1099 Parides - Bag Knitting Pattern for Home in Valley Yarns Leverett

1099 Parides Bag Knitting Pattern by Susan Baron for Valley Yarns Leverett

The Parides is a stylish, functional knitted bag designed by Susan Baron and published by Valley Yarns. Whether you need a sturdy everyday tote for shopping or a handsome project bag to carry your latest knitting, this design delivers both durability and eye-catching color. The pattern is rated Adventurous Beginner, making it an ideal next step for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore colorwork and circular construction without committing to a complex garment.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a drawstring bag available in two sizes. The medium size measures 22½ inches in circumference and 15 inches in height, while the large measures 30 inches in circumference and 19 inches in height. The pattern also notes that the bag can be made even taller if desired, with the understanding that additional yarn may be required. An optional interior pocket can be added to help keep smaller essentials organized and secure.

Construction and Techniques

The bag is worked in the round from the top down, a construction method that eliminates seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric. Knitters begin at the opening of the bag and work downward toward the base, which keeps the right side of the fabric consistently facing the knitter throughout most of the project — a helpful feature for tracking colorwork patterns.

• Worked in the round: Circular construction using a continuous loop of stitches, producing a seamless tube of fabric that forms the body of the bag.
• Top-down construction: The cast-on edge becomes the bag's opening, and the knitter progresses downward, shaping the base last.
• Stripes: Three colors of Valley Yarns Leverett are used in a structured stripe sequence across the top section, creating bold horizontal bands of color.
• Slip-stitch colorwork pattern: The main body of the bag is worked in a slip-stitch pattern, a technique where certain stitches are slipped rather than knitted, allowing a second color to show through without the knitter needing to hold two strands simultaneously. This makes the colorwork accessible to adventurous beginners while producing a rich, textured fabric.
• Eyelets: Near the top of the bag, eyelets are worked into the fabric to serve as channels for the I-cord drawstrings, allowing the bag to close securely.
• I-cord: Two drawstring handles are created using the I-cord technique, a method of knitting a narrow, rope-like tube on double-pointed needles. The cords are threaded through the eyelets and function as both closure and handles.
• Old Norwegian Cast-On: The pattern specifically calls for the Old Norwegian Cast-On or another stretchy cast-on method at the bag's opening, ensuring the top edge has enough flexibility to accommodate the drawstring closure and easy access.

Stitches Used

• Knit and purl stitches — used in alternating rounds to create the garter-like striped top band.
• Slip stitches — the foundation of the main body's colorwork pattern, creating visual texture and color interaction without stranded knitting.
• Eyelet construction — decorative and functional holes worked near the bag's opening to thread the I-cord drawstrings.
• I-cord — a small-diameter knitted tube worked on double-pointed needles, used for the drawstring closures.

Materials

The bag is knitted in Valley Yarns Leverett, a yarn composed of 70% Pima Cotton and 30% Linen, sold in 50g/109-yard hanks. This cotton-linen blend gives the finished bag excellent structure and durability — qualities that make it well-suited to everyday use. The linen content adds a natural stiffness that helps the bag hold its shape, while the Pima cotton contributes softness and a subtle sheen.

Three colors are used in the sample shown:

• C1: Valley Yarns Leverett in Color 004 Stone — 2 hanks in both sizes