Pattern: Ozark Not Your Grandma's Carpet Bag

Carpet Bags have been around about as long as carpets. As the years have gone by, the style has remained but the material has changed. Ozark Opulent and Ozark Companion bring this classic style into the NOW with variegated colors and sculptured looking detail.

MATERIALS:
2 skeins Ozark Companion
1 skein Ozark Opulent
10 ½ circular needles (20 inch)
stitch holder or string
Stitch marker
Size N crochet hook
2 12 inch wooden handles
Tapestry needle

INSTRUCTIONS:
Working with 2 strands of Ozark Companion doubled, CO 60s
K 10 rows (g st)
P 1 row
PU 72 s around the base (6s side, 60s back, 6s side) You now have 132s on needle
PM and join for knitting in the round
K 2 rnds even
Break off 1 strand of yarn (remaining knitting will be done with one strand)
K in sts (knit all rnds) until you’ve used 1 skein, join 2nd skein
K 1 rnd
*k11, k2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd
k 5 rnds even
*k10, k2tog, repeat to end of rnd
k 5 rnds – this is the end of knitting in the round
k 51s and place on holder or string
BO 4
K 55 s, turn work
BO 4 s
K 10 rows and BO
Return to the 60 s on holder, place on needle
K 10 rows and BO
Weave in all loose ends.
(You will have left over Ozark Companion yarn. Save it for finishing work)
Felting/Fulling: Place piece in a cotton pillow case and pin closed. Place in washing machine with a pair of color fast jeans (adds friction). Set machine on low water setting and add a tiny bit of soap. Wash for 5 minutes using the hottest water and fastest agitation possible. Pull piece out and check it for sizing. This is a very hands on process as you’ll need to check the piece frequently (every couple of minutes) to make sure you get it the right size. You’ll only be lightly felting / fulling the bag, so it will only take about 8 – 10 minutes, but CHECK IT OFTEN! Machines are variable and so are felting times. When it’s the right size (I use the base of wooden handles as a sizing guide,) pin it back up in the pillow case and turn machine to the spin cycle and spin all the water out. Block to shape and air dry.
Finishing: Using tapestry needle and remaining Ozark Companion, stitch on wooden handles. Reserve approximately 3 yards of Ozark Companion for stitching on Ozark Opulent.
Using Ozark Opulent, crochet a single chain to desired length. This chain is the decorative pattern on the bag, so the more decoration you want, the longer your chain should be. I used about 2/3 of the skein of Ozark Opulent.
Lay chain out in a random pattern on the bag.
Using the Ozark Companion remaining from knitting the bag and the tapestry needle, tack the chain onto the bag (tacking down every other “link” of the chain.)

designed by Sarah Kohl for Ozark Handspun, November 2008

Printing Instructions: To print this pattern, click this link Ozark Not Your Grandmas Carpet Bag.pdf.