Market Bag Knitting Pattern (and Free Video Tutorial)

There is something deeply satisfying about carrying your groceries home in a bag you made with your own hands. A market bag is one of those knitting projects that sits at a perfect intersection of practical and beautiful — it costs almost nothing to make, it takes only a weekend or two to complete, and it gets better with every wash and stretch. Whether you are a beginner looking for your first real project beyond scarves and dishcloths, or an experienced knitter who wants a mindless but rewarding make, this market bag knitting pattern is for you.

In this post you will find a complete, step-by-step written pattern, notes on yarn and needle choices, tips for customizing the size, and a free video tutorial walkthrough so you can follow along visually if reading a pattern feels a little overwhelming. By the end, you will have a sturdy, stretchy, washable bag that is perfect for farmers markets, grocery runs, the beach, or even as a produce bag tucked inside a larger tote.

Why Knit a Market Bag?

Before we dive into the pattern, let’s talk about why market bags have become such a beloved project in the knitting community.

First, they are genuinely useful. A hand-knitted cotton market bag can hold a surprising amount — a dozen apples, two bottles of wine, a baguette poking out the top. The natural stretch of the knit fabric means the bag molds to whatever you put inside it, and the open mesh structure lets air circulate, which keeps produce fresher than a plastic bag would.

Second, they are economical. A single skein of cotton yarn — often less than ten dollars — is enough to make a standard market bag. Compare that to the boutique reusable bags sold in grocery stores and farm stands, and you will see that knitting your own is both cheaper and far more personal.

Third, they are sustainable. Swapping out single-use plastic for a hand-knitted cotton bag is a small but meaningful gesture toward reducing waste. Cotton is biodegradable and durable, meaning your bag will last for years before it even thinks about wearing out.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for knitters, they are fun to make. The lace or mesh patterns used in most market bags look impressive but are actually very simple to execute. You repeat the same few stitches over and over, and before long you have something that looks genuinely beautiful.

Materials You Will Need

Let’s get everything gathered before you cast on.

Yarn: The best yarn for a market bag is a smooth, tightly spun cotton or cotton-blend yarn in a DK or worsted weight. Cotton has very little stretch compared to wool, which is exactly what you want here — the bag needs to hold its shape under the weight of produce or groceries without drooping excessively. Some knitters prefer a linen-cotton blend, which is even sturdier and develops a lovely drape over time. Avoid fuzzy or textured yarns, as these make it difficult to see your stitches and will not create a clean mesh pattern. You will need approximately 200 to 250 yards for a standard market bag size.

Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) circular needles, 24 to 32 inches long, work well for most DK to light worsted weight cotton. Using circular needles even though this bag is knitted flat for the body section makes it easier to hold all the stitches as the bag gets wider. You can also use straight needles if that is what you have on hand.

Notions: You will need a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers, scissors, and a measuring tape. A crochet hook in a similar size to your knitting needles can be helpful for picking up dropped stitches in the mesh section.

Gauge

Gauge matters less for a market bag than it does for fitted garments, but it still affects your finished size. For this pattern, aim for approximately 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using your chosen yarn and needles. If your gauge is slightly looser or tighter, your bag will simply be a little larger or smaller. This is completely fine. The key is that the fabric is not so loose that the bag feels unstable or so tight that it cannot stretch to hold bulky items.

Finished Size

The finished bag measures approximately 13 inches wide and 15 inches tall before the handles, unstretched. When filled, it will stretch significantly in both width and depth. The handles are approximately 12 inches long, giving you enough length to carry the bag comfortably over your shoulder or in the crook of your arm.

Pattern Notes

This bag is worked flat for the body from the bottom up, then seamed along one side. The base is a simple rectangle of stockinette, which gives the bag a stable bottom so it does not sag when you set it down. The body is worked in a simple yarn-over mesh pattern that creates the classic open-weave look you see on most market bags. The handles are worked as integrated i-cord straps that begin at the top of the body section.

If you are unfamiliar with any of the abbreviations or techniques used below, the free video tutorial covers each one in detail, so do not worry if something reads confusingly on the page — watching it in action makes everything much clearer.

