90 thoughts on “Boredom Buster Bag

  1. The pattern instructions say to do moss stitch for 4 rows, however the moss stitch instructions say knit 1, purl 1 to the end of all rows, that’s not moss stitch, that is seed stitch. So, do we seen stitch or moss stitch those rows. I’ve enlarged the picture and it does appear to be seed stitch?

  2. I have made some modifications to the bag that I made. I sewed a lining into it out of fabric, and I also put straps on it not knitted. I’ve had people tell me I could make money selling the bag, however I wouldn’t feel comfortable, even with the modifications I made to it, selling any without permission. So I guess I’m wondering how you feel about it? Thank you
    Christina

  3. I absolutely love this bag. I’ve made myself one and I have people all over comment on how fantastic the bag looks. I have a few questions regarding it if you could please message me back through my email. Thank you sooo much.
    Christina

  4. For people having problems with this pattern. If you cast on 185 stitches in the beginning, you will bind off 20 stitches in rows 17 and 18. You will then K4 KFB which will create 33 stitches for a total of 198. For the cables, you are moving 4 stitches to the cable needle working 4 from your regular needle and then working the 4 cable stitches. Hopefully this helps other knitters!

    • So what do I do if I cast on 175 as the pattern directed and now I have completed 19 rows and have 186 stitches? Do I now have to rip it all out and start over?

  5. I am working on this pattern now and love it. The Fair Isle design was very easy to follow. I am going to place a liner of nylon netting between the bag and lining to give more body to bag.

  6. I will try this pattern and attempt to rectify the stitch count problem..I’d also like to know the anagram “PM” if anyone has seen this before..in all my years, I have not.

    • Thanks for your reply. I love the bag but just don’t know what to do about the 12 missing stitches.

  7. I cast on 175 stitches.
    Then I bound of 10 stitches twice and had 155 stitches.
    Then I knit 4, knit front and back across the row, so 5 stitches in each set across 155 stitches should give me 31 sets, and thus add 31 stitches to my work.
    But this only gives me 186 stitches, not the 198 that I should have at that point. What am I doing wrong because I am 12 stitches short. Thanks for anyone’s help

  8. I’m confused. I just started the second chart and realized that I am short 12 stitches. I looked back at the pattern and the math doesn’t seem to add up. As far as increases and decreases:

    I cast on 175 stitches.
    Then I bound of 10 stitches twice and had 155 stitches.
    Then I knit 4, knit front and back across the row, so 5 stitches in each set across 155 stitches should give me 31 sets, and thus add 31 stitches to my work.
    But this only gives me 186 stitches, not the 198 that I should have at that point…

    Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

    • Meaghan I have exactly the same problem and the same number of stitches. Can you help me with this problem?

    • Meaghan
      I ended up with 186 stitches exactly same as you. After trying for hours to redo I decided to knit two rows (increasing 12 stitches – I increased one stitch on the 15th stitch until I got the 12 extra needed) I knit the second row to be sure all the increases would look good and this has worked for me so far.

  9. I really enjoyed knitting this bag. I had to rework the increases to be more evenly spaced. Also, my buttonholes are not as shown in the picture. I followed the pattern and used the same number of stitches and I ended up with a cable at the end of the round and beginning of round, thus creating two cables at the front of the bag. This actually looks pleasing to the eye, however, the picture does not show this. I’m not sure if errata was done for this bag, and I missed it. The lining feels somewhat bulky knitting with the suggested number of stitches. If I would knit this bag again, I would definitely decrease this number. Thanks for sharing this pattern. I am a big fan of cables of fair isle knitting.

  10. I knitted this bag and I am very pleased with the result. I did have to rework the increases to be more evenly spaced, my buttonholes are not on the same side as the picture, I find the lining to be bulky, probably could knit it will less stitches and I have cables at the end of the round and at the beginning, which look pretty for the front of the bag, but again, this is not like the picture. I followed the pattern exactly and knitted with the stitches stated in the pattern. Curious to see if anyone else had the same issues? I do love the look of it. Thanks for your pattern.

  11. This pattern is beautiful. I just want to make sure about the charts. When knitting fair isle in the round, I was taught to read the chart from right to left. The charts are numbered from left to right. Could you please clarify. Thanks so much.

    I can’t wait to see my bag completed with the colors I’ve chosen.

