The Complete Guide to Knitted Purses: Everything You Need to Know Before You Make or Buy One
There is something undeniably special about a knitted purse. Whether you spot one hanging from someone’s arm at a farmers market or you stumble across a pattern while scrolling through a crafting forum at midnight, the appeal is immediate. A knitted purse is not just a bag. It is a statement about slowness, craft, personality, and care. In a world flooded with mass-produced accessories, a knitted purse stands out as something made with intention — stitch by stitch, row by row.
This guide covers everything you could possibly want to know about knitted purses: the different styles available, the best yarns to use, beginner tips for making your first one, how to line and structure a finished bag, where to find patterns, how to care for a finished purse, and what to look for if you are buying one rather than making it yourself. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking to branch out or a complete beginner curious about whether a purse is a reasonable first project, you will find useful, practical information here.
Why Knitted Purses Have Never Gone Out of Style
Knitting as a craft has existed for centuries, but knitted bags and purses have had particular cultural moments. In the early 1900s, beaded knitted purses were fashionable evening accessories. In the 1970s, large boho-style knitted bags became popular alongside macramé and other fiber arts. In the 2000s, the knitting revival brought felted knitted purses into the spotlight — patterns like the famous Booga Bag became so widely circulated that yarn stores could barely keep up with demand for the specific yarn used to make them.
Today, knitted purses are having another moment. Social media has made it easy for makers to share their work, and audiences who appreciate handmade goods have grown enormously. Platforms built around craft culture have elevated the handmade purse from a hobby project into a genuine art form, and many independent designers now make a living selling knitted bag patterns or finished pieces.
The reason knitted purses endure is simple: they work. A well-made knitted purse holds its shape, carries what you need, looks beautiful, and lasts for years with proper care. Unlike a trendy fast-fashion bag that falls apart after a season, a knitted purse made from good-quality yarn with careful construction is something you can use for decades.
Types of Knitted Purses
Not all knitted purses are alike. The category is broad, and understanding the different styles helps you decide what you want to make or buy.
The Classic Tote Bag
A knitted tote is one of the most practical styles available. Worked flat or in the round, with handles long enough to slip over your shoulder, a knitted tote is roomy and versatile. Cotton yarn works particularly well for totes because it is sturdy and washable. Many knitters choose a simple stitch pattern like seed stitch or a textured rib for totes because the structure adds visual interest without complicated shaping.
The Clutch Purse
A knitted clutch is smaller and more formal. Many clutch patterns incorporate a zipper or frame closure and are designed to be lined so the interior is smooth and structured. These tend to use fingering-weight or sport-weight yarn to keep the fabric fine and the profile slim. A beaded knitted clutch can look genuinely elegant — comparable to a purchased evening bag but with infinitely more personality.
The Market Bag
Market bags, sometimes called net bags or string bags, are worked with open lacework stitches that create a stretchy, breathable fabric perfect for carrying produce, books, or beach supplies. They compress into almost nothing when empty, making them ideal for keeping in a coat pocket. Cotton and linen yarns are the traditional choices for market bags, though some knitters use bamboo blends for their silky drape.
The Bucket Bag
The bucket bag shape — cylindrical with a drawstring or I-cord closure at the top — has become extremely popular in recent years. It is a satisfying shape to knit because it is typically worked seamlessly in the round with minimal finishing. Felted bucket bags are especially common because the felting process creates a dense, structured fabric that holds the cylindrical shape beautifully without any additional support.
The Crossbody Bag
A knitted crossbody bag sits at hip level and is secured with a long strap worn diagonally across the body. These tend to be smaller and more structured than totes. Many crossbody patterns include a zipper or magnetic snap closure and are designed with a lining for durability. A crossbody knitted purse is a wonderful everyday bag — big enough for your essentials, small enough to stay out of the way.
The Wristlet
Wristlets are compact knitted purses with a short loop handle designed to be worn around the wrist. They are great beginner projects because they are small and quick to knit, and they are practical enough that you will actually use the finished item. Many wristlet patterns are completed in an afternoon.
