Now banned in eight states, including New York and California, single-use plastic bags are going the way of DDT and CFCs… And good riddance!

Knit Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

How painless, when the alternative to plastic bags is simply an opportunity for beauty. Our Knit Linen Market Bag will make you wonder what in the world were we all thinking!

Knit Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Don’t let its elegance fool you. Knit up in our fine but super hardy Field Linen, this tote is machine washable and as tough as nails. Yes, throw in a bunch of leeks, a watermelon, and a bag of potatoes!

Knit Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

To make it, you knit up a stockinette rectangle, which becomes a nice, flat bottom for support. You pick up around its edges and knit the rest of the bag in the round, following a simple two-round lace pattern. Finish it off with tidy I-Cord edging and straps!

Knit Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

You’ll just need two skeins of Field Linen (we used gorgeous Galapagos Teal) to make your tote. Two skeins equals one bag that will last a lifetime? We like that math!

Knit Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoKnitLinenMarketTote, and #PurlSohoFieldLinen. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Knit Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho

Gauge

26 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

21 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in lace stitch pattern

Size

  • Finished Circumference: Approximately 23 inches
  • Finished Height: 13 inches
  • Base of Bag: 4 inches wide x 9 inches long
  • Strap Width: ¾ inches
  • Strap Length: 22 inches

NOTE: These dimensions are after blocking, before use, as the height tends to grow with use.

Notes

Construction

You will make this bag by first knitting the Base flat, then picking up around the Base and knitting the Body of the bag in the round.

Slip Stitches

Slip all slip stitches purlwise unless indicated otherwise in pattern.

Provisional Cast On

For assistance, including how to put live stitches back onto needles, please visit our Provisional Cast-On: A Two-Step Method Tutorial.

Pattern

Base

Using a Provisional Cast On (see Notes), cast on 26 stitches.

Set-Up Row (right side): Knit to end of row.

Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 (see Notes) with yarn in front, purl to end of row.

Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 with yarn in back, knit to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until Base measure 9 inches from cast-on edge (73 total rows).

Body

Pick Up + Knit

With right side facing you, turn piece 90 degrees clockwise and with working yarn, pick up and knit 36 stitches evenly along left selvage. [62 stitches]

With right side facing you and cast-on edge at top, slip 25 cast-on stitches onto left needle (see Notes), starting with top left corner stitch. With working yarn and right needle, knit 25 cast-on stitches. [87 stitches]

With right side still facing you, turn work 90 degrees clockwise and pick up and knit 36 stitches along remaining selvage. [123 total stitches]

Continue Even

With right side facing you, place marker and join for working in the round.

Round 1: *Knit 2 together (k2tog), yarn over (yo), k1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: *P1, yo, purl 2 together (p2tog), repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 13 inches from picked-up edge, or until desired height of bag, ending with Round 2.

Knit 2 rounds in stockinette.

Bind-Off Row: Bind off 32 stitches knitwise, place removable stitch marker (pm) on last stitch bound off, bind off 24 stitches, place unique marker on last stitch bound off, bind off 37 stitches, pm on last stitch bound off, bind off 24 stitches, pm on last stitch bound off, bind off 6 stitches (this should be to end of round). Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch.

Straps

Using double pointed needles and a Provisional Cast On, cast on 5 stitches.

With right side facing you and starting at the unique marker, work an Attached I-Cord along the bind-off edge for 37 stitches, ending at the next marked stitch. Please visit our Attached I-Cord Tutorial for complete instructions.

Now work an unattached I-Cord for 22 inches for first Strap.

Rejoin the Attached I-Cord at next marked stitch, 24 stitches from previous stitch marker, and work it to the next marked stitch, for 38 stitches.

Work an unattached I-Cord for 22 inches for second Strap.

To complete the Straps, remove the scrap yarn from the provisional cast on and place stitches onto a double pointed needle. Hold the two double pointed needles parallel and use the Kitchener Stitch to graft the Strap I-cord to the Attached I-Cord.

Finishing

Weave in ends and wet block. Note that the bag circumference may pull in so be sure to wet block to the dimensions given above in the Size section.

Knit Linen Market Bag | Purl Soho