Koigu Beaded Bags
I’ve knit four of these Koigu beaded bags and still love to make them. They take only one skein of Koigu KPPPM and 660 beads (900 beads for the one on the top left). I can make one in a couple of days and have twice given them as gifts. I even have a couple skeins and matching beads set aside for another bag or two.
The pattern is from an old Interweave Knits (ETA: Winter 02/03) which, I guess, is impossible to find now. The pattern is not that hard to figure out, though, so you almost don’t need the magazine.
A perfect instant gratification project. I find myself doing a lot of those 
ETA: Some of the comments suggest that the bag is cute but the beads would be too much of a bother to work with. The first time I made the bag, the beads seemed overwhelming. Now I’ve got it down and have a system that makes them seem almost inconsequential.
Yes, I have to string the beads on first (well, I guess I don’t have to—I could do it another way, I suppose) but then I just toss the ball of Koigu avec beads into a bowl and knit away. When I come to the beads, I push them down about 10-15 yards which gives me enough room to knit the rows until I need beads again. At first, I have to push them in sections as all 660 won’t go in one swoop, but that gets easier as I use up beads.
The bowl keeps the unwound yarn from getting tangled and keeps everything contained and close at hand.
Choosing the Koigu colorway and beads to match is so much fun—c’mon, give it a try!
Comments 12
Those are so pretty!
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 4:56 am ¶It’s a wonderful bag, but all the beads would make me batty.
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 5:14 am ¶I just love these bags - the beads give them such a nice weight and feel.
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 7:48 am ¶Gorgeous! Which issue of Interweave? I think I have them all, heh.
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 8:25 am ¶Sadly, I agree with Margene. All those beads are a deal killer for me even though I adore the finished bag.
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 8:39 am ¶Luuuuuuuuucy! You’re giving me ideas! LOL!
Is the pattern in the Holiday Gifts 2006 issue? Must scrounge and find pattern.
They’re really pretty.
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 11:05 am ¶hmmm which issue of IK? ’tis lovely, fer sher.
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 11:42 am ¶I love these bags! I am now knitting my second one, and like you, I have gotten the bead thing down. I love mixing the beads and yarn colors! and I have another in the wings waiting. I’d love to know what color and type beads you used in your bottom left bag. The color is great with that yarn!
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 4:36 pm ¶how COOL!!!
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 6:05 pm ¶This from the same grrl that won’t knit for anyone else? You must really love these
I love the weight, too. Beautiful bag.
Posted 09 Jun 2008 at 10:29 pm ¶I love the koigu bag, but am ripping my hair out trying to figure out which issue of IK it is in. Anybody know the exact one??
Posted 17 Jun 2008 at 5:17 pm ¶I love your bags! Is the only way to get the pattern from the Interweave Magazine?. I will have to ask some friends if they have an old issue on hand. I have several single skeins of Koigu and didn’t know what I would make with them. I love working with beads and I can see how these could be addictive. Are they fairly large?
Posted 20 Jun 2008 at 11:53 pm ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
[...] was inspired by the pattern Exploring Stripes from IK Winter 02/03 that I wrote about here; I wanted to find a way to make the beads spiral down the sides of the bag rather than stripe [...]
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