Vicki's Larger Version

: French Market Bag (larger version)

This larger version is made from two strands of eight ply yarn and requires approximately 800 metres of yarn for the size given. You will also need a 7mm circular needle.

Tension isn't critical but it will affect the finished size of the bag (and it may alter your yarn requirements). You can also stop felting when the desired size is reached.

Finished size (before felting)

Width 33cm
Length 36cm
Height 32cm

Finished size (after felting)

Width 25cm
Length 25cm
Height 20cm

Yarn Requirements

You will need approximately 8 x 50g (100m) balls of eight ply pure wool suitable for felting and a 7mm circular needle.

Tension: 12sts to 10cm in stocking stitch (unfelted).

Week 1 - Bag Base

On 7mm circular needles, cast on 40 sts. Work piece in St st until piece measures 36cm, ending with a knit row. [You need to increase the fabric length-wise to take into account the vertical shrinkage.]

Do NOT bind off.

Week 2 - Bag Body

: Bag base completed

Pick up 40 sts along each of the 3 other sides of the rectangular piece [160 sts].

Place marker at beginning of round.

Work in St st until body measures 32cm. [Knit this longer if you would like a deeper bag, or less for a shallower bag].

Week 3 - Handles

K10, BO 20, K20, BO20, K20, BO20, K20, BO20, K10 (for a total of 160 stitches.) Each group of 20 sts will be worked separately. Put 3 groups of 20 onto stitch holders and work the current 20 sts. Turn work.

Row 1 : P20.

Row 2 : K20.

Row 3 : P20.

Row 4 : Ssk, k16, k2tog [18 sts].

Row 5 : P18.

Row 6 : K18.

Row 7 : P18.

Row 8 : SSK, k14, k2tog [16 sts].

Continue decreasing as set every 4th row until 6 sts remain.

Work 4 more rows in St st. Put these 6 st onto a stitch holder.

Work remaining 3 groups of 20 sts in the same manner. You will have 4 groups of 6 sts.

Finishing and Felting

Thread tapestry needle and graft the handles together.

Sew in and trim all the loose ends. [If you don't do this before felting, you may end up with a tangled mess!]

Fill washing machine with economy/half load, hot water, a small amount of detergent, a towel or a pair of jeans [something to provide some agitation in the wash] and the bag. Run the wash cycle, checking every 10 minutes until the bag has felted to desired consistency. You should no longer be able to see the stitch definition.

You may line the bag with fabric if desired.

: Finished bag, before felting

: Felt closeup

updated: 02/02/2008