Tartan Sunglasses Case

Tartan Sunglasses Case by Fiona Munro

What Is Being Made

The Tartan Sunglasses Case is a small knitted accessory designed to protect and store sunglasses. This finished project measures 3.5 inches (8 centimeters) in width and 7.5 inches (16.5 centimeters) in length, making it a compact and portable case suitable for everyday use or travel. The case features a traditional tartan pattern created through colorwork knitting techniques.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting project classified as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The primary construction method involves knitting in the round using double-pointed needles, which allows for seamless construction of the cylindrical case shape. The tartan pattern is achieved through stranded colorwork, a technique where multiple yarn colors are carried across the back of the work to create the distinctive plaid design.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern employs stockinette stitch as the primary stitch for the main body of the case. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, flat fabric with a characteristic V-pattern on the right side, providing an ideal canvas for the tartan colorwork to display clearly. The edging of the sunglasses case is worked in moss stitch, a textured stitch pattern created by alternating knit and purl stitches. The moss stitch edging is worked in Mustard (Colour C) and begins with Round 1: *K1, P1* repeated around, followed by Round 2: *P1, K1* repeated, creating a reversible, bumpy texture that frames the case.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern uses Jamieson's 2-Ply Spindrift, a premium yarn composed of 100% Shetland wool. The yarn weight is classified as 4-ply, providing excellent stitch definition for colorwork projects. The pattern requires three separate 25-gram skeins in coordinating colors:

• Dark Navy (730) designated as Colour A
• Eggshell (768) designated as Colour B
• Mustard (425) designated as Colour C

Each skein provides 105 meters of yarn, giving knitters sufficient yardage to complete the project with the specified colorwork pattern and edging.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for 3.00mm (US 2.5) double-pointed needles or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. Double-pointed needles are essential for this project as they enable seamless knitting in the round. Additionally, a tapestry needle is required for weaving in yarn ends and finishing the completed case.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 30 stitches and 32 rows equal 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is critical for this project to ensure the finished sunglasses case reaches the intended dimensions and fits properly.

Designer and Pattern Information

This pattern was created by Fiona Munro from MunroSisters3, an independent designer. The design was supported in part by the Eat.Sleep.Knit. Pattern Academy Design Fellowship, reflecting its recognition as a quality knitting pattern within the crafting community.