Reduce plastic waste by making your own reusable bags with this knit market bag pattern. This knit tote bag pattern works up quickly and can last for years.
This handmade, reusable knit market bag is a great sustainable choice for hauling produce from the farmers market or your garden. The pictured bag was made with three balls of Java yarn, #106 Desert Rose color, from Universal Yarn, an American company based in North Carolina. You can substitute any medium-weight worsted yarn that’s 100% hemp, linen, or cotton, but be sure to check the gauge first. Not only is yarn made from hemp sustainable, but it’s also especially durable and strong, which makes it well-suited to shopping bags.
Finished measurements will be 9 inches in diameter and 12 inches in height (not including the straps).
This knit market bag pattern will take about 29 hours to knit. The bottom of the bag is worked flat and seamed. Stitches are picked up along the sides of the circular bottom and worked upward.
To wrap and turn (abbreviated “W&T”), bring the working yarn to the front, slip the next stitch onto the right needle, move the working yarn to the back, slip the stitch from the right needle back onto the left needle, bring the working yarn to the front, and turn.
Knit Market Bag Tools & Materials
- Hanks of #4 medium-weight, 100% hemp yarn, each about 3-1/2 ounces and 219 yards
- Circular knitting needle, U.S. size 6 (4 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge, 24 inches in length
- 1 stitch marker
- 2 stitch holders
Gauge & Stitches
In garter stitch with two strands of yarn held together, 19 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches, blocked.
In the openwork pattern with one strand of yarn, 18 stitches and 20 rounds = 4 inches, blocked.
Garter stitch worked flat
Row 1: Knit across.
Pattern row: As Row 1.
Garter stitch worked in the round
Round 1, right side: Knit (K) around.
Round 2: Purl (P) around.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 for the pattern.
Openwork pattern (multiple of 2 stitches)
Round 1, right side: *Yarn over, Purl 2 together (P2tog); repeat from the * around.
Round 2: *Yarn over, Knit 2 together (K2tog);
repeat from the * around.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 for the pattern.
Knit Market Bag Pattern
Bottom of Bag
With 2 strands of yarn held together, cast on 21 stitches.
Begin short rows:
- Row 1, right side: K3, W&T.
- Row 2: K3, turn.
- Row 3: K6, W&T.
- Row 4: K6, turn.
- Row 5: K9, W&T.
- Row 6: K9, turn.
- Row 7: K12, W&T.
- Row 8: K12, turn.
- Row 9: K15, W&T.
- Row 10: K15, turn.
- Row 11: K18, W&T.
- Row 12: K18, turn.
- Rows 13 and 14: Knit across.
Repeat all short rows 19 more times.
Bind off.
Sew the cast-on edge to the bind-off edge to form a circle.
Body of Bag
With the right sides facing and 2 strands of yarn held together, pick up and knit 120 stitches around the circular bottom of the bag.
Place a marker for the beginning of the round.
Begin garter stitch in the round, and work even for 1-1/2 inches.
Cut one of the strands of yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and begin the openwork pattern with one strand only.
Work even until the piece measures approximately 12 inches from the beginning of the sides of the back.
Divide for Shoulder Straps
Work the pattern as established across the first 30 stitches and slip them onto a holder. Loosely bind off the next 30 stitches, work the pattern as established across the next 30 stitches, and place them on a holder. Loosely bind off the next 30 stitches.
With the right side of one of the 30-stitch holders facing you, K2tog, K26, K2tog – 28 stitches remain. Turn.
Next row, wrong side: K2tog, knit across until 2 stitches remain, ending the row with K2tog — 26 stitches remain.
Next row: As last row — 24 stitches remain.
Next row, wrong side: Knit across.
Next row: K2tog, knit across until 2 stitches remain, ending the row with K2tog — 22 stitches remain.
Repeat the last 2 rows 5 more times — 12 stitches remain.
Continue even in garter stitch, knitting every row, until this strap measures about 12 inches from the beginning.
Bind off.
Repeat for the second strap.
Finishing
Sew the bound-off edges of the straps together. Darn in all remaining yarn tails.
Melissa Leapman is an American crochet and knit designer who creates designs for major yarn companies. She’s the author of several bestselling knit and crochet books. This project is excerpted from her latest book, InstaKnits.
Originally published as “DIY Knitted Shopping Bag” in the October/November 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
