I talked about the design and making of this bag in my knitting podcast Episode 11! Check it out here.

If you have accumulated scrapes and scrapes of yarn and are looking for a stash busting project, this pattern might just be for you. The Upcycled Project Bag is knitted with DK weight yarn, or two strands of fingering weight yarn, or any other combination of threads that yields a DK weight. You are free to combine different colours and compositions of yarn to create a unique project bag that showcases your stash history. A short instruction on how to combine yarns is given in the pattern. The size of the bag is adjustable, which means you can use however much yarn you would like.

This project starts with knitting a rectangle piece in the flat; then stitches are picked up around the rectangle and the body is knitted in the round. Once the desired height is achieved, a folded picot hem is worked. Shoulder strap is knitted in the round separately and sewed to the bag. Two I-cord drawstrings are made and then pulled through the folded hem. A cardboard panel is cut to fit in the bag so that it can hold its shape all the time.

Photo instructions and links to tutorial videos are given in the pattern for techniques such as mattress stitches, folded hem and two-coloured I-cord.

SIZES
Standard size is 14 cm 5.5 inches long × 9 cm 3.5 inches wide × 18 cm 7 inches tall,
but all three dimensions are adjustable

SUGGESTED NEEDLES
4 mm US 6 circular needles with a 80 cm 32 inches or longer cord using the magic loop method or DPNs (for bag and strap),
2 mm US 0 needles - any type (for making I-cord drawstrings)

GAUGE
In stockinette stitch:
21 sts × 29 rows = 10 × 10 cm 4 inches square on 4 mm US 6 needles

YARN
100 g or 200 m of yarn that can achieve a DK weight itself or with combination, for example:

• 1 strand of DK weight
• 2 strands of fingering weight
• 1 strand of sports weight + 1 strand of lace weight
• 2 strands of lace weight + 1 strand of fingering weight
• …

and scrapes of fingering weight yarn to make I-cords.

Detailed instructions on how to mix and match your stash yarn is given in the pattern.

NOTIONS & OTHER MATERIALS
stitch marker, tapestry needle, cardboard, ribbon (optional, inserting to the shoulder strap can make it stronger)

You may sew in a lining for the bag and inside the shoulder strap to strengthen the bag. I will include sewing instructions once I learn how to sew!