Indiknits Knitting Pattern by Amy Swenson – Lindy Bag: A Complete Guide for Knitters
There are knitting patterns, and then there are the ones that stay with you — the ones you come back to season after season because they strike that rare balance between achievable and genuinely beautiful. The Lindy Bag by Amy Swenson for Indiknits is one of those patterns. Whether you discovered it through a destash sale, a vintage pattern hunt on eBay, or a recommendation from a fellow knitter in your local yarn shop, you already sense there is something special about it. This guide is here to help you understand exactly what makes this pattern so beloved, how to approach it with confidence, and what to look for when sourcing it secondhand.
Who Is Amy Swenson, and What Is Indiknits?
To appreciate the Lindy Bag fully, it helps to understand the designer behind it. Amy Swenson is a Canadian knitwear designer who built a devoted following through her accessible, modern aesthetic. Her work has always leaned toward wearable, functional design — pieces that don’t just look good on a hanger or in a photograph but actually work in a knitter’s everyday life.
Indiknits was the publishing and design brand through which Amy Swenson released many of her patterns. The name itself suggested something handcrafted, indie in spirit, and deeply personal — which matched the character of her work perfectly. Patterns released under the Indiknits label had a consistent quality: clear instructions, thoughtful construction, and designs that rewarded the knitter’s effort with something genuinely usable and stylish at the end.
Over the years, Indiknits patterns have developed a secondary market following. Knitters seek them out on platforms like eBay and Etsy because many of them are no longer widely available in print form, and the ones that surface are snapped up quickly. The Lindy Bag is among the most requested of these.
What Is the Lindy Bag?
The Lindy Bag is a knitted handbag pattern — a structured, stylish bag designed to be worked in yarn and then felted or finished to create a dense, durable fabric that holds its shape. Depending on which version of the pattern you are working from and which yarn choices you make, the finished bag can range from a casual market tote to something refined enough to carry to dinner.
The name “Lindy” evokes a retro, mid-century sensibility — a nod to clean lines and practical elegance. The bag typically features a simple but satisfying silhouette, with handles, a structured body, and enough design detail to make it interesting without becoming fussy. It is the kind of project that experienced knitters love because it moves quickly and produces immediate, visible results, while newer knitters find it approachable because the construction logic is straightforward once you understand the basic techniques involved.
The pattern is knitted flat or in the round (depending on the specific version), and felting — the process of agitating a knitted wool fabric in hot water to shrink and mat the fibers together — is a key part of the finished product for many versions of this design. Felting transforms a loose, slightly floppy knitted fabric into something firm and structured, which is exactly what a bag needs to be functional.
Why Felted Bag Patterns Are So Satisfying to Knit
If you have never made a felted bag before, the Lindy Bag is an excellent introduction to the technique. There is something almost magical about the felting process. You knit your bag oversized — intentionally larger than the finished dimensions — in a feltable wool or wool-blend yarn. Then you put it through a hot wash cycle with agitation, and the fibers bond together, the fabric shrinks dramatically, and what emerges is a completely transformed object.
The mathematics of felting require a bit of trust. Your knitting will look enormous before it goes into the wash. The stitches will be loose and the fabric will seem too big, too floppy, too rough. Then you felt it, and everything tightens up into exactly the right shape and size. This is why following a tested pattern from a reliable designer like Amy Swenson matters so much — the proportions have been worked out carefully so that after felting, the finished bag hits the right dimensions.
Felted bags are also extraordinarily durable. Unlike unfelted knitting, which can snag, pill, or stretch out of shape with regular use, felted fabric is dense and forgiving. A well-made felted bag can last for years with minimal care. It won’t unravel if a stitch catches on something, and it develops a pleasing patina with use rather than looking worn out.
Choosing the Right Yarn for the Lindy Bag
Yarn selection is one of the most important decisions you will make when knitting the Lindy Bag, and it is an area where a little knowledge goes a long way.
The pattern will specify a yarn weight and fiber content, but the critical requirement for any felted project is that the yarn must be feltable. This means it needs to be made from animal fiber — typically wool — that has not been treated to be superwash. Superwash wool is processed to resist felting, which is usually a feature rather than a flaw, but for a felted bag it renders the yarn useless for this specific purpose.
