Whimsical pixie style knitted bag to go with the story of The Lavender Seller’s Fortune. Main section in Flowers of Wisdom lace pattern, soft handle of pure silk ribbon, eyelet drawstrings also in silk ribbon. Lilac glass bead and crystal faceted bead finish the i-cord dangle. Lined in pink lilac pure silk. Fern Leaf edging. 25.5cm/10″ deep, 15cm/6″ wide. 4ply pure wool in Iris.

The Lavender Seller’s Bag Knitting Pattern
Designed by Dianthe Bells
Flowers of Wisdom Bag

Materials
4 ply pure wool in Iris, 50g balls (2)
Crochet cotton for crochet cast on
Crochet hook 3.25mm/D/10
Set 4 double point needles 3.25mm/3/10
2 short double point needles 3.25mm/3/10
1 spare medium length (or circular) double point needle 3.25mm/3/10
5 markers (one in red)
½ metre/yard 7mm wide pure silk ribbon in lavender
1 metre/yard x 1.3mm wide pure silk ribbon in violet/lavender for handle
1 glass oval lilac bead, 1 small crystal faceted bead
Silk thread to match ribbon
Lilac silk lining if desired, silk thread to match
Gauge
Over a 10cm x 10cm sample on 3.25mm needles = 35 rows x 27 sts.
Abbreviations
O: Yarn forward between needles before next stitch.
Sl1-k2tog-psso: Slip one knitways, knit two stitches together, pass slipped stitch over.
Ssk: Slip 2 stitches, one at a time onto right needle. Insert left needle from left to right through these 2 stitches and knit together.
Cast on/cast off: Bind on/bind off.
Written in Australian English.
Construction
Worked from the base upwards on set of four double point needles. The cast on method uses a temporary cotton crochet chain in contrasting colour. Stitches are picked up with wool. Bag section is knitted in lace pattern stitch. A lace edging for the top of the bag is knitted in a strip; then the edge stitches are picked up with double point needles. These are knitted with the main stitches of bag that are released from crochet chain. An eyelet row for the silk ribbon is worked; the stitches of edging and main bag are cast off together. Shaping for pixie-style base is formed with decreases by picking up stitches held with crochet chain. Wide silk ribbon forms a soft handle. 7mm ribbon is woven through eyelets as a drawstring. Glass beads are attached with silk thread to the end of the i-cord dangle.
Pattern
Using crochet cotton and crochet hook, chain 75. Cut end and draw through loop. Turn chain over to see bumps at back of each chain. Begin with Iris wool and set of 3.25mm needles. Insert a needle into first, and each one of these bumps and complete a knit stitch (75 sts).
Arrange these stitches onto three needles evenly (25-25-25). Place red marker at beginning of round and knit one round, knitting the first stitch at start of each needle firmly so the wool is not slack between the points.
Set up for lace pattern repeats: Place red marker at beginning of round. Knit 15, place marker, knit 15, place marker, knit 15, place marker, knit 15, place marker, knit 15. knit 8 rounds. Work 3 repeats of Flowers of Wisdom Lace Pattern.
(multiple of 15, worked in the round)
Round 1: *K5, k2 tog, O, k1, O, ssk, k5*.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: *K4, k2 tog, O, k3, O. ssk, k4.*
Round 4: Knit.
Round 5: *K6, O, sl1-k2 tog-psso, O, k6.
Round 6: Knit.
Round 7: *K1, k2 tog, O, k1, O, ssk, k3, k2 tog, O, k1, O, ssk, k1*.
Round 8: Knit.
Round 9: *K2 tog, O, k3, O, ssk, k1, k2 tog, O, k3, O, ssk*.
Round 10: Knit.
Round 11: *K2, O, sl1-k2 tog-psso, O, k5, O, sl1-k2 tog-psso, O, k2*.
Round 12: Knit.
Round 13: *K5, k2 tog, O, k1, O, ssk, K5*.
Round 14: Knit.
Round 15: *K4, k2 tog, O, k3, O, ssk, k4*.
Round 16: Knit.
Round 17: *K6, O, sl1-k2 tog-psso, O, k6*.
Round 18: Knit.
Rounds 19-20: Knit.
Knit 8 rounds plain. Do not cut yarn. Transfer stitches to piece of crochet cotton, removing markers but tying a yarn marker to first stitch of round. Find cylindrical object the same size as bag or used a hand towel rolled up. Gently ease bag over shape, opening up lace pattern. When shape is set, spray with a mist of filtered water. Allow to dry in an upright position. Make edging for top of bag.
Note: Cast on and cast off edges will be grafted together.
Knit edging with two 3.25mm double point needles (these do not have to be double point; they are convenient for edgings). Using crochet cotton make 8 chains. Pull last loop through and cut yarn. Knot this end so you know which end to unzip later on for grafting. With Iris pick up these 8 stitches (through underside bumps as for main section). Work 11 repeats of edging. Do not cut yarn. Hold last row of 8 stitches on a yarn holder.


Row 1: K1, (k2 tog, O) twice, k1, O, k2 tog.
Row 2: K2, p1, k5.
Row 3: K1, (k2 tog, O) twice, 7 into one, O, k2 tog.
Row 4: K2, p7, k5.
Row 5: K1, (k2 tog, O) twice, k7, O, k2 tog.
Row 6: K2, p7, k5.
Row 7: K1, (k2 tog, O) twice, k7, O, k2 tog.
Row 8: K2, p7, k5.
Row 9: K1, (k2 tog, O) twice, ssk, k3, k2 tog, O, k2 tog.
Row 10: K2, p5, k5.
Row 11: K1, (k2 tog, O) twice, ssk, k1, k2 tog, O, k2 tog.
Row 12: K2, p3, k5.
Row 13: K1, (k2 tog, O) twice, k3 tog, O, k2 tog.
Row 14: K2, p1, k5.
Take up the spare needle. Right side facing, pick up and knit 75 sts along top edge of edging (between each bump there is a strand; insert needle under each strand and knit a stitch). This should work out exactly as 75 stitches.
Carefully remove bag stitches from cotton holder one by one, placing on original needles. With wrong side of edging facing right side of bag knit one round, taking a stitch from edging needle and a stitch from bag needle and knitting together as one (control the two needles in left hand or you may drop stitches).
Shaping Base
Pick up 75 stitches from thread holder on base. Purl 1 round. Place marker. Knit 1 round.
Knit every 4th and 5th st together (60sts).
Knit 3 rounds.
Knit every 4th and 5th st together (48 sts).
Knit 1 round.
Knit every 3rd and 4th st together (36 sts).
Knit 1 round.
Knit every 3rd and 4th st together (27 sts).
Knit 1 round.
Knit every 2nd and 3rd st together (18 sts).
Knit 1 round.
Knit every 2nd and 3rd st together (12 sts).
Knit 1 round.
Knit every 2nd and 3rd st together (6 sts).
Knit 1 round.
K1, k2 tog, k3 (5 sts) keeping sts on one needle.
Knit an i-cord for 2 or 3 cms/inches.
K1, k2 tog, k2 tog (3 sts).
Knit 3 together.
Cut yarn and weave in. Sew a lilac oval glass bead, topped with crystal bead to end of i-cord.
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