Choosing the Right Yarn for a Knitted Purse
Yarn choice is perhaps the single most important decision you make when knitting a purse. The wrong yarn can result in a bag that stretches out of shape, pills excessively, feels rough, or falls apart after a few uses. The right yarn creates something durable, beautiful, and genuinely functional.
Cotton Yarn
Cotton is the most popular choice for knitted purses, and for good reason. It is sturdy, machine washable, non-stretchy (which helps bags hold their shape), and comes in an enormous range of colors. The non-elasticity that makes cotton frustrating to knit with for garments is actually an advantage for bags. Look for a tightly spun cotton yarn with a smooth finish for the most durable result. Aran or worsted weight cotton is ideal for totes and everyday bags. Fingering or DK weight works well for clutches and wristlets.
Wool and Wool Blends
Wool is wonderful for bags intended to be felted. When wet wool is agitated in hot water, the fibers lock together into a dense, firm fabric that is incredibly durable and water-resistant. Felted wool purses do not unravel at the edges and can be cut and shaped after felting, which opens up design possibilities not available in other materials. For non-felted bags, wool blends that include nylon are a good choice because the nylon adds durability. Pure wool bags that will not be felted may stretch with use, especially if they carry heavy items.
Jute, Hemp, and Linen
Natural plant fibers like jute, hemp, and linen make extremely sturdy bags with a wonderful earthy texture. Jute market bags have a satisfying rustic quality. Linen softens with washing and use, becoming more beautiful over time. These fibers tend to be less elastic than cotton and very low in stretch, making them structurally excellent for bags. They are not always the easiest fibers to knit with because of their lack of give, but the results are worth the effort.
Synthetic Yarns
Acrylic, nylon, and polyester yarns are durable and affordable, and many of them are machine washable. Nylon in particular is extremely strong and is often blended with other fibers specifically to add wear resistance. A bag knitted from a cotton-nylon blend will outlast one made from pure cotton. The drawback of purely synthetic yarns for bags is that they can feel plasticky or have an artificial sheen that some knitters find unappealing. However, high-quality synthetic blends are a legitimate and practical choice.
Yarn Weight
For most purses, a worsted or aran weight yarn is the easiest to work with and produces a fabric dense enough to be functional without taking forever to complete. Bulky yarn knits up quickly and creates a thick, sturdy fabric, though bags made from bulky yarn tend to be heavier. Fingering or lace weight yarns can produce beautiful results for delicate clutches and evening bags, but require more skill and patience.
How to Knit a Purse: Beginner Tips and Techniques
If you are new to knitting bags and purses, a few key techniques and principles will make the process much smoother.
Start with a Simple Shape
Resist the temptation to start with an ambitious structured bag if you are a beginner. A simple rectangular tote or a small wristlet is a much better introduction to bag knitting. These projects let you focus on the fundamentals — maintaining even tension, working in the round if applicable, and finishing cleanly — without the complexity of advanced shaping.
Swatch, and Swatch Honestly
Gauge matters for bags more than many knitters expect. A bag knitted at a looser gauge than the pattern intends will be floppy and may not hold its shape. A bag knitted at a tighter gauge may be stiff and smaller than expected. Knit a gauge swatch in the stitch pattern called for by your pattern, measure carefully, and adjust your needle size if necessary.
Work at a Tight Gauge
As a general rule, for bags and purses you want a denser fabric than you might use for a garment. A slightly tighter gauge helps the bag hold its shape, prevents items inside from poking through the fabric, and increases durability. Do not be afraid to go down a needle size from what your yarn label recommends.
Consider Knitting in the Round
Many bag patterns are worked in the round, which eliminates side seams and produces a seamless fabric. Working in the round also means you are always looking at the right side of the work, which makes stitch patterns easier to read. If you have not worked in the round before, a bag project is a great opportunity to learn, since the stakes are lower than with a garment.
Reinforce the Handles
Handles take more stress than any other part of a bag. Reinforce them by knitting them double — folding the handle strip in half lengthwise and seaming it — or by slipping a length of ribbon or twill tape inside the handle casing before seaming. Many knitters also reinforce handle attachment points with extra stitching when finishing.