Abbreviations:
CO — cast on
BO — bind off
K — knit
P — purl
YO — yarn over
K2tog — knit two stitches together
SSK — slip, slip, knit (a left-leaning decrease)
SM — slip marker
PM — place marker
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
Rep — repeat

The Pattern

Cast On and Base

Using your circular or straight needles and the long-tail cast on method, CO 60 stitches.

Work in stockinette stitch (knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows) for 20 rows. This creates the flat base of the bag. At the end of these 20 rows your piece should measure approximately 3 inches in height.

If you would like a larger bag, you can add more rows here before moving into the mesh section. Each additional 2 rows adds roughly a quarter inch to the base depth.

Mesh Body Section

Row 1 (RS): K2, YO, K2tog, rep from to last 2 stitches, K2.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 3 (RS): K3, YO, K2tog, rep from to last 3 stitches, K3.
Row 4 (WS): Purl all stitches.

These four rows form your mesh pattern repeat. Continue working rows 1 through 4 until the body section measures approximately 12 inches from the top of the base, ending after a wrong-side purl row.

The alternating offset on rows 1 and 3 creates a slightly diagonal mesh that looks lovely and helps the fabric distribute weight evenly. You will see how this looks in the video tutorial — it has a nice organic quality that makes the finished bag look hand-crafted in the best possible way.

As you work the mesh section, you may notice the fabric wants to curl at the edges. This is normal for stockinette-based mesh and will largely resolve once the bag is seamed and washed. If you are using a smooth yarn, a light blocking with cool water and laying the bag flat to dry will open up the mesh beautifully.

Dividing for Handles

At this point your knitting should be a rectangle measuring roughly 13 inches wide and 15 inches tall. Now you will divide the stitches to create the two handles.

Next row (RS): K15, BO 30 stitches, K to end. You will now have two separate groups of 15 stitches on your needle.

Set aside one group by placing those 15 stitches on a stitch holder or a spare length of yarn. You will work each handle separately.

First Handle

With the 15 stitches remaining on your needle, work in stockinette (or garter stitch, if you prefer a handle that does not curl) for 48 rows, or until the handle measures approximately 12 inches. Bind off loosely.

Rejoin yarn to the held stitches and work the second handle to match. Bind off.

Finishing

Fold the bag in half lengthwise, with right sides together, so that the two edges of the body section are aligned. Using your tapestry needle and a length of yarn, seam the side of the bag using a mattress stitch or whip stitch. Mattress stitch creates the most invisible seam and is worth taking the extra few minutes to learn if you have not used it before — the video tutorial shows exactly how to work it on this type of fabric.

After seaming, turn the bag right side out. Weave in all ends securely, as this bag will be stretched and washed regularly and you want those ends to stay put.

For blocking, fill a sink or basin with cool water and a small amount of gentle soap. Submerge the bag, gently squeeze out the water (do not wring), and roll it in a clean towel to remove excess moisture. Lay it flat on a dry towel, shaping it gently to the desired dimensions, and leave it to air dry completely. This step opens up the mesh and softens the cotton significantly.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about this pattern is how easy it is to adapt. Here are a few ways you can make it your own.

Change the size. To make a smaller produce bag or a gift bag, cast on 40 stitches and work the mesh section for 8 inches. For a larger tote, cast on 80 stitches and work for 14 inches. Just remember that more stitches mean more yarn, so check your yardage before casting on.

Add a solid color stripe. Because the mesh section is worked in a simple two-row repeat, it is very easy to introduce a second color. Switch colors every four rows for bold stripes, or every eight rows for wider blocks of color. Carry the unused yarn loosely up the side rather than cutting it at every change.

Use a different base stitch. Instead of the YO, K2tog mesh, try a brioche rib base for a thicker, squishier fabric that works beautifully for a bag intended to carry delicate items like bread or eggs. Or try a simple eyelet rib by alternating columns of K2, P2 ribbing with yarn-over columns for a more structured look.

Make the handles longer. If you prefer to wear the bag as a crossbody, work the handles for 70 to 80 rows instead of 48. For a bag with handles designed to stay in your hand rather than go over your shoulder, reduce to 30 rows.

