A Guide To Choosing the Right Re:Designed Project Bag For You

Whether you’re a seasoned knitter hauling skeins across a busy commute, a crafter who refuses to let a single stitch marker go missing, or someone who simply wants to bring order to an otherwise chaotic creative life, the bag you carry your projects in matters far more than most people realize. It becomes your portable studio — the difference between a frustrating tangle of yarn and a calm, enjoyable creative session wherever you happen to be. Re:Designed by Handed By has earned a devoted following among makers precisely because their bags aren’t just pretty accessories. They’re thoughtfully constructed tools designed to fit the way creative people actually work.

But with a growing range of styles, sizes, and features, choosing the right one can feel a little overwhelming. This guide is here to help. We’ll walk through what makes Re:Designed bags stand out, how to think about your own crafting habits, what different bag styles are best suited for, and how to narrow down your choice so that when your new bag arrives, it feels like it was made exactly for you — because in many ways, it was.

Why Your Project Bag Is More Than Just a Bag

Before diving into the specifics of Re:Designed’s offerings, it’s worth pausing to think about what a truly good project bag does for you. A mediocre bag just holds things. A great one actively supports your creative practice.

Think about the last time you lost a needle mid-project, or had to fish through an endless void of yarn to find your scissors, or watched a ball of yarn roll under the seat in front of you on the train. The right bag eliminates those small frustrations. It keeps your tools accessible, your yarn tangle-free, and your in-progress work protected. Over time, that adds up to more enjoyable crafting sessions, fewer mistakes caused by distraction, and more projects actually finished.

Re:Designed approaches bag design with this philosophy at its core. The Danish brand, which is the label behind Handed By, makes products that sit at the intersection of Scandinavian minimalism and genuine functional intelligence. Their bags look beautiful sitting on a shelf or slung over a shoulder, but they’re also full of details — inner pockets positioned exactly where you need them, sturdy bases that keep bags upright, handles and straps designed for real-world carrying — that come from listening carefully to makers.

Understanding the Re:Designed Range

Re:Designed offers several distinct types of project bags, and understanding the categories is the first step toward finding your match.

Tote-style project bags are open-top or wide-mouth designs that give you easy access to your work. They tend to be roomy and relaxed in silhouette, ideal for larger projects like blankets, sweaters, or multiple works in progress. If you’re a knitter working on a big garment and you need to be able to pull out a long circular needle without fighting a zipper, a tote-style bag is probably calling your name.

Zip-top project bags offer more security and containment. They’re ideal if you travel frequently, commute on public transport, or simply prefer the peace of mind that comes from knowing your yarn isn’t going to escape. These bags tend to work well for smaller projects — a sock in progress, a single skein project, or anything you want to keep neatly contained.

Bucket bags and structured bags are among the most versatile options in the range. The bucket shape in particular has become something of a signature for Re:Designed. It holds its shape beautifully, stands upright on its own, and the wide opening at the top makes it easy to work directly from the bag — which is something many knitters and crocheters love, since it means the yarn can feed out freely without the bag tipping over.

Multi-compartment bags and sets are designed for makers who like separation and organization. If you’re the kind of person who keeps different projects in different pouches, or who likes to dedicate one section to tools and another to yarn, these designs give you a built-in system rather than requiring you to create one yourself with an assortment of zip-lock bags.

How to Think About Your Crafting Habits

The single most useful thing you can do before choosing a project bag is to honestly assess how you craft. Not how you imagine yourself crafting, but how you actually do it.

Where do you mostly craft? If you’re primarily a home crafter who works at a dedicated chair or table, portability matters less than capacity and aesthetics. A large, beautifully designed tote that lives beside your armchair and looks lovely in the room is a perfectly valid choice. But if you craft on the go — commuting, traveling, sitting in waiting rooms — weight, size, and closure type become much more important.

What are your typical project sizes? A sock knitter has very different needs from someone who primarily makes garments. A small project bag that’s perfect for a single skein of sock yarn will feel claustrophobic if you’re trying to stuff in a half-finished sweater. Conversely, carrying a large tote for a tiny amigurumi project means digging around in unnecessary space every time you need something. Think honestly about the kinds of projects you finish most often, not just the ones you aspire to make.

How organized are you naturally? Some makers are meticulous — they want a pocket for every tool, a dedicated spot for their row counter, a little notions pouch that clicks into place. Others prefer one big open space where everything tumbles together and they trust themselves to find things. Neither approach is wrong, but the bag design you choose should match your actual tendencies, not the version of yourself you’re hoping to become.

Do you work from one project at a time or several? Knitters and crocheters who always have multiple works in progress might do better with a bag that has distinct internal compartments, or with a set that includes smaller inner pouches. Those who are fiercely monogamous about their projects can prioritize other features.

What’s your yarn situation? Bulky yarn takes up a lot more space than fingering weight. If you work primarily with chunky or super bulky yarn, you’ll want to size up more aggressively than the bag’s stated dimensions might suggest. If you work with fine yarn and tend to use small amounts, a more compact bag may be genuinely sufficient.

Digging Into the Details: What to Look for in a Re:Designed Bag

Once you have a clearer picture of your crafting habits, it’s time to look at the specific features that Re:Designed bags offer and understand what each one means in practice.

Base shape and stability. Many Re:Designed bags feature a structured or reinforced base. This is not a small thing. A bag that stands up on its own means you can set it on the floor beside you, reach in for your yarn, and have it stay in place. A floppy bag that collapses every time you set it down becomes a minor but persistent irritation. If you’re someone who frequently works in locations where bag placement matters — an armchair without a table nearby, a cafe where floor space is limited — base stability is worth prioritizing.

