Cute and Quick Colorwork Heart Drawstring Bag {#CCBG Challenge}
Last Updated on December 22, 2018 by lydiaf1963
This cute and quick drawstring bag is just the ticket to hold small items like earplugs. It was so much fun to make I worked a second one to hold my loose change! These little bags are just the thing for gift giving…or for stashing your own treasures.
If you’re a beginning knitter, don’t be intimidated! This project was a challenge for me as well. It’s my first stranded colorwork project. I’ve worked with double knit before and I love the complexity. But for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how to make the holes for the drawstring eyelets. So I gave up on the idea of making a double knit drawstring bag (for the moment) and turned to stranded colorwork, something I hadn’t done yet.
I figured out my design and started knitting…and quickly learned that knitting from the top down requires the motif to be charted upside down! Oh well, making and correcting mistakes is an important part of knitting…at least it’s not a large project!
Stranded colorwork requires you to carry the color you’re not using along the back as you knit. You’ll need to take care not to pull the extra yarn (called a “float”) too tightly. There are various ways to hold the yarn, I ended up holding a color in each hand. Continental style isn’t my favorite technique, but I can manage. Since I “flick” the yarn with my right hand as opposed to “throw” I was able to find a smooth rhythm and didn’t have to stop and start except to check the pattern. See this video for an explanation of how to hold the two yarns and use whichever method is most comfortable for you.
After I made the first bag, I could see that some of the floats were too long and may cause some snagging. See this video for an explanation of how to secure the “floats.” It seems awkward at first, but reduces the chance the contents of the pouches will get caught on the work.
More advanced knitters will find this a quick and easy project and perhaps substitute their own motif for the hearts. I was able to make the chart and save the copy used in the post at Stitch Fiddle.
IF YOU PREFER, CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN
Materials
- Sport weight, Aran or DK weight yarn, two colors. The dominant (main) color is abbreviated MC and the contrasting color is CC.
- Size 4mm DPN needles or long cabled needle for magic loop
- Stitch marker(s)
Skills and Stitches Needed
- Cast on (CO), Knit (K) and Purl (P) in the round
- Yarn Over (YO)
- Slip, knit, pass (SKP) Slip a stitch purlwise, knit the next stitch then pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you’ve just knit
- Knit 2 together (K2Tog)
- Chart reading: To work a chart in the round begin at the bottom right corner and work your way across.
Let’s Get Started!
CO 48 stitches with MC and distribute over 3 needles (16 stitches on each). Tip: Use stitch markers to mark the sections if using magic loop.
Join to work in the round and use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
- Round 1 Knit around in MC
- Round 2 Purl around in MC
- Round 3 Knit around in MC
- Round 4 Purl around in CC
- Round 5 *YO, SKP* around in CC (this will make the eyelets for the drawstring)
- Round 6 Purl around in CC; take care not to miss the YOs from the last round. Check your stitch count…there should be 48.
- Rounds 7 and 8 Knit around in MC
Begin Working Chart:
This chart only shows the repeat of 16 stitches. You will need to repeat the pattern for each set of stitches. If you haven’t already done so, arrange the stitches so each needle contains a set of 16 and it will make life much easier for you. (If using magic loop, make use of the stitch markers as mentioned above).
Written Directions for Chart:
- Rounds 9 and 10 Knit around in CC
- Round 11 For each set of 16 stitches: Knit 1CC, [1MC,3CC]x3, 1MC, 2CC
- Round 12 [3MC, 1CC]x4
- Round 13 [7MC, 1CC]x2
- Round 14 [7MC, 1CC]x2
- Round 15 1CC, 5MC, 3CC, 5MC, 2CC
- Round 16 2CC, 3MC, 5CC, 3MC, 3CC
- Round 17 3CC, 1MC, 7CC, 1MC, 4CC
- Rounds 18 and 19 Knit in CC. You’re finished with the CC at this point, so cut it and leave a long tail to weave in.
- Round 20 Purl in MC (Use MC for remaining rounds).
- Rounds 21 and 22 Knit
Begin Decreases
- Round 23 K6, K2Tog around
- Round 24 K5, K2Tog around
- Round 25 K4, K2Tog around
- Round 26 K3, K2Tog around
- Round 27 K2, K2Tog around
- Round 28 K1, K2Tog around
Cut thread, leaving a long tail. Thread through the stitches on the needles. Pull tight to close the hole and weave in all the ends.
