Gryffindor Illusion Bag, Part 3 {knit pattern + tutorial}

Now, if you've completed Parts 1 and 2 of the Gryffindor Bag, you're ready for the final (and most fun) part of them all!  It's finally time to see how your bag looks!

I started by pinning my two insides to my two outsides.  I want both of the right sides facing out (wrong sides together).  I started with the pins on the bottom, just doing a simple zig zag stitch (which tends to help hold together knit better)

the bottom on the back side of the piece

the bottom on the front illusion side

I ran the same zig zag stitch up the sides of the piece (which again I didn't take a picture of...  le sigh)

At the top, you're left with a funny overhang, so I cut a slit in it like this:

Opened the top part of the bag like this:

Folded in the corners:

And then the whole top part:

Then I pulled the top of the knit over the edge of the inside fabric and pinned:

And then took it through the sewing machine with another zig zag stitch.

After you've done this to both sides (make sure when you attach the piece with the pocket that the pocket is facing up!!!)

Then, trim off the excess fabric:

Next, lay the right sides of the knit together, pin around the edges that should be closed and sew a zig zag stitch all the way around.  (again, sorry there's no picture of that, I guess I was in a hurry!)  Turn your bag right side out and you're ready to finish up!

After the bag was all assembled, I attached the shoulder strap and button tab and button, just by using yarn and an embroidery needle.

 I hope this tutorial has been helpful and that it has shown you a new way to take any pattern and make it your own!

For a Recap:

Gryffindor Illusion Bag Knitting Pattern Part 1

Gryffindor Illusion Bag Knitting Pattern Part 2

Gryffindor Illusion Bag, Part 1 {knit pattern + tutorial}

As you all might know, I'm crazy about making insanely personal gifts for people.  I take gifting opportunities as a time to try out new techniques, challenge myself and most of all, I focus on making a gift that each giftee will love (and use!).

I have a friend who is a crocheter/knitter as well, so I knew I wanted to make her something truly unique, something that she would never think to make herself.  First, I decided I wanted it to be a knit, because she's just starting out knitting and I wanted to do something to show her how cool knitting can be.  Second, she's a huge Harry Potter fan, so I knew I wanted to do something Harry Potter themed.  I found this great chart pattern for an Illusion Scarf over at The Leaky Cauldron.

Illusion knitting is something that I've never done before, so I figured it would be a fun challenge to figure out.  I picked some beautiful maroon and gold yarn and got to work.  The pattern was quickly rewarding, but quickly got boring.  I was actually sitting there wondering how on earth I was ever going to conceive of making a whole scarf like this... when inspiration hit.  Who says it has to be a scarf?  No one.  I'm the designer here... (sometimes I have to remind myself of that)

Trouble was, I couldn't figure out what else it could become.... so instead I set it aside and worked on other projects for a while.  After finishing up a few crochet projects, I was hankering to knit again, and so I rummaged through my project box to find something I was working on that I could easily pick back up and content myself with, and ran across this piece again.  I dug it out, finished up the pattern and sat there staring at it waiting for inspiration to hit.  And hit it did!  I'd just read an article on sewing your knits, how to seam them with a sewing machine and make something really durable.  So, right then and there, I decided I was going to make it into a bag.  And thus, the Gryffindor Illusion Knit Bag was born. 

 This beauty wasn't the product of just one night's inspiration, however, it took several weeks to see it to completion.  Since it was such a long process, I'm going to divide this tutorial up into three parts.  This first part will be the actual knit pattern for all the pieces that you need to complete this bag.  The second part will be the sewing tutorial for the inner parts of the bag, and the Third part will be putting the whole bag together.

Griffyndor Illusion Bag Knitting Pattern

Materials needed:

1 skein of maroon worsted weight yarn (I used Vanna's Choice)

1 skein of gold worsted weight yarn (again, I used Vanna's Choice)

Size 8 (5mm) Circular or long straight knitting needles

yarn needle

Instructions:

For Front of Bag:

Work full knitting chart found for Gryffindor Illusion Scarf

Knit 2 Rows in Main Color

Bind off.

For Back of Bag:

CO 40

Work in Stockinette Stitch for 90 rows or until piece is same length as front (expect some curling to happen around the edges, this will stabilize after blocking and putting it together)

For Buttonhole Piece: 

CO 10

Knit 3 rows

Knit 1, k2tog, yo, yo, k2tog, knit to end

knit 3 rows

BO

For Strap:

 CO 200

knit 8 rows (or to desired strap thickness)

BO

Block all pieces as such:

 Let dry and set aside for the next part of the tutorial!!

Gryffindor Illusion Bag Part 2

Gryffindor Illusion Bag Part 3