Handles and carry options. Some Re:Designed bags come with short tote handles suited for carrying in the hand or over a wrist. Others include longer straps for shoulder or crossbody wearing. Some offer both. Think about how you prefer to carry things. If you’re often juggling a coffee cup, a phone, and a bag, a shoulder strap frees your hands in a way that short handles don’t. If you prefer a more compact grip, shorter handles may feel tidier.

Interior pockets and organization. Look carefully at the interior layout of any bag you’re considering. Re:Designed typically includes at least one internal pocket, and some styles include several. A small interior zip pocket is invaluable for stitch markers, needles, and small tools. An interior slip pocket for flat items like pattern printouts or a phone can be the difference between a bag that feels organized and one that’s a constant scramble.

Material and durability. Re:Designed uses a range of materials across their bag line, including woven fabrics and canvas-style constructions. Consider what environment your bag will live in. If you’re throwing it into a larger bag, tossing it in the car, or generally subjecting it to daily rough-and-tumble use, you want something with well-finished seams, sturdy zippers, and a fabric that won’t pill or snag on yarn. If the bag will mostly live on a shelf at home, aesthetics can weigh more heavily in your decision.

Size and capacity. Re:Designed bags typically list dimensions, but dimensions alone can be deceiving. A bag that is 30cm tall with a narrow circumference holds much less than one that is 25cm tall with a wide, open top. Look for internal volume and, when possible, read reviews from other crafters who describe what they actually fit inside the bag. A bag that comfortably holds “two skeins of DK and a small notions pouch” is more useful information than raw measurements.

The opening mechanism. How you get into a bag matters. A wide-open tote with no closure is fastest but least secure. A zipper is secure but can be fiddly, particularly when you’re mid-row and need to grab something quickly. Magnetic closures offer a middle ground. Drawstring closures look beautiful and are a signature of the bucket bag style, offering easy access while keeping yarn from rolling out. Match the closure style to how frequently you need to access the bag during an active crafting session.

Matching Bag to Craft

While Re:Designed bags are popular with knitters, they’re genuinely well-suited to a wide range of crafts. Here’s a rough guide to how different makers might approach the selection.

Knitters working on garments or larger projects tend to gravitate toward the larger tote or bucket bag styles. The ability to pull yarn freely from the top of the bag without it catching is particularly important. Many garment knitters also appreciate bags with a separate interior pocket for notions, since the tool kit for a sweater project — stitch markers, cable needles, measuring tape, tapestry needles — can be surprisingly extensive.

Knitters who primarily make smaller items like socks, mittens, or hats can work beautifully with the more compact zip-top bags or smaller bucket bags. A single-skein project doesn’t need a vast amount of space, and a smaller bag is easier to slip into a handbag or backpack for on-the-go crafting.

Crocheters tend to appreciate bags with a slightly wider opening, since crochet hooks can be longer and more awkward than knitting needles to retrieve from a narrow bag. The bucket bag style works particularly well for crocheters for this reason.

Embroiderers and cross-stitchers benefit enormously from good internal organization, since the toolkit — hoops, floss, needles, scissors, patterns — involves many small items. A bag with multiple interior pockets or one that pairs well with a separate notions pouch is ideal.

Sewers and quilters who work on portable projects tend to need a bit more space for fabric, and often appreciate a rigid or semi-rigid structure that keeps materials from getting crushed. The larger tote styles in the Re:Designed range suit this use well.

Thinking About Aesthetics (Yes, This Matters)

Function is the foundation, but aesthetics are a real and valid part of choosing a project bag, and there’s no need to apologize for that. You’re going to look at this bag, carry it in public, set it out at knitting groups, and live with it as part of your creative environment. A bag you love the look of will get used. A bag you find drab or uninspiring will get shoved to the back of the closet.

Re:Designed leans into Scandinavian design sensibilities: clean lines, muted and natural tones, occasional pops of color, and an overall aesthetic that is calm, considered, and quietly beautiful. If your personal style runs toward the minimal and earthy, their palette will feel immediately right. If you prefer bold colors and maximalist prints, you might find the range slightly restrained — though their colorways have expanded over time and there are genuinely joyful options in the range.

Consider also how the bag fits into your broader carry situation. If you want a bag that works as a standalone carry for a day out, you’ll want one with enough room for a few non-crafting essentials. If you always carry a separate day bag and the project bag lives inside it, a smaller and more compact option makes more sense.

Making the Final Call

By this point, you should have a clearer sense of what you need. If you’re still deciding between two options, here’s a simple mental exercise: imagine the bag in the most common scenario where you’ll actually use it. Not the fantasy version where you’re at a cozy mountain retreat with unlimited time to craft — the real version, whether that’s your sofa on a Tuesday evening, the train to work, or a weekly knitting group at your local yarn shop. Which bag fits most naturally into that picture?

If you’re choosing between sizes and genuinely can’t decide, most crafters find that they wish they’d gone slightly larger rather than slightly smaller. There’s nothing worse than a project bag that almost fits your project. A little extra room is rarely a problem.

And if you’re buying your first Re:Designed bag and find the range still feels overwhelming, start with one of their bucket bags in a medium size. It’s the most versatile option in the range — functional for a wide range of project types and sizes, beautifully designed, and a genuine pleasure to use. Many crafters who start with one end up coming back for a second.

A Final Word

A project bag is, in some sense, a commitment to your creative practice. It says that what you’re making matters enough to carry it well, to organize it thoughtfully, to give it a dedicated home as it travels with you through your days. Re:Designed bags earn their reputation not through flashy features but through the steady accumulation of good decisions — the right pocket in the right place, the base that holds, the strap that sits comfortably, the opening that cooperates rather than fights you.

Whatever style you choose, the right Re:Designed bag will quietly fade into the background of your crafting sessions in the very best way. You won’t be thinking about the bag. You’ll be thinking about your work, your stitches, your pattern — which is exactly how it should be.