felted handbag pattern question

[kaallen]

I just bought a pattern & materials to knit a felted handbag. It is knit on 17" circular needles. The pattern says to cast on 20 stitches and knit (garter stitch) until the piece measures 4". Here's where I get confused. It says "keeping 20 stitches on needle, pick up 8 stitches along one side, pick up 20 stitches along the bottom and pick up 8 stitches along the other side until you have 56 stitches." How do you pick up stitches with the piece still attached to the needle?

[Jan in CA]

The first knitting is the bottom of the bag and you are picking up stitches so you can knit in the round up the sides, front and back.

Place a marker before you start so it's easy to count the stitches picked up. YOu can also place markers after each segment to make counting easier.

Now... Using the needle with the working yarn and all the stitches you just stick the needle in and wrap the yarn and pull it through. That creates a new stitch. You just keep going. It may be tight, but once you get them all one you'll understand how it wall works.

It's a really awkward thing to do and I'm not sure I explained it very well. Check this video on KH to help more. It's down toward the bottom of the page.
http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips (http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/../videos/knitting-tips)

[chie96]

I just made my 1st bag and was unable to pick up stitches b/c I knit so tightly. What I did was to use a dpn several sizes smaller and put the sts to be worked on the dpn. Then I knitted them off the dpn and back onto the circulars I was using. It made it so easy and was less frustrating than trying to shove my needle through such tight sts. I HTH!

[kaallen]

Jan,

I watched the video and I understand how to pick up stitches. In my last knitting class, I learned how to pick up stitches and knit sleeves onto a sweater to avoid seams. However, in both that situation and in the video, the piece is not still attached to the needle! I just can't picture in my mind how one would pick up stitches on a piece that is still attached to one needle. Do I use the other needle to pick them up? Which end do I start from?

[Jan in CA]

You can use the other needle to scoop them up then knit them. That works fine and would probably be easiest. You can twist the stitches if you feel they are too loose, but one neat thing about felting is it hides a mulititude of sins so if it's not perfect don't worry about it. ;)

[kaallen]

Thanks, Jan! I have my knitting class tonight. I was too scared to try it on my own. I'll ask my instructor to help me this evening. At least now I have some idea of what she will tell me to do.