    Julie

  12. For those of you having a problem with the download, Imay have the problem solved. I have tried for week to download this pattern and constantly got an error message and the PDF would shut down. Today, for some reason, while trying again, I decided to try to right click on the line that shows to click on for the PDF file. At that point I then saved it to my documents. I went into my documents and voila — there it was and I have printed it out. Now, to decide on colors — I can’t wait.

    Hope this helps somebody else.

  13. I have tried and tried to download this pattern with no luck. Please tell me how I can get a copy.

    I have Adobe and know how to download, but this gives me an error and shuts down.

    Please help, I am a bag fanatic.

    Thanks in advance.

  14. I am wondering if I can find it printed for I can’t download anything and I also copy by hand the printed free patterns I want most by hand . I know it takes time but it is the only way I can do it. I just don’t have the money to get a printer. I am 78 years old and enjoy knitting very much. Please tell me where I can find it printed so I can see the pattern so I can write it down by hand. Thank you very much. God Bless you, Carolyn June Trammell, cjd33us@yahoo.com

  15. I’m still confused about the cables. Do I slip the 2 stitches onto the cable needle, or slip 4? Slipping two makes it so that my knits and purls don’t line up…

  16. I want to knit the boredom buster bag but am confused about one thing. Row 5 says work in pattern for four stitches. Do you mean the moss stitch pattern or am I missing something. I don’t think I will have a problem with the pattern as I have done all stitches except the fair isle stitch but that looks fairly easy I just need to get that one question set in my mind. Thanks Would appreciate an answer

  17. I can hardly wait to make this stunning bag!!! I have not found another bag/tote pattern on the net like it! WELL DONE!!!…

  18. OK, I’ve got it. Apparently there is something about your link that is not compatible with Windows 7. Mike was able to save it to our files and then open it. (I think)) Don’t know that this helps.

    Christine

    • hmmm, well that is not convenient . . . I apologize for your troubles- I switched to offering them as free PDFs for the sole purpose to make it easier for everyone (because it is actually more work for me but I figured it was worth it). . . thank you for making me aware of this issue, I will look into it and see if I didn’t save the PDFs correctly.

      Thank you again for your feedback- this was incredibly helpful!

  19. Hi I would love to knit this pattern but when I try to download the pdf the screen is empty and it says its done downloading. not sure what is wrong

      • I am also having difficulty printing the pattern. I will check later with my husband if we have the current Adobe. He is generally so up to date on computer issues that I think we have it already. I look forward to trying this beautiful bag.

  20. This pattern was a lot of fun to knit. I added one of the flower patterns to each end of the shoulder straps to add more length and stability.

  21. Hello, I’m dying to make this but I just can’t download the pdf, it gives me an error message everytime and shuts down my acrobat.
    Can you help? sorry to be a pain!

  22. Thank you for this pattern! I do have a question…I’ve started the cable section and I just finished the first row of cable which says C4F, P3. I got to the end of the row and seemed to be 3 stitches short and could not purl the last 3. I feel like I carefully did the previous rows so I’m not sure what happened. Am I doing something wrong or will it turn out if I keep going? Any comments appreciated.

  23. I absolutely love this bag . . . but I’m running into a little confusion. On the button band, on row 5 (the button row), is it supposed to go:
    k1,p1,k1,p1,YO,k2tog, and then p1,k1 etc? Starting with a purl after the k2tog? I tried doing a knit after the k2tog but got screwed up somewhere along the way on that row.

    Anyway, it’s absolutely beautiful and I’m looking forward to how mine will turn out!

  24. Cutest bag I’ve seen. I was wondering about the flower, as in fair isle, is the top of the flower yarn carried with the other color across the back? Do you use another bobbin of yarn?
    Thank you so much,
    Jean

  25. Such a cute bag! I’ve been looking for a good pattern for one for a while, and this looks perfect. It might even be big enough for me to use as a backpack this year (I always carry at least 2 or three binders, even though I have a locker). I’ve never done fair isle before, but as soon as I can get the yarn I’m going to learn!

  26. I had never tried fair isle, but i started this pattern yesterday. I’m four rows away from completing the flowers. Once I determined the best way to hold my yarns, this knitted up very quickly. I’m really proud of myself so far! Thank you for this pattern! I’ve fallen in love with a new technique!

  27. I just wanted to say thank you for this pattern. I was wanting a different bag to carry my laptop around with me and this one looked perfect, especially with the lining, and good sized strap. Of today, I am now working in cable area. My colors are dark brown Fishermans Wool for the bag and all fair isle is done in Paton’s dark blue.

