This simple design can be dressed up with beads and served plain showing off this homegrown yarn’s natural beauty. Its message is simple, too. Take care and be careful.
One size, adjust strap length for comfort
Finished Measurements:
3 inches long by 3 inches wide with about 25 inch strap
Yarn: Fields of Fiber Yarn and Fiber Company (www.fieldsoffibers.com) Ingeo, 100% corn, sport weight, Fushia Fun Very Variegated
Knitting needles: US size 3
Tools: needle and beading thread
Notions: button of choice, optional beads: Amethyst “E” bead mix by Halcraft “Bliss Beads”
(available at JoAnns)
Gauge: approx. 4.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch. Test your guage as you knit. If body is too small, add stitches, too large, subtract.
Pattern Stitches: Stockinette
Instructions:
Body (You are going to make two squares and one half square)
Row 1) CO 3 stitches
Row 2) Knit one row
Row 3) Knit 1, M1, to to the end of the row
Repeat Row 3 until you have 18 stitches on the needle. This is half a square.
Now start decrease as follows
K2 together, M1, K2 together, knit to end of row
Continue until there are 3 stitches on needle, then, slip 1, k2together, slip slip stitch over, cut yarn
Make two squares and sew then together on three sides. Now you will begin the flap, which is the half square.
Flap
On one edge of unsewn side pick up 22 stitches
Row 1 and 2: Knit
Begin to decrease as above until there are 8 stitches left. This is your buttonhole row, knit as follows: k2 together, m1, knit 2 together, yo, k2 together, knit to end of row
Finish knitting in same manner as square.
Strap: Pick up 2 stitches on one side of flap and knit for about 24 inches. Bind off and attach.
Finishing: Sew button on and bead as desired. Or not.
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Michelle Edwards, a lifelong knitter is the author and illustrator of many books for children including the 2006 Gryphon award winner, Stinky Stern Forever. Her essays about knitting and life appear in the Lion Brand Company Newsletter and can be read online here. She lives in Iowa City, Iowa with her husband and three daughters. She can be contacted at www.michelledwards.com.
