Put up a new pic (6/10/10) to show the stretch in the handle, and how the bag looks with stuff in it…this is now my “go-to” bag, all the time! Love it!

Again, no idea on the name of this yarn…2 skeins, one green, one burgundy. But, since College Girl took the other market bag I made, I desperately need to make one for MEEEEE!

This one is a little more “squat” than the last one, but I have some yarn leftover. I want to use it for a couple pouches to put inside the bag for essentials…like my phone or a credit card, or tissues or whatever. :o)

Mods - Instead of 10 rows garter and ribbon handles, I knit 10 rnds garter, then bound off 30 center sts at the center of each of the “long sides” of the bag on a round of k only. On next rnd, k1, p1, casting on 50 stitches where I had bound off 30, and a total of 6 rows k1, p1 seed st (not ribbing), then bind off! Handle magic!

Details for “Handle Magic!”:
The “ends” of the bag started with 14 sts each, and the “sides” started with 44 sts each. So, you have a total of 116 sts, divided by 2 means there are 58 sts on each “half” of the bag, if the bag is folded in half lengthwise.

When you start knitting in the round, you start at the corner on one end, at the beginning of the 14sts. To divide the bag in “half,” knit 7 sts and place a marker. (I did this just before knitting the garter at the top of the bag.) Then, on your first round of knitting at the top, place a second marker after 58 sts to mark the other halfway point. Purl 1 round. Knit 8 more rounds garter (k around, p around, repeat).

+Knit 14 sts, bind off 30 sts, Knit 14 sts, slip marker+, repeat from + to + once more.

On next round, +K1, P1, repeat for 14 sts; using knitted cast on, add 50 handle sts; K1, P1, repeat for 14 sts, slip marker+, repeat from + to + once more. Now you have a total of 156 sts (20 more for each handle than you started with). Knit in seed stitch (k the ps and p the ks) for a total of 6 rounds, and bind off!