Sirdar No Slouch Shoulder Bag Knitting Pattern

Sirdar No Slouch Shoulder Bag in Jewelspun Ombre

What is Being Made

The Sirdar No Slouch Shoulder Bag (Design No. 10847) is a beginner-friendly knitted shoulder bag featuring a single-size construction. The finished bag measures approximately 30 cm in length by 76 cm in circumference (11¾ inches by 30 inches, not including the strap). This is a one-ball project designed to showcase the beautiful colour-shifting properties of Sirdar Jewelspun Ombre yarn, making each completed bag a unique, one-of-a-kind accessory.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern uses one 400g ball of Sirdar Jewelspun Ombre in Aran weight. The featured shade is Silvery Moon (shade 105), though the yarn is available in six gorgeous shade-shifting colours: Rainbow Glow (100), Citrus Sky (101), Crimson Sunset (102), Ocean Blue (103), Violet Dawn (104), and Silvery Moon (105). The large 400g ball size minimises the need for yarn joining, allowing you to create a true ombre effect with softly graduated colour transitions throughout your project. Each ball begins at a slightly different point in the colour gradient, ensuring your finished bag will be uniquely yours.

Needles and Equipment

You will need the following needles and notions to complete this project:

• One pair of 4½mm (UK size 7 / USA size 7) knitting needles
• One 4½mm (UK size 7 / USA size 7) circular needle, 60cm in length
• Stitch holders
• Stitch markers

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The No Slouch Shoulder Bag employs straightforward knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The pattern uses a slip stitch pattern as the primary stitch structure, which creates texture and visual interest while remaining accessible to newer knitters. The bag is constructed using a combination of flat and circular knitting methods.

Construction begins with a thumb cast-on method along the short edge of the base, where you cast on 29 stitches. The base is then worked flat before transitioning to circular knitting. Once the base is complete, stitches are picked up evenly along the length—specifically 71 stitches are picked up along the length of the base row, and a stitch marker is placed to indicate the beginning of the round for seamless circular knitting.

The stitch pattern follows a simple repeat: purl 2 stitches, knit 1 stitch, repeat from * to the last 2 stitches, then purl 2 stitches. This creates a textured, reversible fabric that works beautifully with the ombre yarn's colour transitions.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern is worked to a tension of 26 stitches and 32 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) using 4½mm needles in the slip stitch pattern. Achieving the correct tension is important for ensuring your finished bag matches the specified measurements and drapes properly.

Design Features

This pattern is marked as Easy difficulty, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to bag construction. Sirdar triple-checks all patterns to guarantee success when using specified Sirdar yarns. The design takes advantage of Jewelspun Ombre's popular ombre fashion trend, allowing the yarn's naturally graduated colour transitions to become the focal point of the finished accessory. The substantial 400g ball minimises the need for joining yarns, helping to create a seamless ombre effect from beginning to end.