Look for yarns labeled simply as wool, merino wool, or other animal fibers without the superwash designation. Classic choices for felted bags include Cascade 220 (a longtime favorite for felting projects), Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride, and Lopi. These yarns felt reliably and produce a beautiful, dense finished fabric.
Color choice matters more than many knitters realize for felted projects. The felting process can slightly mute colors, so what looks vivid in the skein might be a little softer after felting. Deep, saturated colors — jewel tones, rich neutrals, deep greens and burgundies — tend to survive the process beautifully and often look even richer in the finished bag. Pale or pastel colors can sometimes look a little washed out after felting, though some knitters love this effect for a certain aesthetic.
If you are using stash yarn or a secondhand skein purchased alongside the pattern on eBay, test a swatch before committing. Knit a generous swatch, felt it in your washing machine, and see how it behaves. Note how much it shrinks, how the color holds, and how the finished fabric feels. This small investment of time can save you a great deal of frustration.
Sourcing Vintage and Secondhand Knitting Patterns on eBay
One of the most delightful aspects of the knitting community is how actively knitters preserve and share patterns that might otherwise disappear. eBay has become a significant marketplace for out-of-print and secondhand knitting patterns, and the Indiknits Lindy Bag is exactly the kind of pattern you might find there.
When you search for knitting patterns on eBay, you will typically encounter two categories: physical printed patterns and digital PDFs. Both have their merits.
A physical printed pattern from the original Indiknits publication carries a certain charm. It is a piece of knitting history, and having it in hand connects you to the tradition of pattern collecting that knitters have practiced for generations. The condition of physical patterns varies significantly on the secondhand market, so read listings carefully. Look for descriptions that mention the number of pages, whether any pages are marked or missing, and whether the pattern has been used. A pattern that shows evidence of careful use by a previous knitter — a few pencil marks, a worn cover — is not necessarily a bad thing, but you want to know what you are getting.
Digital PDF listings on eBay are sometimes the original file sold by a knitter who has moved on from a project or simplified their digital collection. These are legal to purchase but not to copy and redistribute, and it is worth being mindful of intellectual property considerations as you build your pattern library.
When browsing eBay for this specific pattern, using precise search terms will help you find what you are looking for. Search for “Indiknits Lindy Bag knitting pattern” or “Amy Swenson Lindy Bag” to surface the most relevant listings. If your initial search is too narrow, broaden it to “Indiknits knitting pattern” to see what else is available from the same designer and publisher, as bundle listings sometimes include the Lindy Bag among other Indiknits titles.
Getting Started: Setting Up for Success
Once you have your pattern in hand, the preparation phase is where experienced knitters separate themselves from beginners who dive straight in and end up frustrated.
Read the entire pattern before you cast on a single stitch. This sounds obvious, but it is advice that is ignored constantly and regretted regularly. Reading through the whole pattern gives you a mental map of the construction. You will notice when the felting instructions appear, what finishing details are required, and whether there are any techniques you need to practice or look up before you begin. The Lindy Bag, like most of Amy Swenson’s patterns, is well-written and logically organized, but understanding the full arc of the project before you start makes you a more confident knitter throughout.
Gather your materials completely before you begin. You will need your yarn, your needles (for felted projects, you often use a slightly larger needle than you might expect, since the fabric needs to be loose enough to felt properly), stitch markers, scissors, a tapestry needle for finishing, and any bag hardware the pattern calls for. Common hardware for bags includes handles — leather, bamboo, or plastic ring handles are all popular choices — as well as a magnetic snap closure or clasp. These items are readily available at craft stores and online, and having them ready before you start means you won’t reach the finishing stage and stall out waiting for a shipment to arrive.
The Knitting Process
The body of the Lindy Bag is typically a satisfying knit. Bag patterns tend to move quickly because you are working with heavier yarn weight and larger needles than a typical garment project, and because the construction is relatively simple compared to, say, a seamless set-in-sleeve sweater.
Maintain even tension throughout your knitting. While felting will blur minor inconsistencies, significant variations in tension can create visible irregularities in the finished fabric even after felting. Work at a relaxed, even pace, and if you set a project down for a few days and come back to it, work a few rows to get your tension settled before continuing.
