Karen: The Stripey Beaded Bag

Ok, so a few people asked for the pattern, so here goes. If you do knit it, I'd love to see your FO. I've called it Karen (as I'm posting it it needed a name right?) because it was first knitted for my friend Karen and she uses it all the time. Also, if every knitted gift recipent was as appreciative as her, all knitters would be happy!

Equipment: Not much is needed of any of these yarns. Perhaps 25 g. One of the yarns is a vintage cotton, so not available. You could use whatever you have that is roughly DK weight. Lambs Pride Cotton Fleece, New Age Teal. (A)
Debbie Bliss Merino DK 001 (B)
Sirdar Country Style DK Gemini 502 (C)
Vintage Cotton (D)
One pair 4mm needles
One 25cm zip
Small piece of fabric (approx 28 cm x 40cm) appropriate for lining.

I don't think gauge is important in this case, but it should be approximately 20 stitches by 28 rows to 10cm, over stocking stitch. The finished item is roughly 25cm x 18cm.

Abbreviations
pb - Place bead, slide bead up yarn until it is at the work, trapped before next stitch
yb - Yarn back, bring yarn to back of work
yf - Yarn forward, bring yarn to front of work

Placing beads
Thread a sewing needle with a short peice of sewing cotton. Tie a knot in it and thread yarn A through the resulting loop. Thread beads onto yarn A via the sewing needle and thread. The way I have suggesting placing the beads gives a random arrangement. You could do it in a pattern if you'd rather.

Knit two pieces as follows
Cast on 50 stitches using yarn A
Row 1 Knit
Row 2 Purl
Repeat row one and two, twice
(Cut yarn A)
Change to yarn B
Next row Knit, repeat for a further two rows
(after using yarn B, C or D, leave ball attached so it can be picked up next time it is required. This saves sewing in ends).
Change to yarn C
Next row Purl
Next row *K1 P1 Repeat from * to end
Next row *P1 K1 repeat from * to end
Change to yarn D
Next row Knit
Next row Purl
Change to yarn C
Next row Knit
Change to yarn B
Next row Knit, repeat for a further two rows.
Change to yarn D
Next row *K1 P1 Repeat from * to end
Next row *P1 K1 repeat from * to end
Next row *K1 P1 Repeat from * to end
Change to yarn C
Next row Purl
Next row Knit
Next row Purl
Change to yarn B
Next row K10 P10 K10 P10 K10
Next row P10 K10 P10 K10 P10
Next row K10 P10 K10 P10 K10
Change to yarn D
Next row Purl
Change to yarn C
Next row Knit
Next row Purl
Change to yarn D
Next row Knit
Change to yarn B
Next row Purl
Change to yarn C
Next row *K1 P1 Repeat from * to end
Next row *P1 K1 repeat from * to end
Change to yarn B
Next row Knit
Change to yarn D
Next row *P1 K1 repeat from * to end
Next row *K1 P1 Repeat from * to end
Change to yarn B
Next row Purl
Change to yarn C
Next row Knit
Change to yarn D
Next row Purl
Chnage to yarn B
Next row Knit
Next row Knit
Change to yarn A
Thread 25 beads onto yarn (see above)
Next row K5 yf s1 pb yb K6 yf s1 pb yb K4 yf s1 pb yb K8 yf s1 pb yb K3 yf s1 pb yb K5 yf s1 pb yb K6 yf s1 pb yb K5
Next row Purl
Next row K3 yf s1 pb yb K6 yf s1 pb yb K4 yf s1 pb yb K5 yf s1 pb yb K3 yf s1 pb yb K8 yf s1 pb yb K5 yf s1 pb yb K6 yf s1 pb yb K2
Next row Purl
Next row K5 yf s1 pb yb K2 yf s1 pb yb K4 yf s1 pb yb K4 yf s1 pb yb K4 yf s1 pb yb K3 yf s1 pb yb K3 yf s1 pb yb K4 yf s1 pb yb K2 yf s1 pb yb K4 yf s1 pb yb K5
Next row Purl
Cast off all stitches

Sew sides and cast on edge together
Pin zip along cast off edge. I used the cast off as a feature and also to hide the stitches.
Cut lining fabric to twice the size of bag plus roughly 1.5 cm seam allowance along all sides. Fold in half (right sides together, so to fit inside bag) and iron down the seam allowance along top edge, to wrong side. Sew short sides together. Put into bag, seams facing so they will be hidden. Stitch in place, to zip, hiding zip tape. Take care not to stitch too close to zip as thi may catch when zip is used.