Pattern Description from Cast On, August-October 2009: “Designing a bag has long been one of my favorite ways to experiment with a new idea or technique. In most cases, bags tend to be a smaller project, but yet have a practical use when the project is complete. So I often use commercially available handbags as a source of inspiration for my knitted bag projects. Sometimes the bag inspires the shape, sometimes it inspires the fabric and sometimes it inspires a unique detail. The Zigzag bag was inspired in both shape and fabric by a beach bag I saw in a catalog. As a designer in the midst of writing a book on entrelac, I am constantly looking for way to show entrelac in a new light. Entrelac tends to be only though of as rows of diamonds, but there are so many more possibilities. When I saw the bag in the catalog, I knew the fabric could be mimicked in entrelac. The angled lines formed by the diamond shapes form the perfect basis for smooth zigzag lines, a trick that cannot be accomplished easily with intarsia. By felting the resulting fabric, it becomes appropriately firm, but also the mystery of the creation of the zigzag lines is complete.”

Yarn Symbol: #4 Medium

Level: Intermediate

Finished Measurements (Approx):

• 6” x 18” x 8” - pre-felting
• 4” x 12” x 14” - post-felting

Materials:

• Brown Sheep Company LAMB’S PRIDE WORSTED (4oz/113g, 190yds/173m, 85% Wool, 15% Mohair): 2 skeins #M-02 Brown Heather (MC) 2 skeins #M-01 Sandy Heather (CC)
• Size 9 (5.5mm) 20”-24” (50mm-60mm) circular & 4 dpns or size needed to obtain correct gauge
• Tapestry needle
• 1 pair of purse handles (Sample used Homestead heirlooms 24” Sewn Round Solid Leather Core Handles with Welded Rings)

Gauge Note: Gauge isn’t as critical in this project as the final project is felted, but the resulting project might have slightly different dimensions.