10 Free Knitted Bag Patterns for Beginners

Knitting bags is the perfect activity for spring and summer.

By: Kristi Levy, Editor, AllFreeKnitting.com

10 Free Knitted Bag Patterns for Beginners

In the warmer months, it's common to see interest in knitting wane a little bit. As fun as it is to knit cozy scarves and big, chunky sweaters, it's just hard to get excited about a hobby that seems so warm by nature when you're sweating your tuchus off and can hardly be bothered to wear a shirt, let alone a cardigan. It took me a few years to really believe this, but there's actually so much you can knit and still use when it's hot outside.

From dishcloths to wall hangings, from beer cozies to beach cover ups, from amigurumi to pillows, there is so much more to knitting than just sweaters and scarves. My favorite spring and summer knit is a bag, because without all of the bulky winter clothing, it's easier to show off a fashionable purse or backpack. Since the idea of knitting a bag can be intimidating (straps, zippers, buttons, shaping... it's all quite a lot), I thought I'd throw together this list of 10 free knitted bag patterns for beginners. After all, if beginners can knit them, anyone can!

If you're not much of a purse person, there are a ton of other uses for knit bags. You could make your own knitting bag to keep in your other projects and supplies, or learn how to knit a bag for the farmer's market to carry all of your fresh produce in a sustainable way. Jump into this list with an open mind and see what all you can make!

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1. Anything Knit Bag

Learn how to knit a small bag with this pattern, which is the perfect introduction to bag knitting. Not quite a purse, this little pouch is great for carrying things like change or keys within your primary bag.

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2. Breezy Knit Market Bag

This knit market bag pattern is light and lacy enough to carry around your fresh fruit, but it also doubles as a gorgeous beach bag for vacations or lazy days by the lake.

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3. That's My Knit Bag, Baby

This bag is a great first purse pattern for prospective bag knitters, as you really only need to know how to knit, purl, and slip a stitch in order to complete it. P.S. Slipping a stitch is just moving a stitch from one needle to another without knitting it. You're welcome.

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4. Knit Market Tote

Speaking of easy bags, you'll be blown away at how simple this knit market bag is. The entire thing is knit in garter stitch, so you can pick your favorite bulky yarn and let the beauty of the colorway do all of the talking.

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5. Moondoggie Bag

This bag is my personal favorite on the list; it's an easy stockinette stitch pattern that anyone can manage, but the combination of vertical and horizontal panels makes it look way more difficult tahn it is. The classy denim straps don't hurt.

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6. Aspen Mountain Knit Tote

If you're looking for more of a knit boho bag pattern, the Aspen Mountain Knit Tote may be nearly big enough for you. Some of us have a lot of crap to carry around, so we may as well do it in style.

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7. Easy Knit Messenger Bag

Messenger bags were my bag (pun intended) in high school. I wouldn't wear a normal backpack if I could have a canvas messenger bag decked out in pins and patches. This gorgeous knit messenger bag is the more grown-up version.

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8. Herringbone Foldover Clutch

If you're more of a clutch person, free knitted bag patterns for beginners without straps is what you're looking for. The slipped stitch pattern gives this bag some enticing texture, and the color is lovely.

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9. Easy Knit Tote

If you have a really cool couple of skeins of yarn that you're just dying to show off, but you can't think of a way to do it, this knit tote pattern is the way. It's not like you'll find another use for bulky yarn in the dead of summer!

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10. Knit Purse With Fabulous Fringe

For a fun twist on the knit purse pattern, make yourself this simple garter stitch bag with the cool element of a fringe at the bottom. It's quirky enough to be cute, but not so much that it takes away from its classiness.

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