"Blooming Icicles" Wide-Mouth Duffle Bag

by Ellen Susanne

Materials
Needles: US 11/8 mm; 47" circular and
DPN recommended
Yarn: Approx. 2000-2300m /2187-
2515yds dk or sport, such as Sandnes
Peer Gynt or Dale Heilo in either 12
(Colorway 1) or 4 colors (Colorway 2)
Tapestry needle (to weave in ends)
Crochet hook: US J/6 mm (opt. edge)
Stitch holders and markers or waste
yarn
Finishing supplies: 2-4 magnetic snap
sets, plastic artist-sized canvas, lining
fabric, bag feet, side handles and rings,
needle and heavy duty invisible thread
Gauge
13 sts and 14 rds of Stst in pattern =
4"/10 cm; although gauge is less
important on this project

The inspiration for this bag was two-fold: on the practical side, I needed a covered
knitting bag large enough to tote around a large sweater project and numerous
skeins of yarn but which would also let in enough light when open so I could
rummage around inside to find my tools; on the whimsical side, I dreamt it up in
the midst of an Iowa winter when visions of springtime were dancing with the
prodigious icicles outside my windows. I thought I was designing an icicle motif for
the pattern chart (see monochromatic version; Colorway 2) and, after adding the
color, discovered the icicles had sprung up as flowers (see multi-color version;
Colorway 1)! Colorway 2 is recommended for knitters who want a simpler version
where they are juggling fewer balls of yarn while knitting: while Colorway 1 has a
number of rows that use up to four colors, Colorway 2 is limited to a maximum 2
colors per row.

Yarn
Dale Heilo 8972 (dark green) CC1 287g Dale Heilo 6664 (turqoise) 56g
Dale Heilo 9155 (medium green) MC 570g Dale Heilo 5646 (blue) 46g
Dale Heilo 9335 (lime green) 23g Dale Heilo 5036 (purple) 32g
Dale Heilo 2126 (yellow) 34g Dale Heilo 4636 (magenta) 22g
Dale Heilo 2427 (orange) 35g Dale Heilo 4516 (pink) 4g
Dale Heilo 3418 (rust) 19g Dale Heilo 4137 (red-orange) 33g

Terms/Abbreviations
K = knit KFB = knit through front and back of stitch (1 stitch increase)
P = purl SSK = slip, slip, knit (1 stitch decrease; left-slanting)
PM = place marker K2tog = knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decrease, right-slanting)
SM = slip marker BO = bind off (after having worked 2 stitches, slip the first over the
SL1 = slip one stitch (knit-wise) second or slip most recent stitch knitted over previous stitch)
MC = main color of yarn YO = yarn over (1 stitch increase)
CC = contrasting color of yarn Stst = stockinette stitch (all knits for circular knitting, alternate knit
dpn = double-pointed needles and purl rows for back and forth knitting)
dec = decrease garter = repeat either all knit or all purl rows on back and forth knitting;
st = stitch or alternate knit/purl rows on circular knitting
v.1/2.27.2010
"Blooming Icicles" Wide-Mouth Duffle Bag page 2 of 7
Instructions
Cast on 80 stitches with double-stranded yarn (CC1 for Colorway 1; MC for Colorway 2); long tail cast-on
recommended. Continue to use double-stranded yarn for all subsequent colors joined throughout pattern.
Work 61 rows (= 30 ridges + 1 row) garter stitch for base of bag, finishing kitty-korner from the cast-on tail
(approx. 12" x 27"/30.5 x 68.5 cm).
Follow pattern and color changes as indicated in Chart A. Remember to carry floats every 3-4 sts.
Round 1: Pick up and knit doubled stranded stitches as follows, placing a marker to indicate each corner:
• right side of base: 30 st, PM
• along back (cast on edge): 80 st, PM
• left side of base: 30 st, PM
Knit the 80 remaining stitches on your needle across the front side, PM.
Round 2: Knit 2 sides (right side, back side) of one round, slipping markers (SM) as you come to them,
finishing the round when you reach the tail left from your cast on. This is your new start of round. (The tail
will serve as a helpful marker for the beginning of subsequent rounds.)
Round 3: Join 2 colors as indicated on Chart A, knit round as follows: Slip 1, K28, SL1, SM, K80, SM, SL1,
K28, SL1, SM, K80. Note: on subsequent odd-numbered rounds throughout Chart A only, continue to slip
the first stitch and last stitch on the right and left sides of the bag as you have done in this round (this will
serve to make the corners of the bag more pronounced).
Round 4-33: Continue to work the pattern in Chart A as indicated until you are ready to begin Round 34
(bag will be approximately 10"/25 cm tall from the base).
Round 34:
Optional Handle Tabs: If you wish to attach front and back side handles on your bag proceed as
follows—this step can be omitted (simply knit the chart) if you wish only to use the integrated felted
shoulder strap. On the front and back sides of this round, you will create two tabs that will be used to
attach the side handles of the bag:
K30, SM
K15, KFB of 5 stitches and place every other of these 5 stitches on a stitch holder, K40, KFB of 5
stitches and place every other of these 5 stitches on a stitch holder, K15, SM
K30, SM
K15, KFB of 5 stitches and place every other of these 5 stitches on a stitch holder, K40, KFB of 5
stitches and place every other of these 5 stitches on a stitch holder, K15, SM

