It's About Time! Chunky
Why the name? This design was first conceived way back in 2017 after I designed On The Tiles - a felted clutch bag knitted in The Grey Sheep Co’s Hampshire Chunky. The design's unusual stitch texture caught the attention of company owner Emma Boyles and the two women decided to collaborate.
The brief? To create a bag combining my eye for innovative construction and stitch with yarn reared, spun and dyed by Emma. Well, what with one thing and another, it’s taken almost exactly five years to launch this design which comes in two sizes; the large knitted in Hampshire DK doubled and this smaller version knitted in a single end of Hampshire DK. We’re really excited to share this design with you finally. It is about time, but we think it’s been worth the wait. Enjoy!
So how’s it made?
The bag begins with a provisional cast-on before knitting a narrow section of moss stitch stripes in rows. Stitches are then picked up down each side and across the cast on edge, which sets up for working the rest of the bag in the round. This forms a rectangular-shaped piece that, once grafted at the sides and felted (fulled), is interfaced with plastic mesh to keep it rigid and finished on the inside with a woven fabric lining.
This design was originally conceived to be a clutch, but I found some rather fantastic straps that allow you to turn it into a handbag. This is entirely optional.
The pattern for knitting the bag combines charted and written instructions. Finishing & Making Up instructions are written and supplemented with an illustrative tutorial for adding the strap. A Resources section also includes links to stockists for both bag straps and mesh.
Skill Level
Intermediate / Advanced
Finished Measurements
The finished bag measures 33 cm wide x 19 cm long x 4 cm deep (13 in wide x 7.5 in long x 1.5 in deep) after felting. Want something a bit smaller? Then check out the It’s About Time! DK version.
Materials - Yarn
This design was originally designed using a single end of The Grey Sheep Co Hampshire Chunky which is classed as Bulky / 12 ply / 7 wpi.
As this yarn has been discontinued you’ll need 345 m (377 yards) of an equivalent Chunky / Bulky weight yarn in three colours i.e. 115 m (125 yards) each of Cols 1, 2 & 3. But remember, it’s knitted using a SINGLE end of the yarn.
Alternatively, you may knit the bag in The Grey Sheep Co Hampshire DK, 115m / 60g (125 yards / 2oz) held double. In this case, you’ll need a total of 690 m (754 yards) or 230 m (251 yards) each of Cols 1, 2 & 3. Remember, in this case, the yarn is held double.
Yarn quantities are approximate and allow for test swatching and felting to achieve the stated gauge.
Needles
One pair 8.00 mm (US 11) needles
8.00 mm (US 11) interchangeable circular needle fitted with a 150 cm (59 in) long cable
120 cm (47 in) long interchangeable cable
Cable connector
8 mm crochet hook for cast-on (See pattern Notes)
Also needed
Small amounts of contrast colour yarn in the same weight for provisional cast-on
Stitch markers (or use small amounts of contrast yarn)
One large plastic cross stitch mesh (7 holes per inch) size 52cm x 33cm (20.5 inch x 13 inch) bag mesh. Click here for stockists info
One piece of co-ordinating lining fabric approx 35 cm x 50 cm
Matching sewing thread
Large pair of scissors
Darning needle for sewing in ends
Large feature button
Dressmaking pins
Sewing machine
Steam iron
Tape measure or ruler
Fabric or marker pen
For adding an optional bag strap
2 pieces of lining fabric 5 cm wide x 12 cm long (2 in wide x 4.75 in long)
One 3.8 cm wide x 135 cm long (1.5 in wide x 53 in long) replacement bag strap with clasp fastenings.
The bag shown uses this one from Oliver Bonas