Grapevine Bag

Grapevine Bag by Barbara Pott

What is Being Made

The Grapevine Bag is an advanced knitting project designed by Barbara Pott as part of her Celtic Botanical Knits collection. This finished bag measures 10 inches wide by 10 inches tall, excluding the handles, and features a decorative botanical theme with grape and leaf motifs. The bag includes a fabric lining and is constructed using multiple knitting and crochet techniques to create dimensional embellishments.

Primary Techniques and Construction Methods

This project combines several advanced fiber arts techniques to achieve its botanical aesthetic. The main bag body is created using the blackberry stitch, a textured stitch pattern that creates visual interest and depth. The pattern involves strategic increases and decreases in stitch count, which is intentional to the design rather than an error. Beyond the primary knitting, the design incorporates crochet work for specific elements, demonstrating cross-craft integration. The bag is constructed with a fabric lining, requiring basic sewing skills to complete the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The primary stitch used throughout the bag body is the blackberry stitch, worked over the main knitted fabric. This textured stitch creates the characteristic dimensional surface of the finished bag. The pattern uses seed stitch as the gauge reference, indicating this stitch may be used in portions of the construction. Crochet stitches are employed for creating the tendrils and grape embellishments, adding fine detail work to the botanical design.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

• Main Bag Yarn: 450 yards of worsted weight yarn in purple. The photographed sample was made using 3 skeins of Lanaloft Worsted Weight in Rose Marquee.
• Leaf Yarn: 1 skein each of light green and dark green worsted weight yarn for the leaf motifs.
• Accent Yarn: Contrasting purple yarn for the grape embellishments.
• Needles: One pair of size 9 needles for the main bag body; one pair each of size 4 and size 2 needles for the detailed leaf work.
• Crochet Hook: Size F crochet hook for creating the tendrils and grapes.
• Additional Supplies: Stitch holders for managing stitches during construction; 1 yard of fabric for the bag lining.

Gauge and Sizing Information

The pattern specifies a gauge of 15 stitches and 28 rows over seed stitch using size 9 needles. The finished dimensions are 10 inches wide by 10 inches tall, excluding handles. The pattern notes that the bag size may be altered by using smaller or larger needles, allowing for customization based on gauge adjustments.

Difficulty Level

This project is classified as advanced, reflecting the complexity of the blackberry stitch, the integration of multiple needle sizes, the inclusion of crochet elements, and the overall construction techniques required. Knitters should have solid foundational skills before undertaking this design.