Round 35-47: Continue with Chart A, Round 35, and knit until you have completed Round 47.
Round 48: Knit as indicated on Chart B for left, front, and right sides; knit one color only on back side (Chart
C).
Rows 49-50 serve to begin the decreases for the shoulder strap and to create a sequence of single 2-row
buttonholes along the front and back edges to create a hinge effect for the two top flaps of the fulled bag.
Front and Sides
Row 49: At beginning of round (left side; you're laying the base for the strap), Triple dec [SSK, SSK,
pass first dec st over the second to BO1], K22, triple dec [K2tog, K2tog, pass second dec st over the
first to BO1], SM = 24 st
K1, BO2, *K2, BO2*, repeat *…* until one stitch remains before marker, K1, SM = 40 st
Triple dec [SSK, SSK, pass first dec st over the second to BO1], K22, triple dec [K2tog, K2tog, pass
second dec st over the first to BO1], SM = 24 st
Row 50: Turn work and, using the following stitch sequence (you will return to work on the back side
later), knit back along the right, front and left sides, creating a purled edge and the beginning of the
garter stitch sequence that is used for the shoulder straps and the front flap.
"Blooming Icicles" Wide-Mouth Duffle Bag page 3 of 7
Triple dec [SSK, SSK, pass first dec st over the second to BO1], K16, triple dec [K2tog, K2tog, pass
second dec st over the first to BO1], SM = 18 st
K1, YO2, *K2, YO2*, repeat *…*across the front, placing the 2 YOs directly above the locations where
you worked the BO—much like a series of button holes, K1 (this technique will serve to produce a more
hinge-like edge after the bag has been fulled), SM = 80 st
Triple dec [SSK, SSK, pass first dec st over the second to BO1], K16, triple dec [K2tog, K2tog, pass
second dec st over the first to BO1], SM = 18 st
Transfer live stitches from each side strap and the front flap to separate stitch holders.
Back (Charts C and D)
Row 49-50: Bag measures, from base, approximately 14"/35.5 cm. Work back and forth in Stst with MC
(Chart C), working in the BO in Row 49 and the YO in Row 50 as done on the front.
Row 51-80: Work back and forth in Stst, continuing pattern on Chart D to end for back flap. BO on Row
80. Bag height measures, from base to BO on flap, approximately 24.5"/62 cm.
Front (no chart)
Row 51-end: Return to front edge and WS facing, work back and forth in garter for 3 ridges (Use CC1
for Colorway 1; use MC for Colorway 2). Using MC, work 23 ridges garter stitch. BO.
Sides (no chart)
Row 51-end: Return to side stitches, and work first one side and then the other until ready to bind off.
Transfer stitches from stitch holder back to needle (dpns work well). Using MC yarn only, work back and
forth in garter stitch, as follows.
Row 51: K18, turn
Row 52: Triple dec [SSK, SSK, pass first dec st over the second to BO1], K10, triple dec [K2tog,
K2tog, pass second dec st over the first to BO1] = 12 st, turn
Row 53: K12, turn
Row 54: Double dec [SSK, SSK], K6, double dec [K2tog, K2tog] = 8 st, turn
Row 55-end: Continue to work these 8 stitches in garter stitch until there are 40 ridges on one strap
and 39 ridges plus 1 row on the other.
1
Join the two straps with 3-needle bind-off .
Tabs
If you chose the tab option for side handles, return to the 4 sets of 5 stitches each on stitch holders (2 sets
on front; 2 sets on back). One at time, transfer stitches from holder to dpn and, using double stranded MC
yarn, work Stst for 9 rows (right side of bag is next to wrong side of tab), BO. (After fulling you will wrap the
tab around the handle ring and securely fasten to bag).
FINISHING
Weave in loose ends. For Colorway 1, single-crochet edging in CC1 along right and left sides of back flap
(optional). Steam press to shape before and after fulling for best results. Full. Air dry. Cut plastic artist-size
canvas to fit bottom and sides and tack in place using invisible thread. Attach bag feet to bottom of bag. Line
(bottom, sides, top flap only) and include pockets as desired. Attach two magnetic snaps for top flap (front
edge of back flap folds toward the front and meets the fold edge of the front flap). Remove cat from hiding
place inside bag and fill with current knitting project and notions. Snap shut to keep cat out.
Finished Dimensions (fulled)
height = 12.5"/32cm; width = 22"/56cm; depth = 8"/20cm; strap: 36"/91cm x 2"/5cm

