Bead Bag

Bead Bag by Nancy Hand

Project Overview

The Bead Bag is a small, practical knitted accessory designed by Nancy Hand that makes excellent use of yarn scraps. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a drawstring bag with a flat bottom and compact dimensions of approximately 3.5 inches (9 cm) in diameter and 12 inches (30.5 cm) in circumference. The finished bag is ideal for storing small items such as beads, notions, or other craft supplies.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern utilizes 3-ply sock yarn worked at a fairly tight gauge to provide the bag with sufficient body and structure. The designer's samples feature Stitch Together Stitch Smooth Sock yarn in the colorways Grapple and John & Yoko. You will need approximately 60–80 yards (55–73 meters) for the background color and 19–30 yards (17–26 meters) for the contrast color, making this an excellent project for using up yarn scraps from your stash.

Gauge and Needles

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 10 stitches and 12 rows per inch (2.5 centimeters). This tight gauge contributes to the bag's durability and structure. You will need US 1 (2.25mm) double-point needles. Optional materials include 10 stitch markers and a circular needle in the same size as the double-point needles, which can be used as an alternative working method.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Bead Bag employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. The primary stitch used is knit front and back (kfb), which is an increase stitch that creates new stitches from existing ones. This technique is used strategically throughout the pattern to shape the bag from a small cast-on to its final circumference.

The bag is constructed using the magic loop method or double-point needles to work in the round, creating seamless circular rows. The construction begins with a small cast-on of 5 stitches and progresses through a series of increase rounds that gradually expand the stitch count. The pattern follows a logical increase sequence—rounds alternate between increase rounds and stockinette stitch rounds—where increases are spaced at regular intervals (k1, kfb; k2, kfb; k3, kfb, and so on) to create an even, symmetrical expansion.

Stitch markers are used to track the placement of increases and to organize stitches across multiple double-point needles. The flat bottom is created through the structured increase pattern, which naturally forms a circular base as stitches expand outward from the center.

Pattern Structure

• Cast on 5 stitches and work foundational increase rounds to establish the base
• Distribute stitches across double-point needles and join to work in the round
• Execute a series of increase rounds using the kfb stitch, spaced with stockinette stitch rounds
• Progress from 10 stitches through 20, 30, 40, and 50 stitches as the bag expands
• Maintain consistent tension and gauge throughout to ensure even fabric

This downloadable PDF pattern by independent designer Nancy Hand offers a practical, beginner-to-intermediate introduction to circular knitting and increase shaping techniques while creating a functional, finished object.