When summers in Seattle roll in, all of the neighborhoods celebrate with the reopening of their farmer’s markets. This year, we are celebrating with them with a Summer Craft Along featuring market bags. Ilene is Emerald City Yarn’s knit market bag, written by one of the co-owners, Hannah Mason.

This is a very stretchy bag, with a comfortable, wide strap that won’t dig into your shoulder when you’ve got a big load of fruit or yarn or rocks. The yarn is machine washable and dryable, so if a tomato squishes it’s no big deal. The strap isn’t very long, which is intentional because I don’t like stretched-out straps that leave the bottom of the bag dangling by my knees. If you want a longer strap, plan on more yarn, or else do fewer repeats of the mesh pattern before working the ribbing.

Fingering Weight Version:
Materials: 2 balls BC Garn Lino 50g/15m
24” circular needles, sizes 4 and 6 US
Gauge: 20 sts over 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needles

Worsted Weight Version:
Materials: 2 skeins Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme
24” circular needles, sizes 7 and 9 US
Gauge: 17 sts over 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needles