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arisaigsamuscinxiajosephineblackberryrevolutionlacey
leaves in reliefbloomellaflorahipsterfalling leavesbubby
edgarastrodomepumpkinstit bitsyorick

I've always secretly appreciated the fanny pack but rejected its utter lack of fashion. Enter the hipster pouch -- functional enough to hold keys, cell phone, ID, and lipstick; Hip enough for even the coolest kitties. This is an ideal project for learning the Intarsia technique, as the felting process will even out any inconsistencies in tension. The flap is knit back and forth, then stitches are cast on for the front of the bag, and the bag is knit in the round on two circular needles down to a three-needle bind off. The belt is picked up and knit to just the right length, and felting gives it the sturdiness it needs. Homemade fimo buttons ensure a funky, matching flair and make the belt adjustable for bulky or fitted clothes, while the intarsia initial (or star) personalizes it that much more. Three skeins of yarn makes two hipster pouches and four skeins makes three, so spread the love and experiment with colors!

model: Jacey Boggs photos: Bill Boggs

SIZE
one
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Before Felting
Pouch: H 4.5 inches x W 8.5 inches
Flap: H 7 inches x W 9.5 inches
Belt: W 1.5 inches

After Felting
Pouch: H 3.5 inches x W 8 inches
Flap: H 5.25 inches x W 8 inches
Belt: W 1 inch

 

MATERIALS

Lamb's Pride Worsted [85% wool, 15% mohair; 190yds/173m per 113g/4oz. skein]; 1 skein each color:
[MC] M-175 Bronze Patina
[CC1] M-191 Kiwi
[CC2] M-11 Orange you Glad

2 24-inch US #9/5.5mm circular needles
Stitch marker
4 buttons, 3/4"
Tapestry needle
Washing detergent
Washing machine

GAUGE
19 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch before felting
 
PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

Intarsia
When working color work in Intarsia, different sections of each row are worked with different colors. For this pattern, it is necessary to use a different ball of yarn for each area of color. When switching from one color to the next, drop the color you have been knitting with, and bring the yarn for the next color up under the yarn of the previous color before you continue knitting. This will twist the 2 yarns around each other. It is very important to do this; if you do not wrap the yarns in this way, the areas of color will not be joined, and you will have holes in your work.

In preparation for working in Intarsia, it is a good idea to make several smaller balls of each of the yarns that will be used.

Cable Cast On and Knitted Cast On:
These are the recommended cast on methods for this pattern. If you are unfamiliar with these techniques, instructions can be found here:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/

http://knitting.about.com/library/ncablecaston.htm

Working with Two Circular Needles:
Part of this project is worked in the round using 2 circular needles. If you are unfamiliar with this techniques, instructions may be found here.

Three-Needle Bind Off
Hold both pieces of knitting with right sides together.
*Insert needle into first st on front needle and first st on back needle, and knit them together. Repeat this for the next st on the front and back needles. Draw the first st worked over the second st.*

Repeat from * to * until all sts have been bound off. Break yarn and draw through remaining st.

High Hip Circumference
This pouch is intended to be worn approx. 3 inches below your waist. Decide where you would like to wear the pouch, then measure yourself at this location. This measurement will be used to determine the length of the belt for this pouch.

DIRECTIONS

Flap
Using Cable Cast On or Knitted Cast On, CO 24 sts using CC1, 4 sts using MC, 4 sts using CC1, 4 sts using MC, 4 sts using CC1. 40 sts.

Cont as follows, working colors as set to form vertical stripes:

K 3 rows.

Next Row [WS]: K20, yo, k2tog, k to end.

K 2 rows.

Beg with a RS row, work 4 rows in stockinette st.

Next Row [RS]: Work 20 sts in patt as set, work first row of chosen chart over next 16 sts, k4.

Work next 23 rows in patt as set, working through rem 23 rows of chosen chart.

Work 5 more rows in stockinette st. Break yarn.

Belt Slit
Next Row [RS]: Using MC, k4, place rem sts on hold on other circular needle.
Work 5 more rows in stockinette st, break yarn.

Rejoin yarn to held sts with WS facing. Work 6 rows in stockinette st; CO 36 sts at end of last row. Place new sts on one circular needle, place rem 40 sts (from both sides of slit) on other circular needle, place marker and join to begin working in the round. 76 sts.

Round 1: K40, p36.
Round 2: K42, m1, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2.
Repeat these 2 rounds once more. 80 sts.

Work Round 1 once more, then work in stockinette st until work measures 4.5 inches from beg of section worked in the round.

Turn work inside out and work Three-Needle Bind Off, joining sts on first needle to sts on second needle.

Belt
Place pouch so that back of pouch is facing, with flap open. Using MC, pick up and k 9 sts along right side of flap, at edge of MC band between CC1 section of flap and top of pouch; pick up 3 sts for every 2 rows.

Row 1: K6, bring yarn between needles to front of work, sl rem 3 sts to right needle.
Repeat this row until belt measures 6 inches longer than High Hip Circumference (see Pattern Notes). The slipped sts at each edge of the belt will form a border similar to I-Cord, which will help prevent the belt from stretching.

Buttonhole Row: K4, yo, k2tog, bring yarn between needles to front of work, sl rem 3 sts to right needle.

Work 4 more rows in patt. BO all sts.

 
FINISHING

Weave in ends, using ends near buttonholes, belt slit and belt join to reinforce these areas. Do not reinforce buttonholes and belt slit directly at the edges of these openings, or they will tighten too much during felting; instead, reinforce about 1 st away from the edges of the openings.

Felt
Fill washing machine half full with hot water. Add a small amount of detergent, something to provide friction (ie. a pair of jeans) and the pouch. Run wash cycle, checking every 10 minutes until bag is felted just past the point where stitch definition is no longer visible, and bag approximately reaches "After Felting" measurements given above. If the rinse cycle has not yet run, rinse pouch thorougly, using water of the same temperature as the wash cycle.

Gently squeeze out excess water and lay pouch flat on a towel. Shape pouch by gently pulling/pushing. Let dry completely.

Buttons
For an extra bit of fun, match the colors of your hipster pouch with fimo clay and make 4 perfectly sized and matched buttons. Bake in 200 degree oven for 25 minutes.

After pouch is dry, sew 3 buttons evenly spaced on inside of flap above top of pouch (see above). Sew one button near bottom of pouch, opposite buttonhole on flap. If your buttonholes felted a bit tight, use a small pair of scissors to open them.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Jacey Boggs lives in Baltimore with her partner, the cutest three year old in the world, two spinning wheels, a helluva lot of fiber, and never enough time. She's obsessed with avocados, brightly painted walls, and making a yarny living.

You can read about all three at her blog and yarnstore!