Broccoli Bobble Bag Pattern

Okay, I decided to post the pattern here, so it goes along with the pics of the bag in my previous post. A couple of my friends and I were looking at it during the OSU Buckeyes vs Michigan game, and decided it looks like an upside-down broccoli spear, and since we like VeggieTales, I thought, why not? Hence, the name. Remember, since this will be felted, it will be HUGE as it is being worked up. I believe mine was about 2 1/2-3' long and about 4-6" wide.



You will need:

• 100% wool yarn--I used maybe 3 skeins of Bear Brand "Town 'n' Country" 2-ply which came in 2-pk 1.5-oz. skeins, and the other color came from a cone of Peruvian wool. I had purchased them from a thrift store on separated occasions, so some of them were used. I think different color mixes would make a great felted bag!
• US Size P hook
• Washing machine w/ hot wash/cold rinse cycle
• Cotton pillow case (not flannel, because it will pill)
• 3 yds. 1"-wide gross-grain ribbon

Directions:

Ch 42.
Rnd 1: 2dc in 3rd ch from hook, and dc across, 3dc in last ch, dc across on other side of foundation ch, join to top of turning ch. Ch 3, do not turn.

Rnd 2: Dc around. Join in 3rd ch of turning ch, ch 3.

Rnd 3: Dc in next 3 sts, *work a 4-dc bobble [(yo, insert hook, yo, pull hook through, yo, pull hook through first two loops) 4 times, yo, pull through all 5 loops on hook--3-dc bobbles will have one less] in next 2 dc, dc in next 4 dc. Rep from * across to where the the piece begins to curve around to the back. There should be 7 groups of 2 4 dc bobbles. Dc around to beginning of round. Join, ch 3.

Rnd 4: Dc in next 3 sts, work a 4-dc bobble in top of next 2 bobbles, dc in next 4 sts, (work 4-dc bobbles in top of next 2 bobbles, sk next dc, dc in next 3 dc) 4 times, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 dc, dc in next 4 dc, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 dc, (dc in next 8 dc, dc2tog) to end of rnd. Join, ch 3.

Rnd 5: Dc in next dc, dc2tog, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, sk next dc, dc in next 3 dc, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, (sk next dc, dc in next 2 dc, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles) 4 times, sk next dc, dc in next 3 dc, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, (dc in next 6 dc, dc2tog) to end of rnd. Join, ch 3.

Rnd 6: Dc in next 2 dc, work 4-dc bobbles in bobbles, sk next dc, dc in next 2 dc, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, (sk next dc, dc in next dc, work 4-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles) 4 times, sk next dc, dc in next 2 dc, work 4-dc bobbles in next two bobbles, (dc in next 5 dc, dc2tog) around to end. Join, ch 3.

Rnd 7: Dc 2 tog, work 3-dc bobbles in bobbles, sk next dc, dc in next dc, (work 3-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, sk next dc) 5 times, dc in next dc, work 3-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, dc across to end. Join, ch 3.

Rnd 8: Dc in next dc, work 3-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, sk next dc, work 3-dc bobbles across to dc, sk next dc, work 3-dc bobbles in next 2 bobbles, dc across to end. Join, ch 2.

Rnd 9: Work 3-hdc bobbles [(yo, insert hook, yo, pull through) 3 times, yo, pull through all loops on hook] across to dc section, hdc across to end. Join, ch 2.

Rnd 10: Rep Rnd 9, only w/ 2-hdc bobbles. Join, ch 1.

Rnd 11: Sc around. Join, ch 4.

Rnd 12: Sk 1 sc, dc in next sc, (ch 1, sk next sc, dc in next st) around. Join, ch 1.

Rnd 13: Sc in ea ch-1 sp and ea dc around. Join, fasten off.


By now, the bag should be about 2 1/2-3" across. Place your bag into a cotton (not flannel, as it will pill) pillow case, and place in your washing machine. Do not put anything else in there with it, as I found out the hard way! (I'm still picking of the thousands of little 'fuzzies'!) Throw a little laundry soap in (I just used my Tide), and set your machine on the longest setting with a Hot Wash/Cold Rinse. Once it's finished, you just take it out, and lay it on a flat surface to dry. You may even try hanging it on a plastic coat hanger, and hanging it for a day on your shower rod.

Cut your ribbon into three equal pieces. Weave one of the pieces through the eyelets of the bag and tie it in a bow. Take a second piece of ribbon and tie it around the post of one of the eyelets, with the tail leading downward, and tie the other end to the opposite end of the same side of the bag. Repeat this step with the third piece of ribbon. If you like, you can just weave the first ribbon through the eyelets and sew the tails to the inside of the bag and attach a pretty pin to the outside. Line your bag, if you desire, and you can even add a zipper (this will be easier to do if you line your bag at the same time!). Voila! Enjoy your new toy!