It’s no fun carrying around a plastic shopping bag. Well, forget fun… It’s also no good. Our Linen Market Bag doesn’t have either problem. It’s a  hand-crafted thing of beauty that works harder and longer than even the nicest plastic bag.

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

For its natural purity and strength, I hooked up our Linen Market Bag with Bockens Tow Linen 6/1. Made in Sweden, this 100% linen undulates between very fine and slightly less fine and sprouts little fibers here and there, just to remind you that nature knows best.

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

This gentle rusticity seems kindred to the kinds of things I plan to pack into my Bag: raw almonds from the food co-op, fresh greens from the farmer’s market, and my crochet project du jour!

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

I love when practicality and a certain rawness swing around into elegance, all while doing the right thing. Forget plastic; this Bag feels good! -Whitney

Update: New Yarn

June 21, 2017
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We also made this bag in our Field Linen. Sturdy and durable, it also stunningly beautiful. Be sure to also check out our Market Bag in Field Linen!

Materials

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

One spool of Tow Linen is enough to make two Linen Market Bags.

Gauge

30 single crochets = 4 inches

Size

Finished height from bottom center to top edge: 15 inches

Finished height from bottom edge to top edge: 10 inches

Finished diameter of bottom: 11 inches

Finished handle drop: 9 inches

Note: Finished dimensions are after blocking.

Pattern

Bottom

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Note: I blocked the Bottom before I took this photo. If yours looks a little wavy, don’t worry, so did mine; that’s why I blocked it!

Chain 4 and slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Round 1: Make 8 single crochets (sc) into the ring.

Note: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable marker. Reposition the marker at the beginning of each round to mark the new first stitch.

Round 2: Make 2 sc into each stitch. [16 stitches]

Round 3: *1 sc into next stitch, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [24 stitches]

Round 4: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 2 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [32 stitches]

Round 5: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 6: *1 sc into next 3 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [40 stitches]

Round 7: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 4 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [48 stitches]

Round 8: *1 sc into next 5 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [56 stitches]

Round 9: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 10: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 6 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [64 stitches]

Round 11: *1 sc into next 7 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [72 stitches]

Round 12: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 8 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [80 stitches]

Round 13: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 14: *1 sc into next 9 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [88 stitches]

Round 15: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 10 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [96 stitches]

Round 16: *1 sc into next 11 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [104 stitches]

Round 17: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 18: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 12 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [112 stitches]

Round 19: *1 sc into next 13 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [120 stitches]

Round 20: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 14 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [128 stitches]

Round 21: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 22: *1 sc into next 15 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [136 stitches]

Round 23: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 16 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [144 stitches]

Round 24: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 25: *1 sc into next 17 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [152 stitches]

Round 26: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 18 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [160 stitches]

Round 27: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 28: *1 sc into next 19 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [168 stitches]

Round 29: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 20 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [176 stitches]

Round 30: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 31: *1 sc into next 21 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [184 stitches]

Round 32: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 22 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [192 stitches]

Round 33: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 34: *1 sc into next 23 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [200 stitches]

Round 35: *2 sc into next stitch, 1 sc into next 24 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. [208 stitches]

Rounds 36-45: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Netting

Round 1: *1 sc into next stitch, ch 10, skip 7 stitches, repeat from * to end of round.

Note: Now is a good time to turn the bag right side out. When you made the Bottom, the right side of the fabric ended up inside the bag. By flipping it right side out, not only do you have the right side on the outside, but working the Netting will also be much easier with the right side of the fabric facing you.

Another Note: Now is also a good time to remove the stitch marker. You will work the netting in a spiral without worrying about the beginning or end of the round.

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Next Three Inches: *1 sc into next ch-10 space, ch 10, repeat from * until piece measures 3 inches from Round 1.

Next Three Inches: *1 sc into next ch-10 space, ch 9, repeat from * until piece measures 6 inches from Round 1.

Next Three Inches: *1 sc into next ch-9 space, ch 8, repeat from * until piece measures 9 inches from Round 1.

Top Edge

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Note: You will work the Top Edge with a removable stitch marker, repositioning it to mark the first stitch of each round.

Round 1: 1 sc into next ch-8 space, mark this stitch with a removable stitch marker, 7 sc into same space (see photo, above), *8 sc into next ch-8 space, repeat from * to end of round. [208 stitches]

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Rounds 2-5: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Round 6: *1 sc into next 7 stitches, skip a stitch, repeat from * to end of round. [182 stitches]

Rounds 7-10: Make 1 sc into each stitch.

Remove the stitch marker.

First Handle

Row 1 (right side): 1 sc into next 10 stitches, turn the work.

Row 2 (wrong side): 1 sc into next 10 stitches, turn the work.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the Handle measures 17 inches from the Top Edge, ending with a wrong side row.

With the right side facing you, count 41 stitches past the left-hand edge of where the Handle connects to the Top Edge and mark that stitch.

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Making sure the Handle isn’t twisted, align the end of the Handle with the Top Edge of the bag, right sides together. The live stitch on the Handle should line up with the stitch marker.

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

With the wrong side of the Top Edge facing you, make 10 sc into both the next 10 stitches of the Top Edge and the 10 stitches of the Handle, connecting the two pieces.

Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

Second Handle

With the right side facing you, count 41 stitches from the left-most edge of the First Handle.

Join yarn, and starting with that 41st stitch, work Row 1 of the First Handle section. Continue to work as for the First Handle all the way to the end of the First Handle section.

Finish

Thread a 36-inch length of yarn onto a tapestry needle.

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Fold one Handle lengthwise, wrong sides together, then, starting 1 1/2 inches from where the Handle connects to the Top Edge, whipstitch the two edges of the Handle together. Finish when you are 1 1/2 inches from the other end of the Handle.

Repeat for the other Handle.

Weave in the ends, and block your Bag, being sure to fold each Handle so the whipstitch seam runs centered along the inside of the Handle.

Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho