Felted Loopy Tote Bag Knitting Pattern

Felted Loopy Tote Bag Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

The Felted Loopy Tote Bag is an easy-level knitting pattern designed by Virginia Rowan Rokholt for Lion Brand Yarn. This practical yet feminine accessory combines soft felted wool with decorative loopy trim and hard Lucite handles for a sophisticated deco-inspired aesthetic. The bag transforms dramatically through the felting process, shrinking from 20 inches tall by 25 inches wide before felting to a compact 10 inches tall by 16 inches wide after felting, making it an ideal everyday carryall.

Materials and Tools

This pattern requires Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in Natural, with 2 skeins needed for the project. The knitting needles specified include Lion Brand Size 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles for the main bag body and Lion Brand Size 8 double-pointed needles for creating the decorative ruffles. A Lion Brand Size G-6 crochet hook is used for seaming and attaching trim, along with a large-eye blunt needle set for weaving in ends. Additional materials include a pair of Lucite handles, 1 yard of leopard-print ribbon (the sample uses Offray #310054), a glue gun, and glue sticks for finishing touches.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The main bag body is worked using stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit stitch pattern created by alternating knit stitches on the right side with purl stitches on the wrong side. This creates a smooth, classic fabric that felts beautifully. The gauge is 14.5 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needles before felting, and checking gauge is emphasized as essential for proper sizing.

The decorative loopy trim is created using an I-cord technique worked on double-pointed needles. This method involves casting on 6 stitches and using the unique property of double-pointed needles to create a continuous cord without turning the work. Stitches are slid to the opposite end of the needle, and yarn is pulled tightly across the back to form a tubular cord. This cord measures approximately 20 feet when complete.

Assembly uses slip stitch crochet technique to join the side seams of the bag and to attach the decorative cord around the bag opening. The loopy trim is arranged to create loops approximately 6 to 7 inches long around the top edge, adding whimsical texture and visual interest.

Felting Process

The felting process is a crucial step that transforms the knitted fabric. The bag is washed on a hot wash and cold rinse cycle in a washing machine with detergent and several pieces of clothing to provide agitation. For additional felting, the bag is dried in a machine dryer on a regular setting until almost dry, then removed and laid flat to shape. This aggressive washing and drying causes the wool fibers to lock together, creating a denser, more compact fabric and reducing the bag size by approximately half in both dimensions.

Construction Method

The bag body begins with casting on 90 stitches and working in stockinette stitch for 40 inches in length. The piece is then bound off and folded in half widthwise with wrong sides together, creating a two-layer structure. The side seams are joined using a crochet slip stitch, forming the basic tote shape. The decorative I-cord is slip stitched around the opening to create the signature loopy trim. Finally, the Lucite handles are attached using a glue gun, and leopard-print ribbon is glued to the handles for a coordinated, polished finish.