Why Knitting is the Awesome Way to Go

People often seem surprised to find many a young person like myself or numerous others showing an interest in the knitting craft these days. Well, this past-time is a sensible solution to the modern stresses of economics, individuality, and, well, stress. So, it is easy to see why more and more people are seeking out the skills for attaining purls of wisdom.


CREATIVE VALUE

Although some knitting projects may take a great deal of time to complete, there is always a sense of satisfaction that comes from having created something with one's own hands, particularly if the knitting project is meant to be a gift, in which case a certain sentimental value is added to the gift.
Knitting a garment gives the creator a certain degree of customization. Even if one is following a pattern, there are liberties the knitter may take with the pattern, such as the colour(s), or throwing in a different stitch here and there. A knitting project can yield a one-of-a-kind garment that can grant the wearer a sense of individuality. Of course, this is also definitely the case if the knitting was poorly done and yielded woolly monstrosity...
Ah, and therein lies the real beauty of knitting: everything is “unravellable” and redo-able, which makes it a little easier to create one's own pattern through trial and error. It also makes it possible to change or modify a piece of knitting which no longer fits or is desirable.


THERAPEUTIC VALUE

One of the most common comments I hear made by new knitters is about the relaxation that knitting induces in them. I have known some sufferers of anxiety to benefit from the calming, repetitive nature of knitting. Because not only does knitting create a simplistic calm over one's self, it also leaves the individual with a sense of satisfaction at having at least created a little something during her therapy session. How many other kinds of therapy sessions are truly productive?

Round Cabled Drawstring Bag

Difficulty:



Time-Consuming:



Not wanting to have to buy another purse, I decided a nice, small, multi-purpose bag could easily be knit, and I could bestow upon it a nice pattern of my creation. Thus, the idea of a little spherical bag with cable stitching was born.

For this project I used 5mm circular needles, a tapestry needle for yarn for stitching the wool after knitting, #4 medium worsted wool for the body of the bag, and #5 wool of a different colour for the strap. I really don't think the kind of wool in this case matters too much since a bag is not something that is worn or must fit a certain way. I do, however, think the strap should definitely be of thicker wool than the body of the bag.

Special abbreviations used in this pattern:

K = knit (k4 = knit 4 stitches)

P = purl (p4 = purl 4 stitches)

K2tog = knit 2 stitches together

P2tog = purl 2 stitches together

K2togL = knit 2 stitches together, then bring yarn around so as to make a new loop on the needle.

K inc1 / P inc1 = knit or purl 1 stitch and increase by 1 stitch either by casting on another stitch or doing a double pull through when making the knit or purl stitch.

S1 = slip 1 stitch onto the right needle without knitting or purling it.

Cb1o1 PK = Cable 1 stitch over the one to the left. After having been crossed, the stitch that is now first on your needle should be purled while the second knit.

/KK = Cable 1 stitch over the one to the left. After having been crossed, the stitch that is now first on your needle should be knit while the second knit.

/KP = Cable 1 stitch over the one to the left. After having been crossed, the stitch that is now first on your needle should be knit while the second purled.

Cb1u1 PK = Cable 1 stitch under the one to the left. After having been crossed, the stitch that is now first on your needle should be purled while the second knit.

/KK = Cable 1 stitch under the one to the left. After having been crossed, the stitch that is now first on your needle should be knit while the second knit.

/KP = Cable 1 stitch under the one to the left. After having been crossed, the stitch that is now first on your needle should be knit while the second purled.

Cb2u1 KPP = Cable 2 stitches under the one to the left. After having been crossed, the stitch that is now first on your needle should be knit, while the second and third are purled.

Cb1o2 PPK = Cable 1 stitch over the 2 to the left. After having been crossed, the stitches that are now first and second on your needle should be purled, while the third knit.

Body of Bag:

Cast on 68 stitches

Row 1-3: *K1, P1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 4: *K2togL, K4, repeat from * 4 more times. K2togL, K2, ** K2togL, K4, repeat from ** 4 more times. K2togL, K2.

