Felted Zinnia Tote
Designed by Erin Elkins
Use this felted tote to carry your knitting or crochet projects and have fun experimenting with removable adornments made with Boye® Bloom Loom™.
ABBREVIATIONS
BO = bind off; CC1 = contrast color #1; CC2 = contrast color #2; CO = cast on; DPN = double-pointed needle; FC1 = flower color #1; FC2 = flower color #2; K = knit; K2tog = knit two stitches together (1 st decreased); MC = main color; P2tog = purl two stitches together (1 st decreased); PM = place marker; SSK = slip next two stitches as if to knit from left needle to right needle, then insert left needle into the front of these two stitches and knit them in this position through the back loop (1 st decreased); sts = stitches; WR = wrong side; rnd = round
SIZE
Bag Bottom = 16" wide X 4.5" wide
Bag Height = 10"
(Note:Dimensions may vary depending on the felting method used; a front-loading washing machine was used to make our bag)
MATERIALS
Size 10/6.00mm Boye® 29" Circular Needle
Size 7/4.5mm Boye® 7" Double-Pointed Needles (DPN)
Main Color – 3 Skeins (669 yards) 100% Pure New Wool Yarn
Contrast Color #1 – 1 Skein (100 yards) 100% Pure New Wool Yarn
Contrast Color #2 – 1 Skein (100 yards) 100% Pure New Wool Yarn
Flower Color #1 – 1 Skein (100 yards) 100% Pure New Wool Yarn
Flower Color #2 – 1 Skein (100 yards) 100% Pure New Wool Yarn
Four (4)Boye® Stitch Marker Rings
Boye® Bloom Loom™
Two (2)Boye® Stitch Holders
GAUGE
16 sts and 20 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
DIRECTIONS
Bag BodyWith US 10 circular needle and MC, loosely CO 64 sts. Knit 42 rows in garter stitch (knit on WS and RS). Pick up and knit 21 sts along next side of rectangle. Pick up and knit 64 sts along CO edge. Pick up and knit 21 sts along remaining side of rectangle (170 sts). Begin working in the round.
Rnd 1:PM, K64, PM, K21, PM, K64, PM, K21.
Rnds 2-70:Knit. Decrease (K2tog) before and after every marker on rows 20, 40, 60 and 70 (138 sts remain after all decreases are completed). BO next 56 sts, removing first and second markers encountered. Place next 13 sts on a holder (including the one stitch on right needle). Remove marker. On other side of bag, place 13 side sts on holder. Remove remaining marker.Break yarn. Reattach yarn after last stitch place on first holder and knit 36 rows as follows:
RS:Knit.
WS:K4, P48, K4.
Next Row (RS):K4, K2tog, K to last 6 sts, SSK, K4.
Next Row (WS):K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. Repeat last two rows until 42 sts remain, ending having worked a RS row.
Next Row:K4, P2tog, purl across to last 6 sts, P2tog, K4.
Next Row:K4, K2tog, K to last 6 sts, SSK, K4. Repeat last two rows until 26 sts remain. Knit four rows in garter stitch. On next three rows, K2tog twice, knit to last 4 sts, K2tog twice. (14 sts remain once all decreases are completed). Bind off.
HANDLES
Slip first 3 sts from one stitch holder onto US 10 DPN. Work 28" of I-cord (leaving other stitches on the holder) in CC1. Leave these 3 sts on DPN or holder. Place next 6 sts from holder on DPN and work 28" of I-cord using MC. Leave these 6 sts on DPN or holder. Slip last 4 sts to DPN and 3 I-cords and grafts sts to other sts on holder on opposite side of the bag using Kitchener stitch. Weave in ends.
FELTING INSTRUCTIONS
Put bag in washing machine with jeans, non-fuzzing towels, or other items to agitate with detergent and wash on hot water/cold rinse cycle. Repeat until desired size is achieved and stitches are no longer visible. To block, fill bag with plastic bags and shape as desired. Once bag has dried, you may wish to insert a piece of cardboard to stabilize bag bottom. Allow bag to dry completely before use.
BLOOM LOOM ™ FLOWER INSTRUCTIONS:
Complete One-Sided Flowers per included instructions in Bloom Loom™ packaging, using FC1 and FC2. After securing the ends, lightly pull each flower by hand. Fill sink with warm water and detergent. Immerse flowers in water, then roll them like a ball in your hands until felted look is achieved. Attach pins to each flower and arrange on bag as desired.
Level of Difficulty: Beginner