I love a good market bag (and even have a pattern for one using lace rib over at About). They’re the perfect thing to tote groceries in throughout the year, but they’re particularly great during farmer’s market season because you can just toss it in your purse and bring it out when you need it, and they usually hold a surprising amount of stuff.
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Looking for more patterns? Check these market bag patterns out on Etsy.
Here’s a look at some great string bags you can knit in time for your next shopping trip.
Liz’s magic string bag was a little bit of a sensation when it was published in the Chicago Tribune back in 2008. The “magic” bit is the intentional dropping of stitches to make the bag open up a bit.
It’s So Easy Being Green by Jennifer Lacey is cute and cheap because it uses plain old kitchen cotton that you can buy anywhere for a couple of bucks a ball. You may even have some in your stash you could use.
The Emerald String Bag by Worsted Knitt uses crochet cotton
that’s mercerized for extra shine and strength. This one gets really big so it’s perfect for the market, the library or the beach.
Jodie St. Clair’s Saturday Market Bag has a wide garter stitch strap, which helps the bag hold a lot, and the stitch pattern in the bag has a lot of stretch for all your market treasures. Ruth Stewart’s String Bag No. 3 is a nice, easy mesh pattern and can be worked in a variety of sizes.
Gudrun Johnston’s Shetland Shopper is another great choice, but the winner for the best name for a string bag pattern has to go to Amy Singer and her Everlasting Bagstopper, which is both funny and true because you’ll stop needing plastic bags if you have a few of these at the ready.
Have you ever knit a market bag? I’d love to hear how you use it. Maybe you use it to carry your knitting or crochet projects while on the go. Or perhaps you bring it with you to the farmers’ market to hold all your fresh produce.
Some people even use their knit market string bags as a stylish purse or tote!
No matter how you use it, it would be fantastic to hear about it. Your story could inspire others to try out a knit market string bag for themselves or come up with new and creative ways to use one. So let us know in the comments or just reach out.
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