(Shown in the optional "soap saver" form)

Fast, easy, and takes hardly any yarn. Done practically as soon as you finish the little bag all in one piece. What about using this for lavender, herbs, and cedar instead of soap for your closets/knits?

My soap bag fit a bar of "Tone" glycerine soap, Regular "Tone" soap, and "Safegard". I think it will probably be a good size for most soaps. I stretched it over the soap before sewing it closed, or knit longer with eyelet row to tie up with the "rope" I-cord, as in photo above. Then you could use it like Roz's Soap Savers!. Adding soap, or soap bits, later.

Soap Saver type bag NOTE: See additional directions below pattern before proceeding.

NOTE: This pattern uses the Bobby Pin Technique. It isn't described in detail in this pattern. It can be seen step by step at Heidi's Knitting Room web site at http://heidisknittingroom.com/AltogetherSock.htm

Description: It is knit the width of the soap until you have knit the length in total with enough space added in to accomodate the end width of the soap. All the while hanging the bobby pins. Then begin sewing as you go for another length. when you are done you should have made a little rectangular sack to pop in a soap. Either use right side, or reverse it for the other side's pattern. Make I-Cord and insert soap.

Materials: Small amount of 16/2, or 10/2 un-mercerized cotton, one strand. I had to use the fine knit bar! One bar of soap. At Least 70 Bobby Pins. More for "soap saver" top.

Machine and pattern: Samples done on Brother 910. For Standard Gauge Japanese type Machine, but you can adjust for your standard gauge machine. No ribber necessary.

Gauge: Tension 3 for one strand. Adjust for 2 strand or thicker yarn. No specific gauge required because it's individual according to your soap and your yarn.

Stitch: Tuck stitch in 2 rows, 2 stitches. Pattern #1 on my Brother Mylar sheet. You can, of course, adjust materials and tensions to fit your machine and weight of cloth desired. Measure your soap and get gauge to fit, if you want to change amount of strands or tension. I knit a thicker soap bag and it was like washing with a rock. I suspect holes in the bag or space with soap showing might be the way to go. Stay tuned, my Nephew is product testing all Roz and My soap bags!

XO
OX

Abbreviations:

RC = row count, EON = Every other Needle, St = stitch, eg = example

Cast on of your choice on needles 8-0-7. You may want to start on waste yarn, then ravel cord one row, then cast on over ravel cord with a permanent cast on of your choice. Hang weights. If you want to do extra long with eyelet row for soap saver bag, described below, then do so now in Stockinette St. and adjust your RC.

I had to have in fine knit bar. Set your machine to knit tuck stitch using your machines directions in the manuel.

Knit To RC 70 in tuck stitch. Hang bobby pin on carriage side every row for 70 rows while knitting in tuck stitch.

eg: Row 1: hang bobby pin on the strand between carriage and main body of work. Snug bobby pin up to body of work. Push carriage across.

Row 2: Hang bobby pin on the strand between carriage and main body of work. Push carriage across. Continue in this manner to RC 70.

RC 71 working on the side the carriage is on, pick up st. you marked with the bobby pin and hang it on the first needle from that side. Remove bobby pin. Knit across.

Continue each row this way until RC 140 and all the stitches with bobby pins in them are hung. Cast off. Bag is done.

I-Cord : T3-4 - Press in right part button.

Pick up 4 st from top of bag, near one side. Hang on machine needles. Begin making cord by knitting across. Do enough rows to desired length cord is completed. Make as long as you want for a neck strap, or over faucet strap. Or just long enough to tie up soap saver sack. My neck strap length let the soap reach the floor before I rehung, and bound off the stitches.

When long enough, hang 4 more st from the other side of bag to cord still on machine needles. Back st bind off, and sew in end thread. Or, take off on double pointed needle with tail of yarn and weave in securely. Knotting, as necessary, to secure.

Sew up You should have a little sack with the top open. Insert soap, and sew up the top. Weave in ends. Or if you have knit the extra long top with eyelets you can weave in and out with the I-cord and tie circular-wise, or back stitch I-cord ends together after weaving it through bar of soap (securing ends). Cinch up the bag with the I-Cord.

Soap Saver idea: If you would like to make a soap saver bag (to reopen and save bits of soap in) cast on the same number of stitches but knit (at least) 4 rows plain (Stockinette st), knit an eyelet row (transfer every other stitch leaving empty needles in work to pick up again the next row automatically). Then begin the first side of the pattern. Re-write RC accordingly! At the end, don't forget to knit your eyelet row and the last (at least) 4 rows Stockinette st. (plain knitting).

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Copyright © Natalie Langkilde 2004

All rights reserved unless permission from the author nammyl@charter.net