Make an I-Cord, crochet a chain, or use a ribbon to make a drawstring. Weave through the eyelets on the top.
This is just the second pattern I’ve written for anyone else to use, and what makes sense to me might not to you, so please leave me a comment if you have any questions and I’ll correct or clarify as needed.
It’s February, so naturally, the Creative Craft Bloggers Group is all about HEARTS for our monthly challenge. You’re going to love the projects this talented group of bloggers has put together for you. Be sure to follow the links below to drop by and say hello 🙂
From the Top:
Cute and Quick Drawstring Bag from Life Beyond the Kitchen
Crochet Hearts Pillow from 5 Little Monsters
Paper Heart Valentine Tree from Home Crafts by Ali
Patchwork Heart Table Runner from Leaves and Stitches
Be My Valentine Jewelry Set from Tryit-Likeit
I love the size. I’ve never knitted a pattern before. I might have to give this a go!
Thanks, Janet! There was a little cussing in the beginning, but now I feel like I can handle more complicated patterns 🙂
It turned out so nice! I love the size of the bag, and the pattern is adorable. I’ve never tried knitting, but will pin this for the future when I learn!
Thanks for pinning Aliza 🙂
That is very cute. I have a bad habit of tossing my earbuds in my purse (AKA the great abyss) and then when I need them they magically come out in a giant tangled mess. This could really help me out!
What a cute little drawstring bag. I could find so many different uses for this cute little bag.
It fits perfectly in my jacket pocket. Thanks!
These are so cute! I don’t have the knitting skill but my Memaw is always knitting, I’ll have to show this cute project to her! She made us all hats for Christmas this year!
Memaw knits are awesome!
I need to make at least 10 of these- they are so cute!
I don’t know how fast you can knit, but I can make one in less than two hours. Thanks!
What a cute bag!
This little bags are so cute! I bet my girls would love to have their own!
My daughter would have loved one when she was little. Now she likes me to make boot toppers and cowls 🙂
These are adorbs and this is just the beginner project to get started. AWESOME!
It’s definitely perfect for a beginner, if you’re comfortable working in the round and ready to add a little complexity.
These drawstring bags are adorable! I love how you made them look like the classic ski hats!
It was fun, thanks!
I’ve never knitted more than a few rows before giving up, so this is like a HUGE accomplishment in my eyes! How feasible would it be to put a lining inside to prevent the snags? Is it too small to warrant that extra step?
You definitely could insert a liner, and many people do for larger projects. So far I haven’t had a problem but I’m just holding my earphones and a few coins 🙂
Oh my gosh! This is such a cute project!! I have always wanted to learn how to knit – maybe now is a good time! 🙂
This is such a cutie! what lovely idea. I have done a couple knitting and crocheting things. sometimes I feel I’m useless with those hooks and sometimes I feel like I can make an amigurumi. It’s hard for me but this looks like something I would be able to make! Thanks!!!
That is super cute! My girlfriend would love to make something like that.
I am not going to lie, I am usually really REALLY intimidated by knitting projects but you have put my mind at ease…I think I am finally ready to try, and I’m pretty certain that this adorable drawstring bag will be my first knitting project!! Wish me luck!
Please let me know if I can help.
Those are so cute! I am absolutely determined to learn how to knit this year. Do you have any tips for beginners?
YouTube is a great resource. Find a channel you like and watch. I like Very Pink, New Stitch a Day and Joanne’s Web. On Facebook there’s a group called Knitting4Knewbies run by Kate McCullough a very patient teacher. She has a set of projects available for download that will help you build and improve on your skill set. Like any hobby it can be expensive when you get started because you have to purchase the equipment but it won’t be long before you’re looking at someone’s knit sweater or hat and understanding how it was constructed. Have fun!
I’ve done a little knitting, but have never knitted in patterns. This bag is adorable. I think it would be a sweet gift!
I’ve done counted cross stitch and needlepoint which was helpful when I started knitting patterns. Thanks!
These are adorable! I wonder if I could truck my left hand into cooperating long enough to make my own haha. I always tell people I crochet instead of knitting because my left hand doesn’t follow orders
It’s weird because I crochet with my left hand and knit with the right hand dominant. I wonder if it has something to do with how I learned to hold the yarn for crochet? They say right handed crocheters do better with the continental method because the yarn is held in the left hand. Whatever works!