Past workshop: Draw-string pouch

In June, we will hold a workshop for knitting draw string pouches on Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 17. We will meet in the Third Floor Lounge of the GSU. If you intend to join the workshop, please email buknits@bu.edu no later than Monday, June 7. Once I know how many people will be at the workshop, I will find a meeting space.

This is an easy project for beginners, and a fun way to use up scrap yarn. Little knitted bags also make good gifts.

With this project you will learn:

how to cast on and knit in the round
how to do an eyelet row (includes the elusive yarnover)
how to do a three-needle bind off
how to knit an I-cord (so fun!)
how to make fringes (optional)

For the Drawstring Pouch, you will need the following:

2.5 ounces, or 150 yards, of worsted weight yarn
a circular needle 16” in length, in whatever size the yarn label recommends
two double pointed needles, in the same size as the circular needle
a tapestry needle
a crochet hook (if you want to add fringes to the end of the drawstring)

The finished bag weighs approximately 2.5 ounces, and uses approximately 145 yards of yarn.

This is a good project for leftover yarn, but if you want to acquire a new yarn for the project, get at least 150 yards of a worsted weight. I recommend you make your first bag with worsted weight yarn. Bear in mind that the skinnier the yarn, the longer it takes to knit. Once you make one pouch, you will understand how to adapt the pattern to make a larger or smaller pouch. But to start things off, make life easy and use worsted.

The sample pouch that I made was knitted with Encore Plymouth Worsted Weight yarn using a size 8, 16” circular needle and two size 8 dpns for the I-cord.

Click here to view a list of retailers in Massachusetts selling Plymouth Encore.

Click here to view the specifications on the Plymouth Encore.

Remember that if you buy a yarn that is in a hank, you have to wind it before you can start knitting.

The pattern is here: Drawstring bag

Your Fearless Leader,

Samantha