Downloadable PDF file HERE
Downloadable PDF file in GERMAN
The original Weightless Produce Bag has become pretty popular! As of this writing, over 600 projects of this little knitted mesh bag have been documented and photographed on Ravelry, and the pattern has been translated into both Swedish and Norwegian by wonderful knitters who wanted to help make it more widely available. Thank you Jonna Bostrom and and Anne Bruvold for your generous time and effort!
What makes it so attractive? Less plastic use in the store and at the farmers market, no added charge for a heavy bag at the cash register, and did I say LESS plastic? Resourceful knitters are saving the world!
After personally knitting several dozen of these handy little bags, (for gifting, trading and for teaching purposes), and reading the critiques and modifications of the Ravelry projects – (yes – all 600+ of them!), I’ve incorporated several improvements to the original pattern: 1.) a circular cast on to avoid seaming the bottom, 2.) longer handles and 3.) an enlarged bag opening. Thank you for the helpful suggestions, knitters!
the original weightless produce bag pattern required cinching up the bottom for closure after knitting
Using the turkish cast on with the original weightless produce bag pattern creates a squared bottom bag
Weightless Produce Bag 2.0 has longer handles, an enlarged opening and starts with a circular cast on to avoid seaming
Downloadable PDF file HERE
Download PDF file in GERMAN here
Materials:
fingering weight cotton yarn or crochet cotton thread (size 10 or thicker)
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.
Size H crochet hook (5.0 mm)
4 – Size US 8 double pointed needles
Tapestry Needle to weave in ends
Instructions:
Cast on 12 stitches using Emily Ocker’s cast on. Check out our Video Tutorial to get off to a good start
Place stitches on double pointed needles
Round 1: place marker (knit 1, yo) around
Round 2: knit to marker ( 24 stitches)
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 once more (48 stitches)
at any point after this, you may want to transfer your stitches to one long cable needle in order to knit in the magic loop method.
MESH:
Round 1: (yo twice, k2tog) around to marker
Round 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 rounds 1 and 2 sixteen more times
Change to size 3 needles
Round 1: knit 12, kfb in next 12 stitches, knit 12, kfb in next 12 stitches (72 stitches)
Round 2: purl to marker
Round 3: knit to marker
Round 4: purl to marker
Round 5: bind off 18, knit 17, bind off 18, knit 17
Round 6: loosely cast on 40 stitches using the Backwards Loop method, purl 18, cast on 40 stitches with backwards loop, purl 18
Round 7: knit to marker
Round 8: purl to marker
Repeat rounds 7 and 8 once more
Bind off all stitches knitwise. Weave in loose ends.
I think I have now reached Weightless Produce Bag Nirvana. Ohmmmmmmmmmmm!
P.S: Buy a copy of the downloadable PDF file HERE
Another P.S.: Remember to check out our circular cast on video below to get off to a good start on this new version of the weightless produce bag 2.0 :
This is such a great idea. Thank you for helping save the Earth, and for this excellent pattern. I can’t wait to try it!
You’re so welcome, Meredith! Hope you enjoy the pattern!
Hello – I love this design and am desperate to get going on it. I am quite a new knitter, so I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I can’t get past round 1! I have done the circular cast on method as in the video and then done a round of knit 1 yarn over (which I have understood as meaning to knit a normal knit stitch, then bring the yarn over and knit into it, making a loop and an actual stitch). But this only gives me 18 stitches, not the 24 that I should have to knit for round two. Do you have any suggestions or am I simply displaying my total newbie status with this question? Thank you. Ruth x
Hi Ruth! Double check that you’re doing the yarn over correctly by watching a video on how to do it. You should have one yarn over after every knit stitch which would double your stitches once you knit into them on the next row. Hope that helps you get back on track! We have a knitting abbreviations post that will help: https://www.simplynotable.com/2015/knitting-abbreviations/
Hi, I was wondering if there is an error
in round 5 after changing to size 3 needles? There are 72 stitches so should it be bind off 18, k18, bind off 18, k18? Thanks for the free pattern! Alison 😊
Hi Alison! Well after binding off you already have one stitch on the needle each time, so Knitting 17 more brings you back where you should be. Thanks for the kind comment! ❤️
Ah! I had the same question! I knew I was missing something fundamental (in my envisioning) because the pattern is so “tried and true”. I am in the midst of my first attempt on this bag and I love it.!
I’m so glad Janet! Happy Knitting!!
Do you have a crochet version of this produce bag?
No Bobbie, just a knit pattern at this time 😊
I find both DPNs and Magic Loop very difficult. Could I just use really short circular needles?
Also, do you have a video of the backward portion for the handles?
Hi Kris!
You could use the 2 circular method! Our most recent blog post might help – we have a challenge to help you learn! Here’s a video for the backwards loop cast on: https://youtu.be/iRlU1mXoZrg
I used a 16 inch circular for mine and loved it. I usually do either two circulars or the magic loop method, but for this project the shorter one was so much easier to manage.
I can’t wait to make these for myself and as gifts!
I am trying to decide between two materials:
– 70% Linen/30% Pima Cotton
– 75% Pima Cotton / 25% Acrylic
Which do you suggest and why?
Thank you, and have a wonderful day!
Hi Ellen! While either of these materials would be great, I’ve read that linen is especially strong and wears very well.
Just knit my first produce bag today and love it!! Thank you.
I have a few questions:
Do I have to use the Magic Loop method or can I just knit on circular needles?
If I make a rectangular one with the Turkish method for the bottom, do you have suggestions on # stitches, dimensions … ?
If I sell some of my bags, what is a reasonable amount to ask for them? My current one is 100% cotton but I may
try other blends?
Is the crochet cotton thread, size 10, a good option?
Hi Elaine, a circular needle is difficult because the stitches won’t stretch all the way around it when you get to the top. When using the Turkish cast on method I cast on the same amount of stitches as the pattern calls for. I’ve never sold the bags so I have no advice on price. Happy Knitting!
Help! Can you post the approximate length of this item? I am looking at a horribly small bag and wonder what I did wrong…
Hi Joelle, I don’t have a finished one on hand to measure but it does seem on the small side, a bit longer than my hand without the handles but stretches a lot – to probably twice it’s length and width when filled with produce. Your gauge influences that somewhat so if you find your finished bag to be too small you can size up with larger needles
I love this pattern but I’m really having a problem. I need to use Magic Loop and I am using the Turkish Cast On. Everything goes fine until I get to the yarn overs at the beginning of the row. Can you possibly pass along some helpful advice on how todo this?
Thank you
Hi Sarah, perhaps google “yarn over” so you find a video that shows how a yarn over is done. Happy Knitting!