Help me understand what this pattern is asking

Hey all!

I am currently working on the Ilene Bag pattern and was struggling to understand a certain part of it. The pattern reads as follows for how to do the handle:

“Work 10 sts in ribbing as established.

Note: Mesh Pattern creates a fabric which spirals, so that the beginning of each round no longer lines up neatly with the corner of the base of the bag. Working these ten stitches before binding off for the long edges of the bag will help to straighten this out.

BO 43 sts loosely in rib, work 25 sts in ribbing as established, BO 43 more sts loosely in rib, and work 25 more sts in ribbing as established.

(86 sts bound off, 2 sections of 25 live stitches remain on opposite sides of the bag.)”

Then you make a handle using those two sections of stitches.

My question is: what are the 10 stitches for? They don’t seem to have a purpose and don’t seem to come back later in the pattern. I don’t understand the wording of it at all. Can someone can help me understand what it means and also WHY it’s important?

Because the bag is twisting or biasing, the 10sts will adjust for that and make sure that the handles 25sts align with the short side of the base rectangle. It’s like moving the beginning of round marker.
So after completing the 6 rounds in rib, work 10 more sts in rib (this would be 10sts into round 7) and then start the bind off.

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Ok this makes sense. Will those 10 stitches be like the new end of the row?

Yes, think of them as the new end of round. You’re going to bind off next so you’ll be working on one set of the handle sts and won’t be working in round any more.
It’s a good looking bag.

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Thank you so much!

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Great bag, it is on my list to do. I crocheted market bags and want to try knitting one. Let us see finished product😃

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Definitely will share the finished product!