modified elisa's nest tote

My modifications to Elisa's Nest Tote - no purling, seams or kitchener stitch!

Yarn:

Lily Sugar 'n Cream (2.5 oz) - I used less than 2 balls

Needles:

DPNs size US 10 1/2
24" circular size US 10 1/2
DPNs size US 8 for straps

Bag:

With two size 10 1/2 DPNs, Eastern/Turkish cast-on 74 sts; yo to make 75 sts; pm and distribute sts to as many DPNs as necessary; start with Round 2 of pattern (the cast-on is Round 1):

Round 1: knit
Round 2: k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Round 3: knit
Round 4: *ssk, yo, repeat from * to last st, k1

Repeat the four pattern rounds, switching to circular needle as needed, until bag is about 12" long. I ended on Round 4. Bind-off loosely. When I knit in the round, I like to get rid of the gap between the first and last st of the bind-off by using a yarn needle to create another stitch**

I-cord Straps:

With size 8 DPNs, Eastern/Turkish cast-on 12 sts, but put bottom 6 sts on stitch holder (I use a safety pin). Pick up a st on the top border of the bag and begin applied I-cord as described in the pattern. Continue around the top of the bag. My I-cord was 50 rounds but it gathered the top of the bag too much and made the opening of the bag pretty small, so I would recommend picking up more stitches to keep the opening larger. With RS facing, three-needle BO with the 6 sts on holder.

Repeat for other strap. Weave in ends.

**Here's how I close the gap between the first and last BO stitches when knitting in the round:


With yarn needle on the end you just pulled through the last BO stitch, go under the two loops of the first BO stitch:


Then back into the last BO stitch:


Looks like just another stitch between the two BO stiches: