With warmer weather just around the corner, there's no better time to knit or crochet these free patterns for shoulder bags and grocery totes? Felted or plain, handmade purses, hobos and sustainable market bags are an easy, inexpensive way to have that one-of-a-kind accessory everyone will want.
The Avonlea Shoulder Bag caught knitnscribble's eye on Pinterest this morning. It's the perfect new pattern for St. Patrick's Day, cables and all, with double-knit straps for durability. Lined, complete with a zipper or not, seed stitch side panels are picked up and sewn together with a basket stitch gusset. Knit with a US 7 (4.5 mm) needle or try knitting it with a US 13 (9 mm) and felting later. This wonderful free purse pattern is compliments of Melissa Walshe.
Arne Morse's Strawberry market bag is just the tote for quick grocery trips and knit with US 9 (5.5 mm) and 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles and 5 (3.25) straight needles, using two balls of yarn, one red, one green, 195 yards each. The free pattern has a lovely picot edge and ribbon-laced strap, so feminine and useful, too.
The Margarita felted bag pattern by Terry L. Ross is offered free on Crystal Palace Yarn's site, straw.com. A delightful pattern that fulfills its name, the Margarita bag is fun to knit and felt, while dreaming of sipping an umbrella drink on a white sandy beach. The free pattern uses several different Crystal Palace Yarns to achieve the sparkling flower stripe and attached i-cord trim. Knitnscribble used 2 strands of Knit Picks DK 100% wool for the spring green main color.
The "Grrlfriend Market bag," yes, that's the correct spelling, as this useful tote by Laura Spradlin evolved from an old boyfriend's sweater. Indeed, recycling yarn can be fun! It's knit from a square bottom in an easy lace pattern, is sturdy, and will last much longer than one summer of farmers' markets. Find the free pattern with strap variations in a previous Knitting in Providence article.
Bernat offers a free crochet market bag pattern, quite large at 12" x 15" x 12" and durable, made with cotton yarn, and a perfect beach tote as well.
The Bucket of Roses felted bag free pattern, lined and interlined, is easy to knit in just a few sittings. Felted and knit with two strands of Knit Pick's spring green 100% DK wool.
After knitting or crocheting one of these handy free patterns, use your new market bag when you are yarn shopping during the Second Annual Great Rhody Yarn Crawl, scheduled for Friday, April 13, 2012 at 9:00am until Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 5:00pm on behalf of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Last year, 1100 pounds of food was collected. This year, there will be classes and more sponsors than ever: Berroco, Classic Elite, Dirty Water Dyeworks, Slater Mill, of course, and among the many new sponsors this year, Cooperative Press, plus another visit by Ysolda Teague. Follow the news of this year's Crawl on Facebook.
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