My first knitting post: Bag 1, Batawa

Knitting; 

In Indian culture the yarn has special importance particularly in some festivals like Vadpournima, Rakshabandhan etc . In my mother tongue Marathi there is a special word Reshimbandh, the word Reshimbandh  (Reshim means silk yarn and bandh means bond) means bond of love through the beautiful silk yarn. Just as yarn gets hand in hand with one another to form a sturdy cloth. Similarly we have to make our relations strong with hand in hand in one another.

Knitting is one of the art of making textile or fiber with the help of yarn, using two simple needles and I have a strong bond of love with knitting. First time I picked up the needles in my hands when I was in grade V. At that time we have basics of knitting and sewing as a part of our curriculum. My teacher taught me how to cast on and knit. I remember I have knitted a rectangle in garter stitch of size 4x6 inches approx. with small tassels on both sides. It was used as a rug for the small temple of God which we have in our home.

Forty years passed on to that, in between I am busy in my education, job, marriage then kids, family and all, so could not knit regularly but whenever I have time I have completed some project. But photos of all those projects are not with me because I didn't have any personal camera or mobile at that time. So I have photos of those items only which are still with me. 

Small Bag (Batava in Marathi) This is very simple project even beginners can do. Such small bags were generally used by Grand mothers in the house when they went to temples for carrying some flowers, some coins etc. I am lucky enough who stayed with grandma (and my parents also) till my marriage. So here is my first project in memories of my grandma.

Small bag (Batava)

My grandma

The abbreviations used are as per standard English notes.

Working Instructions:

Color: Any color of your choice

Needles: UK no.11 ( 3 mm), crochet hook B1(2.25 mm)

Yarn: Yarn used is from India. It is 4 ply.

Cast on 40 stitches.

Row 1 to 8: Work 2x2 Ribbing (that is K2, P2 through out the row) till the length is 1/2 inch 

Row 9: (RS): K1, (YO K2 tog), repeat in bracket till the last stitch then K1

Row 10: WS: all purl

Row 11: All knit

Row 12:All purl 

Row 13: As row 11

Row 14: As row 12 and so on, that is work Stockinette stitch till the length becomes 8 inches

Then repeat rows 9 and 10

Work 2x2 ribbing for 1/2 inch

Lastly bind off.

Fold it and sew the sides from WS

Make two simple cords of crochet chain each of length 16 inches pass them through the holes created by YO. Attach tassels to the ends as in the photo. 

Gift it to your grandma.