Whether you are trying to reduce your plastic bag consumption or you are trying to upgrade your style game, you are sure to find the knit tote bags you are looking for in this curated list.
If you have never knit a tote bag before, then let me tell you – you are in for a real treat! Knitting your own tote bag is a very rewarding and meditative experience. The simple shapes and basic stitches of the majority of these knit tote bags make knitting a breeze and you’ll be able to show off the fruits of your labor every single day!
You might be wondering if knit tote bags are very practical. After all, knitwork can be very floppy sometimes. Some designs lean into the natural drape of knitwork to create beautiful, organically shaped bags. Other designs look for ways to increase the sturdiness of knitwork. These ways include felting the finished bag, using two strands of yarn at once, and clever constructions.
Whether you are looking for large knit tote bags or small knit tote bags, you are sure to find the knit tote bag of your dreams in today’s article. We have scoured the internet for the best and brightest knit tote bag patterns on offer. The best part of all is that all of these knitting patterns are completely free!
Simple Knit Tote
The designer’s motto for this tote is that it is “made with love not logos” and I think that’s beautiful! I love the soft silhouette of this bag and the wide handles. The unique texture is created using nubbly yarn and the linen stitch.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn: Purl Soho Lantern (Worsted Weight Yarn #4)
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Mohave Slouchy Tote Bag
An easy way to add more structure to your knit tote bags is to use two strands of yarn at once. The other neat thing about working double stranded is that you can create beautiful, soft gradients like the stunning shift from brown to cream in the Mojave Slouchy Tote Bag. The pattern calls for just basic stitches and shaping techniques.
Designer: Mama in a Stitch
Yarn: Lion Brand Re-Tweed (Aran Weight #4)
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Fulled Lopi Tote
A common theme among the knit tote bags we are featuring today is felting. While it may be something you usually try to avoid, intentionally felting projects like bags can add structure and stability. I also love the unique soft texture that it lends to this beautiful stylish bag. This pattern is knit entirely in stockinette stitch.
Designer: Hello Yarn
Yarn: Reynolds The Original Lopi (Bulky Weight #5)
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ATX Linen Tote
The ATX Linen tote was named after the designer’s home city Austin, Texas where plastic shopping bags are banned. I know that I wouldn’t mind a plastic bag ban as long as I got to carry around this gorgeous tote bag! Follow along with the video tutorial to learn how to make this stripey ombre beauty.
Designer: Very Pink
Yarn: Louet Euroflax wet spun linen (Sport Weight #2)
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Knitted Japanese Tote Bag
Have you seen this style of bag before? It looks really intricate, but I will let you in on a little secret. These knit tote bags are super easy to make because they start out as one long rectangle. The unique shape comes from the specific folding and seaming assembly. It’s a classic Japanese method made modern with clean lines of garter ridges.
Designer: Rae and Jean
Yarn: Bernat Maker Home Dec (Bulky Weight #5)
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Knit Market Tote
This sky blue market bag is sure to pop against any outfit when you are all dressed up and ready to go to the farmer’s market. You can make this bag for yourself using knit, purl and slip stitches. I love the squishy waffle-like texture of this design and the unique construction of the handles.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream Solids & Denim (Worsted Weight Yarn #4)
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Folio Tote
Embrace the organic look of knit tote bags with the stunningly understated Folio Tote. The casual slouch adds an effortless touch of chic style that works well with the drape of the stockinette stitch. My favorite part is that the top edge is doubled over on itself to create a sturdy built in handle.
Designer: Two of Wands
Yarn: Lion Brand Hue + Me (Bulky Weight #5)
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Slip Stitch Mosaic Tote
Who is ready for a challenge? This pattern is rated at an expert skill level by the designer! Knit one block at a time, stitches are picked up along the sides of existing blocks to add additional blocks so at least you won’t have to worry about sewing. This is a great way to practice the mosaic colorwork technique in a myriad of patterns.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton (Aran Weight #4)
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Tote for a Cause
I love the way that the handles are incorporated into this lovely lavender tote bag. The way they cross at the center creates a unique design element that also adds stability and structure to the bag. It is made with mitered garter stitch squares and the pattern includes picking up stitches and the kitchener stitch.
Designer: Very Busy Monkey
Yarn: Berroco Remix® (Aran Weight #4)
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College Campus Tote
Here’s another one of our featured knit tote bags that calls for using the yarn held doubled. I love the fun marled effect this gives to the stripes. Each stripe of the tote bag is made up of 3 rows of knit and 1 row of purl for a dash of texture. The decorative edging along the bottom of the bag is crocheted and accented with fun tassels.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #2)
Garnstudio DROPS Safran (Sport Weight #2)
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High Season
Everything about this modern tote bag design screams chic. I love the modern color block design and the functional turned cuff. The best part is the removable no-sew leather handle. It really elevates the overall look of the bag and you can take it off in a jiffy if you need to throw the bag in the wash.
Designer: Espace Tricot
Yarn: EL. D. Mouzakis Butterfly Super 10 (DK Weight #3)
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Bay Scallop Beach Tote
Smaller sized knit tote bags like this one are perfect for holding all your everyday essentials. I would love to take this bag to the beach with a small book and a little project to work on tucked safely inside. Slipped and twisted stitches create a fun wavy texture and an adorable raised seashell.
