Get the entire Knitwords collection for ONLY $9 with code KNITWORDS

Buy 3 Get 1 FREE! Place 4 of my patterns in your cart and the 4th (least expensive) will be FREE. No coupon code needed.

Crafters carry lots of stuff. We’re always dragging our latest projects along, just in case. The bigger the tote, the more the project bags you can take, right? This tote bag works up in a variety of colors or just alternating two of your favorites. I had this idea jotted down on paper for a number of years, but the sweater finally came to fruition for my Rhinebeck trip with friends in 2019. The tote bag was soon to follow! This is a large bag with an option for felting or making shorter by knitting fewer words. Make it your own but keep it colorful!

Knitting is very conducive to thought. It is nice to knit a while, put down the needles, write a while, then take up the sock again. – Dorothy Day Top 25 Knitting Quotes https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/knitting.html (accessed June 16, 2020)

NOTES: Worked from the bottom up with the bottom worked flat (with yarn held double) and then picked up around all four sides. All colorwork has been charted. Colorwork may be done in as many or as few colors as the knitter wishes. But for best readability color changes (stripes) should be worked on alternate word rounds. Bag may be slightly felted when complete to provide stability or to reduce overall size but then be sure to use non-superwash wool.

SIZE: One Size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS (Before any optional Felting): 41.25” circumference X 16” high / Bottom = 11” x 17”

YARN: Jill Draper Makes Stuff Valkill (DK weight; 100% NYS Cheviot wool; 252 yds/230m/4 oz/113g per skein) OR any non superwash worsted weight yarn to get gauge (i.e. Valley Yarns Berkshire; Lamb’s Pride Worsted)

Sample bag used 800 yards and 9 colors (1 MC / 8 CC) of Jill Draper Makes Stuff Valkill in colorways Daffodil, Paprika, Argent, Cocoa, Marine, Malachite, Bing Cherry, Bottle and Cobalt and weighed 370 grams.

GAUGE
19 sts and 26 rows = 4“ in colorwork OR 4.75 sts and 6.5 rows = 1” in colorwork.
15.25 sts and 17.5 rows = 4” in Garter st OR 3.75 sts and 4.5 rows = 1” in Garter st.

ERRATA - Oct. 2020 - a note was added to address the omission of the chart (Rows 53-65 Word: PSSO) from the pattern photograph.

Tech editing and graphic layout by Jean Clement, Desert Rose Fiber Arts. Photography by Amber Lindemann. Test knitters were Beth Arner, Debby Buck and Ann Templeton. Models for the eBook were Bianca Alwali, Hannah Wilson and Heidi Lindemann.