This bag was designed for my marvellous Mother in Law to carry her knitting in. The classic knitting bag shape is achieved by using ribbing stitch top, bottom and sides, with a simple basket weave pattern for the body.

Instructions are included for knitting the bag ‘in the round’ using circular needles or for working it flat in 2 pieces.

Knitted bags can be prone to needles poking through, so Instructions are also included for how to put a fabric lining into your bag if you want to.

Using aran weight (USA worsted, Australia 10 ply) yarn, the finished bag will be approximately 30cm wide and 30cm tall. You need about 100g of yarn.

Needle size is 5mm (USA size 8, UK size 6)
To work the bag in the round
• You need about 60cm long circular needle.
• You may wish to use straight needles for working the top part of the bag when you are no longer working in the round
To work the bag flat
• you need straight needles

Plastic/ wood handles suitable for use for the bag are widely available from yarn shops or online. Alternatively you may have some from an old bag that you can ‘upcycle’. You will need a pair of bag handles about 14cm in diameter. I used oval 16cm diameter, rather than round ones for one of my bags.

If you do decide to line the bag you need one piece of fabric about 70cm wide and 35 cm high or 2 pieces of fabric about 35cm wide and about 35cm high. You also need matching sewing thread.
I used cotton curtain fabric in one bag and a lighter weight cotton print in the other bag. Avoid fabrics that are very lightweight or knitted fabrics, as the needles may poke out through these. Also avoid very heavy upholstery fabrics, as you will find these difficult to fold into the handles.