To market, to market...

I *heart* carbs...

I finished this on Sunday but waited 'til now to post so I could get a shot of the bag in use at the Farmer's Market this morning. I know I always prefer to see everybody's FOs in action, plus it also embarassed Hubster a bit, since I made him snap it. Bonus!

Stuffed with all kinds of healthy stuff, like guacamole and tzaziki...

This is the ever-popular Saturday Market Bag from last summer, which I got a hankerin' to knit after bradyphenia posted hers. It's a pretty straightforward pattern, quick to knit and easy to follow, with a nice open-but-not-gaping lace that's perfect for market shopping.

Gotta mod
I went with smaller needles, because, well, 13s are the largest I have. And that's only because I got them for free with an order from Flying Fingers. To keep it proportionate, I also downsized the needles for the top and handles to size 9s.

Following disdressed's lead, I knitted one big rectangle, ditching the bottom seam in favor of two side seams and going with two handles over the one. To account for the smaller needle size, I did a 35-stitch CO and somewhere around 30 repeats of the lace pattern (after a while I stopped counting and just kept going until I couldn't take it anymore). Whipped stitched up the side seams and voila, the bod was done!

Two, two, two tops in(stead) of one!

For the top, I picked up 27 stitches (two "triangles" in from the side seams) on each side, did a handful of rows in garter, then somewhere in the neighborhood of 75 rows for the handles before suckily* grafting them together. I reeeallly dig the two handles over the one. Much easier to open and stuff all manner of market-y goodness in.
* Kitchenering in stockinette, piece of cake. Kitchenering in garter, not my gift.

Do note, however, that this thing will stretch like your Grandma's boobies, so take that into account and make the body and handles shorter than you think you need to.

Yaaarn
Sugar-n-Cream - it's cheap, it's cotton, it's easy to find and comes in a billion obnoxious colors. Really, what's not to love?

That's a wrap
I LOVE this bag! It knits up quick like a bunny, holds just the right amount, is bright, is fun, and cost less than $2. I actually think I'll go to the Farmer's Market more often just so I can use it!

Saturday Market Bag
Pattern: Magknits, June 2006
Yarn: Sugar-n-Cream in Hot Orange
Needles: Plastic purple 13 straights + Crystal Palace 9 straights
Mods: Smaller needles, knit with side seams only plus two handles
Lesson learned: Cheapass rules!