Another stashbuster pattern!

For those who always end up with too much to carry at the growers’ market, My Big Boho Market Bag provides a great solution. With a wide, flat bottom, the cotton bag as shown measures approximately 19” wide by 16” high with a 5” wide bottom panel, and will hold just about as much as can be carried.

The bottom panel is worked flat in Seed Stitch and stitches are then picked up around four sides on a circular needle for knitting the rest of the bag. The I-cord drawstring and Seed Stitch handle are worked separately; the drawstring is threaded through the top row of eyelets and the handle is sewn on. No other sewing is needed.

A great “on the go” pattern, the bag as shown was designed with and knit from a stash cotton – Araucania Ulmo Multi, but any DK or worsted-weight cotton may be substituted. It’s a good idea to use a cotton that can be (hand) washed.

NOTE: A #9 needle was used to knit the body of the bag to create a looser gauge than the recommended gauge (and needle size) for this yarn. Be sure to make a swatch of the pattern stitch, using the yarn and needle size selected to make sure the knitted fabric is not too stiff. The gauge for the bag as written is 18 stitches to 4”.

My Big Boho Market Bag as shown weighs 280 grams and used just under three skeins of Ulmo Multi (100 grams, 202 yards each).

The pattern could be made by a newer knitter comfortable with picking up stitches, knitting in the round, and making an I-cord. In addition to knit and purl stitches, the pattern stitch requires yarn-overs and knitting two together to form the eyelets.

If a rigid bottom is desired for the bag, a piece of cardboard can be cut to size and inserted into the bottom of the bag and easily removed when the bag needs washing.