Deramores Freisland Messenger Bag Knitting Pattern

Deramores Freisland Messenger Bag

Project Overview

The Deramores Freisland Messenger Bag is a knitted shoulder bag featuring a distinctive Dutch tile design on the front. This intermediate to advanced knitting project combines slip stitch colorwork with two-colour stranded knitting techniques to create a neat, structured accessory. The bag measures approximately 25cm x 24cm and includes a 1.8cm snap closure, making it a practical everyday carry piece with decorative appeal.

What is Being Made

This pattern produces a single shoulder messenger bag with a folded construction. The bag features a blue and white patterned front panel showcasing a traditional Dutch tile design, while the body utilizes slip stitch colorwork for texture and visual interest. The design includes a top flap closure and is completed with matching cotton lining fabric for a professional, finished interior.

Construction Technique

The Freisland Messenger Bag is worked flat on straight needles in a bottom-up construction method. The entire piece is knitted as a single flat rectangle, then seamed and folded to form the bag structure. This approach allows for the integration of both slip stitch and stranded colorwork sections within one cohesive piece. The bag is folded at a marked row (25cm from the cast-on edge) to create the body, with the top flap extending beyond the fold line.

Knitting Techniques

• Slip Stitch Colorwork: Used for the body of the bag to create texture and color variation while maintaining a relatively simple knitting process
• Stranded Knitting: Applied to the front panel to create the intricate two-colour Dutch tile design, requiring the knitter to manage two yarn colors simultaneously across rows
• Seaming: Pieces are joined together to construct the final bag shape and structure

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches including knit (K) and purl (P) stitches as the foundation. The Houndstooth pattern is featured as a textural element, measured at 22 stitches x 32 rows over a 10cm x 10cm gauge. The stranded stocking stitch used for the two-colour Dutch tile design is measured at 22.5 stitches x 25 rows over a 10cm x 10cm gauge. Slip stitch techniques, including slip 1 yarn back (Sl1yb), are employed to create the slip stitch colorwork sections.

Materials Required

This project uses Deramores Studio Cotton DK yarn in two colorways: 2 x 50g balls of Vanilla (Yarn A) and 2 x 50g balls of Air Blue (Yarn B). The yarn is worked on 4mm straight needles. Additional materials include matching cotton lining fabric measuring 76cm x 26cm, a yarn or tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and a 1.8cm snap closure or large press stud for fastening the flap.

Skill Level and Gauge

This pattern is rated as Advanced, reflecting the complexity of managing two-colour stranded knitting alongside slip stitch techniques. Achieving proper tension is essential for success. The stranded stocking stitch section requires a gauge of 22.5 stitches x 25 rows over 10cm x 10cm, while the Houndstooth pattern should measure 22 stitches x 32 rows over the same measurement. Accurate gauge swatching before beginning the project is strongly recommended to ensure the finished bag achieves the intended dimensions.

Finishing Details

The completed knitted piece should be pressed or blocked according to the yarn ball band instructions before assembly. The bag is constructed by laying the knitted rectangle flat with the wrong side facing up, then folding at the marked 25cm row to create the bag body. The cotton lining fabric is incorporated to provide structure and a polished interior finish. The snap closure is attached to secure the top flap, completing the functional messenger bag design.