Mesh Market Bag Knitting Pattern

This Mesh Market Bag knitting pattern will become your favorite eco-friendly tote! This sweet boho bag is available in two sizes with a loose weave. It’s great for grocery produce as a reusable farmer’s market fashion statement and a stylish accessory.

Get your free written pattern instructions with video tutorials below. You may also purchase my ad-free printable pdf pattern in my Studio Knit Pattern Shop.

Market Bag Pattern Attributes

• Skill-Level: Intermediate. Best for knitters comfortable with increase and decrease techniques.
• Texture Design: The top and bottom of the bag are designed in Granite Stitch with the body in the Mesh Stitch.
• Colorwork: Design is color-blocked in two different yarn colors. Of course, you may choose to use just one color… or as many as you’d like to knit up.
• Bottom-Up: The knitted bag is created from the bottom up from the cast-on edge.
• Worked In-the-Round: Knitted with one circular needle around and around for a tubular shape.
• One-piece: Worked in one piece with just one seam at the bottom of the bag.
• Modular: Pattern is joined as you go, with the top of the bag and straps connected with bind offs, cast ons, and decreases.

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Bag Size Measurements

This bag is slouchy and stretchy, so its size will likely increase with use.

Width: 16 in (41 cm) wide
All bag sizes have the same width.

Length: Excludes the handles.

• Small: Purse – 16.5 in (42 cm) long
• Large: Market Bag – 21 in (54 cm) long

Handles: 2 in (5 cm) wide x 14 in (36 cm) long

Knitting Gauge

Knitting Gauge in Granite Pattern (blocked)
16 sts x 24 rows = 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm)

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Printable Knitting Pattern (ad-free)

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Printable Download: Purchase your ad-free printable pdf pattern in my Studio Knit Pattern Shop. Also available on LoveCrafts and Ravelry. A great way to support my knitting work!

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Knitting Supplies

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Get Knitting Supplies from my Amazon Shop >

• Circular Knitting Needles Size 8 US (5.0 mm) – 24″ length

• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors
  Optional:
• Knitting Blocks and T-Pins
• Digital Row Counter – Using row counters tutorial >
• Needle Point Protectors – How to prevent stitches from falling off your needles >

Yarn – Worsted Weight #4
Plant fiber is recommended because it is strong and washable: Cotton, Bamboo, Hemp, or Linen.

Color A (top and bottom): All Sizes
120 yards

Color B (mesh interior):
Small: 200 yards
Large: 300 yards

Recommended Yarn: Lily Sugar N Cream.

If you are knitting with this yarn brand, you will need 1 ball of Color A (120 yds per ball). Color B requires 2 balls (small bag) or 3 balls (large bag).

Yarn colors pictured are:

• Soft Ecru (cream)
• Hot Green (green)
• Seabreeze (blue)
• Tea Rose (light peach)

Knitting Techniques + Abbreviations

This pattern uses basic stitches with easy increase and decrease techniques. Need to brush up or learn a new technique? Check out my entire library of Knitting Techniques to help you along as you knit up this netted grocery bag.

• CO = Long-Tail Cast On
• Cable CO = Cable Cast On
• K = Knit Stitch
• P = Purl Stitch
• KFB = Knit Front and Back (increase)
• K2Tog = Knit Two Stitches Together (decrease)
• P2Tog = Purl Two Stitches Together (decrease)
• BO = Bind Off
• Weave-in Yarn Ends
• Mattress Stitch: Video Instructions by Purl Soho
• In = Inches
• Cm = Centimeters
• Sts = Stitches
• PM = Place Marker
• * * = Repeat pattern between the asterisks

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Knitting Pattern Instructions

Step 1: Cast On

• With Color A, CO 96 Stitches onto your circular needle with the long-tail cast on method.
• As always, make certain not to twist your stitches when joining.
• Want more help? Check out my lesson on How to Knit in the Round on Circular Needles in 5 Easy Steps >

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Step 2: Bottom in Granite Stitch

Knitting from the bottom up, we begin with the Granite Stitch. This texture is lacy while retaining a strength perfect to securely hold your belongings. We will be adding increases to shape your bag.

