NOTE- Support for this pattern is limited to pattern errata and technical issues. I cannot provide assistance on the instructions.

This makes a great beach bag, since the sand will fall out of it.  Sand in the bottom of my bags is a problem here.  :)  With a few modifications, you can make this bag into a yoga mat bag, a water bottle bag, or a larger or smaller tote.  It’s incredibly stretchy, so don’t worry if it looks small after it’s knit up.  

Edited version 5/9/09- change to slip stitch pattern for handles.

If you have downloaded the pattern after 5/9/09, you have the updated version.

Pattern note: A few people have had some issues with the openwork pattern. When you do a K2tog round, make sure you give a good tug on the work to pop the stitches into place. That will put the strand for the P1, M1 is in the right position.

Note on the handles- The handles are really strong. The slip stitch plus the way it curls makes a really sturdy handle. I regularly load mine up with all the stuff I need for the beach or other things and while the handles do stretch, they haven’t failed me yet. A lot of it is in the way you sew them on. If you overlap them inside of the garter stitch border and sew a square with an x in the middle, it will add a lot of strength. A simple overcast seam with just the edges stitched together won’t be as strong, but takes less time.