Add fringe or tassels. Using a crochet hook, pull short lengths of the same yarn (or a contrasting color) through the base of the bag at regular intervals and knot them into simple fringe. This gives the bag a more bohemian feel and is a lovely way to use up yarn scraps.

Free Video Tutorial

The free video tutorial for this pattern walks you through every step listed above in real time. The video begins with choosing and preparing your yarn, moves through the long-tail cast on, demonstrates the base in stockinette, and then slows down significantly for the mesh section so you can see exactly how the yarn-overs and decreases interact on the needle. The handle division, the seaming, and the blocking are all shown clearly.

The tutorial is designed to be paused and rewound as needed, so you can knit along at your own pace. If you have never used a yarn-over before, the video shows several close-up angles to make sure you understand not just the mechanics but why the stitch does what it does. If you have been knitting for years, you can skim through the early sections and jump to the mesh or finishing segments.

Look for the video linked at the top and bottom of this post. It is free to watch with no subscription required.

Yarn Recommendations

If you are not sure where to start with yarn, here are a few options that work particularly well for this pattern.

Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is widely available, affordable, comes in a huge range of colors, and is machine washable, which is a significant practical advantage for a bag that is going to be used at a farmers market in the rain. It knits up smoothly and the mesh opens beautifully after blocking.

Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in the cotton version is another excellent choice. It is slightly lighter in weight, which produces a more delicate-looking mesh and a bag that is lovely for carrying lighter loads or giving as a gift.

For something a bit more luxurious, try a linen-cotton blend like Quince & Co. Sparrow or any of the linen-blend yarns available through independent dyers on Etsy. These yarns have a beautiful natural texture and develop an even lovelier drape with washing and use. They are pricier but worth it if you want to treat yourself or make a gift bag that really impresses.

Caring for Your Market Bag

Cotton and linen bags are wonderfully easy to care for. Machine wash on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold or warm water and tumble dry on low, or lay flat to dry if you want to preserve the shape most carefully. The bag will shrink slightly with its first wash if you used a yarn that was not pre-shrunk, so keep that in mind. After that first wash, the size will stabilize.

If you have knitted with a hand-dyed yarn, wash it separately for the first few washes in case there is any color bleed. This is not harmful, just a precaution to keep from accidentally tinting your produce.

Gifting Your Market Bag

A hand-knitted market bag is one of the best gifts you can make. It is personal, practical, and genuinely useful in a way that many knitted gifts are not. Roll it up with a bar of nice soap and a wooden produce brush for a beautiful farmers market gift set. Tuck a loaf of homemade bread inside for a housewarming gift. Fill it with a couple of skeins of yarn and needles to give to someone who has expressed interest in learning to knit.

Because the pattern works up relatively quickly — most knitters finish a bag in three to five evenings of casual knitting — you can make several at once if you have a few gifts to cover. Using the same base pattern in different colors or with slight size variations gives each bag its own personality while keeping the process straightforward.

A Few Final Tips

Always weave in your ends more securely than you think you need to. Market bags get a lot of use and are washed regularly, and an end that feels secure after one wash may work its way loose after ten. Run your tapestry needle through the same stitch twice, changing directions, before trimming.

If the mesh section feels loose and floppy while you are knitting it, do not panic. This is how mesh fabric behaves on the needle. It will tighten up and even out dramatically once the bag is seamed, blocked, and in use.

If you find yourself losing your place in the four-row mesh repeat, use a row counter or simply make a small tally mark on a sticky note each time you complete a full repeat. It takes about five seconds and saves you from having to tink back when you realize you have done row 1 twice in a row.

Finally, enjoy the process. This is not a complicated pattern, and the repetition of the mesh rows is genuinely meditative once you get into the rhythm. Put on a podcast or a show you have been meaning to watch, pour yourself something nice, and settle in. Your market bag will be finished before you know it, and it will make you smile every time you pick it up to head out the door.

Happy knitting, and do not forget to check out the free video tutorial linked above. If you make this bag, share a photo — there is nothing better than seeing how different yarns, colors, and slight modifications bring out each knitter’s individual style in the same basic pattern.