Felted Knot Bag

by k | knits

A simple and stylish felted bag , that’s quick and easy

to make, and even easier to use, with subtle shaping,
and two ingenious handle design options, derived
from traditional Japanese knot bags.
Knitted in 100% alpaca or wool, t his is the perfect
felting project for beginners . The finished bag makes
a great tote, or a knitting bag, or even a gift b ag with
a bottle popped inside.

Difficulty: intermediate .
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Skills you will need: shaping by increasing and

decreasing, picking up stitches, knitting in the round,
knitting part rows , grafting (Kitchener stitch), wet
felting, and blocking.
(Tip: Perfect grafting is not necessary - felting will
disguis e any minor imperfections.)
Please read through the pattern before you begin.

MATERIALS

Australian Alpaca Centre 100% Baby Alpaca [100%

alpaca; 103m / 113yds per 50g (1.76oz) skein] color:
6358 Whisper - 9 skeins (knit with 3 strands held
together)
Alternative yarn : Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight
[100% alpaca; 101m / 110yds per 50g (1.76oz) skein]
10 skeins (knit with 3 strands held together)
Alternative yarn : Misti Alpaca Chunky [100% alpaca;
99m / 108yds per 100g (3.53oz) skein] 4 skeins (knit
with one strand)

As long as it can be felted (i.e. it is not superwash or

machine washable yarn), a 100% wool yarn that knits
to the same gauge could also be used.
Alternative yarn : Cascade Yarns 220 Sport [100%
wool; 150m / 164yds per 50g (1.76oz) skein] 7 skeins
(knit with 3 strands held together )
Alternative yarn : Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky
[100% wool; 125m / 137yds per 100g (3.53oz) skein]
3 skeins (knit with one strand)

One 80cm (31”) 8.00mm (US #11) circular needle

One pair of 8.00mm (US #11) single-point needles
(optional for flat knitting)
Two non-identical stitch markers
Sewing needle

GAUGE

12 sts. / 17 rows = 10cm (4”) in st. st. before felting

with 3 strands of yarn held together .

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DESCRIPTION

This bag is knitted in stages: First the oval-shaped base

is knitted flat . Then stitches are picked up around the
circumference of the base, and knitted in the round to
form the body of the bag . Finally, the short and long
handles are worked choosing one of two variations.
In Option A
(shown in green),
both handles are
attached so that
they bridge the bag
opening.
In Option B
(shown in stripes),
the short and long
handles are on
opposite sides of
the bag.
The whole project is knitted mostly in the round, in
stocking stitch, and then wet felted, and blocked to
the desired shape.

ABBREVIATIONS

k - knit
p - purl
sts. - stitches
st. st. - stocking stitch (aka
stockinette stitch):
Worked flat: (on any
number of sts) Odd rows:
K. Even rows: P. Repeat
these 2 rows.
Worked in the round:
(on any number of sts)
Round one: K. Repeat
this round.
kfb - knit into the front
and back of the stitch
k2tog - knit 2sts . together
pfb - purl into the front and back of the stitch

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p2tog - purl 2sts. together

m1 - make a stitch by picking up the loop between the
needles and knitting into the back .
bo - bind off: (1) K2sts. (2) Slip the 2sts from the right
hand needle to the left hand needle. (3) K these 2sts
together through the back of the loop. K1. (4) Repeat
(2) and (3) until all sts. have been bound off.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Approximate measurements after felting with the bag laid

flat. More or less felting, and different yarns, may result in
different finished measurements.

Option A (shown in green):

Width (base): 30cm (1 1.8”); (top): 22cm (8.7”)
Height (flat): 38cm (15”); (standing): 32.5 cm (12.8”)
Handle length (short): 14cm (5 .5”); (long): 23cm (9”)
Handle width (both): 5cm (2”)

Option B (shown in stripes):

Handle length (short): 9.7cm (3.8”); (long): 23cm (9”)
Handle width (both):
5.5cm (2.2”)

Note: If you want to wear

your bag as a shoulder bag,
please check the long
handle measurement, as you
may need more length . If
this is the case, simply
increase the number of rows
worked for the long handle,
(working the short handle
as written).
You can expect your felted
bag to relax a little, as like
leather, it will soften with
wear.

