Barn Bag (free pattern)

I know, I know....I'm supposed to be knitting baby things this week, right?

However, every time we go out to the stable to visit our horses, I give each of my kids a baggie with carrots and/or peppermints to feed the horses as treats. After returning from the stable today, I thought how nice it would be to have a small knit pouch to tote the horses’ treats around. Something with a handle that could be worn over the wrist/slid up to the elbow, so both hands would be free for petting.

Once I had the idea in my head, I had to give it a shot to see if it would work the way I envisioned it. It did! I now have a lovely small pouch with an i-cord handle for filling with treats for our "babies" when we go for a visit.

Barn Bag Pattern:


Materials needed:

16" size 8 circular needle
Size 8 dpn's
Tapestry needle
One ball of kitchen cotton - I used Lily Sugar & Cream Summer Splash Ombre

Directions:

Cast on 16 stitches. Knit back and forth in garter stitch for 24 rows (12 garter ridges). Turn work clockwise, pick up and knit 12 stitches from the short side (1 stitch from each garter ridge). Turn work clockwise. Pick up and knit 16 stitches along the next side. Turn work clockwise. Pick up and knit the next 12 stitches (again, one stitch from each garter ridge). You should now have 56 stitches on your circular needle.

Knit straight up in the round (stockinette) for four inches, or to desired length. Begin decreases: K6K2tog for one round (you will now have 48 stitches on your needle).

Switching to K2P2 rib, knit six rounds. Next round, decrease one stitch in each purl rib column (K2, P2tog). You may need to switch to dpn's at this point. Knit one more round of K2P1 rib, then bind off loosely following K2P1 rib pattern. Weave in ends.

For handle: Pick up four stitches at the base of one of the rib columns. Begin 4-stitch i-cord and knit to desired length. (Cord pictured on bag is 10"). When you have reached desired length, attach i-cord to bag by picking up four stitches at the base of a rib column on the opposite side of the bag, and using the 3-needle bindoff. Pull loose ends through to inside and weave in.

Fini!

This could be handy little bag for many purposes: toting around sock (or hat) knitting, discreetly toting, ahem, used plastic bags when walking your dog, storing Scrabble tiles during game play (the bag sits up on its own thanks to the garter base - you can just reach right in to grab your pieces).

Have fun knitting! I need to get back to my baby things. :-)