Lopi Tote – Free Knitting Pattern

There is something deeply satisfying about knitting a bag. Unlike a sweater that requires careful fitting or socks that demand precise gauge, a tote bag is forgiving, functional, and fast. When you work one up in Lopi yarn, that satisfaction multiplies. The rustic charm, the speed, the way the fabric practically grows under your needles — it all comes together into a project that feels both effortless and rewarding. Whether you are a confident beginner or an experienced knitter looking for a relaxing weekend project, this free Lopi tote pattern is exactly what you need.

In this post, you will find everything: the full free pattern, notes on yarn and needle choices, tips for customizing the design, and guidance on finishing. Pull up a chair, brew something warm, and let’s talk about one of the best bags you will ever knit.

Why Lopi Yarn Is Perfect for a Tote Bag

Before diving into the pattern itself, it’s worth spending a moment on why Lopi yarn is such a brilliant choice for this kind of project.

Lopi is an Icelandic yarn tradition that stretches back centuries. The word refers to several different weights and preparations of yarn spun from Icelandic sheep wool, including Álafoss Lopi (bulky), Létt Lopi (light worsted/DK), Einband (laceweight), and Plötulopi (unspun roving). For this tote, we are working with Létt Lopi, which gives you a fabric that is dense enough to hold its shape without being stiff or heavy.

Icelandic sheep have a distinctive fleece with two types of fiber: a coarser outer coat called tog and a finer inner layer called þel. This dual-coated structure gives Lopi yarn its characteristic halo, its lightweight warmth, and its remarkable durability. A bag knitted in Lopi will hold up to years of market trips, beach days, and library hauls without losing its shape or showing significant wear.

There is also the matter of how quickly Lopi works up. Because it has very little twist compared to most commercial yarns, it slides easily off the needle and knits at a satisfying pace. A tote like this one can realistically be finished in a single weekend, which makes it an excellent project to cast on when you want visible progress and quick gratification.

Finally, Lopi comes in a genuinely beautiful range of colors — from natural undyed shades of charcoal, cream, and brown to vivid blues, reds, greens, and everything in between. The color range makes it easy to knit a bag that coordinates with your wardrobe or reflects your own aesthetic, whether that is a neutral earthy tote or something bright and eye-catching.

About This Pattern

This Lopi tote is knitted in the round from the bottom up. The base is worked flat and then stitches are picked up around all four edges to begin the sides, which are then worked seamlessly in the round. The result is a structured, roomy bag with an integrated i-cord handle on each side. There are no complicated techniques here — if you can knit, purl, pick up stitches, and make a basic i-cord, you have everything you need.

The finished bag measures approximately 14 inches wide by 13 inches tall, with handles long enough to carry comfortably over the shoulder. It is large enough to fit a grocery run, a knitting project, a set of books, or a change of clothes for a day trip.

Materials

Yarn: Létt Lopi by Istex, approximately 200–250 grams (3 to 4 skeins). Each skein is 100g / 328 yards. Choose one color for a simple solid bag, or pick two complementary colors to add stripes or a colorblock effect.

Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles, 32 inches or longer, for the body. A set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a short circular in the same size for the i-cord handles. You may also use the magic loop method if you prefer.

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, optional lining fabric and sewing supplies.

Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked. Gauge is not critical for this project, but a tighter gauge will produce a firmer, more structured fabric.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• BO: bind off
• k: knit
• p: purl
• k2tog: knit two together (decrease)
• m1: make one (increase)
• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker
• sl: slip stitch
• wyib: with yarn in back
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• rep: repeat
• st(s): stitch(es)

Pattern Instructions

Part One: The Base

Using the long-tail cast on, CO 70 stitches.

Work flat in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) for 50 rows, ending after a WS (purl) row. Your base should measure approximately 14 inches wide and 7 inches tall.

Do not bind off. Leave stitches live on the needle or on a stitch holder.

Tips for the base: The long-tail cast on gives you a neat, elastic edge that picks up easily later. If you tend to cast on tightly, go up a needle size for the cast on row only. Keep your tension consistent throughout — a firm, even base will help the finished bag hold its structure.

Part Two: Picking Up Stitches

This is where the bag takes shape. You will pick up stitches along all four edges of the base rectangle to begin working in the round for the sides.

With your circular needle and RS facing, knit across the 70 live stitches from the base. Place marker (pm) to mark the first corner.

Pick up and knit 35 stitches along the short right edge of the base (approximately 1 stitch for every 2 rows). Pm for the second corner.

Pick up and knit 70 stitches along the cast-on edge of the base. Pm for the third corner.

Pick up and knit 35 stitches along the short left edge of the base. Pm for the fourth corner.

You should now have 210 stitches on your needle, divided as 70 / 35 / 70 / 35 with a marker at each corner.

Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Part Three: The Body

Round 1: Knit all stitches.

Continue knitting every round (stockinette in the round) for 65 rounds total, slipping markers as you pass them. At this gauge, 65 rounds will give you approximately 9 inches of height above the base.

Optional stripes: If you are working in two colors, you can switch colors every 10 rounds for a clean stripe effect. Because stockinette stripes in the round show very little jog, this looks polished with minimal extra effort. Simply join the new color at the start of a round and carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the bag.

Optional texture: For a simple textured band around the middle, work 10 rounds in seed stitch (alternating k1, p1, offset by one stitch each round) at whatever point you like. This creates a subtle contrast band that adds visual interest without requiring any additional yarn.

After completing 65 rounds, you will begin the handle preparation.

