At lunch today I finished a handle on my light and pretty summer knitting bag (it’s called “Mel” from Rowan’s Big Wool book, designed by Kim Hargreaves, but I’ve adjusted the gauge and I’m knitting it in Tahki Baby in light blue — soooo soft). I am continually impressed with the intelligent way that the Rowan designers construct their designs. 
Even something as simple as this handle. It’s knit flat in stockinette with a slip stitch 2 stitches in on each side every knit row - this creates a natural fold in the fabric. Between these slipped stitches are 3 stitches of stockinette. The effect is that when the handle in folded and sewn together, losing 1 stitch on each side in the seam, you have 2 stitches on the bottom 3 on top (not counting the slipped stitches that create the fold) and the bulk of the seam in the middle. The bottom of the handle is perfectly flat while the top is curved because of the one extra stitch and the seam. I hope this makes sense. It’s makes for a lovely, sculpted handle. I hope Kim wouldn’t mind my describing it in such detail, but the rest of the bag is designed just as cleverly.
It’s a must have for summer…
