It is definitely summer around here!!  Even though the calendar may still be spring, we have already had so much hot weather that the kids have been swimming almost every day.  We are blessed to have my parents nearby (who really help with the kiddos!) and they have a pool, so the kids love to swim there when it’s hot.  In TN we have swimming weather from May to September, so there are quite a few months we can take advantage of the pool and I’ve been using the Striped Summer Tote to carry our swim essentials.  We’ve never given our kids formal swimming lessons, but I was so proud of my oldest (9 years old) who passed the swim test at the YMCA with flying colors!!

When we went for the swim test my second son wanted to try, too.  (For those of you who are new here, I have four boys under age 10!)  He isn’t as strong of a swimmer and has had less practice than my oldest, so he got about halfway across and the lifeguard threw him the floatation device and said he was done.  He was totally bummed but it has given him something to strive for and he’s been practicing at my parents’ house!

So, for all of these swim outings I’ve been taking along this tote and I really love it!  It’s the perfect size to throw some essentials in, such as sunglasses, swim suits, a towel or two (how do you like the Baby Shark towel?  I bet you’re singing it now in your head… do doo doo…) and I always take along my favorite sunscreen from Babyganics.  I looked for a long time before I found a sunscreen I felt good putting on my kids and this one definitely fits the bill.  SPF 50 for those of us who burn easily (my youngest two and myself) and SPF 30 for my husband and oldest two.  We also like their natural insect repellant!  We pick ours up at the local Walmart whenever we run out.

Ready to knit your own Striped Summer Tote?  It’s easy!  This bag is knit using the double moss stitch, which is just a combination of knit and purl stitches.  You knit the two side panels first, then pick up stitches on the side to make the vertical stripes.  It’s a lot easier than it looks!  I love the way the stripes run in different directions.  A small base is knit separately and then you easily stitch up the two panels and the base.

You can use any purchased handles you like, or you could knit some to match.  I found these jute handles at my local JoAnn store and loved the look of them for a summer tote.  I just used regular thread to stitch them in place and my tote was ready to go!

Striped Summer Tote

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Bernat Super Value (acrylic; 426 yards [389 meters]/197 grams): #00607 Berry (MC), 1 ball; #07391 White (CC), 1 ball

Needles: US size 9 (5.5 mm) straight needles

Notions: Yarn needle; two 18” jute purse handles; scissors; sewing needle; matching thread

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Approximately 13” wide by 9” tall by 1½” deep

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in double moss st

SPECIAL STITCHES

Double Seed Stitch Pattern (DSS)

Rows 1-2: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

Rows 3-4: *P1, k1; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-4 for pattern.

PATTERN

Side Panel (make 2)

With MC, CO 48 sts.

Rows 1-8: Work in DSS. Change to CC.
Rows 9-16: Work in DSS. Change to MC.
Rows 17-24: Work in DSS. Change to CC.
Rows 25-32: Work in DSS. Change to MC.
Rows 33-40: Work in DSS. Change to CC.
Rows 41-48: Work in DSS. Change to MC.
Rows 49-56: Work in DSS.

Bind off in pattern.

Check out all of my free knitting patterns here

Front Panel

With MC and RS of Side Panel facing, pick up and knit 40 sts along side of panel.

Rows 1-8: Work in DSS. Change to CC.
Rows 9-16: Work in DSS. Change to MC.
Rows 17-24: Work in DSS. Change to CC.
Rows 25-32: Work in DSS.

Bind off in pattern.

Repeat for second Side Panel.

Base

With MC, CO 58 sts.

Work 9 rows in DSS.

Bind off in pattern.

Finishing

Sew top of Front Panels to opposite Side Panels. Sew base in place.

Sew on handles.

Optional – work one row sc at top of bag.  I did this with the Berry for the top of this bag as you can see in the photo.  Just join the yarn in any stitch, ch 1 and sc evenly around.  Join with a slip st to the first sc.  This is totally optional and the bag still looks great without it.

Weave in ends.

That’s it!  I hope you enjoy this free knitting pattern.  Be sure to check out my library of free knitting patterns here!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda