Two posts in one month? No way!

Yeah way. It's exciting, I know. On one of my other favorite websites (that would be Murmurs.com, best official unofficial R.E.M. fansite ever) there is a mix CD exchange going on. I wanted to make mine extra special, so I put labels on my two CDs and created a booklet. Then I thought, It's still missing something...

And then a few nights ago I thought of a knitted CD case. And the mini-sack was born.

DPNs (double-pointed needles) are definitely a necessity for this pattern. Of course, I hate using DPNs, so I switched to circulars as soon as I was able. If you have a 12" circular needle, you might not need DPNs at all. But I recommend having them, just in case.

My mini-sack comfortably held two CDs and a 24-page CD-size booklet.

The Mini-Sack

required skills: using double-pointed needles, using circular needles, knitting in the round, crochet (chain stitch)

materials:

worsted weight yarn (scrap yarn would probably be ideal for this project, since you really don't need a whole lot. I'll estimate... 80 yd? You'll probably have some left over.)

16" circular needle, size 6

3 DPNs, size 6

straight needles, size 6 (optional)

crochet hook, size G or smaller

Tapestry needle OR needle and thread (you may prefer going the needle and thread route, since the opening for your drawstring is so small)

Safety pin

On your circular needle (or straight needles, if you prefer), CO 25 sts. Do not join.

Knit two rows in St st.

Row 3 (RS): while knitting, switch to DPNs. Instead of turning your work, pick up and k 2 sts on adjacent side, and use a new DPN to pick up and k 25 sts on CO side and 2 sts on remaining side. You should now have 54 sts, with 27 sts on each needle.

K in St st in the round for 10-12 rounds (k EVERY round).

At this point, if you prefer, you can switch to circular needles.

Continue to k until your sack is 5.5 inches long.

K one round, but do not join. Instead, work back and forth on the circular needle (or DPNs, if you're brave) for 1 inch in St st (alternate k and p). End on WS. BO.

Fold your top lip inside the sack down to where the notch begins. Use backstitch to sew the tube into place.

With your crochet hook (using another color of yarn if you so choose), make a chain 15" long.

Using a safety pin, pull the chain through your tube until you have an even amount hanging from each end.

THAT'S IT!