I’m currently creating a bag to hold my knitting supplies when I’m out and about. I want it to sort of resemble a bucket purse. I’ve been looking all over, but I can’t seem to find any information on how to create the bottom. Any ideas?
I’m guessing that by “bucket purse” you mean a round bottom? One thing you could try is to crochet the bottom in an expanding circle. This would also make the bottom thicker and less apt to sag. Then just pick up the outer stitches and knit in the round to the height you want. There’s other ways to do this in knitting, but I like the idea of a durable bottom. Hope this helps.
That does help. Another question…
Does it make a difference that I plan to put something in the bottom (haven’t decided on material yet) to make it stiff?
Something like the booga bag - it has a rectangular bottom.
If you want the bottom circular, here are a couple ways to knit a circle
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/petscatbasket.htm
http://www.knitlist.com/00gift/round-baby-blanket.htm (if you use a different increse then YO, you won’t get the holes)
If you are felting the bag, that will make the whole thing sturdier. If you wanted the bottom sturdier still, you could cut a piece of pastic canvas or something the shape of the bottom, and even make a 2nd bottom shape and sandwich the plastic between the 2 bottoms.
You might also think about lining the inside with fabric so take the pressure off the bottom. Canvas is nice and it would be a nice stiff interior. You could do blanket stitch around the top or sew it with a machine. You could make a small pocket in it to keep your small stuff.
If you’re not going to felt the bag, I would definitely sew in a fabric lining. otherwise, things will poke thru the knitting and could go all the way thru and be lost.
Oh, that is a fantastic idea! I’ll definitely be looking into that.
Absolutely will be lining it as well. The plan is to make pockets to hold two skeins of yarn with eyelets on the outside of each pocket to thread the yarn through to keep things neat. A couple more pockets for needles and notions and I’ll be good to go. I haven’t used a sewing machine in YEARS, but I think it’s time to brush up.
That’s a great idea!
You could also out grommets around the eyelets so the yarn would flow through easily. This would probably only work if it was felted and lined but it’s easy to do. You need to post a pic when you’re finished, it sounds great!
My first attempt at making a bottom failed miserably. I tried doing even decreasing like on a hat… ugh! Yucky yucky, nasty looking. My next try will be a crocheted bottom. If that doesn’t work, I might end up making the bottom a separate rectangular piece and stitching the whole thing together. The good news is that the overall sizing of it is a bit bigger than I had anticipated, so my decision to felt it will work perfect. I bought a zipper and strap adjuster to put on after I get the other stuff done.
It’s a really simple knit so far, but it’ll be the non-knitted work on it that will make it really special 
I’ve knitted a few bags to felt. I knit a rectangular bottom and then pick up stitches around the edge and knit them circularly.
Crochet oval: https://youtu.be/rAvuaJLyo2c
Knitted shapes that start with a pinhole cast on: https://knitmuch.com/a-spider-web-base-for-a-knitted-trick-or-treat-bag/
Pinhole cast on: https://knitmuch.com/3-cast-ons-for-knitted-circles/