1
3-Needle Bind-off: With right sides of strap facing each other and a DPN in the live stitches of each strap, *insert the tip of a third
needle into the first stitch of one needle, then into the first stitch of the other needle. Knit the two stitches together. Repeat. Pass the
previous stitch over this stitch.* Repeat *…* to end of live stitches and run working yarn through final stitch to tie off.
"Blooming Icicles" Wide-Mouth Duffle Bag page 4 of 7
Colorway 1
Dale Heilo 8972 (dark green) CC1 287g Dale Heilo 6664 (turqoise) 56g
Dale Heilo 9155 (medium green) MC 570g Dale Heilo 5646 (blue) 46g
Dale Heilo 9335 (lime green) 23g Dale Heilo 5036 (purple) 32g
Dale Heilo 2126 (yellow) 37g Dale Heilo 4636 (magenta) 22g
Dale Heilo 2427 (orange) 35g Dale Heilo 4516 (pink) 4g
Dale Heilo 3418 (rust) 19g Dale Heilo 4137 (red-orange) 33g

CHART D (back only)

80

79

78

77

76

75

74

73

72

71

70

69

68

67

66
Note: Pattern charts do not represent
65 true colors; the chart colors were
chosen for clarity only.
64

63

62

61

60

59

58

57

56

55

54

53

52

51

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CHART B (left, front, and right sides only) CHART C (back only)
50 50

49 49

48 48
"Blooming Icicles" Wide-Mouth Duffle Bag page 5 of 7
CHART A (repeat 11 times to knit in round)
47

46

45

44

43

42

41

40

39

38

37

36

35

34

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32

31

30

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10

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
"Blooming Icicles" Wide-Mouth Duffle Bag page 6 of 7
Colorway 2
Dale Heilo 0090 (black) MC 780g Note: Any gradation of four
Dale Heilo 5762 (med. gray) CC1 120g shades of the same color
could be substituted with the
Dale Heilo 0004 (light gray) 200g
same effect.
Dale Heilo 0010 (white) 90g

CHART D (back only)

80

79

78

77

76

75

74

73

72

71

70

69

68

67

66

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63

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61

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55

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53

52

51

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CHART B (left, front, and right sides only) CHART C (back only)
50 50

49 49

48 48
"Blooming Icicles" Wide-Mouth Duffle Bag page 7 of 7
CHART A (repeat 11 times to knit in round)
47

46

45

44

43

42

41

40

39

38

37

36

35

34

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32

31

30

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20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1