Going shopping this summer? Here's a handy little bag you can knit that won't take up much room in your purse, but when you stuff it full, it'll hold a LOT of stuff. It's great to take to a Farmer's Market! And you can knit one in a couple of evenings:
Net Shopping Bag
Yarn: 2 Balls Lingarn -- or 140 meters of any worsted to heavy worsted cotton/linen blend. It would also be nice in hemp, or 100% linen, all cotton, or any tough, not-very-stretchy fiber.
Needles: size 13 double pointed needles; size 13 circular needles, 16"
*Note: the bag is started on double pointed needles; switch to the circular needles when it is feasible.
Base of Bag:
Cast on 9 stitches, divided on 3 double pointed needles. Join.
Round 1: (K1, yarn over) around (18 sts).
Rounds 2, 3, & 4: Knit (on Round 2 knit into the backs of the yarn overs to close them up a bit).
Round 5: (K1, yarn over) around (36 sts.)
Rounds 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11: Knit (on Round 6 knit into the backs of the yarn overs to close them up a bit).
Round 12: (K1, yarn over) around (72 sts).
Round 13: Knit.
Round 14: Purl.
Round 15: Knit.
Round 16: Purl.
Body of Bag:
Round 17: (yarn over, K2tog) around.
Round 18: (K2tog, yarn over) around.
Repeat rows 17 & 18 until bag measures 12" from last purl row. You can make it longer or shorter at this point. Just remember to buy more yarn if you want to make the bag longer!
Bag Top & Handles
Knit two rounds, knitting into the backs of the previous row's yarn overs to close them.
Next round: Knit 9, bind off 18, knit 18, bind off 18, knit 9.
Next round: Knit 9, cast on 40 (over the space where you bound off 18 in the last row), knit 18, cast on 40 (over the space where you bound off 18 in the last row), knit 9. (116 sts) *You could cast on more here if you want longer handles. If you have extra yarn!!
Knit one round. Bind off all stitches.
Actually, you could make this bag big enough to carry laundry or beach stuff in, if you wanted. Just make the base larger (you would knit 12 more rounds plain after Round 12, increase by yarn-overing every other stitch, knit another 24 rounds, then do the increase round again -- that would make it plenty big; you could stop anywhere in between, of course); then knit a much higher body, maybe 24 inches?
Have fun knitting the bag! Go shopping!
Y'know what? YEARS ago I put aside a pattern for a bag something like this and from time to time I've wondered where I put it. This is the perfect take-along project.
You're a whiz.
Thanks Beth!!
Helen
Posted by: Helen in NH | June 24, 2005 at 07:23 AM
Thanks for the pattern!!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 24, 2005 at 01:49 PM
I am behind on posts! The bag looks even better in person BTW. :-)
Posted by: Marie | June 25, 2005 at 08:18 PM
Very cool! This is exactly what I've been looking for. :-)
Posted by: Ulrike | October 06, 2005 at 12:14 PM
I need help. For the body of the bag, rows 17 and 18. are there 2 yo's from round 18 back to round 17.
Somebody, please tell me.
Posted by: linda clayman | June 19, 2006 at 08:10 PM
Linda, it sounds like you might have the wrong number of stitches, making the yo's come out in the wrong place. The stitch pattern will work out okay as long as you have an even number of stitches; if you have an odd number, it won't work.
Posted by: yarndemon | June 19, 2006 at 09:36 PM
I'm having the same issue that linda mentioned. I have an even number of stitches. Row 18 ends with a YO, and 17 starts with a YO. Is there something we are missing here? It seems like maybe there should be a row 19? Are there now plain knit rows while working the YO's and K2togs?
Posted by: Scott Mcthompson | July 29, 2007 at 11:45 PM
I'm having the same problem as linda and scott. perhaps we're supposed to leave out the last YO? or just put two YOs beside each other?
Posted by: Sarah | August 23, 2008 at 01:33 PM
I did it with two YOs beside each other and it worked. thanks!
Posted by: sarah | August 24, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Beth, I have such a basic question I am embarassed--- but I'll ask anyway.
At the very beginning of the bag, after casting on 9 stitches, divided on 3 dbl pointed needles, you say simply "Join".
How do I join?
Posted by: Eliza | October 17, 2008 at 12:28 AM
I'm having the same issue with the two YOs next to each other. It leaves a larger hole than the rest of the bag and since they are all in one vertical line it is very apparent that there is a "problem" there. Has anyone found a solution to this?
Posted by: Lynn | March 12, 2009 at 03:05 PM
This is such a great bag. I've made 3 or 4 in the last month; two for "under 4s" for beach toys (they both loved them). I used a bar increase (i.e., to the front and back of the stitch) on the bottom of the bag, which solved the problem of having to close up the 'yarn over holes'. I'm also thinking of doing the bag in fishing net twine for super durability. Thanks so much for the great pattern!
Posted by: Astrid af Klinteberg | May 10, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Thanks so much Astrid :) Glad you enjoy the pattern!
Posted by: Beth Collins | May 11, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I just started this bag and everything seems to be going okay. I found when you start a new round (where the two yo's are together) if you pull your first stitch (and maybe even your second) really tight then the holes left behind from the pattern aren't nearly as big and barely noticable. The solution is very similar to eliminating the "run" (where you switch needles) when you knit on double pointed needles. The first stitch and sometimes even the second stitch need to be pulled REALLY tight. This way the stitches aren't sagging and it doesn't create a large hole. It will blend right in. Looking forward to finishing and using this bag. It's turning out beautifully!!
Posted by: Krystal | May 29, 2009 at 03:59 PM