Deramores Trailing Vines Tote Bag Knitting Pattern

Deramores Trailing Vines Tote Bag

Project Overview

The Deramores Trailing Vines Tote Bag is an intermediate-level knitting project that creates a practical shoulder bag with decorative vine motifs. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished bag inspired by branching vines creeping up a warm stone wall, offering a vintage country aesthetic. The construction method is notably simple and efficient, with the entire bag knitted in one piece using a provisional cast-on technique to eliminate the need for a bottom seam.

What Is Being Made

This project creates a functional tote bag suitable for everyday use. The bag features a distinctive design with vine patterns that trail vertically on the front and horizontally on the back, creating visual interest and movement. A long over-the-shoulder strap is stitched on after the main bag body is completed, making this a practical accessory with decorative appeal.

Construction Technique

The bag is constructed using a provisional cast-on method, which allows knitters to work both sides of the bag without creating a bottom seam. This technique uses a crochet hook and smooth yarn to create a temporary cast-on edge that can later be unraveled and picked up for seamless joining. The provisional method ensures that the vine patterns trail consistently in the same direction throughout the bag, enhancing the overall design cohesion.

The pattern employs color work with yarn changes managed carefully to avoid holes. When transitioning between Yarn A and Yarn B, the instructions specify twisting the two yarns together—accomplished by taking the new yarn behind and under the old yarn before beginning to knit. This technique prevents gaps and maintains the integrity of the fabric.

The bag is sewn together after knitting is complete, with the long shoulder strap stitched on during the finishing stage. This assembly method keeps the construction straightforward while maintaining structural integrity.

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch: Used for the initial foundation rows (4 rows) of the bag
• Moss Stitch: Applied to the side borders of the bag (20 stitches on each side), creating a textured frame around the central vine pattern
• Knit Through Back Loop (ktbl): Creates twisted stitches that add definition to the vine motif
• Purl Through Back Loop (ptbl): The reverse of ktbl, used on wrong-side rows to maintain pattern consistency
• Right Twist (RT): A cable-like stitch that creates diagonal lines in the vine pattern
• Left Twist (LT): Works in the opposite direction to RT, forming the branching vine effect
• Make Bobble (mb): Creates textured bobbles within the vine pattern, adding three-dimensional interest to the design

Vine Pattern Details

The central vine pattern spans 28 stitches by 14 rows, creating a repeatable motif that can be worked vertically on the front and horizontally on the back. The pattern combines twisted stitches, cable twists, and bobbles to create the branching vine effect. Key pattern rows include:

• Row 1: Incorporates purl stitches as a base with knit-through-back-loop stitches, right twists, and bobbles strategically placed to form vine branches
• Row 2: Uses purl-through-back-loop stitches on the wrong side to create corresponding texture
• Rows 3-5: Continue the branching pattern with combinations of left and right twists, bobbles, and twisted stitches to develop the climbing vine aesthetic

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for 4mm knitting needles for the main construction. Two yarns are used—Yarn A and Yarn Bcrochet hook and smooth yarn for the provisional cast-on method, ensuring the temporary stitches can be easily unraveled later. A total of 72 stitches are cast on initially, with the stitch count distributed across the moss stitch borders and central vine pattern.

Skill Level Considerations

This intermediate-level project requires familiarity with several techniques beyond basic knitting. Knitters should be comfortable with provisional cast-on methods, color work, yarn management to avoid holes, twisted stitches,