Tote bags are great when you need to carry more than a phone and a credit card. These totes range from collapsible market totes to dressy bags to beach carryalls. Updated 6/29/24
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Free Patterns
Lotus Bag
Tote knit in a two color zig-zag stripe and texture. Perfect for the beach, shopping or to carry your latest knitting project. Size Width: 12.6 inches (32 cm). Fingering yarn. Designed by Sys Fredens. A kit is also available.
Be Green! Recycling Tote Bag
Sturdy tote bag with Recyle and Be Green in stranded colorwork. Worked in the round with minimal seaming. Size 12 ½ by 11 inches. Worsted yarn. Designed by Corina Cook.
Hanna Tote Bag
Sturdy tote bag with stylish intarsia design and handles. Knit flat. Size 41cm (16in) x 34cm (13.5in). Worsted yarn and designed for recycled yarns. Designed by Paintbox Yarns.
Mohave Slouchy Tote Bag
Featuring a slouchy design and wide straps, this practical bag has playful tassels add fun and flair. Designed by Jessica from Mama in a Stitch. Aran weight yarn.
Easy Expanding Market Bag
Tote knit with a 2 row repeat lace with a stockinette base and garter stitch handle. Bag measures about 13" [33 cm] long by 15½" [39.5 cm] wide (31 in. [78.5 cm] circumference), unstretched and not including straps. Chunky yarn. Designed by Linda S. Smith for Red Heart. Rated easy by the designer. Worsted weight yarn.
Cable Market Bag
This sturdy, bottom-up tote features cables up the side and handles that can be knit separately and sewn on or knit on with a provisional cast on and a three needle bind off. Worsted yarn. "It's My Bag, Baby Market Bag" designed by Gretchen Tracy.
Breezy Knit Market Bag
Roomy tote created with 2 pieces knit with a 4 row repeat of lace alternating with 4 row of knit. Chunky yarn. Designed by Nancy J. Thomas for Red Heart.
Aloe Day Bag
This tote with mesh eyelet diamonds is knit in the round starting at center bottom, with the top of the strap grafted together using the kitchener stitch. Worsted yarn. Designed by Grid Mammal Crafts.
Taffy Market Bag
Striped lace mesh tote with garter stitch bottom shaped with short rows. Worsted. Designed by The Noble Thread
Little Check Market Bag
This 3 color tote is knit in easy slip stitch colorwork using the Dice Check pattern from Barbara G. Walker’s A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Designed by Gretchen Tracy. Aran yarn,
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See Ravelry page
- Get Barbara G. Walker’s A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns on Amazon
Quinn Cabled Bag
This 9 inch square bag features a cable band, cable body, and long braided i-cord strap. Designed by CogKnition. Worsted yarn,
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns® Cascade 220® on Amazon
Lovely Lunch Bag
Tote knit in the round with easy slip stitch colorwork. 11” wide x 14.5” high, including handles. Designed by Faith Schmidt. DK yarn,
Strong Back Bag
Shoulder tote designed to be comfortable for your back. Designed by Claudia Olson. Pictured projects by Mittagirl and Marchosa
More Free Patterns
Walker Pouch
Felted tote designed to attach over the bar of a walker with a back flap that fastens with snaps for velcro. Size 8 x 10 x 4 ½” Designed by hakucho
Darice Farmers Market Tote
This tote is easy and a quick knit in super bulky yarn. Bag measures 17” inches tall and 14” inches wide. Designed by Jessica Reeves Potasz of Mama in a Stitch. The web version is free and the printable pdf is available on Etsy.
- Get the free knitting pattern – web version
- Get the printable pdf at Etsy
- See more Super Bulky Yarn Knitting Patterns
Cabled Bag
This tote by Willow Yarns features cables on the strap and bag. Finished Measurements: Width: 12″ (30cm) Height: 15″ (38cm) Depth: 3″ (7.6cm).
Eastern Market Tote
This market bag features chevron lace detail and a knit strap. 10.5″ x 18″ not including strap. Designed by Tanis Gray
Basket Weave Bag
Tote with colorwork accents by Willow Yarns makes a fun summer or beach carryall. Finished Measurements: Width: 12″ (30cm) Height: 15″ (38cm) Depth: 3″ (7.6cm)
Summer Fling
Espace Tricot’s bag starts with a bottom knit flit, then the main body is knit in the round from stitches picked up. Finally the handles are knit flat and joined. Pattern available in English and French
Adventure Backpacks
Cabled rucksacks with roomy pockets, cinched by drawstrings. Two sizes. Designed by Cassidy Clark
4-Row Repeat Textured Market Tote
Easy textured tote bag with knit straps from Yarnspirations features a 4-row repeat stitch pattern. Approx 19″ [48 cm] wide x 16″ [40.5 cm] high, excluding straps.
