The Joanne Gift Bag...

I recently needed something to add that special touch to a gift.  So I made its own bespoke gift bag.  Here is the pattern which I am giving away to knitters all over the world......

The Joanne Gift Bag

This is a quick and easy knitting pattern.  It makes a gift bag measuring approximately 6” wide in 8 ply or DK yarn and 4” wide in 4 ply yarn.  This photo shows my finished bags.  I am an average gauge knitter.  The DK yarn bag measures 6” x 8”.  The 4 ply bag measures 4” x 5”.  I used approximately 30g of DK yarn and less of 4 ply yarn.  I include easy instructions for making the bag wider, narrower, longer or shorter. 

Skills needed:

The only skills you will need are:

•  Cast on
• Cast off
• Knit stitch
• Purl stitch
• Knit 2 together
• Yarn forward
• Sewing side seams

Supplies needed:

The supplies you will need are:

•   DK yarn
•   size 4mm knitting needles
•   1 metre of 9mm ribbon.  You could use less ribbon if you want a smaller bow. 

OR

•        4 ply yarn
•  size 3.25mm knitting needles
•  0.75 metre of 7mm ribbon.  You could use less ribbon if you want a smaller bow. 

This pattern is a blank canvas.  You can jazz up the bag by using sparkly yarn or by adding decorations such as beads, applique, embroidery etc. 

Pattern

You are going to knit one piece, fold it in half and sew the side seams.

Cast on 29 stitches.  Increase or decrease the number in multiples of 8 stitches to make the bag wider or narrower. (Every 4 stitches makes 1 eyelet.  You need an even number of eyelets on both sides of the bag for the ribbon to thread evenly.  That is why you increase or decrease by 8 stitches.)

Rows 1-4: [K1, P1] repeat to last stitch. K1.

Row 5: Knit all stitches.

Row 6: K1, purl to last stitch, K1.

Rows 7-10: Repeat rows 5 and 6.

Row 11 eyelets: K1, [K2, K2tog, yarn forward] repeat to last 4 stitches, K4.  You should have 6 eyelets.  If you have fewer, make sure you haven’t omitted a yarn forward.  Remember, there is a yarn forward before the last K4.

Row 12: K1, purl to last stitch, K1.

Row 13: Knit all stitches.

Repeat rows 12 and 13.  This where you adjust the depth of your bag.  For my double knit bag I repeated these rows until it measured 14” from the cast on edge.  For my 4 ply bag I repeated these rows until it measured 9” from the cast on edge.

Next row: K1, purl to last stitch, K1.

Next row eyelets: K1, [K2, K2tog, yarn forward] repeat to last 4 stitches, K4.  You should have 6 eyelets.  If you have fewer, make sure you haven’t omitted a yarn forward.  Remember, there is a yarn forward before the last K4.

Next 6 rows: repeat rows 12 and 13.

Last 4 rows: [K1, P1] repeat to last stitch. K1.

Cast off.

Fold in half, right sides together.  Sew seams, being careful to match up the eyelets rows..

Decorate as desired.  Thread ribbon through the eyelets and tie in a bow.

This is how the threaded ribbon will look like on both sides:

This pattern is now available on Ravelry here.

I look forward to seeing photos of your finished gift bags.  If you have any queries, please contact me either on Ravelry by sending me a message or leaving a comment on my pattern page.  Otherwise you can contact me through my blog . http://bagsofwool.blogspot.co.uk/

….and finally.  Why is this pattern called The Joanne Gift Bag?  I named my pattern after a lady who was very generous to me.  I pondered over how to show my appreciation and decided that naming a pattern after her and giving it away free would be a lovely gesture.

Happy knitting! 

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