Yolanda

Made in beautiful alpaca yarn and then felted in the washing machine, Yolanda by Helen Ardley is a pretty yet sturdy bag. It is knitted in simple stocking stitch and embellished with gorgeous sequins and beads to add that little extra sparkle. This quick knit would make a great gift so why not start stockpiling for Christmas now? Choose pink shades and bright beads for little girls or play it cool with our tonal blue version.

BAG
With 5.5mm needles and yarn A cast on 108 sts
❑ Row 1: k
❑ Row 2: p
These two rows form st st
❑ Cont in st st until work meas 20cm
Change to yarn B
❑ Cont in st st until work meas 30cm from cast on edge
❑ Cast off

With 5.5mm needles and yarn B cast on 12 sts
❑ Work in st st until strap meas 22cm
Change to yarn A
❑ Work in st st until Strap meas 98cm
Change to yarn B
❑ Work in st st until Strap meas 120cm
❑ Cast off

Using 5.5mm needles and yarn B cast on nine sts
❑ Starting with a k row work eight rows in st st
❑ Next row: k2tog, k5, k2tog. Seven sts
❑ Next row: p
❑ Next row: k2tog, k1, yfwd, (k2tog) twice. Five sts
❑ Next row: p
❑ Next row: k2tog, k1, k2tog. Three sts
❑ Next row: p
❑ Next row: sl 1, k2tog, psso
❑ Fasten off

Sew tab fastening to top back of bag. Sew in all loose ends. Put bag in washing machine at 40ºC (see knitwise). When washed pull into shape and dry. Using photo as a guide embroider front of bag with yarn left over from knitting. Use tonal sequins and beads to decorate front. Sew button to top of bag to correspond with buttonhole on tab fastener.

With RS tog sew up side seam at centre back and along bottom of bag using mattress stitch (see p90). Sew strap to inside corners of bag

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

Before felting: 27cm x 30cm
After felting: 22cm x 24cm