    I am one of those weird people who seems to need several projects going at one time . This has been one of my do something different while I was also learning how to do socks and since there is such variety of stitches, I find I look forward to seeing it all come together.

    So I just wanted to thank you for posting.

    mary

  28. …the pattern has a few errors. First, the second button hole row is in the wrong place. Should be row 13, not 12. Second, after the button band, more increases have to be made to bring the total number of stitches up to 20 so that the flowers will fit…

    That’s as far as I’ve gotten so far…

    • have you gotten to the cables section of your bag yet? mine are not working out so well at all. i have the correct stich count, but they arent following the same types of purl the purls and knit the cables pattern that ive done with other cable work. i would hate to think that my bag is ruined. im on row 10

  29. I enjoyed knitting this bag sooo much! I loved the variety of stitches and textures. I didn’t get the button in exactly the right place. I also knitted the cable on the strap in blue. I have tried to add a picture of my tote, but have been unsuccessful. If anyone wants to see it, I can email a picture of it.

  30. I figured out the cables and am now working on the strap. I’m not going to add the knitted lining because I think it will be too bulky. I will post a picture when I’m done.

  31. I love this bag. Thanks for sharing it. I have never done cables before. I’ve started the cables and am on row 9. I interpreted the C4F as slip 2 stitches to the cable needle and hold in front, knit the next 2 stitches and then knit 2 from the cable needle. However, my cables don’t look the picture. Or, should I hold 4 stitches to the front, knit the next 4, then knit the 4 stitches on the cable needle?

  32. OMG! its going awesome so far… i m halfway through the cable pattern 😀
    I love my color combination (black, maroon, and red)!!!

  33. I love your pattern and can’t wait to get started on it! I have a question about the button band, row 5 and 12 have a yo, k2tog, is that for the buttonholes? if so, is it supposed to be on the same end of the buttonband, or on opposite ends (like the pattern indicates)

    thanks!

  34. I m having serious problems with the “K4, KFB” row.
    When i finished the previous row i had 155 stitches. I did the KFB row 3 times and each time i got 186 stiches but the pattern says 198 stitches… what should i do?

  35. HI, I started this bag yesterday and I’m at this row:
    Increase row: (K4, KFB) to end, PM. Join to work in the round. (198 stitches)
    But every time I knit this I end up with 193 stitches.
    Am I doing something wrong?
    Thanks!

    • hmmm, I am not sure. I would just increase four stitches in the next row when you are knitting in the main color.

      Hope that helps!

      • Thanks! I just finished the fair isle and it worked out perfectly! Now onto the cables, which I’ve never done before.

      • Great! I am glad I could help 🙂 Good luck with the rest of your project- I am sure that it will look beautiful!

  36. Thank you for sharing your wonderful pattern! I have my yarn! As soon as the “dreaded holiday knitting” is done, I’m starting!

  37. I am going to attempt to make the bag, but I’ve never done Fair Isle or Cable work before so I’m kinda scared to start! At least I’ll make it for myself so no-one will laugh at it. I’ll start after my Christmas presents are done. It’s going to be tan with sage and evergreen for the flowers and v’s. Wish me good luck!!! ; )

  38. My but that is a pretty bag. I thought I might have found a chum for my “busy” bag. I take it with me every where. I take a book, puzzle, knit or crochet work, Everyone who knows me knows about the busy bag.

  39. This is beautiful. I’m a beginning knitter and I fear it is just a little too complicated for me. I have five daughters who, I know, would enjoy the bag, so I might give it a good shot – even with my limited experience.

  40. Such a great looking bag. I would definitely try this. I too have never tried fair isle, too many colors for me, but this is understated and very attractive. You just may have a side job in designing knits.

  41. Christi – This pattern is wonderful.
    The functionality is well thought out and the pattern is so well written.
    I am honored that you would share it.
    Thank you.

  42. Thank you for all the lovely comments- I would absolutely love to see anyone’s finished projects 🙂 Good luck and have fun times knitting!

  43. I am taking a Fair Isle class in January and my teacher told us to start looking for a pattern that we wanted to try. I found mine!

    Can’t wait to make this. It is wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

  44. Very nice!!!!! I have never tried anything that has a Fair Isle design. This looks like a good one to try. Thanks for the pattern

  45. Really pretty. I confess that (to me) fair isle doesn’t look like much fun. But I might actually try this one. It looks manageable and it certainly is a nice bag.

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