Market Bag Knitting Pattern (and Free Video Tutorial) — Sheep and Stitch
There is something deeply satisfying about carrying your groceries home in a bag you made yourself. Not a bag from a kit, not one you ordered from a shop, but one you cast on, knit stitch by stitch, and bound off with your own hands. The market bag is one of those projects that has earned its place as a knitting classic, and for good reason. It is practical, portable, quick to finish, and endlessly customizable. If you have been looking for a market bag knitting pattern that is beginner-friendly, genuinely useful, and accompanied by clear guidance every step of the way, you have come to the right place.
In this post, you will find everything you need to knit your very own market bag, including a full written pattern, notes on yarn and needle choices, tips for customizing the size and style, and a free video tutorial to walk you through the process from cast-on to finished object.
Why Knit a Market Bag?
Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about why the knitted market bag deserves a spot on your project queue right now.
First, it is a genuinely sustainable choice. Single-use plastic bags are falling out of favor everywhere, and while fabric tote bags have become ubiquitous, a hand-knitted mesh bag made from cotton or linen is something else entirely. It is breathable, which means your produce stays fresher longer. It stretches to accommodate an unexpectedly large haul of vegetables, then springs back to its original shape when empty. It is machine washable, durable, and gets better looking with every use as the fibers soften and relax.
Second, a market bag is one of the best beginner knitting projects around. If you have mastered the knit stitch and the purl stitch, you have everything you need to complete this pattern. The mesh lace panels are created with simple yarn-overs and decreases — nothing complicated, nothing that will have you tearing your hair out at the kitchen table.
Third, this is a project you can actually finish in a weekend. There is nothing discouraging about a market bag. You cast on, you work through a satisfying sequence of rows, and before you know it you have something beautiful and functional. For newer knitters especially, that sense of completion is incredibly motivating.
Finally, knitted market bags make wonderful gifts. They are personal, handmade, and practical — a combination that is surprisingly hard to find. Make one for yourself, then make five more for friends.
Materials and Supplies
Here is what you will need to get started.
Yarn: The best yarn for a market bag is a smooth, sturdy cotton or cotton-blend yarn in a worsted or DK weight. You want something with low stretch and good stitch definition, so your lace pattern shows up clearly and your bag holds its structure when loaded up with groceries. A natural fiber like cotton or linen also has the breathability advantage mentioned above. You will need approximately 200 to 250 yards of yarn for a standard-size market bag. If you want a larger bag, plan for closer to 300 yards.
Some excellent choices include Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Drops Safran, and We Are Knitters The Chunky Cotton if you prefer a chunkier, faster-knit version. Avoid yarns with a lot of elastic or stretch, such as wool blends, because the bag will sag under weight and lose its shape over time.
Needles: For a worsted weight cotton, you will typically use US size 7 (4.5mm) or US size 8 (5.0mm) circular needles, at least 24 inches long. Working in the round on circular needles means no seams and a clean, professional finish. If you prefer double-pointed needles or the magic loop method, those work perfectly as well. Go up a needle size from what the yarn label recommends — a slightly looser gauge creates a more open mesh and a more flexible bag.
Other supplies: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers to mark the beginning of your round and the handle placement, scissors, and optionally a row counter or a phone with a counting app.
Gauge
Gauge matters less for a market bag than it does for a fitted garment, but it is still worth doing a quick swatch if you want predictable results. For this pattern, a gauge of approximately 16 to 18 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US 7 or 8 needles will give you a bag that measures roughly 14 inches wide and 16 inches deep when blocked and slightly stretched.
If your bag comes out smaller than expected, go up a needle size. If it comes out floppy or very large, go down a needle size. Either way, the mesh structure of the bag is forgiving, and small variations in gauge will not ruin the project.
The Pattern: Classic Mesh Market Bag
This pattern is written for a standard-size market bag worked in the round from the bottom up. It features a solid garter stitch base for structure, a simple mesh body for breathability and stretch, and two sturdy twisted stitch handles.
