Square Bag with Braided Handles

• 1). Cast on 40 stitches. Work even in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) until the piece measures 4 inches, ending with a purl row.
  
  
• 2). Knit 4. Slip 3 stitches from left needle to a holder and cast 3 new stitches onto right needle. Knit 2. Slip 3 stitches to another holder, cast on 3. Knit 2, slip 3 onto a third holder and cast on 3. Knit 6. Slip 3 and cast on 3, knit 2, slip 3 and cast on 3, knit 2, slip 3 and cast on 3. Knit the remaining 4 stitches. You should now have two sets of three stitch holders hanging on the knit side of your work, and each holder should have 3 stitches on it; these will be worked separately to make the braided handles.
  
  
• 3). Work the stitches on the needle in stockinette stitch for another 4 inches. Bind off.
  
  
• 4). Purl the 3 stitches off one of the holders. Attach the yarn and work just these 3 stitches in stockinette stitch (now reversed from the main piece) for 12 inches. Return the stitches to the holder. Work out the stitches on each of the other 5 holders the same way.
  
  
• 5). Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to make the other side of the bag.
  
  
• 6). Braid each of the 4 sets of 3 handle pieces to their ends. Use a tapestry needle and a length of yarn to weave pairs of ends (from the two braids on each side of the bag) together before slipping out the stitch holders.
  
  
• 7). Stitch the "buttonholes" at the bases of the braids shut with the needle and yarn. Put the two sides of the bag together and stitch or weave around the sides without the handles.
  
  

Belt For a Clutch

• 1). Cast on 30 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until piece measures 1 1/4 inch.
  
  
• 2). Knit 5. Bind off 20 stitches. Knit last 5 stitches. On the next row, purl the 5 stitches, attach a second ball of yarn to the other 5, and purl them. Work the two sets of 5 stitches in stockinette stitch (purl one row, knit one row) until they measure 4 inches, ending with a purl row.
  
  
• 3). Knit 5. Cast on 20 stitches and knit on across the last 5, connecting them back to the single ball of yarn. Work the 30-stitch piece in stockinette stitch until it measures 10 inches.
  
  
• 4). Repeat step 2. On the next row, knit 5, cast on 20 stitches and knit across the last 5. Work 30 stitches in garter stitch for 1 1/2 inches. Bind off.
  
  
• 5). Finish the belt by folding the garter-stitch section on each end in half across and stitching it to make a tube. Wrap the belt around the clutch and stitch in place. Slip one of the dowels into each of the garter-stitch tubes.