Galway Striped Felted Bag

Here is the finished sling bag. I forgot to take the measurements before I felted it - but it's about 11" x 10" now, knit with Galway wool. This is a gift for my DD's anniversary. And, yes, I know it's her hubby's anniversary too - so I put a Home Depot gift card in the bag. Actually my DD can be found in HD more often than her hubby!
This is not exactly my own pattern, it's a combination of several different free patterns I found on the internet, so I think it's okay to post the pattern I came up with. I used Plymouth Galway 100% wool in five different colors - dark torquoise, light torquoise, dark pink, light pink, and purple. The stripes are random - wider stripes are 8-10 rows, and narrow stripes are 2-4 rows. You can make up your own stripe pattern, or use the radom stripe generator.
Using size 11 circular needles, cast on 100 stitches and join in the round. Place a marker at the beginning of the row. Work in desired stripe pattern for about 20". Next Row - Knit 19, knit 12 and place these 12 stitches on a stitch holder, knit 38 and place these 38 stitches on a stitch holder, bind off next 12 stitches, knit 38 and turn (you will now be working back and forth on one handle side) Keep working in the stripe pattern as you work the handles.
Handle: Row 1 (and all odd rows) Purl
Row 2(and all even rows) K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts. K2TOG, K1
Repeat these 1 rows until you have 12 sts. left on the needle. Place these 12 sts. on a stitch holder and tie off yarn leaving a tail.
With wrong side facing you, pick up the 38 stitches from the stitch holder for the other side of the handle and repeat the two rows above. When you reach the 12 remaining sts., keep working in st. stitch (keeping stripe pattern) until your handle is as long as you want it (remember it will shrink about 40-50% in the felting. I made my handle about half as long as the pre-felted bag. Then graft it to the other side of the handle.
Tab: Pick up the 12 sts. remaining on the stitch holder and knit in st. stitch (I made my tab a solid color) for about 5", then decrease (K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts. K2TOG, K1) on each knit row for a couple of rows to round off the tab.
Turn bag inside out and sew up the bottom. Felt bag (Galway felts pretty quickly so watch it) until it is the size you want. Mine was about 11 x 10 (not counting the handle). Stuff with plastic bags to shape while drying.
When bag is dry - cut a slit in the tab, and sew a corresponding button on the bag.
I also made this solid color, needlefelted, version of this bag for my ITEIV pal.