This week, we’ve been looking at ways to use up leftover yarn to make items for the 2018 holidays, and some of these projects are well suitable for other occasions throughout the year.

Today’s knitted Gift Bag is a final addition to the possibilities. Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash is an excellent yarn that Knit at a tight gauge is very sturdy. In 2016, I talked about Knitting with Deluxe Worsted Tweed yarn and I had some scraps left over which were perfect for today’s project.

The design features a sturdy garter stitch bottom, and then you switch to knitting in the round with slipped stitch corners.

The knit gift bag pattern

Cast on 18.

Knit 32 rows, decreases 2 sts evenly across last row. 16 sts

Set-up Rnd: Turn work to knit across ends of rows. Pick up and knit 14 sts across. Across cast-on ridge, pick up and knit 16 sts. Pick up and knit 14 sts across ends of rows on next side. 60 sts

Rnd 1: [K1, p13, k1, p15] twice.

Rnd 2: [K14, k2, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k2] twice. 56 sts

Rnd 3: [K1, p13] 4 times.

Rnd 4: Knit.

Rnd 5: [Sl 1, p13] 4 times.

Rnd 6: Knit.

Rep Rnds 5 & 6 until the bag is the desired depth.

Next Row: [K1, p13] 4 times.

Next Row: Knit.

Next Row: [K1, p13] 4 times.

Last Row: Bind off 12 sts, k4, bind off 22, k4, bind off remaining sts—10 sts rem on needle.

Cut yarn and close gap at beginning of row and weave in end.

Join yarn to next set of 5 sts and knit 6 ridges of garter stitch. Bind off, fold tab and sew to inside top edge to make a loop. Repeat for other 5 sts.

OPTIONS

The tabs are there so that you can attach a handle of some kind, with ribbon, or raffia, or whatever you can muster up. If you’d rather just knit a handle, you can start on one set of 5 stitches and graft to the opposite corner.

If you work the whole bag in garter stitch with the plain corners, you’ll have somewhat sturdier sides.

A piece of plastic canvas can be sewn into the bottom of the bag to help it stand up better.

I trust you have enough scrap and odd balls in your stash that you can try out any of the projects we’ve been sharing with you for the past two weeks.