$6.00

How to Buy

How to Buy

Garden Maze Garter Stitch Pouch

PATTERN DETAILS

RELEASE DATE:  November 1998, Revised July 2001.

DESCRIPTION:  This is a drawstring pouch knitted in a combination of back-and-forth and circular garter stitch with lots of very complex increases, decreases, bind offs, and color changes. I "unvented" the technique as an evolution of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s wonderful garter stitch projects. The name "garden maze" I credit to a sister knitter (thanks, Barb!). And she’s right, since it not only looks like a maze, it knits rather like one, too! The pouch starts with a small square at the bottom and ends with the scalloped top edge. This pouch is a good project to learn this complex technique that can be easily adapted for use in afghans, sweaters, and other projects.

SIZE:  The size of the pouch will vary with the yarn and needle combination you select. The thicker the yarn and needles you select, the larger the pouch will be. One of the samples in the photographs is made of fingering weight yarn and size 3 needles and is about 4x4x4 inches in size.

SKILL REQUIRED:  Definitely ADVANCED. This is such a complex technique that it sometimes confuses even ME, the designer! So try to put your logic aside and follow the directions exactly as written. The directions may sound crazy, but you’ll get there. And by the time you’re done, the technique may even make sense.

MATERIALS:

• YARN:  The pattern is written for 4 colors of the same weight yarn of any size and any fiber (I used white, red, gray, and black for colors A, B, C, and D, respectively), although you can try using just two colors if you like. It’s best to use SOLID colors, not multicolored (heathered colors are OK). The amount of each needed is small. This is a great project to use up partial skeins or small amounts of handspun yarns. The thicker the yarn and needles that you use, the more yards that you will need.  The sample worked on size 3 needles required a total of about 90 yards of yarn.
• NEEDLES:  One set of double point needles AND a short circular needle of the same size (pick a needle size that is compatible with the yarn you have selected — check the yarn label for advice on the best size). A set of five double point needles is better than a set of four, but four will work. The circular needle length is not critical, but 24 inches works well, and if you’re using fine yarn, a second set of double point needles could substitute for the circular needle. I’ve even found that a 5-needle set of double point needles can be enough for making a pouch out of fine yarn such as the size 3 sample pouch (a 4-needle set is NOT enough).
• MISCELLANEOUS:
  • Darning needle to weave in ends
  • End of round stitch marker
  • Stitch holders
  • (optional) electric mixer

GAUGE:  Depends on the size yarn you select. Use a needle size that gives a firm feel to the garter stitch fabric, but that isn’t too stiff. Check the yarn label for a suggestion of what needle size to try first, then make a garter stitch swatch and adjust to larger or small size needles if necessary to achieve the fabric feel you want.

 bottom of pouch

3 pouches, one worked in only 2 colors   

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