Knit Tarot Bag Pattern

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Leleii	05 Sep 2004
Does anyone have a pattern for knitting tarot bags? Something simple and easy to follow. I am a beginner knitter so I can't handle anything complicated. Thanks.

Imagemaker	05 Sep 2004
I just do a combination of knit and purls, either in rows or in a subtle pattern, double the width of the planned bag, then whipstitch the bottom and side closed. Then thread in a ribbon for gathering the top closed. Fast and easy! You can vary the look with the size of needle.

Leleii	05 Sep 2004
This is going to be a very stupid question. How many stitches do I cast on to make a bag? This will be my very first knitting project. I know I can do this. I am thinking positive. I think that this will be a very good beginning project and my tarot cards will have nice homemade bags that I will make with my own two hands. Thank you for the pattern. I like the ribbon for the ties.

RedMaple	05 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Leleii This is going to be a very stupid question. How many stitches do I cast on to make a bag? This will be my very first knitting project. I know I can do this. I am thinking positive. I think that this will be a very good beginning project and my tarot cards will have nice homemade bags that I will make with my own two hands. Thank you for the pattern. I like the ribbon for the ties. It's not a stupid question at all. It depends on what size yarn and needles you are using. Here's how to figure it out, and also get the look you want. Cast on 16 stitches and knit for a couple of inches, (standard is actually four inches for this swatch). Then lay the swatch flat, and measure how wide it is. Do this measuring somewhere in the middle of the swatch, not right up next to the needle where it may have spread out. Divide 16 (# of stitches) by this number and that's how many stitches you have per inch. Look at the swatch and ask yourself if you like the way it looks. Are the stitches too big, too small? Too stretchy? Too tight? Make adjustments til you like it. This seems time consuming, but it's a sure way to get the bag you want. Once you've got what you like, measure your deck, and follow the instructions for the bag, multiplying inches time stitches per inch. (eg: if your deck is 4 inches wide, and you're getting 3.5 stitches per inch, you'd double the width (8 inches) , the multiply by 3.5 for 28 inches to cast on. Another option, is to make the bag on heavy (wool) yarn, and make it way too big -- like a medium size purse. Then throw it in the washing machine for about 10 minutes in hot water on regular wash cycle -- and shrink it. Move it around and pull it into shape. Keep checking every 5 minutes til it's the size you want. Pull it into the shape you want and dry flat. This is called felting. You could get more details on this at most knitting stores. I've made a few bags like this, adding some glitzy thread and they've come out great. Keep in mind this technique only works on natural fibers like wool, alpaca, mohair, etc. Good luck, and hope these directions weren't too confusing. :)

Leleii	05 Sep 2004
Thank you Imagemaker and Red Maple for the quick reply. I can't wait to play with the yarn and needles to make my bag. Many Blessings.

linabeet	05 Sep 2004
knitted tarot bags i love it! we should have a tarot crafts section. fun.

Imagemaker	05 Sep 2004
It's very cool to knit with thin ribbon, too. Makes beautiful bags! They come out with an amazing texture and, if satin ribbon, wonderful shine. My local knitting store has great ribbon-style "yarn" but an inexpensive thin ribbon can be bought at craft stores. I get about (guessing here) 100 yards to make sure I have plenty for a small bag. Any extra is good for other projects or present wrapping. Knitters, does that seem like the right yardage for a deck-sized bag with size 7 needles?

Leleii	05 Sep 2004
I am learning so much from this site. I think it is a great idea to have a tarot craft section. I am knitting swatches to figure out my gauge. This is fun. I am feeling creative.

RedMaple	05 Sep 2004
Imagemaker, I haven't tried the ribbon in a tarot bag. But it sounds lovely. I'll have to give it a try.

Imagemaker	05 Sep 2004
I love knitting and crocheting with unusual threads, and bags are perfect for quick projects. You can always add beads later (stitched on instead of knitted in).

