Market Bag Knitting Patterns

After I shared my knit market bag pattern last month it occurred to me that I hadn’t done a collection of market or string bag patterns in a long time. In fact, the most recent one I can find is this string market shopping bag pattern roundup from 2021. So it’s well past time to update our collection, wouldn’t you say?

I like both lacey, openwork mesh bags like my newish pattern, but I also like more solid bags for more substantial shopping, so this will be a mix of both.

In the mesh category, we’ve got the marked bag from DK Handgood Knits on Etsy, which is an allover openwork pattern except for the top edge and handle. It’s worked in the round and would be an easy first lace knitting project.

Or try the Rambling market bag from Little Red Window, which has a mostly solid base, top and straps but has a chevron lace pattern on the body. This one also uses larger needles than you’d expect with worsted weight yarn, which helps it go faster.

A Free Lunch by Christina Huling (via Ravelry) is similar to mine in that it has a solid base and lacey sides worked in a contrasting color. Here the strap is integrated into the body rather than being a drawstring.

And then there’s Market Share from Vickie Howell (also on Ravelry), which offers a flat-bottomed bag with allover mesh that’s super simple to knit.

If you want a more solid bag, check out Cora from Emma Munn (on Ravelry). This bag is worked in bulky yarn for extra heft and uses a slip stitch pattern on most of the body for extra durability.

Barbara Seidenfaden’s Buetti bag has a sturdy garter stitch base and a stockinette stitch body with I-cord straps. This is a great basic bag pattern you can embellish with stripes, embroidery or other colorwork designs as you like. Find it on Ravelry.

And speaking of stripes and stockinette, there’s also the Pensacola tote from Etsy seller Apple and Acorn Co. This one is all stockinette and is worked in the round, making color changes for the stripes super easy.

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If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.

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