Designs by Diligence: April 2018

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

How to Add a Zipper and Line a Knit Bag

A Free Picture Tutorial

I wanted to show you how easy it is to add a zipper and lining to a knit bag which gives the bag a more professional look.

Let's Get Started

First get all of your pieces together. You will need:

your lining fabric that is cut our in inch larger than your knit fabric
your 2 knit sides of the bag
a zipper the same size as your opening 12 inch shown
and purse handles

Other materials you will need

sewing machine
thread
extra yarn for wip stitching the knit sides together
and a yarn needle

You will need to sew the two lining pieces to the zipper with the zipper up and the fabric down. I always like to make a running stitch across the top edge to make it clean and crisp.

With the zipper facing up and lining down, pin down the knit sides to the zipper and sewing across the zipper. Do this for both sides.

Sew on your handles. Make sure they are centered and straight.

Sew the lining fabric together with fronts facing each other. Trim extra fabric from the seam.

Flip the knit fabric over the lining and wip stitch the knit sides together with a yarn needle. Weave in your ends and you are done. That's it. Now Go try it for yourself!

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Come This Way Purse

A Free Knitting Pattern

I have to tell you a story. I thought I was designing a cowl, and my husband came home from school and looked at what I was making and said, "Oh, are you making a bag?" I looked down at what I was making, and said, "yep, I guess I am." And that is how this purse was born. He saw the vision before I did. I love that he did and I love all the texture that is on this bag.

This Purse was a quick project. I was able to make it in a weekend. Even though there is a lot happening, the stitches are easy to master. I added a zipper and lined the purse. At the end of the post I have a link to another post showing how I did that. I also made my own handles for the purse, but I think it would look fabulous with re-purposed handles from a bag you are not using any more.

Where can I get this Pattern?

This is a free knitting pattern found right here on Designs by Diligence. Just keep scrolling down to read the pattern. If you would like to purchase an ads free, printer friendly PDF you can through my Ravelry Pattern Store for $3.00. As a bonus for purchasing the pattern you will receive a chart and key along with the written pattern.

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come this way purse

Pattern

Designer: Julia Schwartz
Yarn: Any worsted weight yarn. Model used Patons yarn Canadiana Color Fool's gold 100% acrylic 100g 187m
Needles: 7/ 4.5mm
Notions: yarn needle for sewing up the bag, (lining, zipper, handles, sewing machine, and thread optional)
Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows
Size: 12 by 10 in
Stitches used: k, p, RT, LT, lateral braid
Special Stitches:

Right Twist (RT): Knit 2 together keeping both stitches on the left needle, knit into the first stitch, then pull both stitches onto the right needle, stitch complete.
Left Twist (LT): Knit through the back loop of the 2nd st, keep the stitch on the left needle, knit in the first stitch, then pull both stitches onto the right needle, stitch complete.
Lateral braid: Knit through the back loop of the 2nd st, keep the stitch on the left needle, knit in the first stitch, then pull both stitches onto the right needle, slip the last stitch made back onto the left needle, continue repeating the stitch all the way across the row.

Copyright
Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact Julia.diligence@gmail.com.

Instructions (repeat 2 times for both sides of the purse):

Cast on 40 st using your favorite cast on
Row 1: (K, P) repeat (to) all 40 sts
Row 2 and 3: (P, K) repeat (to) all 40 sts
Row 4: (k, p) repeat (to) all 40 sts
At the end of row 4 cast on 5 sts
Row 5: (p, k) repeat (to) all 45 sts
At the end of row 5 cast on 5 sts
Row 6 and 7: (k,p) repeat (to) all 50 sts
Row 8: (p, k) repeat (to) all 50 sts

Row 9: Make a lateral braid across the row
Row 10: p
Row 11: (K 3, LT, ) repeat (to) 8 times, k 5
Row 12: p
Row 13: k 4, LT, (K3, LT) repeat (to) 7 times, k 4
Row 14: p
Row 15: K 5, LT, (K3, LT) repeat (to) 7 times, k 3
Row 16: p
Row 17: K5, RT, (K3, RT) repeat (to) 7 times, k3
Row 18: p
Row 19: k 4, RT, (K3, RT) repeat (to) 7 times, k 4
Row 20: p
Row 21: (K 3, RT, ) repeat (to) 8 times, k 5
Row 22: p
Row 23: Make a lateral braid across the row
Row 24 and 25: (p, k) repeat (to) all 50 sts
Row 26 and 27: (K, p) repeat (to) all 50 sts
Row 28: (p, k) repeat (to) all 50 sts
Row 29: Make a lateral braid across the row
Row 30:P

Row 31: K5, RT, (K3, RT) repeat (to) 7 times, k3

Row 32: p

Row 33: k 4, RT, (K3, RT) repeat (to) 7 times, k 4

Row 34: p

Row 35: (K 3, RT) repeat (to) 8 times, k 5

Row 36: p

Row 37: (K 3, LT) repeat (to) 8 times, k 5

Row 38: p

Row 39: k 4, LT, (K3, LT) repeat (to) 7 times, k 4

Row 40: p

Row 41: K 5, LT, (K3, LT) repeat (to) 7 times, k 3

Row 42: p

Row 43: Make a lateral braid across the row

Row 44 and 45: (p, k) repeat (to) all 50 sts

Row 46 and 47: (K, p) repeat (to) all 50 sts

Row 48: (p, k) repeat (to) all 50 sts

Row 49: Make a lateral braid across the row

Row 50: P

Cast off.

Weave in your ends.

Wip stitch the 2 sides and bottom together, or Follow This Link for adding a zipper and liner to your bag.

To See How I put n a zipper and lined this purse Go to this Post!

