Bridesmaid's Bags: Colleen

Gauge: 20sts in 4" in stockinette

Materials:
1 skein of Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton
US #6 double pointed needles
2.5" square of plastic canvas (optional)
a small remnant of coordinating fabric (optional)
coordinating color of sewing thread (optional)

Bottom of Bag

Cast on 4 sts. Join to knit in the round.
Row 1: KFB in all sts (8 sts)
Row 2: *KFB, K1 repeat from * four times (12 sts)
Row 3: *K1, YO, PM, K1, PM, YO, K1 repeat from * four times
row 4: Knit
Row 5: Knit, making a YO after each marker - each round will increase by 8 stitches.
Alternate Rows 4 & 5 until you have 44 sts
Next Row: Knit
Next Row: *Knit 5, YO, K6 repeat from * four times
Next Row: Purl

Sides of Bag

Round 1: Knit
Round 2: Knit
Round 3: *k1, p1, k1 into next stitch, p3tog; rep from *
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: *p3tog, k1, p1, k1 into next stitch; rep from *
Round 6: Knit
Repeat Rounds 3 - 6 six times
Knit two rounds.
Next Round: *K2tog, YO, K4, YO, SSK repeat from * six times
Knit two rounds.
Bind off loosely.

Cord

Cast on 4 sts.
Work in i-cord for 16".
Bind off.

Finishing

Weave in your yarn ends. Thread the i-cord through the eyelets.

If desired, you may stiffen the bottom of the bag using the following directions.

Cut a piece of plastic canvas 2.5" square.
Cut two pieces of coordinating fabric into 3" squares.
Pin your fabric together with the right sides facing each other.
Whip stitch the fabric together on three sides.
Turn the fabric right side out and slide the plastic canvas square inside this pocket.
Fold the raw edges of the fourth side to the inside and use an invisible stitch to close the opening.
Turn the bag inside out.
Using a coordinating color of thread and making sure that the corners of the squares are lined up with the stitches between the YOs, baste the covered plastic canvas to the bottom of the bag.