Pattern description from Weekend Knitting: “Good-bye plastic bags. Take this oversized carryall to the weekend farmer’s market and fill it up in style and in good conscience (knowing you are doing your part to protect our planet). Because the bag is knitted very large then felted down to size, the knitted fabric is dense and strong enough to hold a lot of weight. Because the bag is worked on large (size 11) needles with bulky yarn, the striking geometric pattern comes to life quickly. The background is worked in two similar reddish-orange colors, creating a very subtle striping, similar to the abrash effect on Asian carpets woven with naturally-dyed yarns that are never exactly the same color from skein to skein.”

Finished Measurements: Approximately 16” wide x 18” high, after felting, not including handles

Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Montera (50% llama, 50% wool; 127 yards / 100 grams): Color A, 4 skeins; colors B, C, and D 1 skein each. Shown in book in A #3842 basilico (purple), B #3853 black cherry (dark wine-red), C #3868 orange, and D #3821 sage.

Needles:

• One set of five 10” double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 11 (8 mm).
• One 29” circular (circ) needle size US 11 (8 mm).

Notions: Stitch holders, stitch marker, yarn needle

Note about Gauge: “Because the bag will be felted, exact gauge is not critical.”

Notes from Weekend Knitting:

• “Chart is worked in stranded colorwork Stockinette stitch, carrying color not in use loosely across WS of work: When working in the round for the main section of the bag, read chart from right to left on every round and knit all stitches. When working back and forth for straps, read chart from right to left on RS rows and left to right on WS rows, knitting on RS rows and purling on WS rows.”
• “After each strap has been shaped, photocopy the chart and mark the 13-stitch section to be worked for the remainder of each strap.”