Free Pattern - Bow Bag

Seen as the holiday spirit is on me, I thought I would share my latest pattern - the lovely Bow Bag. I made this one using chunky wool and 4.5mm needles so the knitting is really tight. Gauge doesn't really matter, just have nice tight knitting.

Materials:
About 150g of chunky wool. (I used a marble chunky but this would look equally nice in a solid colour)
4.5mm circular needles, 80cm long.
Darning needle.

Main Bag:
Cast on 88 sts.
Knit straight as though knitting on straight needles, i.e. do not join in the round.
G-st 5 rows.
Next Row: (K1, Inc into next st) to end
Join the knitting into the round.
Continue to knit g-st in the round (so that it looks like st-st) until the piece measures 20cm/8in.
Next Row: (K1, K2tog) to end - 88 sts.
From this point stop knitting in the round.
G-st 12 rows.
Cast off loosely.

To make up, join the rows ends of g-st at the top and bottom of the bag. Oversew across cast on sts.

Handles:
Make 2.
Mark where you want the handles to be positioned.
Pick up 9 sts from the cast off sts where you want the handle to start.
First Row: K to end
Second Row: K1, P to last st, K1.
Repeat these two rows until piece measures 41cm/16in.
Cast off.

Sew cast off edge of handle to the top of the bag. Repeat for the second handle.

Bow:
Cast on 15 sts.
St-st 5 rows, working the first and last st in g-st.
Next Row: Inc into every st - 30 sts.
Work in st-st, working the first two and last two sts in g-st, until it measures 13cm/5in from the increase row.
Next Row: (K2tog) to end - 15 sts.
St-st 8 rows, working the first and last st in g-st.
Next Row: Inc into every st - 30 sts.
Work in st-st, working the first two and last two sts in g-st, until it measures 13cm/5in from the second increase row.
Next Row: (K2tog) to end - 15 sts.
St-st 5 rows, working the first and last st in g-st.
Cast off.

Join cast on and cast off edges. Fold piece in half to create the bow.
Centre of Bow:
Cast on 8 sts.
Work in st-st, working the first and last st in g-st until piece measures 20cm/8in.
Cast off.

Place around centre of bow and join cast on and cast off sts.
Place bow on front of bag and sew in place.