P
I created a knit produce bag pattern this week because even though I faithfully pull out my ragtag collection of reusable bags at the grocery store check out, I still feel a bit guilty bagging my produce in those tear off plastic bags in the produce aisle. I had taken to making little piles of fruit and vegetables in my cart to try to avoid it, but finally decided that was too much hassle. Being a resourceful knitter, there’s just no good reason that I couldn’t come up with something to solve this problem.
My solution? Knit mesh produce bags to corral my apples, avocados, and other such purchases that still have me reaching for the plastic. My wish list included something very very light weight so I wasn’t adding to my bottom line at the cash register, and handles to tie the top closed so the produce doesn’t spill out of the bag. I also wanted them to be stretchy and expandable so I could put in just a few tomatoes or few pounds if I wanted. After much trial and error – I believe these little bags fit the bill! They weigh only about 1/2 of an ounce. I carry several with my other reusable bags.
note: advanced knitters who prefer a toe up cast on to seaming the bottom of this bag might appreciate our Weightless Produce Bag 2.0
If you want to knit up a supply of your own, you’ll need:
fingering weight cotton yarn or crochet cotton thread in size 10
size US 8 (5mm), and US 3 (3mm) circular needles. Use ones with a nice long cable and if you haven’t already, go ahead and teach yourself the MAGIC LOOP method to knit these. You can thank me later.
Tapestry Needle to weave in ends
Using larger needles, cast on 48 stitches.
knit 1 row through back loops.
Join in round.
Knit 1 round.
Place marker
1. (YO twice, K2tog) repeat to marker.
2. Knit to marker. (knit only once through the 2 yarn overs. If it helps, just drop off the first yo, then knit through the second)
Repeat the above two rounds 16 times.
Change to size 3 needles.
1. Knit 1 round.
2. Purl 1 round.
Repeat the above two rounds twice more. Remove marker.
Bind off 12 stitches (count each stitch as bound off only when you drop it off the needle)
Knit 11 (12 stitches on right hand needle after bound off stitches) .
Bind off 12 stitches.
Knit 11
Cast on 20 stitches using BACKWARDS LOOP method, P 12, Cast on 20 stitches using BACKWARDS LOOP method, P12.
Place Marker
Knit 1 round
Purl 1 round
Repeat above two rounds once more.
Bind off all stitches firmly.
Weave bottom together with beginning thread, knot firmly and turn inside out.
Finish by weaving in loose ends.
DOWNLOAD SWEDISH Translation of the Weightless Produce Bag Pattern
DOWNLOAD NORWEGIAN Translation of the Weightless Produce Bag Pattern
DOWNLOAD FINNISH Translation of the Weightless Produce Bag Pattern
DOWNLOAD FRENCH Translation of the Weightless Produce Bag Pattern
P.S: Join our email newsletter list to receive this PDF download and other free patterns in your inbox!
Very cool! I would like to try my hand at one or several! 🙂
This is an elegant pattern
Thank you Doris! 🙂
Thanks for the pattern, I love this idea, i think I’m going to try to make some
Great gift idea!
Hi! Would you allow others to knit and sell these bags to others – as long as you’re given vredit for the pattern?
*credit, of course!
Hi Linda! Yes, we just request that you include the URL to the free pattern in a hang tag on the product. Thanks for asking and best of luck selling! ?
Thankyou! May do the same, will absolutely include the URL in a swingtag. Xx
Thank you Megan! We really appreciate the exposure! 😀
Requesting samesies! Will totes (see what I did there?) put URL on tag!
LOL! You’re awesome 🙂
Hey there! Thank you for such a great pattern. I’ve knitted up to where you start adding stitches and binding off and I just can’t figure out what it’s supposed to look like. Are they handles or just tied off? I’ve taken it out a few times (I’m doing it in the round, not magic loop–would that make a difference here?) and it’s not making sense to me. After you add the stitches, you’re not purling them, right? You’re purling the next 12?
So many questions. I ended up making some different handles but they’re not quite right, so any help you have would be fabulous! Thanks so much!
Tabitha
Hi Tabitha, they’re handles. And yes, you purl the next 12. Hope that helps!
This is a great idea thank you so much! I always bring my own bags to the store, but leave my fruits and vegetables in the basket until I check out. The clerk always frowns lol Too bad lol Is there a way to print this pattern in a PDF? Thanks!
Hi Judy! Glad you like the pattern! Enjoy!
Hi there!
I love the main pattern! Did you come up with it for this bag specifically? Amazing!
Since I’m still a beginner I don’t get the beginning though. How do I close up the bottom? There is a giant hole due to the many stitches cast on on bigger needles… Which obvious step am I missing? Please help me out^^’
Thanks for making this available for all of us wanting to live with less plastic!
Hi Saskia,
At the end of the pattern it instructs you on how to close the bottom of the bag. Let us know if we can help any further! Thank you for the kind comments!
-Carli
I’m sorry but “Weave bottom together with beginning thread, knot firmly and turn inside out” isn’t really the instructions I was looking for. LOL What does that mean exactly? Put the beginning thread through the cast on stitches and pull them tight?
Yes, that’s exactly right Claire! 🙂
is it possible to do this pattern with 4 needles instead of magic loop?
Hi Sophia,
Certainly possible but it might be difficult. If you give it a try, please let us know how it goes.
Thank you,
-Carli
Love the shopping bag, would love to try it but for the life of me I can’t knit with circular needles…so is there any chance of a boring straight needle pattern….Many thanks.
I’m not sure I understand the Backwards Loop part. Do you pick up stitches to cast on those in backwards loop? Or are we starting over with new yarn as the video suggests? Also, what does this Backwards Loop part achieve?
Hi Maria, The backwards loop cast on allows you to add additional stitches so the bags handles are longer than the bag opening. You are simply performing that cast on at that point in the pattern with the yarn you’re using. Here’s a VIDEO Hope that helps you.
Question: does your pattern start at the bottom or the top?
Could you please put a picture of the bottom how it turns out. I am a newbie knitter. I have more experience with crochet but definitely an expert. I’ve gotten lost many times on written instructions 😀
thanks
Hi Kiki,
It starts at the bottom. I’ll cast on another so I can take pictures of the bottom for you.
I used two sets of 5 double pointed needles, in sizes 3 and 8, with 12 stitches on each needle and it came out wonderfully! Easy to follow pattern when in the midst of it.
That’s great to know Brittany! I’ve always liked knitting with double points as well. I’ll have to give it a try with this pattern! Thanks so much for sharing your experience! <3
thanks a lot for this great idea, I used to knit things like this with four needles, ( and sometimes one fell out) but this seems easier. In only just deiscovered your blog and it seems to me like a big treasure, I’m about to discover little by little.
I’m having a hard time identifying why this pattern calls for 3 different needle sizes instead of just 2.
“Using larger needles, cast on 48 stitches.” and “Change to size 3 needles.”
Judging by the glowing comments you’ve received, it sounds like I’m just overlooking something. Where do I need the size 10 and then the size 8 needles?
I believe that size 3 needles in the US are 3.25 mm, not 3 mm. At least that’s the case on Amazon and LionBrand websites. However I did notice that both websites don’t agree on how many mm’s are a size 2 needle. I dunno, just wanted to see if you could clear that up in regards to this pattern.
Thank you!
Hi Jessica! The size 10 refers to the size of the crochet cotton thread – you only need needles in size US 8 and US 3. Size 3 needles in the U.S. are both 3.00mm and 3.25mm. Either one will work on this pattern. The reason you size down to smaller needles is to create a denser fabric for the top of the bag for strong handles and so produce won’t spill out when you set it down in your cart. I hope that helps you find your way through the pattern! 🙂
How many bags can you get from one ball of the suggested yarn? I would like to make several for Christmas gifts and would prefer to only order the yarn once. Sorry to bug, but thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. Cheers from Canada eh?
Hi Carolyn, I would estimate that each bag takes about 75 yards, though to be honest, I used a huge skein that I still have a good amount left of – so that is simply an estimate.
Thank you so much for your quick reply, I appreciate it very much!
