Raisa Raitakassi

You know how the scraps and half-balls just seem to become more in the deep corners of the stash closet, and before you know it the rest-bag is full again? I do. Therefore from time to time I have to make some kind of scrap project to clear the bag out.

The Finnish webzine Ullaneule made a special scrap issue in 2008. From there I found this lovely and fun bag project Raisa Raitakassi. Easy enough to take with to the knitting group, creative enough to be interesting: how to make the stripes work, how to change gauge. Here's the info:

Needles: 6mm circular used as straights
Yarn: different scraps: TeeTee's Poppari corn yarn, various old wool yarns, Schachenmayr Bravo acrylic, Kilcarra Aran Tweed... and other rest balls from my stash.
Modifications to pattern: Changed gauge to suit the 6mm needles instead of 3mm needles. Instead of 65 stitches I cast on 45, and for the bottom I think I cast on 8 instead of 10. I also added a shoulder strap in addition to the handles.

Even though I hated to sew everything up and finish all the yarn ends, I really like the outcome. It's really stretchy, so one can't carry heavy items in it, but other than that it's a real cheer-me-up -piece of knitting and I will certainly be concidering this pattern the next time the rest-bag quills over (which won't be long I'm afraid..!)