Protect the Knit!

I made this lovely bag to hold my current knitting project. (and all future project thereafter)

Supplies:
-Quarter yard of chosen material (mine is 'painted' canvas)
-Scissors
-Pins
-Thread
-Sewing machine
-Measuring Tape
-Marking pencil

*Tip 1 - Wash Material* You should always wash your material ahead of time. This removes any risk of shrinking later and allows for any color bleeding. You may need to iron the material after drying if its very wrinkled.

*Tip 2 - Patterns Matter* Always look at the direction of the pattern on your material. If the direction of the pattern is specific you MUST sew pieces together with the pattern in the right direction.

*Suggestion 1 - Details* Your sewing machine may have more interesting sewing patterns you can choose to use like mine, but I like find its easier to do fixes on simpler stitches if the need arises.

- Lay the material out flat and cut the desired width for the handles. I did about 6 inches wide and the full length of the material. Set aside this material for later.

- Flip the material so that the wrong side is facing outward.

- If you wish you may cut along the fold and sew the bottom together. Or you may leave it alone and use that as the bottom. The pattern will dictate if this is required. See *Tip 2*.

- Pin the two wrong sides together on one side of the material and sew together.  Do not sew all the way to the top. This creates one side of the bag.

- Pin the other side together and sew together. Do not sew all the way to the top. This creates the other side of the bag.

- Making sure to not sew all the way to the top of the bag allows for you to fold the top half down half an inch and pin into place. The right side of the bag will show in the half inch fold, which is correct. This can now be sewn. This creates a smooth edge for the top of the bag. This will be the edge you sew the handles onto. Do this for both sides, making sure to NOT sew them together.

 - Set aside the bag for right now.

- Grab one the strips of material you cut for handles. Lay the wrong side upright and fold half an inch  (or small depending on how wide you made the strips) and pin in place. Sew this in place.  Do this for the other side of the strip. The right side of the material will now be visible on both sides.

- Repeat last step for the other strip of handle material.

- Grab the bag material you set aside and measure the top of the bag. This will help determine the proper spot to sew on the handles. My bag was about 12 inches long, so I chose to sew the straps 3 inches from one side and 3 inches from the other. Use a marking pencil to mark the spot. Then pin the handles to those spots. Do this one side at a time, makes it easier.

- Sew on the handle one at a time. I like to sew a little before and little after the handle to make it more secure. I also try to sew along the first stitches you made when you did the top of the bag.

-  Repeat last two steps for the other handle. This time will be easier to pin the handles in place, as you have a guide in place on the other side. Be sure to make the handle loop the same size. (i.e. don't make one handle stick up higher or lower than the other.)

- You may iron down the edges were you sewed the sides together to make then lie flat.

Now you have a completed bag for your knitting projects that need storing till they are completed. Your projects will be safe from mishaps... like say kitty claws making snags, or kitties chewing your yarn in half.