Autumn Sun Makeup Bag Free Knitting Pattern
There is something about the season changing that makes you want to pick up your needles and create something both beautiful and useful. When the leaves begin to turn and that warm amber light settles over everything in the afternoon, it inspires a whole palette of color choices that feel rich, cozy, and perfectly tuned to the moment. This free knitting pattern for an autumn sun makeup bag captures exactly that feeling — a project that is small enough to finish in a weekend but meaningful enough to give as a gift or keep for yourself tucked inside your everyday bag.
Whether you are a beginner who has mastered the knit stitch and is ready for a small construction challenge, or an experienced knitter looking for a satisfying quick project, this pattern has something to offer. We will walk through everything: the materials you need, gauge and sizing, the stitch pattern that gives this bag its signature texture, and step-by-step instructions from cast on to finished zipper closure. Along the way, you will find tips for working with autumn-toned yarns, how to line your bag for a polished finish, and ideas for customizing the design to suit your own style.
Why Knit a Makeup Bag?
Knitted accessories have a charm that purchased ones simply cannot match. When you make your own makeup bag, you control the size, the color, the texture, and the feeling it evokes every single time you reach for your lipstick or mascara in the morning. A handmade bag also makes one of the most thoughtful gifts imaginable — personal, practical, and crafted with care.
The autumn sun theme is more than just a color choice. It is a whole mood: the warmth of golden-hour light, the richness of terracotta and mustard, the depth of rust and burnt orange. These are the colors that feel like a cashmere sweater and a mug of tea. They look stunning against almost any skin tone, which makes this bag appealing to knit in multiples for holiday gift giving.
A small project like this is also the perfect way to use up partial skeins of yarn left over from larger projects. If you have remnants of a rust-colored worsted or a golden yellow DK sitting in your stash, this is their moment.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on, gather everything together so your knitting session flows smoothly from start to finish.
Yarn: You will need approximately 120 yards of main color (MC) in a warm autumn tone — think deep burnt orange, golden mustard, or rich terracotta. An additional 30 yards of a contrasting color (CC) works beautifully in cream, warm brown, or a deep burgundy. The pattern works best in a smooth DK weight or light worsted weight yarn that shows stitch definition clearly. A yarn with a small percentage of nylon or acrylic blended in will add durability, which is ideal for a bag that will see daily use.
Needles: US size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles or a 16-inch circular needle for working in the round if you prefer, plus a set of straight needles for flat sections. If you are comfortable with magic loop technique, a 40-inch circular needle works for the entire project.
Other supplies: A stitch marker, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a 7-inch or 8-inch zipper in a coordinating color, a small piece of fabric for lining (cotton quilting fabric or a light canvas works well), a sewing needle and thread, and sharp scissors.
Optional: A small crochet hook (size D or E) for adding a decorative loop or tassel to the zipper pull.
Gauge
Gauge matters more for a bag than you might expect. Because this project is worked with a firm tension, a slightly off gauge will change the finished dimensions and may affect how the zipper installation sits.
Work a gauge swatch before beginning: 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using your chosen yarn and needles. If your swatch is larger than this, go down a needle size. If it is smaller, go up. Blocking your swatch before measuring gives you the most accurate result.
The finished bag measures approximately 9 inches wide by 5 inches tall before the zipper is sewn in, giving you a roomy interior that fits full-sized makeup products comfortably.
Stitch Patterns Used
This bag uses a combination of two textured stitch patterns that create its signature “sunburst” look on the front panel.
Seed Stitch Border: Knit one, purl one across, then on subsequent rows purl the knit stitches and knit the purl stitches. This creates a dense, non-rolling border perfect for the top edge and bottom panel.
Modified Sunburst Stitch: This is the statement texture on the front face of the bag. It is worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 1.
Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 3: K1, yarn over, k3, slip 1 knitwise-knit 2 together-pass slipped stitch over (SK2P), k3, yarn over, k1; repeat from to end.
Row 4: Purl all stitches.
Row 5: Knit all stitches.
Row 6: Purl all stitches.
Row 7: K1, k3, yarn over, SK2P, yarn over, k3, k1; repeat from to end.
Row 8: Purl all stitches.
Repeat rows 1 through 8 for the pattern. The eyelets and decreases radiate outward in gentle arcs that catch light beautifully and give the fabric an airy, sun-ray quality without being fragile.
The Pattern
Abbreviations:
k — knit
p — purl
yo — yarn over
sk2p — slip 1 knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
MC — main color
CC — contrasting color
st/sts — stitch/stitches
rep — repeat
Front Panel
Using MC and straight needles, cast on 49 stitches.
Rows 1–4 (Seed Stitch Border):
Row 1 (RS): K1, p1; rep from to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): P1, k1; rep from to last st, p1.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 twice more.
Begin Sunburst Pattern:
Continue working the Modified Sunburst Stitch as written above for 6 full repeats of the 8-row pattern (48 rows total). Your work will measure approximately 7 inches from cast-on edge at this point.
Top Seed Stitch Border:
Work 4 rows of seed stitch as before.
Bind off all stitches in seed stitch pattern. Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail and weave in end.
Back Panel
Using MC and straight needles, cast on 49 stitches.
Work 4 rows of seed stitch as for the front panel border.
Next, work in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) for 48 rows.
Work 4 rows of seed stitch.
Bind off all stitches in pattern. Cut yarn and weave in end.
Bottom Gusset
Using MC and straight needles, cast on 9 stitches.
Work in seed stitch until the gusset measures 9 inches from cast-on edge.
Bind off all stitches in pattern.
Stripe Accent (Optional but Recommended)
The stripe accent runs vertically along each side edge of the front panel, visually framing the sunburst texture. It is worked after the panels are complete using CC and a crochet hook or a simple surface slip stitch technique with your knitting needle.
