or
else do fewer repeats of the
mesh pattern before
working the ribbing. If you
have any questions or
comments, please feel free
to contact me.

Materials:
1 skein Louet Euroflax Sport 100g/270yd (more for larger bag)
24 circular needles, sizes 4 and 6 US

Gauge:
20 sts over 4 on in Stockinette stitch on larger needles

Mesh Pattern:
Round 1 *YO, K2tog. Repeat from * around.
Round 2 Knit.

HannahIngalls2008

Base:
On larger needles, CO 40
sts.
Work back and forth in St
st for 25 rows (about 4),
ending with a RS row.

Body:
With RS facing you, pick
up and knit 28 sts along
left (short) edge of
rectangle, 40 sts along
bottom (long) edge of
rectangle, and 28 sts
along right (short) edge
of rectangle. (136 sts)
Place marker, and join for
working in the round.
Knit 3 rounds.
Beginning with the next round, work Mesh Pattern for 50 rounds (25
repeats - about 8 unstretched), ending with Round 2.
Knit 2 rounds.
Next Round (switch to smaller needles) - *K1, P1. Repeat from * around.
Work 6 more rounds in ribbing as established (about 1).

Handle:
Work 10 sts in ribbing as established.
Note: Mesh Pattern creates a fabric which spirals, so that the beginning
of each round no longer lines up neatly with the corner of the base of the
bag. Working these ten stitches before binding off for the long edges of
the bag will help to straighten this out.
BO 43 sts loosely in rib, work 25 sts in ribbing as established, BO 43
more sts loosely in rib, and work 25 more sts in ribbing as established.

HannahIngalls2008

(86 sts bound off, 2 sections of 25

live stitches remain on opposite
sides of the bag.)
Place one group of 25 on stitch
holder, or leave on cable section of
needle. Work back and forth on
other group of 25 sts, continuing
in ribbing, until handle is desired
length, or until about 36 of yarn
remains.
Align 25 handle sts with 25 sts
from holder, and using 3-Needle
Bind Off technique* bind off all sts
to inside of bag.
Weave in all ends.

*Many tutorials of this technique

are available online.

HannahIngalls2008