Romanesco Bag

The Romanesco Bag is worked from the bottom up in a spike-stitch pattern, where the spikes are formed on the inside (**WS**) of your work. The base is worked in a linen stitch, then stitches are picked up and knitted along the base for the body of the bag. The body of the bag is worked in the round in the spike-stitch pattern. At the top, stitches are bound off in the middle, while the stitches on each side are worked into the handle. The handle is then worked flat in the spike-stitch pattern and finished afterwards. The pattern also contains optional sewing instructions for the lining. **Sizes:** Mini (Large) **Measurements:** Width: 11 (16) cm \[4¼ (6¼)”] Length: 21.5 (27) cm \[8½ (10½)”] Height: 18.5 (21.5) cm \[7¼ (8½)”] Handle Length: 40 (90) cm \[15¾ (35½)”] **Gauge:** 26 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm \[4 x 4”] in spike-stitch pattern on 5.5mm [US 9] needles. 28 sts x 42 rows = 10 x 10 cm \[4 x 4”] in linen stitch on 5.5mm [US 9] needles. **Needles:** 5.5mm \[US 9] circular knitting needles (40-80 cm \[16-32’’] in length). **Materials:** Suggested Yarn: 2 (3) skeins of Cascade 220 (100% Wool, 100g=200m \[219yds]). Or approx 400 (620) m \[437 (678) yds] of a similar Worsted-weight yarn. Alternative yarn suggestions are Peruvian Highland Wool by Filcolana or 100% Wool Worsted by Paintbox Yarns. Lining materials (optional): cotton fabric, sewing needle, thread, heavy/firm iron-on interfacing. Fabric size for lining (optional): 60 x 70 (70 x 100) cm \[23½ x 27½ (27½ x 39¼)”]. **Notions:** 4 stitch markers, including 1 BOR marker, stitch holders/scrap yarn, tape measure, scissors, tapestry needle (to weave in ends). **Techniques:** Knitted cast-on, knitting flat, knitting in the round, knit, purl, slipping stitches, double increasing, double decreasing, picking up stitches, Kitchener stitch, reading charts, applied I-cord, binding off, hand sewing. **Bag Colours:** All bag samples were knitted in Cascade 220. The dark green mini bag is shown in the colour *'Forest Green (8267)'* The lime green large bag is shown in the colour *'Olive Oil (9566)'* The reddish mini bag is shown in the colour *'Pumpkin Spice (2453)'* The light-yellow mini bag is shown in the colour *'Pear (8412)'* If you have any questions or comments about the pattern, you can email me at studioranti@gmail.com.