Stylish Handbag Knitting Pattern for Beginners

Knitting → Women → Bags

Susan

Dec 02, 2019 12:09 AM

Stylish and Easy Knitting Pattern for Versatile Handbags in Various Sizes

It looks very stylish and suits everything! The best thing about it is that it can be knitted quite easily.

Finished Sizes

Large: 13” wide x 9-1/2” high x 3” deep. Handle height is 10-1/2” from top of bag to shoulder.

Regular: 12” wide x 8-1/2” high x 2” deep. Handle height is 10” from top of bag to shoulder.

Mini: 11” wide x 7-1/2” high x 1-1/2” deep. Handle height is 9” from top of bag to shoulder.

Skill Level

Advanced beginner

Gauge

Not extremely important. This will be felted.

Yarn

About 450 yards of worsted weight feltable wool. As pictured: Patons Classic Wool in Sage, Black, Natural Mix.

Materials

US 8 (5 mm) circular needle, 24" or 36" in length
US 8 (5 mm) double pointed needles
Cable needle
Markers in two colors

Stitches/Abbreviations

cn: cable needle
dpn(s): double pointed needle(s)
k: knit
p: purl
sts: stitches

Cable Abbreviations

CF: Slip 4(3, 2) sts onto cn and hold in front. Knit 4(3, 2) sts, then knit 4(3, 2) sts from cn.

CB: Slip 4(3, 2) sts onto cn and hold in back. Knit 4(3, 2) sts, then knit 4(3, 2) sts from cn.

Pattern Details

The pattern is written for Large(Regular, Mini) and worked with one strand of yarn.

Bag Base

Cast on 72(64, 56) sts. Working in rows, knit in garter for 32(28, 20) rows. At end of last row, do not turn. Place marker, pick up and knit 16(14, 10) sts, place marker, pick up and knit 72(64, 56) sts, pick up and knit 16(14, 10) sts, place beginning of round marker. You now have 176(156, 132) sts. Markers are located at bag corners for reference.

Bag Body

Note: You may have to use dpn's for a few rounds until you have enough room for the circular needle.

Round 1: *k4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k4, pass marker, k16(14, 10), pass marker. Repeat from * for the other side.

Rounds 2-4: Repeat round 1.

Begin Knitting in Bag Cable Pattern

Round 1: *k4, p2, CF, k4(3, 2), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k4(3, 2), CB, p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for the other side.

Round 2: *k4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for the other side.

Round 3: repeat row 2.

Round 4: repeat row 2.

Round 5: *k4, p2, k4(3, 2), CB, p2, k32(30, 28), p2, CF, k4(3, 2), p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for the other side.

Round 6: *k4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, k4, k16(14, 10). Repeat from * for the other side.

Round 7: repeat row 6.

Round 8: repeat row 6.

Knit Bag Cable Pattern for a total of 8 (7, 6) times.

Handle Set-Up Rounds

(garter stitch rounds)

Round 1: *p4, p2, CF, k4(3, 2), p2, p32(30, 28), p2, k4(3, 2), CB, p2, p4, p16(14, 10). Repeat from * for the other side.

Round 2: Repeat round 2 of cable pattern above.

Round 3: *p4, p2, k12(9, 6), p2, p32(30, 28), p2, k12(9, 6), p2, p4, p16(14, 10). Repeat from * for the other side.

Bind off, removing markers as you go, as follows:

Round 4: Bind off stitches until you get to the two purl stitches of the cable pattern. *Bind off first purl stitch, purl one stitch, knit across the cable, purl one stitch. Keep the live stitches on the needle and continue to bind off until you get to the purl stitches of the next cable pattern. Repeat from * until you have bound off all stitches. Cut yarn and pull through the last stitch. Each handle should have 14(11, 8) stitches; your cable stitches and one purl stitch on either side.

You now have four handles on one circular needle. Mark the first handle by placing a permanent stitch marker somewhere at the beginning of the handle below where you are working. This is for visual reference, so you know which one is handle 1.

From now on you will be working in rows.

Finish Cable Repeat

Row 5: [handle 1] attach new yarn, p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1. [handle 2] attach new yarn, p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1. [handle 3] attach new yarn, p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1. [handle 4] attach new yarn, p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1.

Row 6: k1, p12(9, 6), k1 for all handles.

Row 7: p1, k12(9, 6), p1 for all handles.

Row 8: repeat row 6.

Continue knitting the Handle Cable Pattern, remembering to change yarn with each handle.

Handle Cable Pattern

Row 1: [handle 1] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1. [handle 2] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1. [handle 3] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1. [handle 4] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1.

Row 2: k1, p12(9, 6), k1.

Row 3: p1, k12(9, 6), p1.

Row 4: repeat row 2.

Row 5: [handle 1] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1. [handle 2] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1. [handle 3] p1, k4(3, 2), CB, p1. [handle 4] p1, CF, k4(3, 2), p1.

Row 6: k1, p12(9, 6), k1 for all handles.

Row 7: p1, k12(9, 6), p1 for all handles.

Row 8: repeat row 6.

Knit 9(8, 7) full cable repeats, not including the handle set-up round, or to your desired length (or until you are about to run out of yarn!).

Finishing

Row 1: p1, k12(9, 6), p1.