Pay attention to the gauge specified in the pattern. For felting projects, pre-felt gauge matters because it determines how much the finished piece will shrink and what the final dimensions will be. If your gauge is significantly off, your finished bag will be noticeably larger or smaller than the pattern intends. Knit a gauge swatch, felt it, and measure it — this is the only way to be confident your bag will come out the right size.
The Felting Process: Step by Step
When your knitting is complete and all the pieces are assembled (or your body and handles are ready to be joined, depending on the construction method), it is time to felt.
Set your washing machine to the hot wash and cold rinse cycle with a low water level — this maximizes agitation, which is what drives the felting. Add a small amount of dish soap or a gentle laundry detergent; the soap helps the fibers bind together. Place your knitted bag inside a zippered pillowcase or a mesh laundry bag to contain any fibers that shed during the process and to protect your washing machine.
Check on the bag regularly — every five to ten minutes if possible — rather than letting it run through an entire cycle unattended. Felting is somewhat unpredictable, and different yarns felt at different rates. You are looking for the stitches to become invisible or nearly invisible, the fabric to be dense and firm to the touch, and the piece to have shrunk to approximately the dimensions specified in the pattern.
If the bag is not fully felted after one cycle, run it through again. Some yarns need two or even three passes through the machine. Be patient and check frequently rather than over-felting a piece that has already reached the right stage.
Once the bag has felted to your satisfaction, remove it from the machine, gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring it), and shape it while it is still wet. This is your opportunity to perfect the form. Stuff it with plastic bags or a bag form to help it hold its shape as it dries, smooth out any wrinkles or distortions, and make sure the opening is even. Allow it to air dry completely before adding handles or hardware — this can take a day or two depending on the humidity in your environment.
Finishing and Adding Hardware
The finishing stage of the Lindy Bag is where the project truly comes together. Once your felted body is dry and firm, you can add handles and any closure hardware.
Leather handles elevate the look of a felted bag enormously. If you are purchasing pre-made bag handles, look for ones with holes or slots at the attachment points that allow you to stitch them securely to the bag body. Use a strong thread or waxed linen thread and a heavy needle for this step, as the felted fabric is dense and requires some force to penetrate.
A magnetic snap closure gives the bag a professional, functional finish. These are installed before felting on some bag designs, and after felting on others — the pattern will specify which approach to take. If you are installing hardware post-felting, you may need to use an awl or sharp scissors to create a clean opening in the dense fabric. Work slowly and carefully, as cuts in felted fabric are permanent.
Caring for Your Finished Lindy Bag
One of the greatest advantages of a felted bag is how easy it is to maintain. Spot clean with a damp cloth when needed. If the bag needs a more thorough refresh, hand wash gently in cool water with a small amount of gentle soap, reshape, and air dry. Avoid machine washing a finished felted bag unless you want it to shrink further — which is occasionally useful if the first felting left it slightly larger than ideal, but should otherwise be avoided.
Store the bag stuffed lightly to help it maintain its shape, away from direct sunlight which can fade the color over time.
Why the Lindy Bag Makes a Perfect Gift
A finished Lindy Bag is one of the most appreciated handmade gifts a knitter can give. It is immediately recognizable as a significant handmade object — the time and skill involved are obvious even to someone who has never picked up a needle. Choose colors tailored to the recipient, select handles that match their personal style, and you have a gift that communicates genuine care and craftsmanship.
The durability of felted bags means that a gift Lindy Bag will be in use for years. Unlike a delicate lace shawl or a garment that might not fit perfectly, a bag is universally useful and not subject to sizing concerns.
Final Thoughts
The Indiknits Lindy Bag by Amy Swenson is the kind of pattern that earns a permanent place in a knitter’s collection. It is clever in construction, satisfying to knit, and produces a finished object that is both beautiful and genuinely functional. Whether you are knitting it for yourself, as a gift, or as your introduction to felted bag knitting, it is a project that will reward your effort in every stage — from casting on to the moment you pull a perfectly shaped, dense, gorgeous bag out of your washing machine and set it on the table to dry.
If you are still searching for the pattern and have found your way to this post through an eBay listing, take a moment to confirm the listing details carefully, ask the seller any questions about condition or completeness, and check their feedback before purchasing. A good copy of this pattern, whether physical or digital, is well worth tracking down. Happy knitting.