Row 5: *K1, K inc1, K inc1, K1, repeat from * 16 more times

Row 6: *K1, P4, K1, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 7: *Cb1o1 PK, P2, Cb1u1 KP, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 8: *P1, Cb1o1 PK, Cb1u1 KP, P1, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 9: *P2, Cb1o1 KK, P2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 10: *P2, K2, P2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 11: *P2, Cb1o1 KK, P2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 12: *P1, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, P1, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 13: *Cb1u1 KP, P2, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 14: S1, *P4, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 15: *P1, P inc1, P inc1, P1, K2, P4, K2, repeat from * 7 more times. P4, K2.

Row 16: *P6, Cb1o1 KK, P4, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 7 more times. P4, Cb1o1 KK.

Row 17: S2, P2, *Cb2u1 KPP, Cb1o1 PK, P2, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o2 PPK, P2, repeat from * 6 more times. Cb2u1 KPP, Cb1o1 PK, P2, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, P2, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o2 PPK.

Row 18: S1, *Cb1u1 KP, P3, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 14 more times. Cb1u1 KP, P2, Cb1o1 PK, Cb1u1 KP, P3, Cb1o1 PK.

Row 19: S1, *P5, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 14 more times. P4, Cb1o1 KK, P5, Cb1o1 KK.

Row 20: *P5, K2, repeat from * 14 more times. P4, K2, P5, K2.

Row 21: Same as row 19.

Row 22: S1, *P3, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 14 more times. P2, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, P3, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK.

Row 23: S1, *Cb2u1 KPP, P2, Cb1o2 PPK, Cb1u1 KP P2, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 6 more times. Cb2u1 KPP, P2, Cb1o2 PPK, K1, P2, Cb1o2 PPK, Cb1u1 KP, P2, Cb1o1 PK.

Row 24: S1, *P1, P2tog, P2tog, P1, Cb1o1 KK, P4, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 7 more times. P4, Cb1o1 KK.

Row 25: *P4, K2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 26: *P4, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 27: S1, *P2, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 28: S1, *Cb1u1 KP, P2, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 29: S1, *P4, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 30: *P4, K2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 31: Same as row 29 from *.

Row 32: S1, *P2, Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 33: S1, *Cb1u1 KP, P2, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 34: S1, *P4, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 35: *P4, K2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 36: *P2tog, P2tog, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 37: S1, *Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 38: S1, *P2, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 39: *P2, K2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 40: S1, *Cb1u1 KP, Cb1o1 PK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 41: S1, *P2, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 42: *P2tog, K2, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 43: *P1, Cb1o1 KK, repeat from * 16 more times.

Row 44: *P2tog, repeat from * 24 more times. P1.

Row 45: P26.

Row 46: *P2tog, repeat from * 11 more times. P1.

Row 47: Purl and cast off.

Next: Cut yarn leaving about a 40cm tail. The yarn is then woven through the cast-off row to bring the hole into a tight close. Each stitch is made not consecutively, but across the hole. Pull hole closed tightly and tie off the yarn tail inside the bag.

For the Drawstring Strap:

Part A:

(With alternate color) Cast on 4 stitches

Row 1: K4.

Row 2: P4.

Row 3: K1 Cb1o1 KK, K1.

Row 4: P4.

Row 5: Cb1o1 KK, Cb1u1 KK.

Row 6: P4

Repeat rows 1-6 until work is 44 rows long, unless desired shorter.

Row 45: K4

Row 46: P2, then, starting with a new yarn tail from the same ball of wool, Purl the other 2 stitches. This will divide Part A into 2 parts (B & C), which will be knit identically, so they are both knit on the same needle.

Part B (Part B done simultaneously with same pattern):

Row 1, 3, 5, 7...27: K2

Row 2, 4, 6, 8...28: P2

Next, weave parts B and C through the little holes created in row 4 of the bag body, so that the right side of the strap faces out. Sew up the ends of parts B and C to the other end of Part A.