This Applied I-Cord makes a nice finished edge for the top of the bag and a strong handle, too! You'll need only two of your double-pointed needles, plus a tapestry needle for joining the circular handle together.
APPLIED I-CORD BORDER
With smaller needles, cast on 6 stitches.
Round 1: K5, sl 1. Beginning at the right front edge of the top of the bag, pick up one stitch and place it on the left needle. Knit it onto the right needle, then pass the slipped stitch over it and off the right needle. You have six stitches on the right needle, and the yarn is coming from the last stitch on the left, closest to the point of the needle.
Round 2 Preparation: Without turning the needle, slide the stitches down the needle to the opposite end and move the needle to your left hand. The yarn is coming from the last stitch on the left, now furthest from the point of the needle.
Round 2: K5, sl 1. Pick up the next edge stitch and place it on the left needle. K1, psso.
Repeat Round 2 until all of the edge stitches along the front of the bag have been incorporated into the I-Cord.
I-CORD HANDLE
Once you have completed the Applied I-cord Border, continue knitting the I-cord handle until you reach the desired length. Remember that the handle will stretch a lot when the bag is full. For a hand bag, we recommend knitting an 8 inch long I-cord handle; for a shoulder bag, knit until the I-cord is approximately 16 inches long.
JOIN BEGINNING AND END OF I-CORD USING KITCHENER STITCH
Kitchener stitch is a seamless way to join "live" stitches, or stitches that are still on the needle. For this project, one end of the I-cord is live, but the other end is the cast on edge. To set up for Kitchener stitch, pick up six stitches from the cast on edge on one needle. Now you have six stitches on each needle.
1. Break the yarn, leaving a 20 inch length. Thread it onto a tapestry needle.
2. Hold the needles parallel, so that the stitches on the front needle come from the I-cord border, and the stitches on the back needle come from the I-cord handle. The yarn is coming from the first stitch on the back needle.
3. Draw the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle, as if to purl. Leave the stitch on the knitting needle.
4. Draw the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the back needle, as if to knit. Leave the stitch on the knitting needle.
5. Front Needle
a. Draw the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to knit. Slip the stitch off the knitting needle.
b. Draw the tapestry needle through the following stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave it on the knitting needle.
6. Back Needle
a. Draw the tapestry needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl. Slip the stitch off the knitting needle.
b. Draw the tapestry needle through the following stitch on the back needle as if to knit and leave it on the knitting needle.
Repeat Steps 5 and 6 for remaining stitches.
Draw the yarn through the last stitch to secure it, then weave in the tails.
MAKE SECOND HANDLE
Knit the Applied I-cord Border and I-cord Handle for the back of the bag. Make sure the handles are the same length!