Valley Yarns B Vermont Felted Bag Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns B Vermont Felted Bag

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns B Vermont Felted Bag is a structured handbag project designed by Kathy Elkins. This intermediate-level knitting pattern creates a felted wool bag inspired by a leather bag discovered in Vermont. The finished bag measures 10 inches long by 11 inches wide by 4 inches deep after felting, with two matching knitted straps that provide both function and style.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs three primary techniques to construct the finished bag:

• Flat knitting: The bag body is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for a simple construction method suitable for intermediate knitters.
• Seaming: After knitting, the bag pieces are pinned and sewn together using a tapestry needle. The bottom edges are brought to the center to create a structured flat bottom, and the sides are sewn closed.
• Felting: The completed knitted bag undergoes a wet felting process in a washing machine on hot water settings. This felting step shrinks and densifies the fabric, transforming the knitted textile into a durable, structured bag material. The bag is placed in a zippered pillowcase or mesh bag during the felting cycle for protection.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes two primary stitches throughout the construction:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): This fundamental knit stitch creates the smooth, flat fabric that forms the main body of the bag. Stockinette stitch is worked in rows across the width of the bag for the majority of the project.
• Garter stitch: Used for the straps, garter stitch creates a textured, elastic fabric. The strap construction begins and ends with garter stitch sections to provide structure and prevent curling, with stockinette stitch worked in the middle section.

Bag Body Construction

The bag body begins with a cast-on of 3 stitches, which are increased to 28 stitches to establish the bottom panel. This bottom section measures approximately 6¾ inches in length when worked in stockinette stitch. Additional stitches are then cast on to expand the piece to 34 stitches, creating the main body of the bag.

The body is worked in a striping pattern using four colors from the Valley Yarns Berkshire yarn line: Color A (Black), Color B (Lime), Color C (Gold), and Color D (Fuschia). The color changes occur at regular intervals throughout rows 1 through 50, creating a visually interesting striped design. The knitter can customize the color combinations to suit personal preference, as the pattern notes that this version has endless color possibilities. The fabric is worked until it measures 13 inches in length before felting.

Strap Construction

Two matching straps are knitted separately to serve as handles for the bag. Each strap begins with a cast-on of 4 stitches and is worked in garter stitch for the first 3 inches. The pattern then transitions to stockinette stitch for 15 inches, creating a smooth, refined middle section. The final 3 inches return to garter stitch, bringing the total strap length to 21 inches before felting. The pattern recommends casting on both straps simultaneously to ensure they match in length, and the finished straps are attached to the bag during the finishing process.

Materials and Tools

The Valley Yarns B Vermont Felted Bag is constructed using Valley Yarns Berkshire yarn, a blend of 85% wool and 15% alpaca. Each of the four colors requires one 100-gram ball, which yields 141 yards. The specific colors called for are #7 Black, #32 Lime, #10 Gold, and #19 Fuschia. The project is worked on #15 straight needles and requires a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends. Four buttons are included in the materials list for finishing details. The recommended gauge is approximately 12 stitches and 18 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch, though the pattern notes that exact gauge is not critical for this project.

Finished Dimensions

Before the felting process, the bag measures 12 inches wide by 14 inches long by 4 inches deep. After felting, the dimensions reduce to 10 inches long by 11 inches wide by 4 inches deep, reflecting the shrinkage that occurs during the wet felting process. This size reduction is typical for wool felting and contributes to the bag