Row 1: Knit (96 sts)

Row 2: P2Tog (48 sts)

Row 3: KFB (96 sts)

Row 4: Knit (96 sts)

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Row 5: * K11, KFB * (104 sts)

Row 6: P2Tog (52 sts)

Row 7: KFB (104 sts)

Row 8: Knit (104 sts)
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Row 9: * K12, KFB * (112 sts)

Row 10: P2Tog (56 sts)

Row 11: KFB (112 sts)

Row 12: Knit (112 sts)
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Row 13: * K13, KFB * (120 sts)

Row 14: P2Tog (60 sts)

Row 15: KFB (120 sts)

Row 16: Knit (120 sts)
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Row 17: * K14, KFB * (128 sts)

Row 18: P2Tog (64 sts)

Row 19: KFB (128 sts)

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COLOR CHANGE: Change to yarn color B.

Row 20: Knit (128 sts)

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Step 3: Body in Mesh Lace Stitch

The body of your bag is knitted in the Mesh Lace Stitch.

Pattern repeats are determined by your chosen finished bag size:

• Small: 12 repeats for a total of 48 rows;
• Large: 18 repeats for a total of 72 rows.

1. Row 1: * YO, K2Tog *
2. Row 2: Knit
3. Row 3: * K2Tog, YO *
4. Row 4: Knit

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Step 4: Top in Granite Stitch

COLOR CHANGE: Change to yarn color A.

Row 1: Knit (128 sts)
Row 2: P2Tog (64 sts)
Row 3: KFB (128 sts)
Row 4: Knit (128 sts)
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Row 5: * K14, K2Tog * (120 sts)
Row 6: P2Tog (60 sts)
Row 7: KFB (120 sts)
Row 8: Knit (120 sts)
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Row 9: * K13, K2Tog * (112 sts)
Row 10: P2Tog (56 sts)
Row 11: KFB (112 sts)

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Step 5: Handles in Garter Stitch

Row 1:

• K20
• BO 16
• K40
• BO 16
• K20

End with a total of 80 sts.

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Row 2:

When knitting the Cable Cast On stitches, hold the knitting needle with working yarn in your opposite hand with the wrong side of your work facing you. Use the empty needle to cast on your stitches.

All 256 stitches will fit your 24” needle, but they will be bunched up closely together.

Place markers (PM) in a different color than your marker at the beginning of your work. This helps you differentiate each section.

• K20 (PM)
• Cable CO 88 (PM)
• K40 (PM)
• Cable CO 88 (PM)
• K20

End with a total of 256 sts.

Pro-Tip! Cast on your handle stitches really loosely, since it tends to go onto your needle tightly.

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Row 3: Purl All

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Row 4:

• K4, K2Tog, K8, K2Tog, K4
• K88
• K4, K2Tog, K8, K2Tog, K8, K2Tog, K8, K2Tog, K4
• K88
• K4, K2Tog, K8, K2Tog, K4

End with a total of 248 sts.

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Row 5: Purl All

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Row 6:

• K3, K2Tog, K7, K2Tog, K4
• K88
• K3, K2Tog, K7, K2Tog, K7, K2Tog, K7, K2Tog, K4
• K88
• K3, K2Tog, K7, K2Tog, K4

End with a total of 240 sts.

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Row 7: Purl All

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Row 8:

• K2, K2Tog, K6, K2Tog, K4
• K88
• K2, K2Tog, K6, K2Tog, K6, K2Tog, K6, K2Tog, K4
• K88
• K2, K2Tog, K6, K2Tog, K4

End with a total of 232 sts.

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Row 9: Purl All

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Bind Off All 232 Stitches

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Step 6: Finishing

• Cut your yarn;
• Weave in all ends;
• Stitch Bottom edge in Mattress Stitch;
• Wet Block, if desired.