Along each side edge of the front panel, using CC, pick up and knit approximately 60 stitches (or adjust as needed to maintain an even line). Work 2 rows of seed stitch. Bind off. Repeat on the opposite edge. This strip of contrasting color creates a natural seam guide when you assemble the bag and adds a lovely autumnal accent.
Assembling the Bag
Lay your front panel face up on a flat surface. Place the gusset along the bottom edge, aligning the cast-on edges. Using your tapestry needle and MC, sew the gusset to the bottom of the front panel using mattress stitch, taking care to keep tension even. Fold the gusset up along the sides and sew each short end of the gusset to the side edges of the front panel. You should now have a three-sided box shape.
Attach the back panel to the other edge of the gusset using the same mattress stitch technique, again working around the bottom and up both sides.
The top of the bag remains open for the zipper installation.
Adding the Zipper
Installing a zipper into a knitted fabric is easier than it sounds, and it makes an enormous difference in the usability of the finished bag.
Fold the top seed stitch border of both the front and back panels to the inside by about half an inch (this becomes the zipper casing). Pin the zipper face-down against the folded edge so that the zipper teeth are just visible when the bag is closed and the zipper pull sits neatly at the top. Use your sewing needle and matching thread to backstitch the zipper tape securely to the folded knit edge on both sides. Work slowly and keep your stitches small so they do not show on the right side.
Once both edges of the zipper are sewn in, open the zipper halfway and sew the end stops of the zipper tape to the side seams. This anchors everything and prevents the zipper from sliding.
Lining the Bag
A fabric lining protects your lipsticks from catching on the knitted fabric and gives the bag a professional, boutique feel. Cut two pieces of fabric (front and back) to match the dimensions of your knitted panels, plus half an inch on all sides for seam allowance. Cut one strip for the gusset the same width as your knitted gusset and long enough to run around the bottom and sides.
Sew the fabric pieces together with the same configuration as the knitted panels, then slip the fabric lining inside the knitted bag with wrong sides together. Fold the top edge of the lining under and hand-stitch it to the zipper tape, just below your existing stitching. This encases the raw edge of the lining and gives a clean interior finish.
Finishing Touches
Weave in any remaining yarn ends using your tapestry needle. Give the finished bag a gentle hand wash in cool water, press out excess water without wringing, and block it flat by pinning it to your measurements on a foam mat. Allow it to dry completely before zipping it closed for the first time.
If you want to add a zipper pull tassel — and the answer is yes, you want to — cut six strands of CC yarn about 6 inches long. Fold them in half, loop them through the zipper pull using your crochet hook, and pull the ends through the loop to secure. Trim to an even length. The tassel bounces cheerfully against the side of the bag every time you open it, which is one of those small details that makes a handmade item feel special.
Yarn Substitution Ideas
If you cannot find a yarn in the exact weight specified, several options work beautifully. Lion Brand Heartland in colors like Grand Canyon or Joshua Tree gives gorgeous autumn tones in a worsted weight that works up quickly. Paintbox Yarns Simply DK offers a wide autumn palette at an accessible price point. For a more luxurious feel, try Quince and Co. Lark in a terracotta or golden colorway — the stitch definition in this single-ply wool is exceptional and shows the sunburst pattern at its very best.
Whatever yarn you choose, make sure to swatch and adjust needle size as needed, since the structured shape of this bag depends on a firm gauge.
Customization Ideas
One of the most enjoyable parts of a pattern like this is the room it leaves for personal expression. Here are a few ways to make this bag your own.
If you want a smaller bag for lipstick and a compact only, cast on 33 stitches for the panels and work 4 repeats of the sunburst pattern instead of 6. A 5-inch zipper works perfectly for this size.
For a gift set, knit three bags in graduating sizes using the same color scheme — one for full-size products, one for travel-sized items, and one tiny coin purse proportioned version for lip balm and a credit card. Nested inside each other and tied with a ribbon, this makes an extraordinary handmade present.
Try working the bag entirely in seed stitch for a different texture profile, or substitute a simple cable panel on the front instead of the sunburst stitch if you prefer a more classic aesthetic.
You can also work stripes into the back panel using a second autumn color — alternating rows of burnt orange and deep rust produce a rich, tonal effect that looks intentional and sophisticated.
Caring for Your Knitted Bag
Because makeup products can occasionally leak or leave marks, choose your yarn with care for the care instructions. A machine-washable superwash wool or a cotton-blend yarn makes cleaning simple. If you have used a non-superwash fiber, the fabric lining will catch most spills and can be removed and hand-washed separately if needed.
For general maintenance, keep the bag away from prolonged direct sunlight to preserve the depth of your autumn colors, and store it flat or stuff it lightly with tissue paper if you are keeping it in a drawer so that it holds its shape beautifully over time.
A Note on Gifting
This bag is genuinely one of the best gifts a knitter can make. It is small enough that the time investment feels manageable, yet substantial enough that the recipient feels genuinely cared for. It is useful in a way that a decorative knitted item might not be. And it carries that unmistakable warmth of autumn color — the kind of thing that makes a person smile every time they open their handbag and see it waiting there.
Consider pairing the finished bag with a small collection of coordinating products tucked inside: a lip tint in a shade that echoes the yarn color, a gold-toned highlighter, a compact mirror. The presentation becomes a whole autumn moment, a little gift from your hands and your heart.
If you make this pattern, share it with the tag #autumnsunmakeupbag so that others in the knitting community can see your color choices and be inspired by your work. Seeing the same pattern interpreted in fifty different autumn palettes is one of the quiet joys of sharing a free pattern, and every single version teaches you something new about color and texture and the infinite possibilities of a pair of needles and a length of yarn.
Happy knitting, and may your autumn light be long and golden.