Ramp Tote
This ingenious hands-free tote was designed Jodie Gordon Lucas with panels that fit beneath your legs to keep your knitting projects or other items secure but convenient. Three designs. Jodie points out it also is ideal “for knitting while sitting in bleachers, knitting while sailing, knitting on a rollercoaster, knitting on a ski-lift, knitting on a motorcycle”.
Market Bag
Just stuff this convenient expandable tote by Lily Sugar n Cream in your purse and pull it out to fill with your groceries. Pictured project by tchick
Go Green Market Bag
This Lily Sugar n Cream tote features a front pocket. Straps are webbing or ribbon.Approx 12″ [30.5 cm] square x 5″ [12.5 cm] at base.
Waves Tote Bag
This cotton tote measures 16″ x 14″ x 3″
Aran Cable Tote
Phoebe’s bag is a smaller tote with a wild oak cable pattern.
Weekender Tote
This design from Hilary Hunt is a quick knit in super bulky yarn. Bottom is knit in garter stitch and then stitches are picked up for the bag.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See a FREE video tutorial on How to Pick Up Stitches
- Get leather handles on Etsy
Sea Breeze Bag
This Lily Sugar n Cream bag features drop stitches for interest. Approx 20” x 40” [51 x 101.5 cm]
Linen Concerto Tote
This tote from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio is knit with pretty knotted lace stitch and is 16 ½” wide, 28” long. Great for multi-color yarn!
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended yarn on Etsy
- See more Variegated Yarn Knitting Patterns
Melon Pocket Bag
When you’re not using this Lily Sugar n Cream bag just fold it up into itself, zip, and carry with convenient strap. Then just unzip to use as a tote.
Patterns for Purchase
Big Netty Tote Bag
Easy shopping tote bag. Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by WoolAffair. A kit is also available.
Chunky Grocery Bag
Easy tote knit flat in what looks like garter stitch and seamed. Quick knit in Super Bulky yarn. Rated easy by the designer who says it is suitable for beginners. Chunky knit grocery bag designed by Gorica Pavlovic.
Tote-ally Fab Bag
Handy front and back pockets, strong cabled handles and a stretchy lace structure make this tote perfect for carrying summer essentials. Designed by Caroline Birkett. DK weight yarn. One of the patterns in Simply Knitting 162, July 2017.
- Get the digital version of Simply Knitting 162, July 2017 at Zinio
- Get the print version of Simply Knitting 162, July 2017 at Amazon
BYOB Market Bag
No longer free! Designed by Moira Ravenscroft, this long-handled tote features flexible mesh panels and buttoned strap.
Bring Your Own Bag 2.0
No longer free! There are four sizes of short-handled totes in this pattern by Moira Ravenscroft.
Gathered Tote Bag
Creates a Bag sized approx W42cm x H30cm plus a 60cm Handle. Easy enough for novice knitters.
Community Garden Bag
This lace tote bag is one of the 23 patterns in Warm Weather Knits by Deborah Newton. Pictured project by karilfuge
See more pics and get the book at Leisure Arts – digital or print- Get the recommended Knit One, Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton yarn on Amazon
Lacy Market Bag
This tote is one of 14 knitting patterns in the Beginner’s Guide to Lace Knitting ebook by Rita Weiss. Other patterns include Lace Scarf, Crescent Shawl, Coaster, Heirloom Flower Doily, Scarf of Many Colors, Lacy Hat, Lovely Lace Scarf, Delightful Doily, Lovely Lace Collar Two Ways, Fir Cone Lace, Easy Edging, Lacy Market Bag, Elegant Edging, and Winter Lace Afghan
See more pics and download the ebook at Leisure Arts
Sarasota Shopper
The Sarasota Shopper features bands of Basketweave set into a background of Double Moss Stitch. Finished bag: 31.5cm h x 34cm w x 9cm d,
= 12.5 ins h x 13.25 ins w x 3.5 ins d.
Southampton Collection
4 knitting patterns to transform linen totes to stylish bags. The patterns are also available separately. Clockwise from upper left: The Sarasota Shopper, Southampton Book Bag, Falmer Book Bag, Back-to-Nature Bag
Stitch Sampler Boho Tote
This customizable tote is one of the projects included in the Mix and Match Sampler Class where you’ll learn 12 different stitch patterns and how to join them together for patterns like this.
