Knitted Market Bag

I've seen many patterns for Knitted Hobo/Market/Slouchy bags recently utilizing cotton yarn and decided I wanted to make one.  But, after researching patterns, I just could find one that had all the key components that I wanted in one pattern, such as, a seamless bottom, two handles, no hole to close up, etc.  So I came up with this pattern which utilizes the magic loop method to get started and circular knitting to complete it.  There is very little seaming involved and pretty much uses up 3 balls of cotton yarn.  I really am not a fan of having lots of left over yarn after knitting a project so I did my best to develop a pattern that completely uses up the yarn.  I came pretty close!  I had a little left of Color A.  I also filmed a video tutorial of the project to hopefully explain the trickier parts of the pattern for you.  It truly is pretty easy once you get the hang of the color transitions and utilizing the Kitchner Stitch to secure the ends of the handles.  I've included the full written directions as well as a link to the video tutorial.  If you complete the project, I'd love to see pictures of your bags and the colors you chose.  You can send them to me at my email address - jeanninecrafts@gmail.com or follow the links at the bottom of the page to my Facebook or Google+ pages.  Happy knitting!!!

Gauge:

18 stitches and 29 rows = 4 inches in stockinette

Yarn:

3 balls Cotton Yarn in any colors you choose.  I used two colors from Peaches & Cream – 2.5oz. /70.9g 120yards/109m each

Materials:

Size 7 (4.5mm) 47″ (or 40”) circular and 24” (or 16”) circular needle

Stitch markers
5 – Size 7 Double Pointed Needles

Yarn needle

4 Markers

Abbreviations:

K – Knit

P – Purl

KFB – Knit in the Front and Back Loop to increase by 1 stitch
M1L – Make 1 Left Stitch: with left needle, insert needle from front to back under the yarn between the previous and next stitch; knit into the back loop

M1R - Make 1 Right Stitch: with left needle, insert needle from back to front under the yarn between the previous and next stitch; knit into front (will be a little difficult)
PM – Place Marker

* – indicates the sections that should be repeated for the round
st/sts– stitch/stitches

A – Color A

B – Color B

CO – Cast On

BO – Bind Off

Directions:

With Color A - CO  4 (2 on each needle) on 47” circular needles (you can get by with 40” if that’s what you have) using Judy’s Magic Cast On setting up to work in the Magic Loop method.  Knit first 2 stitches on Needle One normally.  Knit 2 stitches on Needle 2 through the back loop. You are now ready to begin increasing.

You can follow the written directions below, but I find the use of markers so helpful in showing  you where to increase.  If you use markers then you will increase before the stitch that is right before the marker and you will increase after the stitch that is right after the marker and after the first stitch on the needle and right before the last stitch on the needle.  You will do this on both needles.  This will save you the trouble of having to count stitches on every increase row.  When you switch from Magic Loop to knitting in the round you will place markers at the beginning of the round and at the middle of the round so you will continue to know where to increase without counting.  You’ll use the same method as described above for increasing before and after the stitches that are before and after the markers. This will increase your work by 8 stitches on every increase round.

Color A

Rnd 1: KFB in all sts (8 sts)
Rnd 2: K
Rnd 3: KFB in first 2 sts, pm, KFB in next two stitches.  Repeat on Needle two.  (16 sts)
Rnd 4: K
Rnd 5: *K, M1L, K2, M1R, K* (24 sts)
Rnd 6: K
Rnd 7: * K, M1L, K4, M1R, K * (32 sts)
Rnd 8: K
Rnd 9: * K, M1L, K6, M1R, K * (40 sts)
Rnd 10:K
Rnd 11: * K, M1L, K8, M1R, K * (48 sts)
Rnd 12: K
Rnd 13: * K, M1L, K10, M1R, K * (56 sts)
Rnd 14: K
Rnd 15: * K, M1L, K12, M1R, K * (64 sts)
Rnd 16: K
Rnd 17: * K, M1L, K14, M1R, K * (72 sts)
Rnd 18: K
Rnd 19: * K, M1L, K16, M1R, K * (80 sts)
Rnd 20: K

Rnd 21: *K, M1L, K18, M1R, K* (88 sts)

Rnd 22: K

Rnd 23: *K, M1L, K20, M1R, K* (96 sts)

Rnd 24: K

Rnd 25: *K, M1L, K22, M1R, K* (104 sts)

 You can switch to 24” or 16” circulars at this point.

Rnd 26: K

Rnd 27: *K, M1L, K24, M1R, K* (112 sts)

Rnd 28: K

Rnd 29: *K, M1L, K26, M1R, K* (120 sts)

Rnd 30: K

Rnd 31: *K, M1L, K28, M1R, K* (128 sts)

Rnd 32: K

Rnd 33: *K, M1L, K30, M1R, K* (136 sts)

 Phew!! You are done increasing!!

Rnd 34-48: K

Attach Color B

Rnd 49-50: K with B

Rnd 51: K with A

Rnd 52-53: K with B

Rnd 54: K with A

Rnd 55-56: K with B

Rnd 57: K with A

Rnd 58-59: K with B

Rnd 60: K with A

Rnd 61-75: K with B

Rnd 76-77: K with A

Rnd 78: K with B

Rnd 79-80: K with A

Rnd 81: K with B

Rnd 82-83: K with A

Rnd 84: K with B

Rnd 85-86: K with A

Rnd 87: K with B

Rnd 88-102: K with A

Rnd 103: K with A in seed St *K1, P1*

Rnd 104: A *P1, K1*

Rnd 105: A *K1, P1*

Rnd 106: A *P1,K1*

Rnd 107: A *K1,P1*

Remove Marker at beginning of round

BO 13 Sts

K 8 sts onto DP Needles

BO 13 Sts

Remove Marker

BO 13 Sts

K 8 sts onto DP Needles

BO 13 Sts

Remove Marker

BO 13Sts

K8 sts onto DP Needles

BO 13 Sts

Remove Marker

BO 13 Sts

K8 sts onto DP Needles

BO 13 Sts

Handles:

With another DPN attach color A on the first st on the first DPN on the bag and knit in seed st for two rows.  Attach Color B and knit in seed St for two rows.  Continue in this pattern until you have 100 rows.  Connect the live stitches from the first DPN to the second DPN on the bag using the Kitchner Stitch.

Repeat this process on the third and fourth DPN’s on the bag.

Weave in and secure all your tails and your bag is complete!

Part One

Part Two

Part Three