Finished measurements: Approximately 14 inches wide by 16 inches deep (before handles)
Yarn: Approximately 200–250 yards of worsted weight cotton
Needles: US 7 or US 8 (4.5mm or 5.0mm) circular needles, 24 inches
Additional materials: Stitch markers (at least 2), tapestry needle
The Base
Using a long-tail cast-on or your preferred method, cast on 60 stitches. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Rounds 1 through 6: Knit every stitch. (This creates a sturdy garter-like base in the round — because you are working in rounds, not rows, knitting every round gives you stockinette, so in Round 2 of the base section, purl all stitches to create the garter ridge effect. Alternate knit rounds and purl rounds for 6 total rounds.)
After these 6 rounds, your base should be a firm, flat disc of fabric that anchors the bag and prevents it from stretching out at the bottom when loaded.
The Mesh Body
This is the main section of the bag and where all the magic happens. The mesh pattern is created by alternating yarn-overs with k2tog (knit two together) decreases, which keeps your stitch count the same from round to round while creating beautiful open holes throughout the fabric.
Mesh Round: Yarn over, k2tog — repeat from to to the end of the round.
Plain Round: Knit all stitches.
Repeat these two rounds until the body measures approximately 14 to 15 inches from the base. This will take roughly 28 to 30 rounds of the mesh pattern.
The plain knit round between each mesh round is optional — some knitters prefer a more open, dramatic mesh by working the yarn-over and k2tog pattern every round rather than every other round. Try both on your swatch and choose the one you prefer. A denser mesh holds smaller items like herbs and garlic cloves without losing them; a more open mesh looks stunning but is best for larger items.
Preparing for the Handles
Once your bag body has reached the desired depth, it is time to set up the handles. This section creates the two strap openings that will allow you to carry the bag comfortably over your wrist or shoulder.
Work to 15 stitches past the beginning of round marker and place a second marker. This marks the center of one side of the bag.
Handle Setup Round: Bind off 6 stitches, knit to 3 stitches before the beginning-of-round marker, bind off 6 stitches, knit to end.
You now have two gaps in your work, each 6 stitches wide, that will become the base of the handles.
The Handles
The handles are worked back and forth on the stitches between each gap. You will work one handle at a time.
Attach yarn at one of the gaps and work back and forth in rows as follows:
Row 1 (RS): Cast on 6 stitches using the backward loop method over the gap (replacing the bound-off stitches), knit to the second gap, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches, turn.
Repeat these two rows 28 more times (or until the handle measures approximately 10 inches), then use a three-needle bind-off to join the live stitches of the handle to the corresponding stitches on the opposite side of the bag. Repeat for the second handle.
Alternatively, if you prefer a rope-style handle rather than a flat strap, you can work an applied i-cord handle instead. Using double-pointed needles and leaving a long tail, pick up and knit 4 stitches along the edge of the handle gap, then work an i-cord (knit 4, slide stitches to opposite end of needle, pull yarn around back, repeat) for 20 inches or until the handle reaches your preferred length. Seam the end of the i-cord to the opposite handle gap. Repeat on the other side. I-cord handles are a bit more time-consuming but they look polished and feel very comfortable to carry.
Finishing
Weave in all ends with a tapestry needle, pulling them securely through the back of several stitches so they do not come loose with washing and use.
Wet block your finished bag by soaking it in cool water for 15 minutes, gently squeezing out excess water without wringing, then pinning it to shape on a blocking mat or clean towel. Allow it to dry completely before use. Wet blocking is especially important for cotton, which relaxes significantly when wet and opens up beautifully once dried.
Free Video Tutorial
If any part of this written pattern feels unclear, do not worry — that is exactly what the free video tutorial is for. The video walks you through every step of this pattern in real time, including how to set up your circular needles, how to execute the yarn-over and k2tog combination neatly, how to create the handle openings, and how to finish off the bag professionally. Watching someone else’s hands move through the motions is often the fastest way to understand a technique that looks confusing on paper.
