The Barrel Stitch Bag came out of an idea of a bag shape that I wanted to make, but I couldn’t come up with a stitch pattern that made me happy. I want something thick (so I wouldn’t have to line the bag) with an interesting and classic texture.

While making a pair of clog slippers for my husband, I got to thinking about the chunky braid stitch that is used to make the cuff. So I started fiddling with some scrap yarn and came up with what I’m calling the “barrel stitch”. Doesn’t the fabric look like stacked rows of little barrels?

The Barrel Stitch Bag is loom knit on any 3/8” gauge loom with at least 72 pegs (like the All N One loom). It uses 510 yards of a worsted weight yarn. 1/2 skein of Lion Brand’s Pound of Love in the Taupe colorway was used in the sample.

The bag in knit as a one piece flat panel and then seamed to create the purse. The pattern is suitable for a confident, advanced beginner.