Springorchid Files

Use this Aran cable bag knitting pattern to learn how to knit cables and create a small tote bag.

The central panel is made up of a wild oak cable. It is basically four 3-stitch cables criss-crossing each other. Both written instructions and chart for the cable panel are included.

It is knitted in the round. The wild oak panel can be repeated on both sides or just one side. If you are new to cable knitting, practise knitting the wild oak cable until you get the hang of it.

Materials

• 1 hank of Wool of the Andes Bulky Yarn from Knitpicks (color: Storm). I like the feel of the Peruvian wool on my needles and it blooms slightly after washing. You can use bulky yarn from any brand but wool is probably best.
• 4mm or 16-inch circular needles (If you do not have a 16-inch cable needle, you can use the 40 or 47-inch ones and use the magic loop technique to knit in the round.)
• A sewing needle for weaving in the ends
• Stitch markers
• 2 cable needles

Body

Cast on 84 stitches.

Cast on 84 stitches. (Use the long tail cast on and leave a tail slightly longer than the circular needles. It will be used to seam the bag.)

Join in the round to knit 2 rows. Place a distinctive stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round. Knit 42 stitches and place another stitch marker.

The instructions in the square brackets are for the wild oak cable central panel. It is flanked by a 2×3 rib. The cabling work are in the even rows. Once you have knitted the 2 rows, start on Row 1.

Row 1: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P2, K3, P4, K6, P4, K3, P2], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat for the other side.

Row 2: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P2, K3, P4, slip 3 to a cable needle and hold at front, k3, k3 from cable needle, P4, K3, P2], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P2, slip 3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time.

Row 5: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P3, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, P3], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time

Row 6: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P3, S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P3], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time

Row 7: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P4, K6, P4, K6, P4], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time.

Row 8: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P4, S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, K3, K3 from cable needle. P4. S3 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3, K3 from cable needle. P4], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time.

Row 9: Repeat Row 7  

Row 10: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P3, S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P3], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time.

Row 11: Repeat Row 5

Row 12: P1, K3, P2, K3, [P2, S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2, S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2], K3, P2, K3, P1. Shift marker. Repeat one more time.

Row 13: Repeat Row 1

Row 2 to 13 makes up one complete cable pattern.

Repeat Row 2 to Row 13 three more times. 

The chart and the legend are attached. Source: Canadan Living.

Shaping for the handles

The handles are basically 2 slits using casting off and casting on in the middle of the work.

I recommend watching this video by Roxanne Richardson: https://youtu.be/ZCV-3q3DEdM for a visual tutorial for the casting off technique.

To make it easier to see which stitch to KFB* and K2tog, mark out the 14^th stitch from each edge with stitch markers. (KBF* refers to Knit Front and Back)

Cast off Row: P1, K3, P2, K3, P2, K2, KBF, cast off 14 stitches, pass the last stitch to the left needle, K2tog, K2, P2, K3, P2, K3, P1. Repeat for the other side.

Cast on Row: P1, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, turn work, cable cast on 14 stitches, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, P1. Repeat for the other side.

After this, repeat Row 1 seven times. Bind off.

Making the slits larger

The slits might be too small for some people. They can be enlarged by increasing the cast off and cast on stitches.

The original division for the stitches per side is as follows:

14 stitches | 14 stitches | 14 stitches

To enlarge, divide as follows: 12 stitches | 18 stitches | 12 stitches or 10 stitches | 22 stitches | 10 stitches

Finishing

Sew up the bottom seam of the bag using back stitch or mattress stitch using the yarn from the long tail cast on.

Lining the bag is optional but I highly recommend it. So is blocking. See detailed instructions here.

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Happy knitting!