Lining and Structuring Your Knitted Purse
A knitted purse without a lining is a perfectly valid object, but adding a lining transforms it. A lined purse holds its shape better, protects the contents from poking through the knitted fabric, looks polished and finished on the inside, and feels more luxurious to use.
To line a knitted purse, choose a fabric that complements the yarn — a cotton canvas lining suits a casual cotton tote, while a silk or satin lining elevates a beaded clutch. Cut the lining pieces following the interior dimensions of your finished bag, sew the lining into a bag shape leaving the top open, fold the top edge under, and slip stitch the lining to the inside of the purse just below the top edge.
For structured bags, consider inserting a piece of plastic canvas, thick cardboard, or a commercial bag bottom insert into the base of the purse before adding the lining. This prevents the bottom from sagging and gives the bag a clean, upright posture.
Hardware like magnetic snaps, D-rings, swivel hooks, and zipper pulls can be added to a lined knitted purse to give it a professional, finished look. These are available at craft and sewing supply stores and are easier to install than they might appear.
Finding Knitted Purse Patterns
The internet has made finding knitted purse patterns easier than ever. Platforms dedicated to crafting host thousands of free and paid bag patterns in every conceivable style and skill level. When searching for patterns, it helps to know the style you want, the yarn weight you have available, and your skill level. Reading through pattern reviews left by other knitters is a good way to catch potential issues before you begin.
Books dedicated to knitted bags are another wonderful resource. A well-edited pattern book often includes more context, technique instruction, and design coherence than individual online patterns, and many knitters find them valuable even in an era of abundant free content.
Independent knitwear designers often sell patterns through their own websites or through craft platforms, and purchasing directly from the designer is a great way to support the people creating the content you use.
Caring for a Knitted Purse
A knitted purse will last for many years with appropriate care. The specific care instructions depend on the fiber content of your yarn, so always check your yarn label.
Cotton purses are generally very easy to care for. Most can be machine washed on a gentle cycle and laid flat to dry. Avoid the dryer, which can distort the shape. Wool purses should be hand washed in cool water with a gentle wool wash and laid flat to dry away from direct heat. Felted wool bags are the most care-free of all: they can often be spot-cleaned or gently surface-wiped and are resistant to water.
Store your knitted purse in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which can fade colors over time. If you are storing it for an extended period, stuffing it with tissue paper helps it maintain its shape.
Buying a Handmade Knitted Purse
If you love the look of knitted purses but do not knit yourself, buying from an independent maker is a wonderful option. Handmade marketplaces, local craft fairs, and independent designer websites are all good places to find beautiful, well-made knitted purses.
When buying, look for information about the fiber content and care instructions. A reputable maker will be able to tell you exactly what yarn was used and how to care for the finished piece. Ask whether the bag is lined and whether handles are reinforced. Look at photographs of the interior as well as the exterior.
Expect to pay more for a handmade knitted purse than you would for a mass-produced bag. A maker who charges a fair price for their work is accounting for the hours of skilled labor that went into the piece, the cost of quality materials, and the value of the design. A knitted purse priced at what seems like a bargain may have been made with lower-quality materials or in conditions that did not compensate the maker fairly.
The Lasting Appeal of a Knitted Purse
A knitted purse occupies a unique space in the world of accessories. It is functional and beautiful. It is personal in a way that manufactured goods rarely are. Whether you knit it yourself over a few evenings on the sofa or you buy it from a maker who spent hours bringing it into existence, carrying a knitted purse is a small act of choosing craft over convenience.
The skills involved in making a knitted purse — patience, attention to detail, the willingness to rip back and start again when something is not right — are skills that translate well beyond the craft room. And the finished object, worn and used and gradually shaped by daily life, becomes something even more personal over time.
If you have been on the fence about whether to make or buy a knitted purse, consider this your encouragement. There is a style, a yarn, a pattern, and a level of effort that is right for exactly where you are right now. Start there, and see what you make.
