A Cute Mother's Day Gift Idea - Knit a Soap Sack

With Mother's Day just two weeks away, here is a quick and easy gift idea that's not only pretty but useful too.   Just slip a cake of soap into this handy soap sack and use it as you would a loofah mitt.

Soap Sack Instructions
Materials:
Scraps of knitting cotton (I used Bernat Big Ball, the same cotton I use to knit my dishcloths)
1 pair 5mm knitting needles
1 darning needle

Instructions:
Cast on 40 stitches.
First row: *K 1, P 1, repeat from * to end
Second row: *P1, K1, repeat from * to end
Repeat first and second rows twice (6 rows)
Seventh row: *Knit 1, slip 1, yarn forward, pass slipped stitch over, repeat from * to end.
Eighth row:  *P1, K1, repeat from * to end
Ninth row: *K1, P1, repeat from * to end
Repeat eighth and ninth rows once
Next row: Slip 1, knit to end.
Repeat first row until work measures approximately 12cm.
First shaping row: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 15, knit 2 together twice, knit 15, knit 2 together, knit 1.
Second shaping row: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 13, knit 2 together twice, knit 13, knit 2 together, knit 1.
Third shaping row: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 11, knit 2 together twice, knit 11, knit 2 together, knit 1.
Fourth shaping row: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 9, knit 2 together twice, knit 9, knit 2 together, knit 1 - 24 stitches.
Cast off.

To make up:  Fold soap sack in half. Sew up along the bottom and side seam.  Make a twisted cord from the same cotton and thread through the holes at the top of the sack. Insert a cake of soap, draw up cord and tie in a bow.

This little sack took about 2 1/2 hours to knit while I was watching Miss Marple and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on TV. It's so simple, the perfect little craft to keep fingers busy without having to concentrate on a complicated pattern.