Yew

Yew Knitted Bag by Susan Mills Knits

Project Overview

Yew is a beginner-friendly knitted bag design originally published in Fall 2012 in Timber, a printed collection of designs. This downloadable PDF pattern offers crafters an accessible introduction to bag construction using fundamental knitting techniques combined with decorative stitch work.

What Is Being Made

The Yew pattern produces a knitted bag suitable for everyday use. The design incorporates structured shaping and decorative panel work, making it both functional and visually interesting for knitters looking to expand beyond basic garment construction into accessories.

Craft and Techniques

This project uses knitting as the primary craft method. The pattern employs both flat knitting in rows and circular knitting in the round, allowing crafters to practice multiple construction techniques within a single project. The combination of these methods provides valuable experience in transitioning between different knitting formats and managing stitch counts across varying pattern structures.

Stitches Used

The Yew pattern features several specialized twisted stitches that create visual texture and interest:

• RT (Right Twist): A two-stitch cable worked on both right-side and wrong-side rows, created by slipping one stitch to a cable needle, holding it in back, knitting one stitch, then knitting the stitch from the cable needle
• RPT (Right Purl Twist): A mixed-stitch cable combining knit and purl stitches, worked identically on right-side and wrong-side rows
• LT (Left Twist): The left-leaning counterpart to the right twist, worked by holding the cable needle in front rather than back
• LPT (Left Purl Twist): A left-leaning mixed-stitch cable combining purl and knit stitches
• Vine Panel: A 20-stitch decorative panel that can be worked either in the round or in rows, featuring combinations of the twisted stitches above interspersed with knit and purl stitches to create a flowing, organic vine-like pattern

These stitches work together to create dimensional texture while remaining accessible to beginner knitters who have mastered basic cable techniques.

Materials

The Yew pattern is designed for DK weight yarn, a versatile yarn weight that offers good stitch definition for displaying the twisted stitches and cable panels. Standard knitting needles appropriate for DK weight yarn are required, with specific needle size recommendations provided within the pattern PDF to achieve proper gauge and finished dimensions.

Pattern Format

This pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF, allowing immediate access for digital crafting reference. The format includes charted stitch patterns for the Vine Panel in both round and row variations, supporting different knitting preferences and project construction methods.