Directions for Making a Backpack Purse
A backpack purse can be a handy thing when shopping in crowds or traveling. A handmade version can be unique, attractive and customized to suit individual needs. A good method for a creating a sturdy backpack is felting. Felting is a process for subjecting a knitted fabric of 100 percent wool to just the right amount of hot water and agitation to shrink the fabric until it is dense, thick and sturdy. This technique is also used for slippers, coats and bags.
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Things You'll Need
- U.S. 7 (4.5 mm) circular knitting needle 16 inches (40 cm) long
- 2 U.S. 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed knitting needles
- 1 toggle
- Small hole punch tool
- 1200 yards of 100 percent wool yarn
- 225 yards of 100 percent wool yarn in a contrasting color
Instructions
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Knitting
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1
Cast on 156 stitches with the main color on the circular needle. Join in the round and place a marker on the first stitch. Knit in stockinette stitch until the work measures 15 inches. Cast off all stitches. This is your main section.
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2
Cast on 40 stitches with the main color and the circular needle. Work back and forth in stockinette stitch until piece measures 17 1/2 inches ending with a right side row. Cast off. Make two. This is for the base and top flap.
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3
Cast on 11 stitches with the main color using the circular needle. Work back and forth in stockinette stitch.
Row 1 (right side row), knit 1, purl 1
Repeat knit 1, purl 1 until the last stitch, then knit 1.
Turn and repeat the last row (this is called the seed stitch) until the strap measures 27 inches. Cast off. Repeat to make two straps.
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4
Cast on 4 stitches with the main color using the double-pointed needles. This will be the toggle loop.
Row 1 -- Knit 4. *DO NOT TURN WORK.
Slide the work back to the beginning of the needle and knit 4. Repeat from until the work measures 15 inches. Cast off. (This is called making an I-cord).
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5
Felt the pieces by putting them in a top loading washing machine with a low water level. Use a Hot wash/cold rinse cycle for 5 to 15 minutes. Add a towel of a pair of jeans to add agitation to the knitted pieces. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. After one cycle, remove the pieces and measure for the amount of shrinkage. Felted straps should measure 1 1/2 inches x 23 inches long. The felted main section should measure 25 inches around and 11 1/4 inches high. The felted base and flap should each measure 6 3/4 inches wide and 13 inches long. Repeat the wash/rinse cycle until the measurements are close. Lay the felted pieces on a dry towel away from sun and heat, shape the pieces as desired and allow to air dry.
Finishing
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6
Cut the base piece into an oval 10 inches wide by five inches high. Pin to the bottom of the main section. With the contrasting color yarn, sew the pieces together using the blanket stitch. Make eight holes around the top edge of the bag for the drawstring 1 1/4 inches down from the top edge about 3 1/4 inches apart.
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7
Cut the Flap nine inches by 7 1/2 inches wide with an oval shape at the front and a straight edge at the back. Using the contrast color yarn, sew the flap to the back of the main section with a blanket stitch under the row of holes for the drawstring.
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8
Cut straps 24 inches long. Sew a blanket stitch up the sides of the straps with the contrasting yarn. Mark the center of the straps and the center of the main section. Sew the ends of the straps on either side of marked stitches at top of main section (under the drawstring holes) and four inches either side of the center back mark at the base. Trim the toggle loop to 11 inches long and sew to the flap in the center. Sew the toggle to main section under toggle loop.
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9
Cut 4 strands of main color yarn 95 inches long. Hold one end and twist the strands (with someone else's help) to the right until they begin to curl up. Fold the two ends together and tie in a knot so the strands will twist themselves together. Thread this through the drawstring holes.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Knitting Tension should be: 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.
Do not dry the felted pieces in the dryer and allow all pieces to dry thoroughly before sewing together.
Record the measurements of the pieces both before and after felting. Always do a test sample of the yarn before felting an entire project as different yarns may felt differently. Colorfastness can be affected by hot water.
