Felted iPad Envelope & Book Bag

Felted iPad Envelope & Book Bag by Judy Vallas

What is Being Made

This project creates a felted envelope-style bag suitable for protecting and transporting iPads, netbooks, e-readers, laptops, books, and other similarly-sized items. The bag features a practical envelope design with a flap closure and can be customized in size to accommodate various devices and purposes. The finished piece functions equally well as a protective tech accessory, a book carrier, or a purse, offering versatility for everyday use.

Knitting Technique & Construction Method

The bag is constructed using double-knitting, a specialized knitting technique that creates a dense, reversible fabric with two distinct layers. This advanced method allows the designer to knit the bag flat while achieving the structure and appearance of an in-the-round construction, eliminating the need for seaming. The double-knit technique produces fabric substantial enough to withstand the felting process while maintaining clean, finished edges.

The pattern is worked flat from the base upward, with knitters casting on stitches and working rows until reaching the desired height before shaping the flap. The construction method is adaptable: while the instructions provide flat-knitting directions, knitters experienced with double-knitting can modify the pattern to work in the round if preferred.

Design Customization Options

The pattern encourages creative personalization through multiple techniques:

• Size adjustment by modifying the initial cast-on stitch count and the number of rows knit before the flap, allowing adaptation for different devices and purposes
• Striped colorwork by changing yarn color at the beginning of any row
• Variegated effects by using two different colors for the double-knit yarn strands
• Color double-knitting techniques for more complex patterning
• Embroidery embellishments to personalize the finished felted surface

Felting Process

After knitting is complete, the bag undergoes felting, a process that transforms the double-knit fabric into a denser, more structured material. Felting creates a cohesive, finished appearance while adding durability and structure to the completed envelope bag.

Stitches & Techniques Used

The primary stitch technique is double-knitting, an advanced knitting method that creates a thick, reversible fabric. This technique requires working with doubled yarn strands and alternating knit and slip stitches in a specific pattern to build the two-layered structure. The pattern notes that color double-knitting can be incorporated for those with experience in this specialized variation, though intarsia colorwork is not suitable for double-knit construction.

Materials: Yarn, Needles & Tools

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn suitable for double-knitting and felting. The doubled yarn strands used in double-knitting create a substantial fabric that felts effectively. While specific needle sizes are not detailed in the provided content, double-knitting typically requires needles sized to accommodate the doubled yarn while maintaining appropriate gauge for felting. Standard knitting needles appropriate for worsted weight yarn would be used, with gauge adjustments made as needed for the double-knit fabric.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as advanced, reflecting the complexity of double-knitting technique. Knitters should have solid foundational skills and familiarity with specialized techniques before attempting this project. The pattern assumes competency with basic knitting but introduces the more demanding double-knit method, making it suitable for experienced crafters seeking to expand their technical abilities.