Anytime Carolyn! 😊
Thanks for this however, straight off the bat, I’m having trouble with this. Why don’t you specify cable length? “Use a nice long cable” makes me think I need a really long cable. So I’ve started this 2x already – starting with a long cable – and on the shorter cable, I still can’t even join in the round because it’s so tight. Specifying a cable length would make this a lot easier. Also, what join in the round method do you use? Is there an extra stitch included in the cast on number so that I can do the seamless join method?
Hi Ashley, I said a “nice long cable” so that you could use the magic loop method. Even the smallest cable would be too large to stretch the opening of the bag around once you’ve knitted the body. This is designed for magic loop for that reason. No, there isn’t an extra stitch for joining in the round but you can certainly add an extra stitch if that’s your preferred method. Hope that answers your questions. 😊
Ah ok, I took that as more of a suggestion than a requirement. Thank you for the clarification.
Well, if you’ve found it confusing – no doubt others have too, so I’ll work on a different way to phrase that. Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Hi, about ready to start the bag. Very cool idea. Thank you! But, where do you use the #3 needle? Somehow I think I am missing something!
Hi Judy,
After you knit the body of the bag you switch to #3 needles to knit the top just before the handles. Hope that helps!
Great pattern. My bag knitted up nice and small but I’ll adjust it to make it bigger-we buy produce in fairly large quantities for our family 🙂 I’ve alays wanted to make a market bag and this allowed me to do it easily and quickly. Thanks so much!
Hi Nathalie! So glad to hear it worked for you. If you do modify the pattern to make it larger, be sure to share your mods with us and we’ll post it on the pattern page, giving you credit, of course. 🙂 I’m sure there’s others who buy large quantities and would appreciate it! Thanks for the kind comment.
What kind of cast on did you use? My standard cast on method doesn’t allow for knitting through the back loop for the first round. Does it matter if I use a long-tail cast on?
Hi MizDottie!
No, it truly doesn’t matter. Use whatever cast on works for you.
Hello! I wouldn’t call myself a beginner knitter but I’m having trouble. I’ve finished the bag, it’s about the size of my hand – does that seem right? I don’t think I’d be able to put celery in these. Did mine somehow turn out too small? It does seem proportional, but only about half of my 70 yard ball got used. Also, my bind off edges have no give in them, making the handles and the opening only large enough to fit a very large apple through. Can you recommend a different bind off? Thanks I’m advance! I can’t wait to figure these out and make a batch of them!
Hi Jennifer! Well, I guess it’s likely a gauge thing – if you’re a tighter knitter, maybe? Here’s PICTURES of the size of mine using me as comparison. Hee Hee! Mine are just a little larger than my hand but super duper stretchy. The second picture is of the bag with 3 really large potatoes in it. I didn’t want to make the usual really large market bag, but just a bag large enough for a portion of produce you might buy at the grocery. I designed the top smaller because I wanted to be able to put it in my cart, and tie the top closed, (just one handle over the other instead of knotting it), without all the produce spilling out in the cart. Hope the pictures give you an idea. Here’s a stretchier bind off: Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off Also – if you want the bag larger, maybe try jumping up to larger needles. Hope that helps! 🙂
Beautiful bag! Where cancer I find the pattern in Swedish?
At the bottom of the post is the download for the Swedish translation, Therese!
It would be nice if the pattern looked like the photo! Cute LITTLE bag, but wish it would have looked like the photo. I like the one in the photo better, this pattern the handles are so small. UGH!
Sorry the design didn’t meet your expectations, Sheila. 🙁 The pattern is exactly the bag in the photo. When I hung it, the handles stretched as shown. In the second photo, you’ll see that the handles look shorter, because they’re un-stretched. Being the creator, you can add to the handles if you like to make them longer. If yours turned out too small, you can also either loosen up your knitting gauge or go to larger needles. That’s the wonderful thing about being a knitter – you have the power! 😀
Must make a few of these. Thanks so much for the instructions!
You are completely welcome Nancy! 😊
Just finishing. Love it. Took a couple tries to get the hang of it, but so does anything worthwhile. I snagged several cones of sugar & spice cotton, so Christmas presents!!!! First one is all mine. Thanks so much.
Yay Cricket! Less plastic, more awesome knitting! 😁❤️
What size cable did you use? I can’t seem to join in the round becasue the cable is too long.
