Molfetta Bag Knitting Pattern: Your Free Summer Tote Guide

There is something deeply satisfying about carrying a bag you made with your own hands. It tells a story before you even open your mouth — a story about patience, creativity, and the kind of care that goes into handmade things. The Molfetta Bag is exactly that kind of project. Named after the charming coastal town on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy, this tote captures the spirit of a Mediterranean summer: open weave, natural fibers, and a silhouette relaxed enough to carry everything from a library book to a bunch of farmers market tomatoes.

Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for a satisfying warm-weather project or an adventurous beginner ready to move beyond scarves and dishcloths, this free Molfetta Bag knitting pattern is designed to meet you where you are. By the end of this guide, you will have everything you need to cast on with confidence, work through each section, and finish with a tote that is genuinely beautiful and endlessly practical.

Let’s get into it.

Why Knit a Summer Tote?

Before we dive into the pattern itself, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate why a knitted tote bag is such a rewarding project. Unlike garments, a bag does not need to fit a body. There are no sleeves to match, no waist shaping to calculate, no second-guessing whether the gauge will affect how something drapes across your shoulders. A tote is forgiving in the best way — a few extra stitches or a slightly looser tension will not ruin it. If anything, they will give it character.

Knitted bags also wear beautifully with age. The fibers settle into themselves, the structure softens slightly, and after a season of use, your Molfetta Bag will look like something you found in a small shop on a cobblestone street rather than something fresh off the needles.

The open mesh construction used in this pattern has the added benefit of being lightweight and breathable, which makes it ideal for summer. You can see what is inside at a glance, and the flexible structure means it expands generously to accommodate whatever you need to carry that day.

About the Molfetta Bag Design

The Molfetta Bag takes its inspiration from the traditional Italian net bags — called “retine” — that have been used for centuries by fishermen, market-goers, and travelers across the Mediterranean. These bags were practical inventions born of necessity: they needed to hold wet fish, loose vegetables, and all manner of irregular objects without breaking. Over time, they became iconic objects, photographed hanging in markets and carried by chic Italian women who understood that nothing looks more effortlessly stylish than a beautiful mesh bag full of produce.

This modern knitting pattern adapts that tradition for contemporary use. The Molfetta Bag features a simple mesh stitch body worked flat and seamed, two sturdy handles knitted in a dense rib that contrast nicely with the open weave of the bag itself, and a rectangular base that gives the finished tote a satisfying structure. The result is a bag that is roomy enough to be useful, beautiful enough to carry everywhere, and simple enough to knit without a pattern spread across your lap at all times.

Materials You Will Need

One of the great pleasures of this project is that the materials list is short and inexpensive. You do not need anything fancy, and cotton yarn is widely available at most craft stores and online.

For yarn, you will want approximately 350 to 400 yards of worsted weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Cotton is the natural choice here for several reasons. It is strong, it holds its shape well, and it does not stretch out of proportion the way some wool-based yarns might. It is also machine washable, which matters a great deal for a bag that is going to get real use. Some knitters love a linen-cotton blend for this project because linen adds a beautiful drape and becomes softer with every wash. If you want a slightly more rustic, artisanal look, an undyed natural cotton or jute blend is a lovely choice.

You will also need a pair of US size 7 (4.5mm) knitting needles. Straight needles work perfectly well for this project since the body of the bag is worked flat. If you prefer circular needles for all your knitting, those work just fine too — simply use them as you would straight needles for the flat sections.

A tapestry needle is essential for seaming and weaving in ends. A stitch marker or two will help you keep track of the mesh pattern repeat, especially in the first few rows before the rhythm becomes second nature. A pair of scissors, obviously, and a measuring tape to check your dimensions as you go.

If you would like to reinforce the bottom of the bag for heavier loads, a small piece of interfacing or a rectangular canvas bag insert cut to size can be slipped inside. This is entirely optional and does not affect the knitting itself.

Gauge

Gauge for a bag is more relaxed than it would be for a fitted garment, but it is still worth checking, particularly because cotton yarn can vary considerably in weight from one brand to another.

