Portable Pocket Pattern

1 skein chunky wool yarn (shown with Araucania Nature Wool Chunky. (131 yards to 100 grams. Used 80-100 yards.)
Size 9 dpns (double-pointed needles. Size 9, 16" circular needle, optional.)

CO 56 stitches on 16" size 9 needle (or dpns)

Join, being careful not to twist stitches.
Knit all stitches until bag measures 6" from cast on edge. (If you want a garter stitch border at the bottom, purl first row after long-tail cast on, then knit 1 row, and repeat this pattern for 6 rows.)
When bag is 6" long, Knit 28, Purl 28 , placing marker at beginning and end of purl section.
On the following round, Knit 56.
Repeat these two rounds 2 more times (total of 3 rows of purls and 3 rows of knits, making 3 garter ridges.
On the following round, Knit 28 stitches. Bind Off the 28 stitches in the garter section, using a K1 P1 bind off for a neater edge. (K 1 P 1, pass 1st stitch over, K 1 pass over, P1 pass over, etc.)



Continue knitting the flap as flat knitting. Decrease as follows:

On Right Side rows, ssk, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. (A neater ssk is to slip 1 st knitwise, slip 2nd stitch purlwise, then knit them together.)

On Wrong Side rows knit all stitches, no decrease. (Flap is done in garter stitch, which will lie flat.)

Continue the two rows above until 2 stitches remain. K2tog and end off, leaving a long tail.
Sew Button on. Use the long tail at the end of the flap to crochet a single crochet loop to fit button. Stitch bottom of bag closed.




Handle:

On size 9 dpn, CO 3 stitches. Work i-cord for approximately 38", or to desired length, and bind off. Keep in mind that i-cord is stretchy and may get longer in use. You may want to pin it in place and try using the bag a few times before deciding on the length. If i-cord becomes too long, you can felt it or simply remove some of the stitches. Sew handle in place.

(How to knit I-cord: Knit 3, slide stitches to opposite end of dpn without turning, and knit 3. Repeat till i-cord is desired length.)