Hazy Days

Big enough for your towel, suncream and sandwiches and featuring an ingenious waterproof lining, Bondi is the perfect tote to transport your beach supplies in. It features solid cane handles and an intarsia text motif along the bottom of one side and the rich turquoise shade of the back and front is complemented by an ice blue border and lilac sides.

Front
Using 4mm needles and yarn A, cast on 90 sts
❑ Starting with a k row, work four rows in st st

PLACE CHART

❑ Using intarsia method, k across first row of Chart, wrapping yarns around each other when changing colour to avoid holes forming
❑ Work rem 33 rows of chart
❑ Starting with a k row, work in st st until piece meas 30cm from beg ending with a p row

DIVIDE FOR HANDLE
OPENING

❑ Next row: k38, turn
Work this side first as folls:
❑ Starting with a p row, work six rows in st st dec one st at handle edge on every row. 32 sts
❑ Starting with a p row, work 11 rows in st st

Change to yarn C
❑ K one row
❑ Starting with a k row, work eight rows in rev st st
❑ Cast off fairly loosely
❑ With RS facing, rejoin yarn A to rem sts and cont as folls:
❑ Next row: k14 then sl these sts onto a stitch holder, k to end
❑ Complete as for first side, reversing all shapings

Back

Work as for Front but omit chart

Side panels (make two)

Using 4mm needles and yarn B, cast on 26 sts
❑ Starting with a k row, work in st st until piece meas 26cm from beg, ending with a p row
Change to yarn C
❑ K one row
❑ Starting with a k row, work two rows in rev st st
❑ Cast off fairly loosely
Allow cast off edge to roll towards inside and sew in place

Bottom panel

❑ With RS of Front piece facing, using 4mm needles and yarn C, pick up and k 90 sts of cast-on edge
❑ Starting with a k row, work three rows in rev st st
❑ Change to yarn B and, starting with a k row, work in st st until piece meas 12cm from colour change ending with a p row
Change to yarn C
❑ K one row
❑ Starting with a k row, work three rows in rev st st
❑ Cast off fairly loosely kwise
On WS sew yarn change row of Bottom panel to cast-on edge of Front to make pronounced seam on outside. Sew cast-on edge of Back piece to underside of cast-off edge of Bottom panel level with colour change row. Roll reverse stocking stitch section over seam just sewn and sew cast-off edge of Bottom panel to Back piece to produce a pronounced contrasting seam

Using 4mm needles and yarn C, with RS facing, pick up and k 11 sts down straight edge of RH side of handle opening, pick up and k six sts of shaping, k 14 sts on holder, pick up and k six sts of shaping and pick up and k 11 sts up straight edge of LH side of handle opening. 48 sts
❑ Starting with a k row, work two rows in rev st st
❑ Cast off fairly loosely kwise
Allow cast-off edge to roll towards inside and sew in place

❑ Using 4mm needles and yarn C, with RS of side panel facing, pick up and k 26 sts of cast-on edge
❑ Starting with a k row, work three rows in rev st st
❑ Cast off fairly loosely kwise
Sew the row-ends edge of Bottom panel to underside of cast-off edge of knitted seam level with colour change row.
Roll reverse st st section over seam just sewn and sew cast-off edge of knitted seam to bottom panel to produce a pronounced contrasting seam

❑ With RS of Front or Back facing, using 4mm needles and yarn C, pick up and k 80 sts evenly along row end edge, ignoring ends of handle channel
❑ Starting with a k row, work three rows in rev st st
❑ Cast off fairly loosely kwise
Sew to Side panel edges in same way as all other seams, noting that Side panels are not as high as Front and Back pieces

Weave in all ends. Using knitted bag as a pattern, cut same number of pieces of waterproof fabric, adding a seam allowance on all edges.

Sew lining pieces together adding pockets for bottles if so desired. Place a piece of stiff cardboard in bottom of bag and secure at each corner. Place lining inside bag, with WS together, and carefully cut around shape of handles. Slip stitch lining to bag along all top edges and around handle opening.

Cut bamboo canes to correct length and insert through channels at top of bag as shown

Click any of the images below to see a larger, clearer shot

Approx 40cm x 38cm x 12cm