Noro Felted Entrelac Bag Knitting Pattern

Noro Felted Entrelac Bag

What Is Being Made

The Noro Felted Entrelac Bag is an experienced-level knitted handbag featuring the entrelac technique, a distinctive interlocking block pattern that creates visual texture and structural interest. This project results in a finished bag measuring 16 inches wide by 10½ inches in height, with approximately 11 inches of depth when the flap is folded to the front. The bag is designed to be worked flat on straight needles before being felted to achieve a durable, finished appearance suitable for everyday use.

Techniques Used

Entrelac Construction: The primary technique employed in this bag is entrelac, a method that involves knitting small rectangular blocks in a staggered pattern that interlocks to create a woven appearance. This technique adds both visual complexity and structural integrity to the finished piece.

Seaming: The bag components are seamed together, with selvage stitches worked along edges to facilitate clean, professional seaming during assembly.

Flat Knitting: The bag is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier manipulation of the entrelac pattern and subsequent seaming of the constructed pieces.

Felting: After knitting is complete, the bag undergoes a felting process that transforms the knitted fabric into a more compact, durable material with a finished appearance and increased structural stability.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the entrelac blocks, worked as knit stitches on right-side rows and purl stitches on wrong-side rows.
• Purl Stitches: Used in combination with knit stitches to create the stockinette base of the entrelac blocks.
• Yarn Over: A stitch-increasing technique used to create new stitches and add openwork elements within the pattern.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease stitch used to shape the bag components.
• Slip Stitches: Used to pass stitches from one needle to another without working them, essential for managing stitches during the entrelac construction.
• Pick Up and Knit/Purl: Techniques used to pick up stitches along edges, particularly when adding the strap and flap components.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The bag is constructed using 2 rolls of Noro Rainbow Roll in colorway #1011, a variegated yarn that adds color interest to the entrelac pattern. A small quantity of sport-weight yarn in a contrasting color is used for sewing the strap after felting.

Needles and Hooks: The project requires one pair of size US 7/4.5mm straight needles for the main bag body, one set of four size US 9/5.5mm double-pointed needles for the strap construction, and one size US K10½/6.5mm crochet hook for finishing details.

Gauge: The pattern is worked to a gauge of 12 stitches and 17 rows equaling 4 inches over stockinette stitch using size US 9/5.5mm needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions of the bag.