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Monday, April 9, 2018

Sew Your Own Drawstring Project Bag

A free picture tutorial

Every once in a while I get the itch to sew something on the sewing machine. Lately I have been making these drawstring project bags. They are the perfect size for holding a one skein project like a hat or cowl. It's been a good way to use up my scraps and they are keeping my wips organized.

Let's see how I make them

Supplies:

2- 8 by 9 in jean material with 2 inch notches cut out on the 8 inch sides
4- 9 by 10 in pieces for the out side and lining of the bag
16 by 4 fabric matching the lining fabric for the drawstring top
ribbon for drawstring
large bead or button
optional- jean pocket and other embellishments
sewing machine
sewing thread
pins

sorry this one is so blurry

The first thing I do is sew the bottoms and sides together making sure the right side are facing each other. I also like to make a running stitch down the seam for a nice finish. Optional sew the pocket onto the front of the bag.

At this point you will have your outside and inside

Next sew the sides of the bag together. On one of the sides of the lining leave a 3 inch hole so you can turn it right side out later.

Sew the bottom together to look like the picture above. This will give your bottoms a nice level place to sit.

Put the lining and outside together with the right sides facing together. This picture is actually wrong. You want the lining on top so you can pull your fabric through the hole.

Turn the bag right side out so that it looks just how you want it to look like. Sew together the hole in the lining with a wip or ladder stitch. Sew a hem on each of the 4 inch sides of the 4 by 16 inch piece of fabric. fold it over like basting tape and then pin it around the top of the bag leaving the openings on the side seam of the bag. Sew the drawstring flap to the bag.

Add the ribbon to the bag using a safety pin to push it through to the other side. String the large bead or button through both ends of the ribbon. Then add a knot to the ribbon ends to close in the button.

Pin for Later!

Stay connected!

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Monday, April 2, 2018

Puddles of Love Baby Blanket

A Free Tunisian Crochet Pattern

I love how this blanket turned out. The texture is just wonderful. Tunisian crochet is typically thicker than any other stitch technique, so this blanket is extra squishy. It's the perfect kind of blanket that I love to put on the floor to let baby roll around on and play. I also really love the pop of color edging. You can start the blanket early and then when you know what the baby will be you can add your color of choice for the edging.

I used one ball of caron yarn one pound. I used every inch of it, so you might want to grab two just to be on the safe side. *As of 9/30/2022 I have also made the blanket using 10 skeins of Lion Brand Wool Ease.* Your tension might be different than mine so your yardage might change. I like to keep a really loose tension when I am working with Tunisian Crochet. I think it helps keep it from curling so much, and it helps my hand not hurt so much when working with the longer hook. I would also recommend using a Tunisian hook that has a cord attachment. because this blanket gets pretty heavy and the cord makes it so you don't have to hold it all up.

This is a free pattern. If you choose to purchase an ads free printer friendly version, you will get everything you see in the blog post plus a chart to help you follow along. This pattern is easy to adapt to a different size, but the yardage will change. The pattern is a repeated pattern f 10 +1.

I have made a matching infant hat to go along with this blanket pattern. Go check it out Here!

Where Can I Get This Pattern?

This is a free crochet pattern on the blog. Just keep scrolling down to see this pattern. By having it free on the blog I am able to promote the pattern more and share it with more people. I also feel that I bring some trust to my readers who can read through the pattern before they decide if they want to purchase the pattern.

If you would like to purchase this pattern that is ads free and printer friendly, it is available for Download through my Ravelry Store For $3.00.
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This pattern has been newly updated with it being thoroughly checked through, and newly formatted as of 9/30/22.

Designer: Julia Schwartz
Yarn: Any size 4 worsted weight yarn 1900 yards/30 0nces of yarn needed
Hook: 6mm Tunisian hook (I used the addi click hook with the 40 inch extension cord)
Notions: tapestry needle
Size: 36 by 42 inches
Gauge: 15 sts 13 rows equals 4 inches

Special Stitches:

TPS (Tunisian Purl stitch): (forward pass) Place yarn in front of your work, insert your hook into the left vertical bar of the st below, yo and pull your yarn through. (Return pass): follow instructions in the pattern.

TKS (Tunisian Knit stitch): (Forward pass)working with the yarn behind your work, insert your hook between the vertical bars below the horizontal bars in the st below, yo, pull the yarn through, keep your loop on the hook.(Return pass): follow instructions in the pattern.

M1L (make one left): (forward pass)with yarn behind your work, insert the hook between the stich just made and the vertical bar of the next stitch (Return pass): follow instructions in the pattern.

TKS2tog (Tunisian Knit Stitch 2 togeter): (forward pass) working with the yarn behind your work insert the hook through the left vertical bars of the 2 stitches below, pull the yarn through, keep your loop on the hook. (Return pass): follow instructions in the pattern.

TKS3tog (Tunisian Knit stitch 3 together): (forward pass) working with the yarn behind your work insert the hook through the left vertical bars of the 3 stitches below, pull the yarn through, keep your loop on the hook. (Return pass): follow instructions in the pattern.

reverse single crochet: working left to right instead of right to left, insert your hook into the st to your right, yo, and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops

Notes:

border refers to the first and last 10 stitches of each row. Even rows it is {TKS, TPS} odd rows it is {TPS, TKS}
Keep your tension loose throughout the whole blanket.

Copyright:

Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact Julia.diligence@gmail.com.

Pattern Instruction

Row 1: (Forward pass) Ch 121, insert hook into each ch and pull up a loop for a total of 121 loops on the hook,

(return pass:) Yo, pull through 1 loop, (yo, pull through 2 loops) repeat (to) until you have 1 loop left.

Row 2: (Forward pass) {TKS, TPS} repeat {to} to the second to last st, TKS in the last st.