Treat Yourself to a New Bag in the New Year

I have a lot of bags, and a good number of knitting bags, but it seems like I’m always throwing my knitting into any old shopping bag that is handy when I leave the house.

But when the thing inside is so nice, shouldn’t it be carried in a nice bag, too?

Maybe we should all resolve to use real knitting bags when we carry our projects, to give them the respect they deserve.

I was recently sent a Knit Hobo Bag from Great Useful Stuff, and its a nice basic starter bag if you’re looking for something to try. It looks like a mom purse, and is big enough to hold your project if it’s not too big and all your other stuff, too.

It has a large interior and an outside pocket that has a sort of rubbery mesh panel that’s intended to help keep your yarn from getting tangled if you knit with your ball in the bag.

There’s a small interior pocket with a zipper for holding your phone and keys, or knitting tools if it’s a knitting-exclusive bag. It has a single short strap and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap so you can carry it however you like. The full dimensions are 13.5″ x 12″ x 3.75″ (main body). The fastened handle has a 7″ drop, and the removable and adjustable shoulder strap drops up to 21″.

I love the little yarn cutter charm that’s attached to the loop that holds the straps but is also removable so you can add it to your keychain or wherever else you’d like to keep it handy.

The Knit Hobo bag retails for $20 and is a good investment in keeping your knitting in good order in the new year. Thanks to Great Useful Stuff for sending a bag for review.

Next Pattern:

There is something very sweet about vintage baby knitting patterns, especially the ones that still feel wearable today. This Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from the CraftGossipStore has that lovely old-fashioned charm without looking fussy or too dated, which is exactly what makes it a nice find for knitters who enjoy making baby gifts with a bit of heirloom feeling.

The pattern includes two classic baby sweater styles: a textured crew neck jumper and cardigan options with raglan sleeves. The stitch pattern gives the finished pieces that beautiful handmade texture we all love, but it still feels practical enough for real babies — not just the kind of outfit that gets worn for one photo and then carefully folded away forever.

You can find the pattern here: Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from CraftGossipStore.

This is a restored vintage knitting pattern delivered as a printable PDF, so there is no physical pattern posted out. After purchase, the file is available through Etsy as an instant digital download, which is handy if you’re the sort of knitter who gets an idea at 9 pm and wants to cast on before common sense has a chance to intervene.

The pattern is designed for 8 ply / DK weight yarn, which makes it a practical choice because DK baby yarn is easy to find in soft modern colours. It uses 3.25 mm and 4 mm knitting needles, along with stitch holders, buttons for the cardigan versions, a yarn needle, scissors, and measuring tape.

What I like about this pattern is the flexibility. Worked in cream, lemon, powder blue, sage green, oatmeal, dusty pink, or warm beige, it would suit either a traditional baby wardrobe or a more modern neutral nursery style. The cardigan version is especially practical because cardigans are always easier when dressing little ones. Anyone who has ever tried to wriggle a jumper over a sleepy baby’s head will understand that immediately.

Because this is a vintage pattern, it is worth remembering that older knitting patterns are often written more briefly than modern ones. They tend to assume the knitter already knows a few things, so I’d recommend this for confident beginners through to intermediate knitters rather than someone picking up needles for the very first time. If you’re comfortable reading shaping instructions, checking gauge, working textured stitches, and sewing seams neatly, this should be a very satisfying little project.

Before starting, make a tension square. I know, I know — no one wants to hear it, but baby garments are small enough that gauge really does matter. A tiny difference in tension can quickly change the finished size, and nobody wants to finish a beautiful baby cardigan only to discover it fits a doll or a toddler with very optimistic shoulders.

This pattern would make a lovely baby shower gift, newborn photo outfit, heirloom baby knit, or handmade market sample. It is also a nice choice for knitters who enjoy vintage patterns but prefer having them cleaned up into a more usable digital format.

If you need supplies, look for a soft DK baby yarn, smooth knitting needles, small cardigan buttons, stitch holders, and a blunt yarn needle for finishing. Mary Maxim is always worth checking for baby yarns and classic knitting supplies, while Amazon can be handy for basics like stitch holders, measuring tapes, button packs, and printed pattern binders if you like keeping your PDF patterns organised.

For anyone who enjoys traditional baby knitting, this is a sweet little pattern with plenty of charm. It has that “made by Grandma, kept forever” feeling, but with enough simplicity to make it useful for everyday babywear too.

Next Pattern:

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