Designer: Kimberly Kalnoki
Yarn: Scheepjes Stone Washed XL (Bulky Weight #5)
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Felted Hold All Tote
Keep it simple with a monochrome bag in a neutral beige color that is sure to match any outfit you throw on. The design features built-in handles that have a rolled grip for extra comfort and a textured cable accent running vertically down the center. Finish it off with a quick felting session for added strength and style.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand LB Collection Pure Wool (Aran Weight #4)
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Felted Tribal Bag
The intricate colorwork in this adorable design is rated as expert level. The unique “U” shape of the bag is somehow achieved by working double stranded in rows. You’ll need circular needles for this just to hold all of the stitches and account for the curve of the design. I especially love how felting the bag softens the color changes and makes it look like real fabric!
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool (Aran Weight #4)
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Heel Stitch Tote
You might recognize the dense slip stitch pattern as commonly used to knit the heels of socks. This sturdy stitch is a practical choice for hard-wearing knit tote bags. If you are the type of person that likes to really test the limits of your bag capacities, then you will need a bag like this that can keep up with you!
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn: Purl Soho Lantern (Worsted Weight #4)
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Mojave Tote
Embrace the slouch and drape of knit fabric with the Mojave Tote. Instead of fighting the yarn into square submission, this design plays it fast and loose with soft, organic shapes. The chill vibes are further amplified by the subtle tone variations in the color shifting yarn.
Designer: Renee Iverson
Yarn: Willow Yarns Rise (Sport Weight #2)
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Hipster Tote
If you are looking for knit tote bags that you can make in a jiffy, then look no further than the Hipster Tote. It is knit using super bulky weight yarn in easy peasy stockinette stitch. When you are done knitting like the wind, throw it in the wash to felt it, and then you are ready to hit the town!
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Snow (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Striped Summer Tote
This fun design is knit in two different directions with a jute handle. Perfect for a day on the beach and worked in an easy textured stitch!
Designer: Love.Life.Yarn
Yarn: Worsted Weight (Category #4)
Find the free striped summer tote here
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Windy City Tote
I love the stylish trapezoid shape of this classic striped tote. The wide base and shallow depth are both excellent design choices for good weight distribution, so you can be sure that this tote will be able to hold a lot! All of the pieces for the tote are worked flat and the project is felted after construction.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool (Aran Weight #4)
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Cabled Bag
Cables aren’t just for sweaters and blankets! Add a few cables to your knit tote bags for an instant stylish upgrade. It makes the project look a little bit fancier and all your friends are sure to be impressed with your knitting talents. I especially love how the 2 columns of cables on this tote bag are mirrored in the construction of the handle.
Designer: Willow Yarns Design Team
Yarn: Willow Yarns Wash Aran (Aran Weight #4)
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Sea Breeze Bag
Add height and volume in no time at all using dropped stitches. This voluminous tote bag is perfect for a day at the beach. The generous size is a great fit for all your beach day needs. My favorite part of the design is the twisted cord handles. They look like rope but they are actually made using 12 strands of yarn.
Designer: Bernat Design Studio
Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream Solids & Denim (Worsted Weight #4)
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Sunrise Beach Bag
A little bit of lacework goes a long way to making knit tote bags feel both casual and fancy. I especially love how the diamond lace design on the Sunrise Beach Bag forms a sunburst shape on the bottom of the bag. Is it just me or would a longer and skinnier bag be perfect for carrying a yoga mat?
Designer: Stine Radicke
Yarn: Cosy Go Handmade (Sport Weight #2)
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Hanna Tote Bag
Let your creativity run wild with the bold and beautiful Hanna Tote Bag. The Intarsia colorwork design features a playful menagerie of strong colors and shapes that is sure to turn some heads. You’ll be knitting in easy peasy stockinette stitch for this design, so you can put all your focus on your colorwork.
Designer: Paintbox Yarns
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Recycled Cotton Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
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Seed Stitch Tote
Turn up the texture with the Seed Stitch Tote. It is knit double stranded using sturdy cotton yarn. This type of yarn is commonly used for things like dishcloths, so you know that it will make this tote bag hold up well. The bright yellow color gives me a little burst of happiness every time I look at it.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream Solids & Denim (Worsted Weight #4)
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Jeweled Tote
A mix of neutral and jewel tone colors really makes this motif style tote bag pop. Each square is knit separately and then they are all sewn together. The pretty flowers on top may look complicated but the embroidery is actually quite basic and approachable – even for beginners.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Snow (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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Simple Hemp Tote
Easy to knit and easy to style, you just can’t go wrong with knit tote bags like this one! Made in squishy garter stitch, this bag offers plenty of texture. The pop of black along the bottom of the bag provides a wonderful accent to the stylish black leather handles. There is a bit of sewing involved for the handles but it is quite basic.
Designer: Espace Tricot
Yarn: Hemp for Knitting Allhemp6LUX (DK Weight #3)
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Flip Flop Tote
Enjoy a fun beach-y tote with this intarsia bag! Fun flip flop designs are knit into the front of the bag and the handle is double knit for extra stability.
Designer: Love.Life.Yarn
Yarn: Worsted Weight Yarn (Category #4)
Find the free flip flop tote pattern here
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What an amazing mix of knit tote bags! Did you have a favorite pattern from this list? Let me know in the comments below.
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I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
