What do you see? Midnight on the desert? A moonlit
mesa? Purple mountains majestically sleeping? These cool
jewel tones evoke dreams of garnet, amethyst, and blue
topaz rainbows in the southwestern night sky.

Materials:
2 -50 gr balls Crystal Palace Taos in Midnight Oasis (#14) –Main Color (MC)
1 -50 gr ball Crystal Palace Fjord in Rosewood (#4106) –Color A
1 -50 gr ball Crystal Palace Fjord in Amethyst (#9669) –Color B
1 -50 gr ball Crystal Palace Fjord in Teal Lake (#4889) –Color C
1 -16" US Size #13 (9.0 mm) Crystal Palace Yarns Bamboo
or Daisy Circular Needle
2 US Size #7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles (for I-cord)
4 stitch markers (one a unique color)
1 pair Crystal Palace Yarns Purse Handles #HD-24TL (Teal)
Closure hardware, if desired
Button or charm for the center of the trefoil

Dimensions:
Before Felting – 14" wide at the bottom, 11" wide at the top, 12" tall, 4" deep
After Felting – 13" wide at the bottom, 10" wide at the top, 7" tall, 3" deep (You may vary the top and bottom width, as well as the depth, by pleating in more or less on the sides and bottom when shaping to dry.)

Bottom of bag:
Using 1 strand of MC and 1 strand of A held together, cast on 40 stitches to the circular needle. Knit a rectangle in garter stitch (knit all rows) until you have 24 rows (12 garter ridges). Place a marker and pick up 12 stitches across the first short edge. Place a marker and pick up 40 stitches across the cast on edge. Place a marker and pick up 12 stitches across the remaining short edge. Place the uniquely colored marker, join, and begin knitting in the round.

Body of the bag:
The body of the bag will consist of 42 rounds of stockinette stitch (knit all rounds).

Color Scheme:
Rounds 1-10 – MC + A
Rounds 11-36 – MC + B
Rounds 36-42 – MC + C
Decreases:
Work decreases on rounds 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, and 37 as follows. All other rounds are K.
*K1, SSK, K to the last 3 stitches before the marker, K2tog, K1, pass marker, K12, pass
marker* around.

Flap:
After round 42, flap construction begins. Continue with MC + C and prepare to begin the flap with one round as follows:
Round 43 – P28, BO 52
Row 1 P (This now has become the WS of the flap.)
Row 2 K1, SSK, K to the last 3 stitches before the end of the row, K2tog, K1
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until there are 4 stitches left on the needle, then SSK, K2tog. BO 2 stitches.

I-cord trefoil:
Create the I-cord trefoil by casting on 3 stitches with MC + C to the size #7 double pointed needles and knitting 18" of I-cord. Bind off and shape the cord into a trefoil as shown in the photograph and sew to the point of the flap.

Felting and finishing:
Felt the bag using your preferred felting method. Shape the bag to dry, pleating in the sides and bottom as you pin it out. The flap does not close over the opening, but simply folds down the front for decorative purposes. Sew on purse handles, button or charm, and closure hardware (if desired).

Designed, knit and felted by Terry L. Ross for Crystal Palace Yarns

Be sure to look for Terry Ross' new felted bag book: Twelve Bags Fulled at your local yarn shop.
Here's information about Terry's book.

Pattern Copyright 2007 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying CPY Yarns Fjord & Taos are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.