LANTA Bag Knitting Pattern: Your Complete Guide to Knitting a Stunning Market Tote
There is something deeply satisfying about carrying a bag you made yourself. The LANTA bag has become one of the most beloved knitted tote designs among crafters at every skill level, celebrated for its open mesh structure, generous size, and the way it stretches beautifully to accommodate everything from farmers market produce to library books to a day at the beach. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for a new project to sink your needles into or someone who has recently caught the knitting bug and wants to make something practical and impressive, this LANTA bag knitting pattern guide is exactly what you need.
In this post, you will find everything: materials, gauge, step-by-step instructions, finishing techniques, and tips for customizing your bag to make it entirely your own.
What Is the LANTA Bag?
The LANTA bag takes its name from the spirit of relaxed, sun-soaked living — the kind of bag you picture slung over a shoulder on a warm afternoon, filled with fresh bread, flowers from the market, or a good book and a bottle of sunscreen. It is characterized by its open, lacy mesh body that stretches to hold surprising amounts while keeping things breathable and lightweight, a sturdy base knitted in a tighter structure for stability, and long handles comfortable enough to carry over the shoulder.
The design is worked from the bottom up, beginning with a solid rectangular base knitted flat, then joining in the round to build the mesh body before finishing with a clean, reinforced handle section. The result is a bag that looks intricate but is actually constructed using only a handful of techniques: basic knit and purl stitches, simple yarn-overs, and basic decreases.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on a single stitch, gather your materials. Choosing the right yarn is perhaps the most important decision you will make, because the LANTA bag relies on a fiber that has good stitch definition, some natural elasticity, and the durability to handle real use.
Yarn: You will need approximately 300 to 400 meters of a worsted or aran weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Pure cotton is the classic choice for market bags because it is strong, washable, and does not stretch out permanently the way some synthetic blends can. Brands like Paintbox Simply DK Cotton, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, or Drops Safran work beautifully. If you prefer a softer drape, a cotton-linen blend adds lovely texture and a slightly more relaxed silhouette.
Needles: You will need a pair of 5mm (US 8) circular needles, at least 60cm in length for the body of the bag. A short circular or a set of double-pointed needles in the same size is useful for the handle section if you prefer not to use magic loop technique.
Notions: Stitch markers (at least 4), a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape.
Gauge: 16 stitches and 22 rows over 10cm in stockinette stitch using 5mm needles. Always check your gauge before starting. A bag that is too small will disappoint you; one that is too large may not hold its shape.
Understanding the Mesh Pattern
The beauty of the LANTA bag lies in its mesh body, which is created using a simple yarn-over and decrease combination. Once you understand the rhythm, it knits up quickly and almost meditatively.
The basic mesh repeat is worked as follows: knit 1, yarn over, knit 2 together. This creates a series of eyelets that line up diagonally to form the open lattice you see in the finished bag. After a few rounds, your hands will find the rhythm and you will barely need to look at the pattern.
If you are new to yarn-overs or k2tog decreases, take a few minutes to practice them on a small swatch before starting the bag. They are genuinely beginner-friendly techniques, and mastering them will open up a wide world of lace and mesh projects beyond this one.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
CO — cast on
BO — bind off
K — knit
P — purl
YO — yarn over
K2tog — knit two stitches together
PM — place marker
SM — slip marker
St(s) — stitch(es)
Rep — repeat
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
BOR — beginning of round
LANTA Bag Knitting Pattern: Step-by-Step Instructions
Part One: The Base
The base is knitted flat, back and forth in rows, to create a firm foundation for the bag.
Cast on 30 stitches using the long-tail cast-on method. This gives a neat, elastic edge that will look tidy where the body meets the base.
Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Continue in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) for 40 rows total, ending with a WS row. Your base should measure approximately 19cm by 12cm. If it is measuring shorter, work additional rows until you reach this measurement.
Do not bind off. Leave the stitches live on the needle.
Part Two: Picking Up Stitches and Joining in the Round
This is the step that transforms your flat rectangle into a three-dimensional bag. It sounds more complex than it is.
Using your live stitches as the first side, you will pick up stitches along the three remaining edges of the base, then join to work in the round.
Working with the RS facing, place a marker, then pick up and knit 20 stitches along the short edge of the base. Place a second marker. Pick up and knit 30 stitches along the long edge (this will be the back of the bag). Place a third marker. Pick up and knit 20 stitches along the remaining short edge. Place a fourth marker (this is your BOR marker). You now have 100 stitches on your needles.
Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches.
Setup Round: Knit one full round, slipping markers as you pass them.
Part Three: Transition Rounds
Before beginning the mesh body, work three rounds of knit stitches. This creates a small solid band above the base that reinforces the join and gives the bag a neater appearance at the bottom.
Rounds 1–3: Knit all stitches.
Part Four: The Mesh Body
Now the bag begins to take on its characteristic open, lattice appearance.
Mesh Round: K1, YO, K2tog; repeat from to end of round.
Work this mesh round every round for 50 rounds total. As you knit, you will notice the fabric growing into a beautiful open web. The yarn-overs and decreases maintain your stitch count, so you should always return to 100 stitches at the end of each round.
If you would like a taller bag, simply work additional mesh rounds. Each additional 10 rounds adds roughly 4 to 5 centimeters to the body, depending on your gauge and yarn choice. The LANTA bag is wonderfully adjustable this way.
After completing all 50 mesh rounds, work 3 rounds of plain knit stitches to mirror the transition rounds at the bottom and create a neat border between the mesh body and the handle section.
