What’s better than knitting while sunbathing? We’ve put together a very practical step-by-step tutorial for you knitting lovers: a pretty knitting bag with dividers. Perfect to bring your knitting in the subway or even better: on holiday, by the sea. Your knitting bag will be your best friend this summer. After all, who said you could only knit in the winter or sitting on the couch? The dividers will allow you to keep your projects separated (because why have one ongoing project when you can have twelve? #superwoman) or to separate the different yarns of a single project.

For those who do not feel up to making the dividers, simply skip Step 5 and the steps that explain how to make the dividers.

Level of difficulty: Intermediate. Basic sewing machine skills

Time requiered: About 2 hours

Material:

• Patterned cotton: 1 m (39 in)
• Canvas: 1 m (39 in)
• Sew on male velcro: 1 m (39 in)
• 2 sets of plastic press studs
• Female velcro, by the meter: 25 cm (10 in)
• Peltex interfacing: 25 cm (10 in)
• Scissors or a rotary cutter

 You will also need an iron and a sewing machine.

To make the knitting bag:

STEP 1: Cut out the following pieces:

• 4 pieces of canvas (2 for the front and 2 for the back)
• 2 pockets made in the patterned cotton
• 2 rectangles, 50 cm x 23 cm (19 3/4 in x 9 in) of velcro fabric
• 2 rectangles, 21 cm x 23 cm (8 1/4 in x 9 in) of Peltex interfacing to make the dividers
• 4 rectangles, 22 cm x 25 cm (8 5/8 in x 9 7/8 in) of patterned cotton to make the dividers
• 4 bands, 23 cm long (9 in) of male velcro

Assemble the outer part of the bag

STEP 2: To make the outer pockets, fold the pocket pieces in two and sew them to the front and back parts. Make a bar tack stitch or a straight stitch, in the center of the pocket, to make sure the pocket does not open too wide.

STEP 3: Assemble the front and back parts and sew them together on the sides and at the bottom.

STEP 4: Sew the bottom corners and turn the bag inside out.

Assemble the inner part of the bag

STEP 5: Attach the female velcro rectangles on the front and back pieces. If you are using a home sewing machine or a very fragile machine, sew the piece 1 cm away from the side, this will prevent having to sew too many layers of fabric in the corners.

STEP 6: Put the front and back pieces together and sew them on the sides and at the bottom.

STEP 7: Sew the bottom corners.

Assemble the bag

STEP 8: Slide the outer bag in the inner bag, right sides together.

STEP 9: Sew the top of the bag, leaving a straight opening approximately 10 cm long, which will allow you to turn the bag inside out. We recommend you make the opening on one side of the longer handle, sewing the curved parts and corners: this will make it easier to topstitch the opening in Step 10.

STEP 10: Turn the bag inside out by pulling out the fabric through the opening. Be patient and make sure you pull out all the fabric. It isnt’t easy, but you’ll be proud of the result 😉 Once the bag is set up right, topstitch the opening shut. Keep topstitching all around the top part of the bag to create an even finish.

STEP 11: Set the plastic or metal press studs on the handles’ corners.

Making the dividers

STEP 12: Stick one of the cotton rectangles on the Peltex, leaving a 1 cm seam allowance all around. If you are using double-sided Peltex make sure to protect your ironing board with cotton or a sheet of parchment paper. Iron on the cotton side, not the Peltex side.

STEP 13: Sew one fabric rectangle with the fabric/Peltex rectangle, right sides together. Leave an opening to turn the fabric inside out.

STEP 14: Turn the fabric inside out and topstitch all around to close the opening.

STEP 15: Sew a piece of velcro, length-wise, at each tip, on the same side.

 STEP 16: Fold the tip of the velcro piece, width-wise and make stitches in the center. Do the same at the other tip. The piece will be shaped like a lower case « i ».

To make more dividers, repeat steps 12 through 16.

There you go! Your knitting bag is done!

Do not forget that we love to see your creations. Feel free to share them with us through social media, using the hashtag #clubtissus.

See you soon!