Vivian

Bold accessories are a great way to bring a splash of colour to dull winter days. Vivian combines cables and tweed to add texture to a simple design, but the finished effect remains subtle after felting. This process also creates a stronger, thicker fabric which is perfect for bags and helps to stop them stretching after use. Any shades could be used for the stripes – try using different blues for a sleek, wintery feel.

NOTE: pattern is composed of 16 sts of cable with a smaller number of sts between the cables after each dec row

With yarn A, cast on 94 sts
❑ Row 1: p8, C4F, p4, C4F, * p10, C4F, p4, C4F, rep from * to last eight sts, p8
❑ Row 2: k8, p4, k4, p4, * k10, p4, k4, p4, rep from * to last eight sts, k8
❑ Row 3: p8, k4, p4, k4, * p10, k4, p4, k4, rep from * to last eight sts, p8
❑ Row 4: as Row 2
❑ Row 5: as Row 1
❑ Row 6: as Row 2
❑ Row 7: p6, * (T4B, T4F) twice, p6, rep from * to end
❑ Row 8: k6, * p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, k6, rep from * to end
❑ Row 9: p6, * k2, p4, C4F, p4, k2, p6, rep from * to end
❑ Row 10: as Row 8
❑ Row 11: p6, * k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, p6, rep from * to end
❑ Row 12: as Row 8
❑ Row 13: as Row 9
❑ Rep last four rows twice more
❑ Row 22: as Row 8
❑ Row 23: p6, * (T4F, T4B) twice, p6, rep from * to end
❑ Row 24 (dec row): k3, k2tog, k3, p4, k4, p4, * k4, k2tog, k4, p4, k4, p4, rep from * to last eight sts, k3, k2tog, k3. 89 sts
NOTE: These 24 rows form the cable pattern Change to yarn B
❑ Work 23 rows of cable pattern
❑ Row 24 (dec row): k3, k2tog, k2, p4, k4, p4 * k3, k2tog, k4, p4, k4, p4, rep from * to last seven sts, k3, k2tog, k2. 84 sts
Change to yarn C
❑ Work 23 rows of cable pattern Row 24 (dec row) k2, k2tog, k2, p4, k4, p4, * k3, k2tog, k3, p4, k4, p4 rep from * to last six sts, k2, k2tog, k2.
79 sts
Change to yarn D
❑ Work 23 rows of cable pattern Row 24 (dec row): k2, k2tog, k1, p4, k4, p4, * k3, k2tog, k2, p4, k4, p4, rep from * to last five sts, k2, k2tog, k1.
74 sts
Change to yarn E
❑ Work eight rows of pattern Row 9 (dec row): p1, p2tog, p1, k4, p4, k4, * p2, p2tog, p2, k4, p4, k4, rep from * to last four sts, p1, p2tog, p1. 69 sts
❑ Cont in cable pattern until Row 23 has been worked
❑ Row 24 (dec row): k1, k2tog, p4, k4, p4, * k1, k2tog, k2, p4, k4, p4, rep from * to last three sts, k2tog, k1.
64 sts
Change to yarn A
❑ Next row: p2, * k4, p4, rep from * to last six sts, k4, p2
❑ Next row: k2, * p4, k4, rep from * to last six sts, p4, k2
These last two rows form the rib
❑ Work a further two rows in rib
Change to yarn B
❑ Work five rows in rib
Change to yarn C
❑ Work a further four rows in rib
Change to yarn D
❑ Work a further five rows in rib
Change to yarn E
❑ Work a further four rows in rib
❑ Cast off

Place WS together and using mattress stitch sew along bottom and up both sides to start of rib. Put the bag into the washing machine and wash on 40°C cycle. Once dry turn the rib top over the straight part of the handle and sew into the inside of the bag. Do the same with the other side.

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Approx 32cm x 36cm excluding handles – this may vary depending on how much your fabric shrinks during felting