Part Five: Dividing for Handles
The handles are worked by dividing the bag into front and back panels and creating openings on each side.
At the beginning of the round, knit 15 stitches. Bind off the next 20 stitches firmly but not too tightly. Knit across the next 30 stitches (front panel). Bind off the next 20 stitches firmly. Knit to the end of the round. You now have two groups of 30 stitches, one for the front panel and one for the back panel, separated by two handle openings.
You will now work each panel flat (back and forth in rows) to create the handle straps.
Front Handle:
Turn your work so the WS is facing. Purl 30 stitches.
Continue in stockinette stitch for 24 rows (or until the strap measures approximately 11cm), ending with a RS row.
Bind off all 30 stitches.
Reattach yarn to the 30 back panel stitches and work the back handle in exactly the same way.
Once both handles are complete, fold each one down toward its respective handle opening and seam it neatly to the bound-off edge using a mattress stitch or whipstitch. This creates a clean, reinforced double-layered strap that will hold its shape under weight.
Finishing Your LANTA Bag
Finishing is where your bag truly comes to life, and a few careful steps here will make the difference between a bag that looks handmade in the loveliest way and one that looks unfinished.
Weave in your ends using a tapestry needle, working each tail through the backs of several stitches in different directions to secure it without creating a visible lump on the right side.
Block your bag by soaking it in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes, then gently squeezing out the excess water without wringing. Lay it flat or hang it over a door to dry. Blocking opens up the mesh beautifully, evens out any tension inconsistencies, and gives the finished bag that polished, professional appearance.
If the base feels floppy, you can insert a small piece of stiff plastic canvas cut to size. This keeps the bottom of the bag flat and gives it structure when you set it down. It is entirely optional, but many knitters swear by it for bags they use heavily.
Yarn Substitutions and Customization Ideas
One of the great joys of this pattern is how easily it adapts to different materials and aesthetic choices.
Try a variegated yarn. A tonal or hand-dyed cotton in shifting blues and greens will make the mesh pattern shimmer and shift with color in a way that a solid yarn simply cannot replicate. Semi-solid yarns in earthy tones — terracotta, sage, sand — give the bag a natural, organic feel.
Go chunky. If you substitute a chunky weight yarn and size up to 6mm or 6.5mm needles, the mesh becomes more open and dramatic, and the bag knits up in just a few hours. Adjust your stitch count accordingly: cast on 24 stitches for the base and reduce your pick-up count proportionally.
Add a lining. Sew a simple cotton lining from fabric and hand-stitch it inside the bag. This is especially useful if you plan to carry smaller items that might otherwise fall through the mesh, and it adds structure and a lovely interior finish.
Embellish the handles. Work a simple twisted cord or i-cord border around the handle openings to add extra stability and a polished edge. You can also crochet a slip stitch border around the top if you enjoy mixing your fiber crafts.
Personalize with color. Work the base in one color and the body in another. Use the transition rounds to introduce a contrasting stripe. Add stripes at the handle section. The LANTA bag is an excellent canvas for colorwork experimentation without committing to a complex colorwork technique like Fair Isle.
Tips for Knitting the LANTA Bag Successfully
A few practical notes that will make your experience smoother from cast-on to bind-off.
Tension matters more than you might expect. Because the mesh pattern is created by yarn-overs, knitters who tend to purl tightly may find their yarn-overs are tighter than intended on the following round. If your mesh looks more like a dense fabric than an open lattice, try going up a half needle size or consciously relaxing your tension.
Count your stitches regularly. The mesh repeat is a simple three-stitch repeat, but it is easy to miscounting when your attention wanders. A quick stitch count every five rounds will catch any errors before they become problems. If you are consistently gaining or losing stitches, check that your yarn-overs are landing in the correct place — they should be between a knit stitch and a k2tog, not between two k2togs or two knit stitches.
Use stitch markers generously. In addition to the four markers you placed at the corners during the pickup round, consider adding a marker every 25 stitches as you work the mesh body. This makes it easier to spot mistakes and keeps you oriented.
Do not rush the handle seaming. The handles are the most visible structural element of the bag, and neatly seamed handles elevate the whole piece. Take your time, use good light, and work slowly with your tapestry needle.
Caring for Your LANTA Bag
A knitted cotton bag is wonderfully easy to care for. Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cool water, or hand wash in the sink. Lay flat to dry to preserve the shape of the mesh and prevent the handles from stretching. Cotton can be lightly ironed on a cool setting if the bag becomes badly creased, but this is rarely necessary.
Over time, cotton yarn softens with washing and the bag will become even more supple and pleasant to handle. This is one of the most endearing qualities of cotton as a knitting fiber — it improves with use and age.
Why You Will Love Making This Bag
The LANTA bag sits in that perfect sweet spot that every knitter hopes to find: it is simple enough to be genuinely enjoyable and meditative to work, but complex enough in appearance that it draws compliments and sparks that wonderful question — “Did you make that yourself?”
It is a project you can knit while listening to a podcast or watching a film. It is portable enough to take on the train or to a knitting circle. And it produces a finished object that you will actually use every week, which makes all those evenings with yarn and needles feel genuinely worthwhile.
Whether you are making it for yourself, as a gift, or simply because you have been eyeing that beautiful cotton yarn in your stash for months and needed the perfect excuse, the LANTA bag will not disappoint. Cast on today, and by the end of the week you could be carrying your own handmade tote to the market.
Happy knitting.
