Meet The Foldy Bag: Your New Favourite Quick & Easy Knitted Bag!
Knitted bags are all the rage right now, and knitted or crocheted bags look great season by season. When it comes to handmade accessories, as you well know, I think simple is best. So, I thought I would design a really straightforward, approachable for advanced beginners and fun for seasoned knitters style knitted bag. It is knitted throughout in garter stitch and features an interesting wide opening which acts as its handles. This is a really cool bag that is knit flat and then seamed at the sides, making it super quick, super easy, and super fun to customise if you choose.
I chose a really nice dusky pink in super chunky wool for my sample. Feel free to change the yarn that you use, bearing in mind this will change the size, but I also think that t-shirt yarn would look amazing, and ribbon yarn too. I chose 100% wool, which means that this bag would need to be hand washed unless you want it to be felted, of course! But feel free to mess about with cotton blends or wool blends, whichever you fancy.
This bag is versatile and can be lined if you prefer, but I find mine to be perfectly useful without having been lined. This design is part of my new Quick Knits by Emmaknitty series, which I will be adding to bit by bit, so don’t forget to check out the master Quick Knits page so you can find the ideal, perfect fast knit for you.
Table of Contents · Foldy · Quick & Easy Knitted Bag
Gauge, Recommended Materials & Supplies
Before gathering your tools, keep in mind that yarn choice plays a crucial role in the durability of your finished tote. Choosing a high-twist or slightly denser super chunky yarn will ensure your stitches stay sharp and support everyday essentials without over-stretching over time.
- Yarn: 200 g Super Chunky / Super Bulky weight yarn (Category 6 or 7). I used Stitch & Story The Chunky Wool in Dust Pink (previously gifted, brand now defunct).
Gauge: 20 rows & 20 stitches to 4″ / 10cm.
Size: 30 x 30 cm
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- Needles: 10 mm straight or circular knitting needles (or size required to obtain gauge).
- Tapestry Needle: A large-eye blunt tapestry needle for seaming.
- Scissors & Tape Measure.
Pattern Notes & Construction Tips
Understanding how the mid-row bind-off works is the key to achieving perfectly aligned handles that sit flush together when the bag is folded. Because the Long-Tail Cast-On naturally creates a base row that acts as your first Right Side (RS) row, your subsequent rows are neatly aligned. As you work the handle rows, you will bind off a central section of stitches loosely on the wrong side, creating the lower window of the handle slot.
On the following right-side row, you will cast those exact stitches back on directly over the gap using a Cable Cast-On or Backward-Loop Cast-On, restoring your original stitch count instantly without disrupting the flow of your garter stitch rows.
To keep your bag looking pristine and professional, maintaining a firm tension throughout the piece is essential. Because knitted bags naturally expand slightly when loaded with daily items, knitting at a slightly tighter gauge than listed on your yarn band creates a wonderfully dense weave that prevents small items from poking through the fabric.
Additionally, counting your garter ridges between the first handle slot and the second will guarantee that both halves of your rectangle match up perfectly before you seam your side edges together.
Quick How-To: Cable Cast-On over the Gap · Written Tutorial
Step 1: Cable Cast-On
- Insert: Push your right needle tip between the last two stitches on your right needle.
- Wrap & Pull: Wrap your yarn as if to knit and pull a new loop through.
- Place: Transfer this loop onto your left needle. (Stitch 1 made)
- Repeat: Insert your right needle between the loop you just placed and the stitch behind it, pull a loop through, and pop it on the left needle. Repeat until all 14 stitches are on your left needle.
Step 2: Keep Knitting Across the Row
- Knit the New Stitches: Your working yarn is right where it needs to be at the base of the new stitches. Simply knit across all 14 newly cast-on stitches as normal.
- Bridge to the End: Once you finish the 14th new stitch, pull the yarn gently snug and knit straight into the first of the remaining 8 original stitches on your left needle.
- Finish: Knit to the end of the row. Turn your work and carry on!
Quick How-To: Cable Cast-On over the Gap · Video Tutorial
The Foldy Bag: Step-by-Step Free Pattern
Top Rim (Front)
Cast on 30 stitches using the Long-Tail Cast-On method (this counts as Row 1 / RS).
Work 3 rows in Garter Stitch (knitting every stitch across each row) so you have 4 rows total in your top rim.
Handle 1 (Front Opening)
- Row 5 (WS): Knit 8, bind off 14 stitches loosely, knit 8.
- Row 6 (RS): Knit 8, cast on 14 stitches over the gap (using Cable or Backward-Loop cast-on), knit 8. (30 stitches restored onto your needle)
Main Bag Body
Continue working in Garter Stitch, knitting every row, until your rectangle measures approximately 60 cm to 70 cm from your cast-on edge, or until you reach your desired total bag length. Be sure to note down your total garter ridge count so you can reference it easily for future versions!
Handle 2 (Back Opening)
- Handle Row A (WS): Knit 8, bind off 14 stitches loosely, knit 8.
- Handle Row B (RS): Knit 8, cast on 14 stitches over the gap, knit 8.
Top Rim (Back) & Finishing
Knit 3 rows in Garter Stitch to match your front border.
Cast off all 30 stitches loosely on the Wrong Side in knit.
Assembly & Side Seaming
Lay your completed knitted rectangle completely flat on a clean table with the wrong side facing you if there is a preferred side. Carefully fold the piece in half crosswise so that the cast-on edge and cast-off edge align together at the top, bringing both handle openings into perfect symmetry directly over one another.
Thread your tapestry needle with a generous length of your chunky yarn (or a sturdy, color-matched DK yarn if your super chunky yarn is too thick to slide easily through seaming stitches). Using Mattress Stitch or a neat whipstitch, seam down the left side from the top rim down to the bottom fold, securing the corner tightly. Repeat this process for the right side, ensuring that the garter ridges align straight across the seam. Finally, weave in all loose yarn ends thoroughly on the interior of the bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I stop my knitted bag from stretching when carrying heavy items?
While garter stitch naturally holds its structure remarkably well, super chunky yarns can stretch under weight. To eliminate stretch entirely, you can line the inside of your bag with a simple cotton or canvas fabric bag inserted after seaming, or work a quick round of single crochet around the inner perimeter of the handle slots to reinforce the handle bars.
Can I adjust the size of The Foldy Bag?
Absolutely! If you would like to adjust the width of your tote, simply increase or decrease your total cast-on number while adjusting your handle math. Always ensure that you keep an equal number of stitches on the outer side borders (e.g., 8 stitches on each side) while keeping the central handle gap wide enough for a comfortable hand grip (10 to 14 stitches works best for chunky yarn).
What cast-on method works best for the handle gap?
The Cable Cast-On is ideal for working mid-row over a handle gap because it provides a neat, firm edge that perfectly mirrors the bound-off edge underneath. If you prefer a simpler technique, the Backward-Loop Cast-On also works well—just be sure to work your stitches firmly so the gap remains tidy.
How do I care for my Foldy Bag once it is finished?
If you have chosen 100% super chunky wool like the sample, you will want to gently hand wash your bag in cool water using a wool detergent, squeeze out the excess water without wringing, and lay it flat to dry. If you are hoping to deliberately shrink and felt your bag for a denser structure, you can machine wash it on a warm cycle instead!
I hope you loved this pattern! If you enjoyed working up this project, you can explore more tutorials, stitch guides, and free patterns on Emmaknitty. Every bit of support helps me continue sharing free designs with our creative community! You can support my work directly on Ko-Fi or explore my complete PDF pattern library on Ravelry. Do tag @Emmaknitty on Instagram when sharing your completed trees so I can share your lovely makes.
Have a creative day,
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