Ace	05 Sep 2004
If you want to get fancy, you could do a knit 2 tog, YO in one row near the top, and create a series of holes to put a draw string through!

bellaluna	05 Sep 2004
You could just use a scarf pattern,then fold it in half and stitch up the sides.Add some fun fur at the beginning and end for alittle jazz!!I have done a couple like this on 19's with a varigated cotton ,then either use ribbon below the fun fur or make a purse handle( 7 stitches k4,p3 and repeat till the length is where you like it) then attach.

Sillanza	07 Sep 2004
I haven't been knitting that long (about 5 years), but I've done some pretty complicated projects. Right now, I'm doing ponchos for all the kids. Fun! :) When I made a tarot bag, I simply picked a durable yarn that I liked (a cotton) and used the suggested size needle, and cast on about twice the width of my biggest tarot deck. Then I did as was previously suggested, sewing the side and bottom seams. I did make a simple flap, by casting off the first 1/2 of the stitches, and working the remaining ones till I got the desired flap length. I used a nice dense seed stitch pattern for the bottom of the bag -- I hate lining things. :) As far as doing a "blind cast-on," (when you don't know the exact number of stitches), a good rule of thumb is that except for very large needles 1"=1 st. In other words, 36" should be enough yarn to cast on 36 stitches. If you're using a needle larger than, say, a US10, or are using a bulky or boucle yarn, then allow slightly more. Even easier, especially if you're going to make a gathered-top bag, would be to knit it in the round on a cabled needle (the kind with the wire in between). Seamless and really easy, especially if you have a pattern that looks good upside down! No reducing except to shape the bottom.

Sillanza	07 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Imagemaker It's very cool to knit with thin ribbon, too. Makes beautiful bags! They come out with an amazing texture and, if satin ribbon, wonderful shine. My local knitting store has great ribbon-style "yarn" but an inexpensive thin ribbon can be bought at craft stores. I get about (guessing here) 100 yards to make sure I have plenty for a small bag. Any extra is good for other projects or present wrapping. Knitters, does that seem like the right yardage for a deck-sized bag with size 7 needles? Imagemaker, I love this idea. Are the ribbon bags durable at all? Do you have to line them? Have you tried knitting them together with a lightweight yarn for durability (like a baby yarn)? I can't wait to try this ... :D 50 gms = ~60 yards. That's about how much it took to do the cotton bag I knitted (it was for a big deck, and had a flap). 100 yds of ribbon, depending on the ribbon width, sounds like it should be enough. If the ribbon is quite narrow, or if you're going to use a complicated pattern, maybe allow a little more.

Imagemaker	07 Sep 2004
The ribbon yarn I've used is about a quarter-inch wide. The ribbon I've bought at craft stores on cardboard wheels is an eighth-inch wide. I've not tried with wide ribbon, but that would be cool. The bags come out lacy, with holes so that the deck shows through. I don't line them or use them for decks that I carry around (stitches would snag on things in my bag), but they're fine for decks with less travel stress. I store decks in a box in these. They could be lined, so that color would show through the ribbon holes. If unlined, these bags breathe! :-) (Good for faeries)

diane drizzy	08 Sep 2004
Great thread! Guess what I'll be doing this w/e? :D

SongDeva	08 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Imagemaker It's very cool to knit with thin ribbon, too. Makes beautiful bags! They come out with an amazing texture and, if satin ribbon, wonderful shine. My local knitting store has great ribbon-style "yarn" but an inexpensive thin ribbon can be bought at craft stores. I get about (guessing here) 100 yards to make sure I have plenty for a small bag. Any extra is good for other projects or present wrapping. Knitters, does that seem like the right yardage for a deck-sized bag with size 7 needles? Image, what an awesome idea! I just bought some chenille yarn myself, in a wine color that I thought I'd give a try for the Gothic Vampires deck. I'm a wicked beginner too though, so I've been nervous about trying it. The ribbon idea is great!

Leleii	15 Sep 2004
I did it..I did it..I did it... I made my first tarot bag and I am working on the second. The first one is a magnenta pink cotton and the second one is a light pale pink chenille soft cotton. I am so proud... This is my first project in knitting that I completed. Thank you all for the help and guidance on my first knitting project. Warm Blessings

The Knit Tarot Bag Pattern thread was originally posted on 05 Sep 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.