Hexagon Felted Bag Knitting Pattern

Hexagon Felted Bag Knitting Pattern by Plymouth Yarn

Project Overview

The Hexagon Felted Bag is a downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn's Design Studio, offered free with yarn purchase. This project creates a structured, felted handbag with approximate finished dimensions of 10 inches wide by 10 inches tall, not including the handle. The design combines geometric hexagon motifs with a braided strap and gusset construction to produce a durable, professional-looking accessory.

Materials and Gauge

This pattern requires 3 balls of Plymouth Yarn Gina in color 11 Spring Flowers, with each ball weighing 50 grams. The gauge before felting is 16 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US Size 10 (6mm) needles. A 5-inch by 5-inch triangle measures the same before and after felting, providing a reliable reference for felting progress. Essential tools include US Size 10 (6mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs), a stitch marker, and a yarn needle for sewing.

Construction Techniques

The bag is constructed using three primary components, each employing distinct knitting techniques. The hexagon motifs are built from individual triangles worked in the round on double-pointed needles, while the strap features a braided cable pattern, and the gusset utilizes garter stitch for structure and flexibility.

Hexagon Motifs

Each triangle begins with 66 stitches cast on and divided evenly across three double-pointed needles, with 22 stitches per needle. The triangles are worked in the round using decreases at each needle junction. The pattern employs slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases at the beginning of each needle section and knit 2 together (k2tog) decreases at the end, reducing 6 stitches per round. This decrease sequence continues until only 6 stitches remain (2 per needle), which are then drawn together and fastened off. The pattern requires 12 triangles total, which are then assembled into 2 hexagon motifs using mattress stitch, a seaming technique that creates nearly invisible joins between the triangular sections.

Strap and Gusset Construction

The strap and gusset are worked as a single continuous piece, beginning with 14 stitches cast onto a double-pointed needle. The first 25 inches are worked in garter stitch (knitting every row), creating a flat, textured gusset that will form the perimeter of the bag. The remaining portion features a braided cable pattern worked over 8 rows. The cable is created by slipping 5 stitches to a spare needle and holding them to the front or back while knitting the next 5 stitches, then knitting the held stitches. This 8-row repeat continues for approximately 26 inches, creating an integrated braided handle. The total strap length is approximately 51 inches (25 inches gusset plus 26 inches braided strap), bound off with a knit cast-off.

Assembly and Finishing

Assembly involves sewing the 25-inch gusset section to the sides of both hexagon motifs using mattress stitch, which maintains the bag's clean appearance. The cast-on and bind-off edges of the braided strap are then sewn together, with careful attention paid to ensuring the strap has no twist, creating a continuous handle loop.

Felting Process

The completed bag undergoes hand felting, a technique that permanently alters the fabric structure by causing wool fibers to lock together, creating a denser, more durable material. The felting process begins by submerging the bag in a sink filled with hot soapy water. Using rubber gloves for protection from heat, the crafter agitates the bag by rubbing it against the sink sides and against itself. The pattern notes that Plymouth Yarn's Gina fiber felts quickly and easily through this hand-agitation method. