Tote in Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale - 2287 - Downloadable PDF

Tote in Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale – Pattern 2287

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio produces a stylish, structured knitted tote bag with generous dimensions: approximately 14¼ inches tall, 17¾ inches wide, and 2 inches deep. The design combines two distinct stitch textures — a woven-look linen stitch and an open lace pattern — to create a bag that is both visually interesting and sturdy enough for everyday use. The braided yarn handles complete the handcrafted aesthetic, making this an excellent project for knitters looking to expand their skills while producing a practical accessory.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a single large knitted tote bag suitable for shopping, beach trips, or everyday carrying. The finished bag features a rectangular silhouette with a flat base, textured body panels, and two braided handles. The construction method is thoughtfully engineered, beginning with the base worked flat and then transitioning to working in the round for the body, which gives the bag its clean, seamless appearance.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale — 4 skeins of 100g each, shown in color 9441. Fantasy Naturale is an aran weight yarn, making it ideal for a structured tote that holds its shape while remaining flexible and comfortable to carry.
• Needles: US Size 8 (5mm) circular needles, 32 inches long, which allow for working both flat sections and in-the-round sections on the same needle without switching tools.
• Notions: A stitch marker, scrap yarn for a provisional cast-on, and a large knitting needle for attaching the handles.

Gauge

Gauge varies by stitch pattern in this design, which is worth noting before casting on. In stockinette stitch, gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches. In the lace stitch, gauge is approximately 3.75 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch, and in the linen stitch, gauge is approximately 4.8 stitches per inch. Checking gauge in each stitch pattern will help ensure the finished bag meets the stated dimensions.

Construction Techniques

• Provisional cast-on with scrap yarn: The base begins by casting on 85 stitches using scrap yarn, then switching to the main yarn. This technique allows live stitches to be picked up later from the cast-on edge, eliminating the need for seaming the base.
• Flat knitting for the base: The base is worked back and forth in linen stitch for 2 inches, creating a dense, stable foundation for the bag.
• Picking up stitches and joining in the round: After completing the base, stitches are picked up along both side edges and the provisional cast-on is unraveled to expose live stitches, bringing the total to 190 stitches. The work then joins seamlessly into the round for the body.
• Strategic increases and decreases: The pattern uses evenly spaced decreases and increases to transition smoothly between stitch patterns that have different stitch counts and gauges — a practical technique that keeps the fabric looking even despite the gauge differences between linen stitch and lace stitch.
• Braided handles: Rather than knitting or picking up stitches for straps, the handles are created by braiding leftover yarn into two braids, each approximately 1 inch thick and 40 inches long. These are attached by poking through the knitted fabric with a large needle and secured with knots — a simple but effective finishing technique.

Stitches Used

• Linen Stitch (worked flat and in the round): The linen stitch creates a tight, woven fabric resembling woven linen cloth. It is worked by alternating knit stitches with slipped stitches held with the yarn in front (wyif), producing a dense, sturdy texture that is perfect for the base and upper band of a tote bag. The pattern provides instructions for both the flat version (used for the base) and the in-the-round version (used for the upper body).
• Lace Stitch (