Superfast Garter Stitch Super Slouch Bag

Superfast Garter Stitch Super Slouch Bag

What Is Being Made

The Superfast Garter Stitch Super Slouch Bag is a knitted tote-style bag designed by madmonkeyknits. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a practical everyday bag with slouchy proportions, measuring 16 inches in width and ranging from 9 inches to 12 inches in height, with a 32-inch shoulder strap for comfortable carrying.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. The construction uses garter stitch throughout, which creates a textured, reversible fabric by knitting every row. The bag incorporates increases worked at each end of alternating rows to shape the body, and decreases to create shaping and definition. The pattern also includes casting on and casting off techniques, with strategic cast-off sections used to create openings for the bag's structure.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (GT.ST): The primary stitch throughout the entire project, created by knitting every row to produce a bumpy, textured fabric with excellent drape and structure ideal for bags
• Knit (K): The fundamental stitch used consistently in garter stitch construction
• Increase (INC): Worked by knitting or purling into both the front and back of a stitch to add stitches and shape the bag
• Decrease (DEC): Accomplished by knitting or purling two stitches together to reduce stitch count

Materials Required

This project uses 6 balls of Jaeger Cotton Aqua in green, each weighing 50 grams, or equivalent DK weight yarn in your preferred color. The pattern specifies working with 3 balls of DK yarn held together simultaneously, creating a thicker, faster-knitting fabric that reduces overall project time. Knitting is worked on one pair of 8.00 mm knitting needles. The bag is finished with a 22-inch green zip, though black or alternative colors may be substituted based on preference. Tension is established at 12 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches in garter stitch.

Pattern Overview

The bag begins with casting on 35 stitches and working garter stitch for 2 rows as a foundation. Shaping increases are then worked at each end of every other row over 6 rows, bringing the stitch count to 41 stitches. The main body continues in garter stitch until the piece reaches 9 inches in length. Strategic cast-offs create openings that define the bag's structure, with the pattern continuing to shape the piece through additional rows of garter stitch work.