Skill Level: Easy
Finished Measurement: Approx 12 1/2 inches wide x 15 inches high x 5 1/2 inches deep (after felting)

Yarn
Lion Brand Landscapes (Art. 540)
50% wool, 50% acrylic; 1 3/4 oz. (50g); 55 yds. (50m); super bulky weight --15 balls #280 Raspberry Peach

• Size 13 (9 mm) knitting needles OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• Size 13 (9 mm) double-pointed needles (dpns)
• Smooth contrast yarn for embroidery
• Decorative button
• Magnetic purse fastener
• Blunt-end yarn needle

Gauge: 10 sts and 13 rows = 4" (10 cm) over St st (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) (before felting). Take time to check your gauge.

Main Section Piece
Cast on 57 sts. Work in St st for 52 inches. Bind off loosely. Fold piece in half lengthwise, RS tog, and sew sides tog, leaving top edge open. Turn right side out. Note: Before felting, piece will measure approx 23 x 26 inches.

Make I-cord: With pair of dpns, cast on 4 sts; knit 1 row. *Slide the sts to opposite end of the needle and knit, pulling yarn across the back. Rep from * until the I-cord is approx 70 inches long. Bind off loosely. Fold handle in half and sew to top edge of the bag on either side of the seams.

Note: Pockets and tab closure are made from 1 piece that is felted separately from the main section. Do NOT felt the Main Section piece and the Pockets and Tab Closure piece at the same time in the washing machine, as they may felt themselves together.

Cast on 38 sts. Work in St st for 45 inches. Bind off loosely.

Weave in ends. Set your washing machine at the lowest water level (enough to cover piece), the hottest temperature, and the most agitation. Add one piece and a small amount of liquid detergent. Repeat washings until you can no longer recognize the stitches, typically three times. Remove piece and hand-rinse in lukewarm water. Roll piece in towels to remove excess water. Block into shape and dry flat. Felt the second piece.

With sharp scissors and starting at one short edge about 1 inch in from the corner, cut down approx 5 inches into the top of the bag. Cut toward the corner, across the long side and 1 inch past the corner into the opposite short side. Leave an extension about 4 inches wide to wrap around the Handles as shown in photo, above. Sew extension edges around the Handles. Repeat cutting and sewing for remaining side.

Fold up corners of bag approx 2 1/2 inches at side seams to form a flat base, and sew in position; these corners will be covered by the pockets.

Cut three pockets from the Pockets and Tab Closure Piece as follows: 10 x 10 inches for side bottle pocket; 8 x 6 inches for book pocket; 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches for cell phone pocket. Cut a 3-x-9-inch piece for the tab closure. Fringe the top edge of pockets by cutting down approx 1 inch at 3/4-inch intervals across. With contrast yarn, work blanket st embroidery around top edge of bag and around side and bottom edges of Pockets and Tab Closure. Sew Pockets and Tab Closure to bag.

Attach one side of magnetic fastener to WS of Tab Closure, following manufacturer's instructions. Attach remaining side of magnetic fastener to front of bag. Sew a decorative button over the top of the magnetic fastener on Tab Closure.