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Beginner Knit Projects -- If you’re just learning to knit, here are some projects that you can easily do – a hat/neck gaiter, slippers, a stuffed toy, and a buttoned pouch. Two require specific weights of yarn (the hat-gaiter and the slippers), but the other two can be made in any size yarn (bunny and pouch).

DATE - September 2003.  These patterns were originally designed for Alpacas Magazine (projected publication is late 2003 or early 2004).

Buttoned I-Cord Pouch -- This is a tiny pouch with a flap and button – good for a few coins or small pieces of jewelry. This pouch was designed as a project to help you experience the versatility of I-cord. I-cord is also called idiot cord (because it’s so easy to make) and the "unattached" version looks the same as the spool knitting you may have learned as a child.

DATE -- 1990, Revised July 2001

Entrelac Square-To-Round Pouch -- This small drawstring pouch is worked in entrelac knitting (also called basket weave knitting) and has a zigzag shaped top edged with I-cord. I call this pattern "square to round" for two reasons. First, because you knit a square bottom, but the bag becomes circular as you work the sides. Also, because this method of "square to round" looks rather like the construction method of the same name commonly used in the basketry which this knitting so closely resembles. It is an entrelac pattern of somewhat unusual construction because there are no triangles to work and only a 3-stitch seam worked at the very end.

DATE -- September 2002

Felted Tasseled Purse - This pointed-bottom felted (fulled) purse pattern is has several variations.  It can be large or small with a flap to fasten over the top or with a drawstring top with no flap.  The drawstring version has a pointed lace panel edging that overlays the purse and mirrors the point on the purse.  Both purses have tassels hanging from the bottom and over-the-shoulder length twisted cord straps.  NOTE – since these purses are knitted before shrinking, they are technically “fulled” and not “felted” (felted fabrics are made directly from the raw fiber without knitting, crocheting, or weaving first).

DATE - April 2006, posted here March 2007

Garden Maze Garter Stitch Pouch -- 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!). 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.

DATE -- November 1998, Revised July 2001

Garter Stitch Tote Bag -- This a two-handled, open-top, shoulder tote with optional button loop to close the top and an optional pocket on the outside center front. The garter stitch construction makes the bag stretchy enough to hold most any cargo. The design has two choices of bottom style – rectangular or envelope style. It can be made in 2 sizes. If constructed of an animal fiber yarn, it can be fulled (felted) in your washing machine. Both of the models shown in the photo are the smaller size with the rectangular bottom – one fulled version (left) and one unfulled version (right).

Date -- March 1992, Revised July 2002.

Glamour Pouch -- This is a small, round, drawstring bag. Make one for your pearls or as an evening bag - or use as a gift container! The bag has a square base made in reversible knitting and stockinette sides decorated with bands of purl and slip stitches. This is a quick project; I can usually make one in about four hours.

Date -- May 1992, Revised July 2001.

Intarsia Heart Purse -- This drawstring shoulder purse has a diamond pattern on one side and a heart, squares, and stripes on the other. It is worked with multiple colors of yarn in a single row (intarsia knitting).  It is designed as a single long piece that is knitted back-and-forth with an eyeleted top edging worked circularly after the intarsia is completed.  It has I-cord drawstrings.  It can be felted or not. The pouch shown in the photos is the nonfelted version.

DATE -- February 2005

Lattice Bag Set -- This is a set of bags with a lattice pattern of traveling stitches, which is a variation of cable stitch and is also sometimes called twisted stitch. All bags are edged with garter stitch borders. This same decorative lattice pattern is used on a coin purse, a tiny shoulder bag, a larger shoulder bag, and a backpack. The coin purse and shoulder bags have top flaps with two buttons and are knitted back and forth. The backpack has a drawstring top that is closed using the shoulder straps and is knitted circularly.

DATE -- April 2002 - This pattern was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine for its Spring 2002 issue.

Man in a Maze Pillow & Tote  -- This is an 18-inch square sofa pillow cover or tote bag worked in three colors. The designs come from ancient, traditional Native American designs of the southwest United States.  On one side is a square version of the usually circular Man In A Maze pattern of the native peoples of southern Arizona. The triangle designs surrounding the maze and the folded lightning bolt pattern (my name for it) on the other side are taken from designs found on the soles of 900- to 1,100-year-old yucca sandals from the Ancient Puebloan peoples of the Four Corners area of the USA. The folded lightning bolt side is worked primarily in stranded color knitting.  The maze side is worked in intarsia color knitting.

DATE -- September 2002 -- The pillow version of this pattern originally appeared in Alpaca Magazine’s Summer 2002 issue.

Mosaic Drawstring Pouch -- This is a small, two-color, envelope-bottomed drawstring pouch worked in mosaic stitch and with a bobbled top edge. Mosaic stitch is a multicolor slip-stitch technique primarily used for geometrical designs. It is worked using only one color per row and is often worked in garter stitch, as this pouch is. The project is worked back and forth from the top down, with the drawstring eyelet edging picked up and added last. This is a good project for learning how to do this intriguing color and texture technique.

DATE -- July 2001

• If you already own this pattern, click on --  Correction

Peruvian Pouch -- This is a small, round drawstring bag in stockinette and garter stitch with a patterned band in your choice of three Peruvian textile borders.  Make a small one for your pearls or a large one for an evening bag - or use as a gift container!  The size of the basic pouch varies depending on the yarn and needles you choose.

DATE -- November 2000 -- This pouch was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine, and appeared in its Winter 2000 issue (published January 2001).

• If you already own this pattern, click on -- Corrections

"Rag Bag" Tote Bag -- This is a large tote bag knitted of fabric strips. It is worked in stockinette stitch with 2 padded I-cord shoulder straps. It is large enough to hold a grocery bag or a plethora of miscellaneous knitting paraphernalia and/or beach gear.

DATE -- March 2001

String Shopping Bag -- This pattern makes a large drawstring string-type shopping bag. It folds up small, but stretches out into a large size suitable for carrying all your shopping purchases (it’s particularly great for carrying home your yarn purchase for your next knitting project!).

DATE --  February 1992, Revised July 2001

Tiny Pouch Variations -- This pattern includes mix-and-match variations for small pouches suitable for wearing around your neck or over your shoulder, hanging on a wall, tucking in your handbag or suitcase to hold a small treasure, or using as a small gift container. They are all worked from the top down. The two pouch-top variations are a drawstring closure or a button closure. The three bottom variations are a rounded bottom, a pointed bottom, or an envelope-style bottom. You can mix and match the top closures and bottom shapings, because all are based on the same stitch count.  

DATE -- May 2001