What you'll need
| One size only: | 8 inches (20cm) wide by 8 inches (20cm) high- with a depth of 1.5 inches (3.5cm) |
|---|---|
Drops Nepal - Light Grey (0500)
|
3 |
|
Drops Nepal - Black (8903)
|
2 |
Product Description
This is a small, felted bag worked in three pieces: the front, the back, and the base and sides together. All pieces of the bag require knitting using the fairisle method. Once sewn together this bag needs to be put through a washing machine to achieve the felted effect.
Instructions for this bag are provided in both written and charted format.
Shoji Bag by Amanda (Shuttermonkey)
What Is Being Made
The Shoji Bag is a knitted tote bag designed by independent designer Amanda Clark. This finished bag measures 8 inches (20cm) wide by 8 inches (20cm) high with a depth of 1.5 inches (3.5cm), making it a compact, structured accessory perfect for everyday carry. The design features a distinctive trellis motif inspired by the architectural work of Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose Japanese-influenced aesthetic forms the conceptual foundation of this knit pattern.
Design Inspiration and Background
The Shoji Bag draws its artistic direction from Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the renowned Glasgow-born architect and designer (1868–present) known for creating iconic Scottish buildings including The Glasgow School of Art, Mrs Cranston's Tea Rooms, Scotland Street School, and Queen's Cross Church. Mackintosh's signature style incorporated Japanese-inspired forms, which directly influenced the geometric trellis pattern featured on this bag. The pattern was developed with encouragement from The Yarn Cake in Glasgow and their knitwear design competition, The Glasgow School of Yarn.
Knitting Techniques and Stitches
This intermediate-level knitting project employs colorwork techniques to create the trellis motif across the bag's surface. The pattern utilizes stitch markers to help manage pattern repeats and maintain structural integrity throughout the knitting process. The two-color construction—combining light grey and black yarn—allows the geometric trellis design to emerge through strategic color changes and stitch placement, creating visual depth and definition characteristic of Mackintosh's design philosophy.
Materials and Yarn Specifications
This knitting pattern requires the following materials:
- Yarn: 165 meters (180.5 yards) of Garnstudio DROPS Nepal yarn in shade 0500 Light Grey (primary color)
- Yarn: 100 meters (108 yards) of Garnstudio DROPS Nepal yarn in shade 8903 Black (accent color)
- Needles: 5mm knitting needles
- Notions: 4 stitch markers for pattern management
- Optional: Lining material, sewing needle, and thread for bag finishing
The aran weight yarn provides excellent stitch definition for the colorwork pattern while creating a durable, structured fabric suitable for a functional bag. The DROPS Nepal yarn offers both the aesthetic qualities and practical durability needed for a frequently-used accessory.
Project Format
The Shoji Bag pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing knitters to access the complete instructions and charts digitally for convenient reference during the knitting process.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Aran |
| Pages: | 10 |
| Designer: | Amanda (Shuttermonkey) |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Notes: | Leather Belt x 2 (to use as a strap). You may have to adjust your needle size to achieve the required tension. |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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