Part Four: Handle Openings

The handles on this bag are formed by creating two sets of i-cord loops, one on each long side of the bag. Before you can attach them, you need to mark the handle positions.

Round 66 – Mark handle positions:

Knit 25 stitches, pm (handle start), knit 20 stitches, pm (handle end), knit to end of the long side, then continue across the two short sides and repeat the same marker placement on the second long side: knit 25, pm, knit 20, pm, knit to end.

Rounds 67–72 – Top border:

Work in 1×1 rib (k1, p1) across all stitches for 6 rounds. This creates a neat, slightly stretchy top edge that frames the bag opening and resists rolling.

Bind off:

Bind off all stitches loosely using a stretchy bind off. The easiest option is the k2tog bind off: knit two together, slip the resulting stitch back to the left needle, and repeat across. This gives a clean, professional edge with natural give.

Part Five: I-Cord Handles

The handles are worked as separate i-cords that are then attached to the bag at the marked positions.

Make 2 handles:

Using DPNs or the magic loop method, CO 4 stitches.

Work i-cord as follows: Knit 4, do not turn. Slide stitches to the right end of the needle, bring yarn firmly across the back, and knit 4 again. Repeat until the i-cord measures 20 inches (or your preferred handle length — see customization notes below).

Leave stitches live.

Attach the handles:

Thread the tail of the i-cord onto a tapestry needle and use it to seam the live stitches to the inside of the bag at one of the marked handle positions, working through the stitches just below the bind-off edge. Sew securely, going back through the seam several times.

Bring the other end of the i-cord to the second marked handle position on the same side and attach in the same way, making sure the cord is not twisted.

Repeat for the second handle on the opposite side of the bag.

Finishing tip: After attaching the handles, thread a tapestry needle with a length of matching yarn and reinforce the attachment points from the inside by working a tight starburst of stitches around the base of each handle. Bag handles take a lot of stress, and this reinforcement will prevent the seam from eventually working loose.

Part Six: Finishing

Weave in all ends on the inside of the bag. For extra security, thread each tail through several stitches in two different directions before trimming.

Wet block the finished bag by soaking it in cool water for 15 to 20 minutes, then squeezing out excess water gently (do not wring) and laying it flat to dry. Use your hands to shape the bottom corners into right angles and smooth the sides as it dries. Lopi responds beautifully to blocking, and the finished fabric will open up slightly, soften, and settle into its final shape with a lovely drape.

If you want a stiffer base, you can insert a small piece of plastic canvas or a folded piece of cardboard cut to size and slipped inside before the bag dries fully.

Customizing Your Lopi Tote

One of the great pleasures of knitting your own accessories is the freedom to make them exactly as you want them. Here are some ideas for adapting this pattern.

Handle length: The 20-inch handle length given above is designed for over-the-shoulder carry. If you prefer a shorter hand-carry handle, work the i-cord to 14 inches. If you want a true crossbody strap, extend it to 40 or 50 inches and attach both ends to the same side of the bag.

Bag size: To make a smaller tote, reduce the base cast-on to 50 stitches and work the base for 40 rows. Pick up stitches around the base accordingly and work the body for 55 rounds. For a larger market bag or beach bag, increase the base cast-on to 90 stitches, work 60 rows on the base, and add 10 to 15 rounds to the body height.

Adding a lining: Lopi fabric has a slight open weave that lets small items poke through or fall out. A simple fabric lining solves this entirely. Cut a rectangle of sturdy cotton or canvas to fit the inside of the bag with a half-inch seam allowance all around. Fold over the top edge, press it, and hand-sew the lining to the inside of the bag just below the ribbed top edge. A lining also adds structure, prevents the bag from stretching under heavy loads, and gives you the option to add an interior pocket.

Colorwork: The stockinette body of this bag is a perfect canvas for a simple stranded colorwork band. A row of traditional Icelandic yoke motifs, a geometric border, or even a simple checkerboard insert will complement the Lopi yarn beautifully. If you want to try colorwork, plan a band of about 10 to 15 rounds somewhere in the middle of the body section, and work the chart in two colors in the round.

Felting: Lopi is one of the best yarns in the world for felting because Icelandic wool has scales that interlock readily under heat and agitation. If you want a felted bag with an almost leather-like density, knit the bag approximately 40 percent larger than the finished dimensions you want and machine wash it in hot water with a bit of agitation. Check every few minutes until it reaches the desired size, then shape it and leave it to dry over a bowl or a stuffed plastic bag. The result will be nearly indestructible.

Care Instructions

Lopi yarn is wool, and it should be treated accordingly. Hand wash the finished bag in cool water with a small amount of wool wash or gentle dish soap. Rinse carefully, squeeze out excess water without twisting, and lay flat to dry. Do not put it in the dryer unless you want to felt it (see above). With proper care, a Lopi tote will outlast most things in your wardrobe.

A Few Final Thoughts

There is a reason knitters return to Lopi projects again and again. The yarn connects you to a tradition of making that is centuries old, rooted in a landscape where resourcefulness and quality were not preferences but necessities. Every skein of Létt Lopi carries something of that heritage — the resilience of the sheep, the knowledge of the spinners, the honesty of unprocessed fiber.

A tote bag might seem like a small thing to carry that kind of weight. But there is something quietly meaningful about making something you will actually use, something that will accompany you to the farmers market and the library and the beach and the plane. Every time you pick it up, you made that. Your hands did. And that is worth something.

Cast on. Knit. Enjoy every stitch.

If you make this tote, share it — tag your project on social media so other knitters can find inspiration. And if you have questions about the pattern, leave a comment below. Happy knitting.