Spectrum bag
Not just a bag but a shining statement of positivity, designed by Paula Green
■ ▼est Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK (100% wool, 100g/225m), 1 ball of each: Natural Cream (010), Citrus Yellow (229), Harbour Blue (746), Crimson Red (556), Pear Green (186), Zesty Orange (476), Thistle Purple (717)
■ A 3mm (US C/2 or US D/3) hook
■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook
■ 4 stitch markers
■ Lining fabric, 38x70cm
■ Sewing thread
TENSION
Rounds 1-6 of Panel measure 14x14cm (5 x5 in) using a 3.5mm hook or size needed to obtain correct tension
MEASUREMENTS
Bag measures 34x37cm (13 x14 in), excluding Handle
ABBREVIATIONS
spiked tr Yrh, insert hook into marked st 2 rounds below, yrh and pull loop up to height of current round, complete as standard tr st spiked corner (3 spiked tr, ch2, 3 spiked tr, ch1) into marked ch-2 sp 2 rounds below
NOTES
Bag is made up of two Panels. The Handle and Side Panel is worked from one Panel and joined to second Panel at the end. Change colours on ch-1 sp between 3-tr groups. Carry unused yarn across the WS of work, trapping it in sts as you work. Do not carry Natural Cream used for spiked corner sts of Panel; wind off smaller balls of yarn to use for each corner instead.
BAG
PANEL (MAKE 2)
Using a 3.5mm hook and Natural Cream, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout) (mark first st), 11tr into loop (mark fourth, seventh and tenth st), ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. [12 sts]
Round 2 (RS) Ch3, (2tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) into st at base of ch-3, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) into each marked st around (do not remove markers), ss to top of beg ch-3. [8 3-tr groups]
Round 3 Ss to ch-2 corner sp, ch2 (does not count as st throughout), *spiked corner into marked st below (move marker to ch-2 sp on Round 2), change to Crimson Red, (3tr, ch1) into ch-1 sp, change to Natural Cream; rep from * 3 times more, ss to top of beg spiked tr.
[12 3-tr groups]
Round 4 Ss to ch-2 corner sp, ch2, *spiked corner in marked ch-sp (move marker to ch-2 sp 1 round up), change to Crimson Red, (3tr, ch1) in each ch-1 sp across, change to Natural Cream; rep from * 3 times more, ss to top of beg spiked tr. [16 3-tr groups]
Rounds 5-14 As Round 4, replacing Crimson Red for Zesty Orange in Rounds 5-6,Citrus Yellow in Rounds 7-8, Pear Green in Rounds 9-10, Harbour Blue in Rounds 11-12, and Thistle Purple for Rounds 13-14.
[56 3-tr groups, or 236 sts including ch]
Fasten off all colours except Natural Cream.
Round 15 Ch3, *tr in each st and ch-1 sp to ch-2 corner sp, (2tr, 1dtr, 2tr) in ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ss to top of beg ch-3. [248 sts]
Round 16 Ch3, *tr in each tr to corner dtr, (2tr, 1dtr, 2tr) in corner dtr; rep from * around, ss to top of beg ch-3. [264 sts]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
RAINBOW BAND
With RS facing and using a 3.5mm hook, join Crimson Red into any dtr of Round 16.
Row 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as a st throughout), dc in each st to corner working final st into next dtr. [66 sts]
Join Zesty Orange into first dc.
Row 2 (RS) Ch1, dc in each st across.
Rows 3-8 As Row 2 using Citrus Yellow for Row 3, Pear Green for Row 4, Harbour Blue for Row 5, Thistle Purple for Row 6 and Natural Cream for Rows 7-8.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Repeat on second Panel.
HANDLE AND SIDE PANEL
Take one Panel and place markers on row ends of Row 1 of Rainbow Band. Use double strands of yarn on Handle and row ends of Rainbow Band, and single strand for sts on Panel. With RS facing and Rainbow Band pointing up, use a 3mm hook to join double strand of Crimson Red to top right-hand corner of Panel, ch140, ss into top left-hand corner of Panel. Round 1 (RS) Ch1, dc in each row end to next marker; working with single strand and carrying unused yarn, dc in bl of each st to next marker; working with 2 strands, dc in each row end, dc in each ch of Handle, ss to beg dc.
Change to double strand of Zesty Orange.
Round 2 (RS) Ch1, dc in each st to next marker; working with single strand, dc in each st to next marker; working with 2 strands, dc in each st to end, ss to top of beg dc.
Change to double strand of Citrus Yellow.
Rounds 3-6 As Round 2, using Citrus Yellow for Round 3, Pear Green for Round 4, Harbour Blue for Round 5, and Thistle Purple for Round 6.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
TO FINISH
Using Thistle Purple, whipstitch Round 6 of Side Panel to second Panel, sewing through both loops of Side Panel and bl only of second Panel. Fold lining fabric in half, sew a 1cm seam along two sides, leaving side opposite the fold open. Fold a 1cm seam to the outside around the top opening edge. Place lining inside Bag, just below Row 1 of Rainbow Band, pin in place and, once happy with position, sew to Bag.