This little knitting bag went to market …
Summer brings to mind the start of harvest bounty and farmer’s markets where local fresh fruits and vegetables fill the stalls. For July’s project KAL, we make a colorful string bag for eco-friendly shopping trips to your favorite fresh markets.
Crossed Loop Market Bag
This colorful string bag scrunches down to next to nothing until needed. Then expands to an amazing size to accommodate your market purchases, corral fiber and yarn, or whatever. It’s a great bag to take to the beach or poolside, too.
Beyond BOBBOL with Non-Lace
I promised that some projects in this year’s KAL series will go beyond lace and beads to try new things in other areas. This month’s stitch pattern technique is one of those “beyond”.
The knitting for the market bag goes quickly because the main pattern stitch is a nifty elongated twisted stitch that is at least double the height of a normal stitch. I call the method used to make this stitch “cross looped”. It’s lace-like because of it’s openness, but not technically lace. I guess we will refer to it as non-lace lace, lol.
You’ll also be guided step-by-step with skill-building instructions for making a self-joining tubular casing for the drawstring I-cord handles.
Pattern Availability
Crossed Loop Market Bag pattern cover page
Crossed Loop Market Bag pattern will be available for purchase at a special 50% off discount for Free Limited Content members from July 5 – 25 in the Knit-A-Longs area of the site. Note: Premium and Basic level members will be able to download the pattern for free as part of your paid subscription membership.
All members have free access to member-only support articles for the KAL. So even if you decide to not purchase the discounted pattern this month (which is the option on a Limited Content plan), I hope you will take advantage of the tutorials, tips & techniques articles to inspire and advance your knitting skills.
Note: Premium Level members have early access to the July KAL pattern. Check the Premium Area for your coupon code to get Ravelry delivery (coupon expires July 31, 2014).
Shopping List
In the pattern, there are instructions for 2 sizes:
Little Shopper – approximately 20″ opening
Big Shopper – approximately 30″ opening
Instructions for Big Shopper follow in parentheses when different from Little Shopper.
I suggest making the smaller size of the market bag. Believe me, it will be large enough for most any of your needs. But the larger size is also offered for those with gargantuan fiber stashes or whatever, lol.
Overall size is pretty hard to specify, as by nature of the crossed loop stitch, the bag can collapse down to almost nothing but also widen extraordinarily!
I haven’t specified a gauge for that reason, and it really doesn’t matter for this article anyway. This is just a fun project, so dive right in.
For the yardage calculation, I have allowed for a 20” length, but it’s easy to shorten or lengthen your bag as you like.
You’ll need:
- String or firm cotton yarn such as size 5 or 10 crochet thread, 5/2 pearl cotton, lightweight carpet warp, etc. or equivalent in a firmly twisted 2- or 3- ply handspun —
For body of bag: 250 (375) yards, approximately 2 (31⁄2) oz / 60 (90) g — a multicolor yarn is striking and fun to work with, but of course a solid color can also be used.
For I-cord handles: 50 yards — can be the same yarn or a coordinating solid color.
- Size 3 or 4 needles —
16″ (16″ to 24) length circular needle
Pair of double-point needles (used for I-cord handles)
Optional: I-cord knitting machine
Note: Instead of knitting the I-cord handles, you could crochet a similar cording or purchase already-made cording. I won’t be specifically covering these specifically alternatives, but just wanted to mention for those who might not want to knit a bunch of I-cord.
An Invitation to Join Us for KnitHeartStrings KAL’s
I hope you will join us to knit and learn along for Crossed Loop Market Bag as part of the Beyond BOBBOL series. If you are not yet a member of KnitHeartStrings, you can Join Here. There is lots of good knitting to come for 2014 Beyond BOBBOL!
HeartStrings FiberArts
Knitting Bits of Lace on Facebook
Ravelry Store
Is Tencel strong enough for a market bag?
Sure. Actually, Tencel is even stronger than cotton!