Knitted Market Bag Pattern

With all of the reuse, reduce, and recycle messages finally sinking in, many of us are finally embracing the concept of bringing our own reusable bags to the grocery store. This knitted market bag would take up little space, but offers ample room for shopping purchases. This market bag pattern was designed by JoAnne Turcotte ©2000 and is offered by the Plymouth Yarn Company as a free internet pattern.

Fantasy Naturale Market Bag

Size: Approx. 16” high X 12” diameter.
Materials: 2 skeins Fantasy Naturale cotton
straight needles: sizeUS 10½ for the base;
24” circular needle- size
US 15 for the body of bag
Gauge: Approx. 2 sts = 1” over openweave pattern. Gauge is not important. Loose open weave is desired.

Base:
With smaller (straight) needles loosely cast on 25 sts. Work in garter stitch until square (about 42 rows). Square will measure about 7”X 7”. Bind off loosely, but do not cut yarn. Change to larger (circular) needle. Pick up and knit 100 sts evenly around the base (25 sts on each side).
Sides of Bag:
Place a marker on the needle to designate the beginning of the round.
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: *(K2, YO, K2tog) repeat from * around.
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: *( YO, K2tog, K2) repeat from * around.
Repeat the last 4 rounds until total length is about 15”, ending with round 1 or 3.

Work top as follows:
Round 1: Purl.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: Purl.
Make handles:
Round 4: Knit 30, bind off 15, knit 35, bind off 15, knit 5.
Round 5: Purl 30, cast on 20 over the 15 bound off sts, purl 35, cast on 20 over the 15 bound off sts, purl 5. (110 sts.)
Round 6: Knit.
Round 7: Purl.
Round 8: Bind off all stitches loosely.
Weave in all ends.