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KNITTING

Work the base.

Base (before felting)

Cast on 2sts.
Begin working flat in st. st. for 60 rows, shaping the
base as follows:

Row 1: K (2sts).
Row 2: Pfb twice.
Rows 3, 5, & 7: Kfb, k to
the last st., kfb.
Rows 4, 6, 8, & 10: P.
Rows 9, & 11: K.
Rows 12, & 18: Pfb, p to
the last st., pfb.
Rows 13, 15, 17, & 19: K.
Rows 14, 16, & 20: P.
Rows 21-42: Repeat rows 19-20.
Rows 43, 45, 47, 49, & 51: K.
Rows 44, & 50: P2tog, p to the last st., p2tog.
Rows 46, 48, 52, 56, & 58: P.
Rows 53-54: Repeat
rows 51-52.
Rows 55, 57, & 59:
K2tog, k to the last
st., k2tog.
Row 60: P2tog twice
(2sts).

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Work the body.

Knit the 2sts. remaining from the base.

Place a stitch marker between these 2 stitches to mark
the start of the round.
Using a circular needle, p ick up and knit 84 more
stitches evenly around
the circumference of
the base (86sts).
Tip: Using the ‘two-
thirds rule’, picking
up 2sts. for every 3
knitted rows - will give
close to the required
number of stitches.
Place a different
coloured stitch marker opposite the first - between sts.
43 and 44 - to mark the side of the bag.
Begin working in st. st. in the round.
Rounds 1-9: K86.
Rounds 10, 20, & 30: K1, m1, k to 1 st. before
marker, m1, k1, slip marker, k1, m1, k to 1 st. before
end, m1, k1.
Rounds 11 -19: K90.
Rounds 21 -29: K94.
Rounds 31-38: K98.
Rounds 39, 48, 57, 66,
75, & 83: K1, k2tog, k
to 3 sts. before marker,
k2tog, k1, slip marker,
k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts.
before end, k2tog, k1.
Rounds 40-47: K94.
Rounds 49-56: K90.
Rounds 58-65: K86.
Rounds 67-74: K82.
Rounds 76-82: K78.
Rounds 84-90: K74.

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Work the handles

Choose either Option A (shown in green), or Option B
(shown in stripes) :

Option A

Working flat, set-up the handles as follows: Bo 2sts.,

k11, bo 11sts., k11, bo 4sts., k11, bo 11sts., k11, bo
2sts. (74sts.)
Join the yarn to the first set of 11sts., and work 72 rows
in st.st.

Using Kitchener stitch, graft together the 11sts. just

worked, and the final set of 11sts. from the set -up row,
taking care not to twist the handle.

Join the yarn to the next set of 11sts. and work 102
rows in st.st.

Using Kitchener stitch, graft together the 11sts. just

worked and the remaining set of 11sts.

Option B

Working flat, set-up the

handles as follows: Bo
4sts., k12, bo 5sts., k12,
bo 8sts., k12, bo 5sts.,
k12, bo 4sts. (74sts.)
Join the yarn to the first
set of 12sts., and work
50 rows in st.st.

Using Kitchener stitch,

graft together the 12sts.
just worked, and the next
set of 12sts. from the set -
up row, taking care not
to twist the handle.

Join the yarn to the next set of 12sts. and work 102
rows in st.st.

Using Kitchener stitch, graft together the 12sts. just

worked and the final set of 12sts.

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Option A (before felting)

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Option B (before felting)

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The knitting is now completed. As long as any loose

ends are securely knotted and trimmed, there is no
need to sew them in as they can be snipped off safely
after felting .

Don’t be concerned if the bag looks a little shapeless and

overgrown - felting will shrink it and firm it up nicely.

WET FELTING

Felting is easy and effective, but not an exact science.

Here are some pointers to get you started. For more
information, Google is your friend.

Felting occurs through the application of moisture,

heat and agitation , and the amount of each determines
the way in which the bag will felt. Generally the more
heat and agitation, the more quickly felting occurs.
Hand felting is slow, but gives more control over the
finished product. Machine felting is quicker and
easier, but can be harder to monitor.

