This finger-knit cabled tote pattern uses about 1.5 balls of bernat blanket big or another very thick (1-2 wpi) yarn. I upcycled a tote bag to use as a lining to give the tote structure and keep items from falling out between the large stitches, or you could make your own lining from scratch.

I used finger-knitting for this pattern, so your gauge or tote bag size may be different. This pattern is for a bag that is 7 stitches wide along the front, but I also included suggested patterns for larger or smaller bags/gauges. Just make sure the number of stitches matches the size of the lining tote you’re using.

You could also use size US 50 needles rather than finger knitting, but I have not tested that.