Erssie Major (photo)
eyelet version shown
click to enlarge

La Calaverita

Inspired by the brightly colored skulls made for Dia De Los Muertos, these little Calaveritas can be knitted onto small or medium sized bags. The bags are ideal as charm bags, or perhaps can be filled with herbs like lavender which I am doing to expel moths from the woollies in my wardrobe. They would also make perfect Rune bags. As the bag only takes a few hours to make, you could also use it as special gift bags or a candy pouch for next Halloween.

by Erssie Major

Suggested Listening

Los Fabulosos Calaveras
por Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
[Editor's note: This is one of my favorite albums from college, give 'em a listen! They are Latino-Mariachi-Rockabilly-Punk.]

Difficulty

MoonPrincess RavenDark
Click here for definitions of difficulty levels.

Finished Measurements

4 ply bag (as shown) 5.5"/14cm W x 5.9"/15 cm H
(5.7"/14.5cm width x 11.8"/30cm length before sewing up)

Download

La Calaverita Chart (pdf format)

Materials

• King Cole Merino Wool Blend 4ply [100% merino wool; 197yd/180m per 1.75oz/50g ball] #48 Black, 1 ball (MC; you will use about half the ball)
• King Cole Merino Wool Blend 4ply [100% merino wool; 197yd/180m per 1.75oz/50g ball] #63 Green Ice (aqua blue), 10yd/9m or less (CC #1)
• King Cole Merino Wool Blend 4ply [100% merino wool; 197yd/180m per 1.75oz/50g ball] #09 Scarlet (red), 10yd/9m or less(CC #2)
• King Cole Merino Wool Blend 4ply [100% merino wool; 197yd/180m per 1.75oz/50g ball] #55 Gold (yellow), 10yd/9m or less (CC #3)
• King Cole Merino Wool Blend 4ply [100% merino wool; 197yd/180m per 1.75oz/50g ball] #21 Royal (blue), 10yd/9m or less (CC #4)
• King Cole Merino Wool Blend 4ply [100% merino wool; 197yd/180m per 1.75oz/50g ball] #42 Emerald (green), 10yd/9m or less (CC #5)
• US 2/2.75mm knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• 7 bobbins for intarsia motif (or more as needed)
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

27 sts and 45 rows per 4"/10cm using US 2/2.75mm needles including intarsia.
(Your milage may very depending on how tight your intarsia is.)

Design Notes

If this was knitted in DK at a standard gauge of 22 sts and 30 rows per 4"/10cm the bag would measure approximately 7"/17.75cm W x 8.9"/22.5cm H.

The back of the bag is worked in a simple Seed Stitch (aka Moss Stitch) which helps as a guide for the front to be matched against, and so helps to keep your gauge in check when knitting the color work on the front. The knitting chart shows some alternative colorways but you could use any odds and ends in five contrasting colors against a main background.

The bag is knitted in one long strip starting from the top back in Seed Stitch, and finishing with the top front in Stockinette incorporating the charted motif. It is then folded over and the sides are sewn together. The stranded color work uses an Intarsia method. Different colored yarns are wound onto separate bobbins and kept in separate areas of the knit. There are options for small sewn on handles (like a gift bag) or for a drawstring through eyelets (to close the bag if using it as a herb or charm bag).

For a written tutorial on Intarsia color work go to the Sweaterscapes website.

For a range of video tutorials on the Intarsia technique, see Vicki Meldrum demonstrate this in her videos on the Vicki Designs website.

Directions

Back:

Using MC and US 2 (2.75mm) needles CO on 39 sts and work in Seed Stitch (Moss Stitch) as follows:

Both versions
Rows 1 - 5: K1, *P1, K1 rpt from * to end.

Eyelet/drawstring version only
Row 6: (eyelet row) *K1, YO, K2tog, P1, YO, P2tog, rpt from * to last 3 sts, K1, YO, K2tog. Check that you still have 39 sts with a row of eyelets (if not something is wrong).
Row 7: Work a row in Seed Stitch as Rows 1 - 5

Both versions
Continuing in Seed Stitch as set out above, work a further 60 rows (which brings you to the halfway mark or fold over line of the bag).

Front:

Both versions
Change to Stockinette. Start working from the bottom RH corner of the chart (showing all 39 sts) and knit the first 5 rows in MC, and in the following rows, use the Intarsia method. Continue in Stockinette until all 60 rows have been worked from the chart.

Eyelet version only
Next Row: (eyelet row) *K1, YO, K2tog, rpt from * to end. Check that you still have 39 sts with a row of eyelets (if not something is wrong).
Next Row: K to end of row.

Both versions
Rows 1 - 5: K1, *P1, K1 rpt from * to end.

Making Up:

Weave in all ends, making sure that edges of color work have no gaps or holes. Fold bag in half with both RS together. Pin the front of the bag to the back down the sides; the Seed Stitch back should lie flat and act as a guide for the front of the bag to be stretched slightly to fit against it. Join the front and back down the sides using either mattress stitch, or a fine back stitch close to the edge. Block if you deem it necessary.

See Erssie's website to find a written and visual tute on making the twisted cords referenced below (scroll down past the info on Kitchner stitch).

Eyelet version only
Make one long twisted cord/drawstring as shown in two contrasting colors to match the skull motif. Cut a small piece of rectangular fabric or muslin and sew or tie into a small pouch and fill with herbs (e.g. lavender) and place inside the bag. Thread the cord through the eyelets and pull the drawstring tight and tie in a bow. Hang in the wardrobe or place in a drawer or use in your own way.

About

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Edited by Edith Cummings and Zabet Stewart