Knit a beachcomber bag

Inspired by shell-collecting trips, Amanda Crawford's shoulder bag is perfect for days at the seaside.

'The stitch I chose reminded me of the patterns in the sand left behind by the sea when the tide goes out,' says Amanda. The bag's shoulder strap is covered with small bobbles, while the edges on the bag opening and flap are scalloped.

The yarn used is Wendy's Supreme Luxury Cotton DK, which is beautifully soft and gives excellent stitch clarity. Amanda has used a variegated shade here, and complemented this with a pale blue in the wristwarmers: 'The colour looks just like the beach, with spots of pink and green.'

Amanda recommends lining the bag, using a layer of wadding between the bag and the liner to make it more substantial.

Size

Bag (approximate): 34cm x 34cm
(13½in x 13½in)

Yarn

Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton DK
(100 per cent cotton, 100g/201m balls)
3 balls in Spring Bouquet (shade 1865)

Accessories

Fabric for lining the bag, 81x36cm (32x14in).
Fine wadding (70g/2½oz) for bag, 81x36cm (32x14in). This is optional, but it makes the bag more substantial.
Button or fastener for bag.

Needles

1 pair 3.75mm (size 9/US 5) knitting needles

Tension

16 sts and 19 rows to 6½cm (2.5in) over bag front stitch pattern using 3.75mm needles.

Abbreviations

M1: Make 1. Pick up strand between st just worked and next st, place on left needle and knit into back of it.
MB: Make bobble. Knit into st 5 times, turn and P5, turn and K5, turn P2 tog, P1, P2 tog, turn Sl1, K2 tog, psso.

BAG FRONT

With 3.75mm needles cast on 83 sts and knit 6 rows.

Row 1 (RS): P3, *M1, K3, P2, P3tog, P2, K3, M1, P1, MB, P1; rep from * to last 16sts, M1, K3, P2, P3tog, P2, K3, M1, P3.
Row 2: K3, *P4, K5, P4, K3; rep from * to end of row.
Row 3: P3, *M1, K4, P1, P3tog, P1, K4, M1, P3; rep from * to end of row.
Row 4: K3, *P5, K3, P5, K3; rep from * to end of row.
Row 5: P3, *M1, K5, P3tog, K5, M1, P3; rep from * to end of row.
Row 6: K3, *P6, K1, P6, K3; rep from * to end of row.

These 6 rows form pattern and are shown in Chart A. Rep until work meas 30cm (12in). Cast off on foll row 5.

BACK

With 3.75mm needles cast on 83 sts and knit 2 rows.

Next row: K40, cast off 3 sts (to make buttonhole, cast on 3 sts over cast-off sts on next row), K40.
Next row: Knit, completing buttonhole.

Cont in patt as set for Front. When work meas 45cm (17¾in) cast off on foll row 5.

GUSSET

With 3.75mm needles cast on 9 sts.

Work in reverse stocking st until work fits halfway across cast-off edge of bag ending with a P row facing for next row.

Row 1 (RS): P4, MB, P4.
Rows 2, 4 and 6: K.
Rows 3 and 5: P.

Rep these 6 rows until work with bobbles fits side seam of Front of Bag.

Next row (beg of strap): Cast on 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 19 sts.
Cont to work in reverse stocking st with bobbles, keeping bobble central. When strap is desired length, cast off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows.

Complete second side of gusset to match first, down side seam with bobbles, and across half of cast-off edge of bag in plain reverse stocking stitch.

MAKE UP

Join cast-on and cast-off edges of Gusset. Position this seam to central point of cast-off edges of Back and Front.
Pin reverse stocking st up to first bobble along cast-off edges, rest of gusset up to cast-on flaps of strap.
Sew gusset in place. Sew flaps of strap, keeping seam to the underside and bobbles on the topside.
Cut wadding to fit inside bag, including flap.
Cut lining fabric slightly bigger than bag including flap and to accommodate wadding.
Make up lining and insert in bag enclosing wadding. Sew into place.
Sew on button/fastening to correspond with buttonhole.

Amanda Crawford writes for The Knitter magazine. For more information visit www.theknitter.co.uk