This is a bag I put together when I couldn’t find a pattern I liked for a knit — not crocheted — market bag. There isn’t really a gauge, because I don’t knit to gauge, I just do what feels right and this bag is no different.

I used just about 2 full skeins of the cotton (190 yard rolls) for the cotton bag featured here, and probably around 210 yards of 1/4inch raffia for the other.

This bag is knit from the base up, with a circular bottom, and a twisted webbing around the body of the bag. The strap is intended to go over the shoulder, but keep close to the body.

If using cotton yarn, there is a good deal of stretch so if the bag appears to be a little smaller than you’d hoped at first, put a few cans from your pantry in it to stretch it before knitting the band and strap if you think you’ll want to make the piece bigger.

If using raffia, I find that wetting and drying the raffia before knitting softens it slightly, but it will tire your hands out regardless. Raffia bags have less stretch to them, hold shape better, and have less of a shopping bag but more of a vacation bag feel. I would also recommend upping your circulars half a size with the raffia to compensate for the stiffness.