Knit an Aran bag: free knitting pattern
A cute cabled bag to knit with our free pattern. By Julie Carter

You will need
Cream Aran yarn, approx 300g
4mm needles
Cable needle
Pair of bag handles (we used Purse n-alize-it! handles in black available from good haberdashers)
Abbreviations
Tw2k: Knit into back of 2nd stitch, knit into front of 1st stitch (this causes a twist); C6B: Put 3 stitches onto a cable needle, place at back of work, knit next 3 stitches then knit 3 stitches off cable needle (this forms a cable twist); CF6: Put 3 stitches onto a cable needle at front of work, knit next 3 stitches then knit 3 stitches off cable needle; MB (make bobble): knit into the front then back of next stitch twice, K1, turn. Purl 4, turn, knit 4, turn. K2 together twice, pass 2nd stitch over 1st.
For the pattern
Cast on 104 stitches. Commence in k1 p1 rib. Rib 2 rows.
Row 1 (cable row): P5, K1, P3, K1, P3, TW2K, P3, K1, P3, K1 * P3,C6B, P2, C6F, P3, K1, P3, K1, P3, TW2K, P3, K1, P3, K1. Repeat from * to last 5. P5
Row 2: K5, (P1, K1) twice, P1, K3 (P into front, back and front of next st) twice.
K3, P1, (K1, P1) twice * K3, P6, K2, P6, K3, P1 (K1, P1) twice, K3 (P into front, back and front of next st) twice, K3, P1, (K1, P1), twice, repeat from * to 5sts. K5.
Row 3 P5, K1, P3, K1, P3, K6, P3, K1, P3, K1 * P3, K6, P2, K6, P3, K1, P3, K1, P3, K6, P3, K1, P3, K1
Repeat from * to 5sts. P5
Row 4 (bobble row) K5, P1, (K1, P1) twice, K3, P6, K3, P1, (K1, P1) twice, * K3, P6, MB, P6, K3, P1, (K1, P1), twice, K3, P6, K3, (K1, P1) twice
Repeat from * to 5sts. K5
Row 5 Same as row 3.
Row 6 K5, P1, (K1, P1) twice, K3 (P3 tog) twice, K3, P1, (K1, P1) twice, * K3, P6, K2, P6, K3, P1, (K1, P1) twice, K3, (P3 tog) twice, K3, P1, (K1, P1) twice.
Repeat from * to 5sts. K5
These 6 rows form the pattern.
Continue in pattern until work measures 32cm. Cast off in pattern.
Knit front and back the same.
To make up
Place two pieces right side to right side. (Make sure cable stitches are both running in same direction.)
Backstitch around three sides of bag, leaving top 10cm open on each side.
Turn bag right side out.
Pin handles, 1 on each side.
Oversew from the inside of the bag.
Sew in all the ends. You could line the bag if you like.
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