Double Handled Market Bag in Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale - F580 - Downloadable PDF

Double Handled Market Bag in Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale – Free Knitting Pattern (F580)

This Double Handled Market Bag is a practical and stylish knitted tote designed to be worked in the round using Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale, a 100g aran-weight yarn. The finished bag features an open, stretchy eyelet lace body, a sturdy garter stitch base, and two double-layered handles created with a three-needle bind-off technique. It is available as a free downloadable PDF (pattern number F580) directly from Plymouth Yarn, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to build their skills while creating something genuinely useful.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a market bag with two handles, designed to stretch and expand to accommodate shopping, farmers' market hauls, or everyday errands. Two finished size options are provided: approximately 16 inches long (small) and 20 inches long (large). Because the lace construction allows the bag to stretch, it can hold considerably more than its resting dimensions suggest. The bag shown in the pattern photography is worked in color 9976 in the large size.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 2 (small) or 3 (large) 100g skeins of Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale, an aran-weight yarn
• Needles: A 16-inch US size 7 circular needle for the base and finishing sections, and a 24-inch US size 13 circular needle for the eyelet lace body
• Notions: A stitch marker for joining in the round

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch over stockinette stitch on US size 7 needles. Achieving correct gauge ensures the bag reaches the intended finished dimensions before stretching.

Construction and Techniques

The bag is constructed in distinct sections, each using a different technique, which makes this pattern an excellent introduction to several fundamental knitting skills used together in a single project.

The Base

The bag begins with a flat, square garter stitch base worked back and forth on the smaller circular needle. Stitches are loosely cast on, and the knitter works 46 rows of garter stitch (knitting every row) until the base forms a square. After a loose bind-off, the final stitch is left on the needle and stitches are picked up around all four sides of the base — 24 stitches per side, for a total of 96 stitches — before joining to work in the round. This pick-up technique creates a seamless transition from the flat base to the circular body.

The Sides – Eyelet Lace Pattern

Once the circular body begins, the knitter switches to the larger US size 13 needle, which, combined with the aran-weight yarn, creates an open, airy fabric ideal for a market bag. The side pattern is a simple three-round repeat:

• Round 1: Knit
• Round 2: Yarn over, knit two together repeated around — this is the eyelet lace round that creates the characteristic open mesh
• Round 3: Purl

This repeat is worked for 10 sets of eyelet holes in the small size and 12 sets in the large size. The yarn over (yo) creates a new stitch while the knit two together (k2tog) decrease compensates, maintaining the stitch count while forming decorative holes. The purl round between each eyelet section creates a subtle ridge that adds texture and structure to the fabric.

The Upper Body – Garter Stitch Ridges

After the eyelet section is complete, the knitter returns to the smaller US size 7 circular needle for a band of garter stitch worked in the round — alternating knit and purl rounds to produce garter ridges. This section is worked until there are 7 ridges (14 rounds) in the small size or 8 ridges