Refine School

Refine School Argyle Tote by Laura Birek

What Is Being Made

The Refine School Argyle Tote is a small, versatile knitted bag designed by Laura Birek. This adorable tote knits up quickly and then felts into a sturdy, durable fabric perfect for everyday use. The finished bag measures 5.5 inches in height, 9.5 inches in width at the opening, 13.5 inches in width at the bottom, and 5 inches across at the bottom. The design offers flexible carrying options: you can add knit i-cord handles, use purchased purse handles, or omit handles entirely and carry the bag as a small clutch.

Techniques Used

Felting is the primary finishing technique for this project. After knitting, the tote is felted to create a sturdy, structured fabric that transforms the loose knit into a durable bag. This felting process is what gives the finished tote its strength and shape.

Intarsia knitting is used to create the argyle pattern featured on the tote. The intarsia technique involves knitting with multiple colors by using separate yarn lengths for each color section, allowing for detailed colorwork designs without carrying yarn across the back of the work.

The pattern includes options for creating knit i-cord handles using double-pointed needles, or alternatively, you may choose to attach purchased handles for a quicker finish.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches worked at a gauge of 13 stitches over 4 inches and 14.5 rows over 4 inches before felting. The argyle colorwork pattern is the primary design element, created through the intarsia technique with three coordinating colors.

Materials and Yarn

This project uses Brown Sheep Lambʹs Pride Bulky yarn, a premium blend of 85% wool and 15% mohair. The yarn comes in 4-ounce skeins with 125 yards per skein. The color palette consists of:

• M-75 Blue Heirloom (2 skeins)
• M-184 Pistachio (2 skeins)
• M-10 Creme (1 skein)

The chunky weight yarn ensures the tote knits up quickly, making this an ideal project for crafters seeking fast results.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for US #10.5/6.5mm needles, available in both straight and circular styles for the main body of the tote. US #10.5/6.5mm double-pointed needles are needed if you choose to knit i-cord handles. Additional notions include a stitch marker, a sharp tapestry needle for finishing, and optional purse handles if you prefer not to knit your own.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, the Refine School Argyle Tote is accessible to knitters new to the craft. While the pattern introduces intarsia colorwork, the straightforward construction and quick knitting timeline make it an excellent project for building skills in color work techniques without overwhelming complexity.