For this pattern, the target gauge is approximately 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, blocked. If your gauge is slightly looser, your bag will be a little larger. If it is slightly tighter, it will be a little smaller. Neither outcome is catastrophic for a tote bag, but if you are aiming for the specific dimensions described in this pattern, take fifteen minutes to knit a swatch and adjust your needle size accordingly.

Finished Dimensions

The finished Molfetta Bag measures approximately 14 inches wide by 13 inches tall, not including the handles. The handles are approximately 20 inches long from the top edge of the bag, which gives a comfortable over-the-shoulder length for most people. If you want shorter handles for hand-carrying, you can reduce them to 14 or 15 inches.

Abbreviations

Here are the abbreviations used throughout this pattern:

CO — cast on. BO — bind off. K — knit. P — purl. YO — yarn over. K2tog — knit two stitches together. St(s) — stitch(es). RS — right side. WS — wrong side. Rep — repeat. PM — place marker. SM — slip marker.

The Pattern: Molfetta Bag

The Base

Cast on 20 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 60 rows. This creates a rectangular base panel that measures approximately 4.5 inches by 13 inches. The garter stitch base provides a firm, dense foundation that contrasts beautifully with the open mesh body and helps the bag stand up with some structure.

Bind off and set aside. Do not cut your yarn — if you are comfortable picking up stitches, you can leave a long tail and transition directly into picking up stitches along the edge of the base for the body. If you prefer a cleaner start, cut the yarn, leaving a tail to weave in, and begin the body section with a fresh length.

The Body

The body of the Molfetta Bag is worked as two identical panels. Each panel is then seamed to the sides of the base and to each other, creating the three-dimensional structure of the bag.

Pick up and knit 63 stitches along one long edge of the base. If you are picking up along a garter stitch edge, you will pick up approximately one stitch per garter ridge, which should give you the right count. If your stitch count comes out slightly different — 61 or 65, for example — it is fine to adjust slightly, as long as your stitch count is a multiple of 3, plus 3 for the border stitches.

Row 1 (WS): Knit 3, purl to last 3 stitches, knit 3.

Row 2 (RS): Knit 3, k1, yo, k2tog; rep from to last 3 sts, knit 3.

These two rows form the mesh pattern. The three garter stitches at each edge of every row create a tidy, stable border that makes seaming much easier later and gives the bag a clean finished look on all sides.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the body panel measures 13 inches from the base, ending with a wrong-side row. Bind off loosely. A loose bind-off is important here because a tight edge will draw in the top of the bag and make it difficult to use. If you tend to bind off tightly, go up one needle size for the bind-off row.

Work a second identical body panel following the same instructions.

The Handles

The handles are worked separately and sewn on after the bag is assembled. This gives you control over their placement and ensures they are solidly attached.

Cast on 10 stitches. Work in 2×2 rib (k2, p2) for the entire length of each handle. For a 20-inch handle, you will work approximately 110 to 115 rows of rib, depending on your row gauge. Check the length as you go by laying the handle flat on a table and measuring. The rib stitch creates a sturdy, slightly stretchy handle that is comfortable to carry and looks elegant against the open weave of the bag body.

Bind off in pattern (this means knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches as you bind off, which keeps the edge from pulling in).

Make two handles.

Assembling the Molfetta Bag

Assembly is straightforward, and if you take your time here, the finished bag will look polished and professional.

Begin by seaming the body panels to the sides of the base. Lay your base panel right side up on a flat surface. Place one body panel right side up against one long edge of the base, lining up the bottom edge of the body panel with the edge of the base. Using your tapestry needle and a length of matching yarn, use mattress stitch to join them along this edge. Mattress stitch creates a nearly invisible seam on the right side of the work, which is worth the small extra effort. Repeat for the second body panel on the opposite long edge of the base.

Next, seam the short sides. With both body panels attached to the base and the bag beginning to take its three-dimensional form, fold the structure so that the side edges of the two body panels meet. Pin them in place if helpful, then seam along both side edges using mattress stitch. When you are finished, you will have a complete bag body with an open top.

Weave in all ends on the inside of the bag. Trim them close but not so close that they might work their way loose over time — leaving about half an inch is a good rule.

