Wine Bottle Gift Bag v1.0

Materials: Worsted Weight Yarn- roughly 50 grams
Needles: Size US 8 or size needed to reach gauge (DPN's to start, switching to straights for the neck)
Gauge: 18sts x 24 r = 4"x4"

CO 6 stitches and join the round.

Base:
Knit 1 round.
*K1, YO, K1* repeat to end - 9 sts.
Knit 1 round.
*K1, KFB, K1* repeat to end - 12 sts.
Knit 1 round.
*K1, KFB, KFB, K1* repeat to end - 18 sts.
*KFB, K4, KFB* repeat to end - 24 sts.
*K2, KFB, KFB, KFB, KFB, K2* repeat to end - 36 sts.
*KFB, K10, KFB* repeat to end - 42 sts.
Knit 2 rounds.

Bottle:
row 1: k1,p1,*k5,p1; repeat to last 4 stitches; k4
row 2: *k1,p1,k1,yo,sl1,k2tog,psso,yo; repeat to end
row 3&4: repeat row 1

Basically, you have a k1,p1,k1 rib then the lace pattern on row two, all other rows are k1,p1,k1 rib then k3. The rib should be unbroken to the top of the bag.

When you reach the desired length to hit the neck of the bottle (usually about 8 inches) you switch to the neck instructions bellow. It is suggested to put in a lifeline or waste yarn and slip the project onto your intended bottle to check it. I tend to knit to gauge and the yarn I was using has 24 rows to 4 inches, or 6 rows to the inch. I placed my opening at 8 inches, which means I did about 48 rows before testing the fit and it was near perfect.

Here is a rough chart of the above pattern:



^ =Knit
- =Purl
o =Yarn Over
3 =Sl1,k2tog,psso

Neck:  (This part is knit flat)
--You have an option here, if you can backwards knit, I suggest you do, if not you will turn your work and purl the knit stitches as per usual.

k2tog, k1 to last two stitches, k2tog

Four rows of this should be fine.
Check to make sure you have an even number of stitches.


RS row 1: *yo,k2tog; repeat to end. (this is the row the ribbon will go through)
WS row 2: p round (if knitting backwards, k round)
RS row 3: *k2, m1; *repeat to end
WS row 4: *P2, m1; *repeat to end (if knitting backwards, *k2, m1; *repeat to end)

Repeat rows 3 and 4 five times or until you think your ruffles are big enough.

Bind off a bit tight to encourage the ruffling.
Put a plastic bag over your bottle, wash or dampen the finished project, and place knitted bag over bottle in a secure and breezy area to set. When it is dry, work your ribbon into the yarn over holes, pull tight and tie a bow in the front of the bottle.

A Yarn Standoff

It has been some time since my last post. You might wonder why that is.
Personally, I blame the warm weather.

Usually I am a sit at home kind of person. I used to have plans every two weeks, but nothing more frequent.

Now that summer is here, I seem to be very busy. Busy enough that even when my knitting urge over rides my "too warm" wariness, I still don't get a chance to sit down with the needles and work.

I have dinners with friends, Beer Judge program classes, meetings with friends, birthday parties I end up missing, festival events, holidays and sometimes I just want some sleep. I have been squeezing housekeeping in bit by bit as I don't seem to be home often enough to get any cleaning done.

Just the other day, when I did not have to work, I got up at 8:30am just so I could get the laundry started. I figured it would be a great time to work on a new bottle cozy (requested by a friend). After much time doing math and plotting out my stitches, I gather everything and went to the laundromat. Where I promptly found that I did not grab the right needles.

Phooey.

Add to that the fact that my roommate decided that my yarn was "messy" and took the initiative to stick it all in large black tubs. Which means that I can't see my yarn. I can sit at my computer and not see a bit of it.

I can't see it and it is quite warm out and a rare but very active time in my life....

Well, I suppose I am just trying to apologize for this slow down on the blog.
Eventually the pendulum will swing and I will end up alone at home and with no where to go. It will be just me and the yarn (and the A/C on full blast).

So go out and enjoy the nice parts of summer. I know I am.