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As a guideline, t he green bag pictured was felted in a

front-loading washing machine at 60C (140F) for 15
minutes, using a regular setting, rather than a setting
with reduced agitation, such as you might use for
delicates . A tiny amount of washing liquid was added,
and progress was checked every 5 minutes to determine
the degree of felting, and to ensure the bag wasn’t
felting to itself. This requires a machine that can be
opened mid-cycle.

With a machine that cannot be opened while in use , it

is best to check progress at the end of a short, low
temperature wash cycle, and repeat the wash cycle as
necessary.

The striped bag was felted at 40C (100F) - a lower,

more colour-friendly temperature - and took 30
minutes to achieve the same degree of felting as the
green bag .

To gauge the amount of felting , check the stitch

definition in the knitting - the more felting that
occurs, the less stitch definition will be seen . It is
quite likely the straps will felt more quickly than the
body of the bag , so keep felting until both are evenly
done. For more control over the wet felting process, it
is a good idea to experimen t by felting a swatch or two.

When the bag is suitably felted , rinse it thoroughly in

cold water , and either spin out as much water as
possible , or roll it in towels to reduce drying time -
which can be a couple of days. It is possible to
machine-dry felted items, but as the drying process sets
the felted fabric, for the best results pad the bag with
a hand towel, and stand it upright to air dry, so that
it blocks with gentle curves in the body, and a flat
base.

FINISHING

Once dry, snip any loose ends, and shave off any
unwanted fluffiness. Any minor lumps and bumps can
be trimmed off with sharp scissors.
Add a lining and surface decoration if desired.

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VARIATIONS

For a smaller (larger) bag, try a smaller ( larger) needle

size. A thinner or thicker yarn would have a similar
effect on the size of the finished piece. In all instances,
the knitted fabric should be floppy rather than firm,
to facilitate felting.

ABOUT THE DES IGNER

Karen Trudg ian is an avid kn itter and

fibrephile, based in Sydney,
Australia, who draws in spiration
from her expansive stash of luxury
yarns, much to the amusement - and
occasionally concern - of her family and
friends.
You can e-mail Karen at kandikan@gmail.com,
and find her on Ravelry as schuyler, which she pronounces sky - ler. 

© Karen Trudgian, 2012-2013. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored

in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written
permission of the designer. This pattern, and any items derived from it, are for personal
use only and are not to be used for any commercial purpose, profit, or gain.

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FELTED KNOT BAG by k | knits
Pl ace a di f f eren t c ol oure d s ti tc h ma rke r o p p os i te
the fir st - b etw een s ts . 4 3 and 4 4 - t o m ar k th e
si de o f th e b ag. B egin w orki ng i n s t. st . in t he
roun d.
Ro un ds 1 - 9 : K.
Ro un d 1 0 : K1 , m1 , k to 1 st . be f ore m ar ker , m1 ,
k1 , sl i p mar ker , k1 , m1 , k t o 1 s t. be fo re e nd ,
m1 , k1 .
Re pe a t ro un ds 1 - 1 0 t w ice m o re : 3 0 ro u nds .
Ro un ds 3 1 - 3 8 : K.
M A TE R IA LS : A u s tra li a n A l pa ca Cen tre 1 0 0 %
Ro un d 3 9 : K1 , k2 to g, k t o 3 s ts . b ef ore m ar ker ,
Bab y Al p ac a [1 0 0 % al p a ca ; 1 0 3 m / 1 1 3 y d s per
5 0 g (1 .7 6 o z) ske in ] co l or: 6 3 5 8 W hi s per - 9 k2 to g, k1 , s li p m ark er, k 1 , k2 tog , k t o 3 st s.
ske in s ( kn it w i th 3 str a n ds hel d t oge the r) ; one bef ore en d, k2 tog , k1 .
8 0 cm (3 1 ” ) 8 .0 0 m m ( U S # 1 1 ) c irc u l ar n ee dle ; Re pe a t ro un ds 3 1 - 3 9 f ou r mo re t i mes : 7 5 r ou nd s.
o ne pai r o f 8 .0 0 mm (U S # 1 1 ) sin gle - poi nt
n ee dle s (o p t io n al fo r fl a t kn it t in g ); tw o n on - Ro un ds 7 6 - 8 2 : K.
ide nti c al st it ch m ark er s ; sew in g n e ed le Ro un d 8 3 : Re pe at roun d 3 9 .
Ro un ds 8 4 - 9 0 : K.
GA U GE : 1 2 s ts . / 1 7 ro w s = 1 0 c m (4 ” ) in s t. s t.
bef or e fel t in g w it h 3 s tra n ds o f y arn h el d tog et her .
(3 ) Wo rk th e h an dl es :
Opt io n A (s ho wn in gr e en )
DI R EC T IO NS :
Wo rki ng fl at , set -u p the han d les a s fo llow s :
(1 ) Wo rk th e b as e :
Bo 2 sts . , k1 1 , bo 1 1 st s. , k1 1 , b o 4 s ts ., k1 1 , bo
Ca st on 2 st s. Begi n w or kin g fl a t in st . s t. fo r 6 0 1 1 sts . , k1 1 , b o 2 s ts . (7 4 s ts .)
row s , s h ap ing th e b ase a s fol low s:
J oin the y ar n t o t he fi r st set o f 1 1 st s. , an d w o rk
Ro w 1 : K (2 st s) . 7 2 row s in st .s t.
Ro w 2 : P f b tw ice . G ra ft t oge the r the 1 1 s t s. ju st w or ke d , an d the
Ro w s 3 , 5 , & 7 : K fb , k to the l as t s t. , k fb. fi n al set o f 1 1 s ts . fr om t h e s et - u p r ow , t ak ing c are
Ro w s 4 , 6 , 8 , & 1 0 : P . not to tw i st the h an dl e.

