The Mali Purse

Design:

Finish:

Project Specs:
Needles: 6 mm Addi Turbos (US 10)
Yarn: 1 ball Quebecois from London Yarns and 2 balls cream yarn from Sarah's auction find

Pattern: Inspired from the Mali sweater pattern in Knitting Out of Africa.
Project Notes (aka What did I learn):

1. The stranded pattern gives the sides of the bag lots of structure. I wish I had done something similar on the bottom.
2. I figured out yarn dominance - and it is very important on which yarn comes from the bottom in two colour knitting.
3. I tried different things with the handles - and ended up just continuing the side panel pattern.
4. I knit back and forth on the handles - stranded purling is slower but can be done. Since the handles were in stockinette, the handles rolled in on each other - I really like how they felted into tubes.
5. I should have made the flap 50% longer, however it still works, and just needs a fastener.