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My first attempt at "Extreme Knitting"
Okay this is my first attempt at multi-strand (or 'Extreme') knitting - I dont work to patterns, but you will be able to duplicate the bag easily - I'm pretty much a novice, so if I can do it, anyone can!

It will be a much quicker project if you have a sewing machine to do your hemming for you, but not impossible to do by hand.

Posted by Hachidori Published See Hachidori's 14 projects »
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  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 1
    Step 1

    Using what was left of 7 different wool skeins - some baby wool, some merino, and some normal cheap wool...

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 2
    Step 2

    Using very chunky knitting needles, I used the 7-strands and cast on 15 stitches, worked 24 rows of moss stitch, then 1 row of knit, and 1 row of purl (to create the 'fold' that forms the base of the bag), then 24 rows of moss, then cast off.

    But you can cast on as many as you like, and work as many rows as you like, just make sure you do a k row and a p row in the middle...

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 3
    Step 3

    You can see the 'fold' in the centre, which makes the whole thing MUCH easier to work with - so pretty essential.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 4
    Step 4

    You'll need some material to line the bag and strap to give it strength - I used some fat quarters from hobbycraft.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 5
    Step 5

    Through a process of pinning, folding and ironing, I made a double-layer of material which fit snugly within the square of my knitted bag - I hemmed the edges for neatness, and pinned and stitched the material onto the 'inside' of my bag. The stitching was just a kind of running stitch, and because the wool is so chunky, you go about half way into it, and it stays really secure, and your thread never needs to show through on the 'outside'...

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 6
    Step 6

    I also nipped in the corners, again, for neatnes... The fold happens really naturally, and soon I had the makings of my bag, all lined.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 7
    Step 7

    Same again for the strap - just cut and hemmed a piece of material to the length I needed. (The strap was cast on 5 stitches, and worked in moss stitch until I felt it was the length I wanted...)

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 8
    Step 8

    Pinned to the strap.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 9
    Step 9

    Stitched to the knitted strap.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 10
    Step 10

    Lining attached to the strap.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 11
    Step 11

    The bag is actually not sewn together, but latched together with bundles of 6 threads of wool between each of the 'purls' along the edges...

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 12
    Step 12

    So between the purl, push through the loop of your folded bundle of 6 threads...

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 13
    Step 13

    Push the loose end through the loop, and pull it tight... Do this up both sides of the bag. (I ended up with about 10 on each side)

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 14
    Step 14

    You can either leave the tassels as they are (trim them all to the same length) or plait them like I have - (this is why I used 6 strands - so they divide into 3 for braiding)... Trim the ends.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 15
    Step 15

    Attach the strap to the bag - I did this by plaiting a length of 6 strands, and then using the braid to 'sew' the bag to the strap.

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 16
    Step 16

    Here is the finished product! It feels really strong and secure for a knitted bag!

  • How to make a knit or crochet tote. Chunky Multi Strand Knit Bag - Step 17
    Step 17

    And for scale, you can see what it looks like... I think if I did it again, I would only cast on 3 for the strap, as it is a little thick, but thats just a matter of preference.

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Comments

Goreific
Goreific · Indianapolis, Indiana, US · 5 projects
Beautiful. I love the colors.
Reply
Hachidori
Hachidori · 14 projects
Hi Dragonfly,

I actually had these needles because they came in one of those "first knitting" projects for kids that my stepdaughter got last christmas - so check out hobbycraft or somewhere if you're itching to start early!!
Reply
Dragonfly
Dragonfly · Voorburg, South Holland, NL · 26 projects
I really want to make this bag but I can't find 2cm knitting needles Sad Now a store ordered the for me, but I still have to wait a week untill the order comes in.
Reply
Helga D.
Helga D. · Budapest, Budapest, HU · 30 projects
great tutorial, thanks for sharing!
Reply

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