Ro w s 9 , & 1 1 : K. J oin t he y arn to th e n ex t s et of 1 1 s ts . an d w or k

1 0 2 row s in st .s t.
Ro w s 1 2 , & 1 8 : P fb, p t o the l ast s t. , p f b .
G ra ft t oge th er th e 1 1 st s. ju st w o rke d a nd t he
Ro w s 1 3 , 1 5 , 1 7 , & 1 9 : K . re m ai n in g s et o f 1 1 s ts .
Ro w s 1 4 , 1 6 , & 2 0 : P .
Ro w s 2 1 - 4 2 : Re pe at row s 1 9 -2 0 . Opt io n B (s how n i n str i pes )
Ro w s 4 3 , 4 5 , 4 7 , 4 9 , & 5 1 : K . Wo rki ng fl at , set -u p the han d les a s fo llow s :
Ro w s 4 4 , & 5 0 : P2 to g, p to the l as t s t. , p2 t og . Bo 4 s ts ., k1 2 , bo 5 s ts ., k1 2 , bo 8 st s ., k1 2 , bo
Ro w s 4 6 , 4 8 , 5 2 , 5 6 , & 5 8 : P . 5 sts . , k1 2 , b o 4 s ts . (7 4 s t s. )
Ro w s 5 3 - 5 4 : Re pe at row s 5 1 -5 2 . J oin the y ar n t o t he fi r st set o f 1 2 st s. , an d w o rk
Ro w s 5 5 , 5 7 , & 5 9 : K2 t og , k to th e l as t s t. , k2 t og. 5 0 row s in st .s t.

Ro w 6 0 : P2 to g tw ice (2 st s) . G ra ft t oge the r the 1 2 s t s. ju st w or ke d , an d the

nex t s et of 1 2 s ts . fro m th e se t -u p row , t ak ing c are
not to tw i st the h an dl e.
(2 ) Wo rk th e b od y :
J oin t he y arn to th e n ex t s et of 1 2 s ts . an d w or k
Kni t t he 2 st s. re ma in in g fr om t he b as e. Pl a ce a 1 0 2 row s in st .s t.
sti tc h ma rke r be tw een t hes e 2 s tit ch es to m ark
the s t ar t o f th e ro u n d. G ra ft t oge th er th e 1 2 st s. ju st w o rke d a nd t he
fi n al s et o f 1 2 s ts .
Us ing a ci rcu la r n e e dle , p i ck u p an d kn i t 8 4 m ore
sti tc he s even l y a rou n d t he c irc u m f eren ce of th e
bas e (8 6 st s) . We t fe lt an d fin is h a s de sire d .

Ver. 2.0 k | knits © K a r e n T r u dg i a n , 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3