Things You'll Need:
- Bulky weight wool yarn, approximately 800 yards
- Size 17 circular knitting needle, 40 inches long
- Spare size 17 needles, circular or straight, your preference
- 4 stitch markers
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Step 1
Knit a gauge swatch. Your unfelted gauge should be approximately 2.5 stitches to an inch. Felt your swatch in the washer or by hand. Make sure you are happy with the final fabric. For a messenger bag, you want a rather densely felted fabric that will stand up to regular use.
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Step 2
Cast on 50 stitches. Knit 30 rows flat in garter stitch. Pick up 15 stitches along one short side, 50 stitches along your cast-on side and 15 stitches on the other short side. Place stitch markers at each of the 4 corners as you knit your first row.
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Step 3
Knit 45 rows in the round, knitting all stitches and slipping markers as you come to them. Add more rows to your messenger bag pattern, if you prefer for a taller bag.
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Step 4
Remove the beginning of round marker and cast off 50 stitches. This will form the front edge of the bag. You should still have 80 stitches on your needle. These will be the front flap and strap of your knit messenger bag.
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Step 5
Knit the next 15 stitches onto your spare size 17 needles. Knit every row flat in garter stitch until your strap is the desired length. Place these stitches onto a piece of scrap yarn or stitch holder.
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Step 6
Begin working on the knitted messenger bag flat. Work in stockinette stitch, knitting the first and last 5 stitches of every row to create a non-rolling edge. Your flap should be between 45 and 60 rows long, whichever you prefer. A shorter flap will leave some of the bag front showing when full, but a longer one may overhang a bit if the bag is empty. Knit all stitches on the last 5 rows for an even and flat border. Bind off the flap stitches.
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Step 7
Graft the live stitches at each end of the strap together or use a 3-needle bind off as you prefer.
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Step 8
Felt your knit messenger bag in a top-loading washing machine with a small amount of detergent and hot water. Watch the bag carefully to make sure you are happy with the end results of the felting process.
