Ballet Shoe Bag - Pattern

Ballet Shoe Bag

A KnitPurlHooked Pattern by Sarahfay Lucy

This bag came about because my daughter needed something to put her ballet shoes in so that they wouldn’t dirty the rest of her ballet gear in her dance bag. This nifty little bag can be used for a multiple of purposes (i.e. jewelry, glasses, a catch-all, etc.)

Measurements: Approximately 5”x10”.

Yarn: Ocean Spray by Naturally Caron.com Spa. 75% Microdenier Acrylic & 25% Rayon from Bamboo. 3 oz. /85g. 251 yds. /230m.

Notions: 4 US 6 (4mm) DPN’s, 2 US 4 (3.5mm) DPN’s, and a darning needle.

Gauge: 22 stitches and 25 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch.

Stitch Abbreviations:
DPN = Double Point Needle
K = Knit
K2tog. = Knit 2 together
KW = Knit Wise
PM = Place Marker
PW = Purl Wise
St(s). = Stitch(es)
Cast On:
Using the US 6 DPN’s, cast on 48 Sts. Separate to 3 DPN’s, 16 Sts. each. Join in round and PM to mark the beginning of work.

Body of Bag:
K every row until the body of the bag measures 8”.

Make 4 Holes for Drawstring:
K 2 Sts., yo, K2tog., K 20 Sts., yo, K2tog., K1, yo, K2tog., K to 2 Sts. before end, yo, K2tog.

Knitting the Fold:
K every St. for 2”. Loosely bind off.

Drawstring (I-Cord):
Make 2
Using the US 4 DPN’s, cast on 3 Sts., slide work to opposite end of needle, *K 3 Sts. DO NOT turn, slide work to opposite end of needle, K 3 Sts.* repeat from *to* until I-Cords measures 10” or desired length. Leave a 4” tail.

Closing the Bottom of the Bag:
I decided to use the Kitchener’s stitch to close the bottom with.
Pick up cast on stitches along bottom of the bag with the US 4 DPN’s. Using the Kitchener’s stitch; insert darning needle KW into 1st St. on 1st needle, slip St. off needle, insert darning needle PW into 2nd St. on 1st needle, leave on needle, insert darning needle PW into 1st. St. on 2nd needle, slip St. off needle, insert darning needle KW into 2nd St. on 2nd needle KW, leave on needle. Continue in pattern until all Sts. have been slipped off needle.

Finishing:
Weave an I-Cord through all 4 holes and tie together using the tails; weave the tails into the I-Cords, cut off any excess. Repeat for 2nd I-Cord.
Now take the fold and overlap the I-Cords on the inside of the bag and sew down.
Weave in any loose ends.

All patterns featured on this blog are sole property and copyright (2011) of KnitPurlHooked. Items made from this pattern are meant for personal use and not to be sold commercially. You may print one copy for personal use, but may not print multiples to distribute, nor may you share the digital file with others. Please direct your friends to this blog so that they can purchase their own copy.

Brain Drain

This last week I have designed and knitted two projects from scratch. After completing my daughter's ballet shoe bag (pictured), my mind has felt wonderfully light and empty. I have been completely drained.

I've spent today just doodling around; taking care of general day-to-day stuff. You know the routine: do just enough to ensure that everyone survives another day:p Now I'm going back to working on hexipuffs. Yay! hexipuffs!

Pumpkin Seeds

I knitted the second sock, photographed it, and added it to the pattern pages. And then, finally, download it to Ravelry late last night. These socks knit up quickly and the pattern is intricate enough that you won't get bored while working on it. It was fun watching the striping take place and how the colors worked out with the Patons yarn I used to make them.

I hope that you enjoy knitting them as much as I did.

Happy Knitting!
(You have to have a Ravelry account to view pattern. It is FREE to sign up)

Birth of a Pattern

An acquaintance of my is pregnant. This has gotten my fingers itching to make baby socks. I've poured over dozens of patterns, but nothing has appealed to me.

These last few days my mind has been churning, cooking up a baby sock pattern for me to knit.

I use a spiral index card notebook to jot notes in as I'm writing/working on a pattern. It's portable and the neon colors make it easy to keep track where I am at in the process. The note paper pictured is showing my math for knitting up the length, gusset, and heel. Unfortunately, math is a necessary evil when working up patterns for either knitting or crochet :}

Once I've gotten all the kinks and bugs worked out of this pattern I'll upload it to Ravelry for a small fee.

Happy knitting!

A Step Through Crochet Histroy

Crochet Traditions, 2011 - Interweave
At my local bookstore I was scanning the magazine racks and picked up Crochet Traditions. It caught my eye because 1) I crochet and 2) I love history. Especially, in areas of my special interests.

Crochet Traditions is beautifully done and laid out. I loved the mixture of old articles, photographs of vintage pieces, and patterns reworded from the past for modern times. The tatting has caught my interest and will definitely be going in my Ravelry queue of projects to accomplish.