Now attach the handles. Place each handle so that its ends are centered on each body panel, approximately 3.5 inches in from each side edge. The ends of the handle should overlap the top edge of the bag by about 1.5 to 2 inches. Using your tapestry needle and a doubled length of yarn, sew each handle end securely to the inside and outside of the bag using small, tight stitches in a rectangular pattern. Reinforce with a diagonal stitch across the rectangle for extra durability.

Finishing Touches

Block your finished bag by soaking it in cool water for about 15 minutes, pressing out the excess water gently without wringing, and laying it flat to dry in its desired shape. Blocking is transformative for cotton yarn — it opens up the mesh pattern, evens out the stitches, and gives the bag a crisp, finished look that it simply does not have straight off the needles.

If you want to add a lining, a simple rectangle of fabric sewn into a pocket shape and stitched inside the bag by hand is a lovely addition, particularly if you plan to carry items that might slip through the mesh (coins, lip balm, small keys). Choose a fabric that speaks to the same summer spirit as the bag itself — a cotton print in a cheerful stripe or botanical print works beautifully.

Yarn Substitutions and Color Ideas

The beauty of a simple mesh pattern like this one is that it works with almost any yarn at the right weight. Here are a few directions to consider:

A single skein of natural undyed cotton gives the bag an earthy, artisanal feel that suits the Mediterranean inspiration of the design. Cream, ecru, or warm stone are all wonderful choices.

A bright, saturated color like terracotta, cobalt blue, or sunflower yellow leans into the summer tote aesthetic and makes the bag a statement piece.

For a more subtle, sophisticated look, a deep forest green, navy, or dusty rose in a linen-cotton blend has a quiet elegance that works in any season.

Gradient or hand-dyed yarn creates a spectacular effect in the open mesh stitch — the shifting color is visible through the eyelets in a way that is genuinely stunning.

Tips for Success

If the mesh pattern feels confusing at first, try marking the beginning of each pattern repeat with a small stitch marker. Once you have worked three or four repeats, the rhythm of knit one, yarn over, knit two together becomes automatic and you will not need to think about it consciously.

Cotton yarn can be harder on the hands than wool because it does not have the same elasticity or give. If you find your hands tiring, take breaks, stretch your fingers, and consider using bamboo or wooden needles, which are lighter and warmer to the touch than metal needles.

If you make a mistake in the mesh pattern, it is usually very easy to drop back and correct it. The yarn-over and k2tog combination is forgiving — dropping back a few stitches to fix a missed yarn over or an accidental extra decrease is much simpler than it sounds.

Caring for Your Molfetta Bag

Machine wash in cold water on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry rather than putting it in the dryer, which can cause cotton yarn to shrink and distort. Store the bag flat or loosely folded when not in use — crushing it under heavy things can flatten the mesh structure over time, though blocking will restore it if needed.

A Note on Gifting

The Molfetta Bag makes an exceptional handmade gift. It is universally useful, works across age groups and personal styles, and communicates genuine effort and care without being so precious that the recipient worries about using it. Pair it with a beautiful skein of yarn, a good novel, or a bundle of fresh lavender from a farmers market, and you have a gift that feels considered and personal.

If you are knitting multiples as gifts, the pattern moves quickly once you are past the first few rows of the mesh body. Many knitters find they can complete a bag in a long weekend of relaxed knitting — an evening for the base and handles, a day or two for each body panel, and an afternoon for assembly and finishing.

Final Thoughts

The Molfetta Bag is one of those rare patterns that is greater than the sum of its parts. The individual techniques — a simple mesh stitch, a ribbed handle, a garter stitch base — are nothing complicated on their own. But assembled together and worked in a good cotton yarn, they produce something that feels genuinely designed, genuinely beautiful, and genuinely made to last.

Carry it to the beach with a towel and a paperback. Bring it to the market and let it fill up with peaches and herbs. Toss it over your shoulder on the way to a friend’s house with a bottle of wine tucked inside. The Molfetta Bag is meant to be used, and it only gets better when it is.

Cast on. The summer is waiting.