Too cool for school

Brilliant pink ads punch to the heathery greys and yellows of the knitted panel on this practical backpack. There are only two colours per row, but Amanda’s take on the classic XOX pattern popular in Shetland knitting is dazzling! With no shaping to contend with, Hazel is a great project to concentrate on your stranded colour knitting skills, and sewing it onto a backpack is a unique way to show off your work!

Front
Using 4mm needles and yarn A, cast on 73 sts
❑ Row 1(first row of chart): (RS) *k1 in yarn A, k4B, k1A, k1B, k1A, k4B, repeat from * to last stitch, k1A
❑ Row 2 (second row of chart): p1 in yarn A, *p1A, p2B, (p1A, p1B) twice, p1A, p2B, p2A, repeat from * to end
❑ Row 3: cont to work from chart, starting from row 3, rep six times across the row. Work until chart has been completed six times
❑ Next row: work Row 1 of chart
❑ Cast off in yarn A Block and press
To make up
Cut two rectangles measuring 32cm x 45cm from pink linen. Place the two pink rectangles on top of each other, then lay the knitted panel right side down on top of the linen, matching the bottom corners together. The linen should extend beyond the top of the knitting by approximately 14cm.

To make loops for attaching the handles, cut two strips of pink linen 8cm wide and 9cm long. Fold one cm in along both long sides, and then fold the strip in half lengthways. Press and stitch along the long edge, encasing the raw edges inside the strip. Make another strip in the same way. Fold the strips in half to make loops and position them at the base of the knitted rectangle, between the knitting and the top layer of linen, facing inwards, so that when you stitch down and turn the knitting the right side out they will be facing outwards.

Machine stitch down the sides of the bag and across the base with a five mm seam allowance, attaching the knitting to the linen, and securing the loops. Turn the knitting to the right side. The raw edges of the linen side seams will be concealed under the knitting.

Cut two strips of yellow linen measuring 8cm x 140cm. Fold down one cm around the top of the linen bag, then fold again to the top of the knitting. Tuck the top of the knitting underneath the linen, pin in place and machine edge stitch. Make another row of stitching two cm below the top of the bag to create a channel.

Fold strips of yellow linen one cm in along both long sides, and ends; then fold in half again, press and edge stitch in place, sandwiching the raw edges inside the strip.

Carefully un-pick the stitches in the side seams within the channel area. Using a large safety pin, thread one of the yellow strips through the gap on one side seam, work it through the channel, exiting through the same gap. Repeat with the remaining strip through the opposite gap. Finally tie the strips through the pink loops at the base of the bag.

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

Length (knitted panel only): 31cm
Width: 33cm