Hi Alex, This pattern is designed to knit with the magic loop technique so you don’t have to have a certain sized cable. Hope that clarifies it for you!
I actually reuse the plastic produce bags I get at the store, rather than recycle them every week. I tried doing the not-bagging of my produce, but I found that some cashiers and baggers would then put my produce in a separate plastic bag before placing it in my reusable shopping bags. But I want to make at least one of these and see if it doesn’t confuse the cashiers too much when I use it in the store.:-D
My problem is that I have a lot of crochet cotton, but most of it is inherited, and doesn’t have labels on it anymore. Do you have any idea how to tell what size it is, aside from buying some #10 and comparing?
Hi Mona! The #10 is the most common size of crochet cotton, but honestly, you could make this bag out of any size! I had to laugh about confusing the cashiers. I do get some interesting comments! 😀
Okay, I’ll get one made for next week’s shopping trip. I’m heading out the door now, so I don’t think I’d get one done in time for this week, even if they are a quick knit.:-) Thanks!
And if you’re wondering, I did find the pattern thanks to the project that was featured on the Ravelry main page a couple weeks ago.
Is there, by chance, any better instructions or an instructional video on the entirety of the handles portion of the pattern? I have attempted this pattern multiple times, and unfortunately I keep getting lost when it comes to the handles, leading to me messing up the end product and the bag being unusable. It is very unfortunate as this as a wonderful pattern, and I would definitely prefer to be using these bags rather than the plastic ones at my local stores.
Hi Mackenzie! I’ve been working on making each of our free patterns into a video pattern where I’ll walk you through the pattern on video. I’ll let you know when the Weightless Produce Bag video pattern is up and ready! I so agree with you – less plastic is the goal! 🙂
OK, I’m thanking you later!
A daughter and I are doing Magic Loop for the first time, we want to thank you for this pattern, and we are both impressed with your responses to the many questions here. The only question we have: How many of these can we make before we have to go earn a living, or cook more than meal or 2 a week, hahah?
Haha Annie! They’re addictive! I think we should all be allowed to knit the entire day away! 😁
“2. Knit to marker. (knit only once through the 2 yarn overs. If it helps, just drop off the first yo, then knit through the second)” This doesn’t sound like a k2tog but if I am dropping a stitch, why bother having it? Or am I slipping it to the other needle? Bit confused.
Thanks!
Hi Barbara, in this pattern you make two yarn overs right next to each other to make a larger hole in the mesh bag. I want you to drop one of them because I only want you to knit once in that large hole. One stitch, not two which is what would happen if you knitted both yarn overs. Hope that helps
Hi there, I am newbee to knitting and wanted to clarify. I read someone commented on a similar question but the answer confused me even more. I cast on 48 and knitted first row. But then my cable is too long to join the ends . You answered the length of the cable doesn’t matter as it is k it in the magic loop method but you don’t mention mlm until further down in the pattern. Sorry for not understanding. Any help would be great. Thanks
Hi Sylvia!
Yes the produce bag is designed to be knit with the magic loop method. It’s mentioned right at the introduction to the pattern: “If you want to knit up a supply of your own, you’ll need:
fingering weight cotton yarn or crochet cotton thread in size 10
size US 8 (5mm), and US 3 (3mm) circular needles. Use ones with a nice long cable and if you haven’t already, go ahead and teach yourself the MAGIC LOOP method to knit these. You can thank me later.” On the pattern page, the capitalized MAGIC LOOP is also a link to a magic loop tutorial. Hope that helps!
Mom
I’m a beginner and reading patterns is difficult for me as I do not know the lingo. Any way you can make this into a tutorial?
I’ll try to devote some time to that when I have a chance Jackie
Hello, i tried to follow your pattern but am getting stuck right at the beginning, where once we join in the round, we then need to YO twice and K2tog. I can’t seem to grasp this, is there a video on how to do it..I so want to knit these bags but can’t get pass the first step. Thank you in advance
Hi Lissa,
KnittingHelp.com has videos to show you how to do different stitches. Perhaps the review of the YO stitch would help you?
Thanks so much!