The video is especially helpful for the handle section, which involves a bit of back-and-forth thinking that can feel disorienting when you read it. Seeing it demonstrated makes it immediately clear.
You can find the video tutorial linked at the top of this post. If you are watching on YouTube, please consider leaving a like and subscribing to the Sheep and Stitch channel — it helps more knitters find free tutorials like this one, and it makes creating them worthwhile.
Tips for Customizing Your Market Bag
One of the best things about this pattern is how easily it adapts to your preferences. Here are a few ways to make it your own.
Change the size. For a smaller produce bag or a snack bag for kids, cast on 40 stitches instead of 60 and work the body section to about 10 inches. For a larger bag suitable for a farmers’ market haul or even as a beach bag, cast on 80 stitches and work the body to 18 inches. Remember that your yarn consumption will change accordingly.
Add stripes. Carrying two balls of cotton yarn and switching colors every 10 rounds creates a cheerful striped market bag that uses up partial skeins from your stash. The mesh pattern looks especially striking in alternating neutrals — a cream and natural tan combination, for example, feels timeless.
Try a different fiber. While cotton is the classic choice, a linen-cotton blend produces a bag with incredible structure and a beautiful, slightly rustic texture that gets softer over time. Jute twine is an option for a very rustic, textured look, though it is rougher to knit with and less comfortable as a carry strap. Bamboo yarn gives a silky, drapey finish that is lovely but less durable than cotton for heavy loads.
Change the mesh density. As mentioned earlier, working the yarn-over decrease on every round rather than every other round creates a more open, lacier mesh. You can also experiment with a k3tog paired with a double yarn-over for a chunkier, more geometric hole pattern.
Add a base lining. If you want a bag that holds its shape even when empty, cut a circle of stiff plastic canvas or a reusable bag insert to fit the bottom of your knitted bag and slip it inside. This is especially handy for carrying items that might poke through the mesh, like bunches of herbs or loose berries.
Caring for Your Market Bag
Cotton is one of the most low-maintenance fibers to work with. Your finished market bag can go straight into the washing machine on a cool or warm cycle and tumble dry on low. For best results, reshape the bag while slightly damp and lay it flat to dry if you want to preserve the blocked shape. Over time, cotton softens beautifully and the bag becomes even more pleasant to use.
After a trip to the market, simply turn the bag inside out and shake out any debris before tossing it in the wash. If it has carried something leaky (a damaged tomato, a drippy jar), rinse it by hand first, then wash as usual.
Joining the Community
Knitting is more fun together. If you make this market bag, please share a photo on Instagram and tag @sheepandstitch — seeing your finished projects is genuinely one of the best parts of writing patterns and making tutorials. You can also join the Sheep and Stitch community on Ravelry, where knitters post their finished objects, share notes on yarn substitutions, and ask questions that other community members are often delighted to answer.
If you run into a snag with the pattern, leave a comment below. I read every comment and try to respond to pattern questions as quickly as possible. Knitting patterns can sometimes contain ambiguities that are obvious to the writer and confusing to everyone else, and your questions genuinely help improve the pattern for the next person who finds it.
Final Thoughts
The market bag is one of those knitting projects that earns its keep a thousand times over. It is quick enough to knit in a weekend, practical enough to use every week, and beautiful enough that strangers will stop you in the grocery store to ask where you got it. (The answer, of course, is that you made it yourself — and that answer never gets old.)
Whether you are a brand-new knitter picking up needles for the first time or an experienced maker looking for a satisfying, mindful project, this market bag pattern has something to offer you. Cast on, knit a few rows, and see how quickly it comes together. You might find yourself finishing one and immediately casting on another in a different color — fair warning, that is exactly what happened to me.
Happy knitting.
