Knit Market Tote

This free knitted market bag pattern is not only cute, but ethical, too!

Knit Market Tote

Bringing reusable bags to the grocery store or market is one of the easiest ways you can help save the environment. Bonus points if you can knit yours! This Knit Market Tote is perfect for hauling around groceries without filling the world with more needless plastic and waste, and it's even made from reclaimed ribbon. It can even double as a knitting project bag for stowing away your works-in-progress on-the-go. Even if you've never knitted a bag before, the instructions are easy enough for someone without much knitting experience to follow.

Beginner

Knitting Needle Size10 or 6 mm, Circular Knitting Needles, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

Yarn Weight(5) Bulky/Chunky (12-15 stitches for 4 inches)

Gauge14 STS x 25 Rows = 4 x 4 inches (Garter Stitch)

Finished Size14 x 7 x 6 inches

Materials List

skeins of DGY Reclaimed Chiffon Ribbon
Size 10 (6 mm) needles of either:

24 in. Circular Needles & 1 Extra Needle for BO

16 in. Circular Needles and Double Pointed Needles
4 Stitch Markers
Scissors
Darning Needle

Bag

Notes

To SSK or SSP, slip the next two stitches, one at a time as if to knit/purl.

For SKK, insert the left needle into the front of these two stitches and knit together.

For SSP, insert the left needle into the back of these two stitches and purl them together.
To BLCO, hold the yarn from the needle in between your fingers and thumb, insertthe needle tip under the loop of yarn on the outside of your thumb. Let the loop slideoff the needle and gently pull tight, continuing until all the stitches are cast on.
Blocking: Blocking is not necessary.

Instructions

CO 104 STS and join in the round. PM at the end of the round.

Work Garter Stitch for 4 rows (2 purl ridges)

Handles:

#1 K 11, BO 16, K 36, BO 16, K25
#2 P 11, BLCO 16, P 36, BLCO 16, P 25

Work Garter Stitch for 12 more rows (6 purl ridges)

Switch Skeins. Work in Garter stitch for 18 rows (9 purl ridges)

Switch Skeins. Work in Garter stitch for 18 rows (9 purl ridges)

Switch Skeins. Work in Garter stitch for 6 rows (3 purl ridges)

(There should be 30 purl ridges for the whole tote at this point)
Flat Bottom Decreases: (you may switch to dpns if you prefer!)

R1: SSK, K34, K3TOG, PM, SSK, K10, K2TOG, PM, SSK, K34, K2TOG, PM, SSK, K10, K2TOG
R2: SSP, P to 2nd ST before marker, P2TOG, SM, P to marker, SM, SSP, P to 2nd ST before marker, P2TOG, SM, P to end marker.
R3: SSK, K to 2nd ST before marker, K2TOG, SM, SSK, K to 2nd ST before marker, K2TOG,SM, SSK, K to 2nd ST before marker, K2TOG, SM, SSK, K to 2nd ST before end marker, K2TOG
R4-11: Work R2 to R3 4 more times
R12: Work the same as R2
R13: SSK, K to 2nd ST before marker, K2TOG, Remove Marker, K2TOG, Remove Marker, SSK,K to 2nd ST before marker, K2TOG, Remove Marker, K2TOG, Remove Marker.

Redistribute the 26 STS evenly between the remaining to 2 needles (or the two tips of yourcircular needles). Use the 3rd needle to do a three needle BO.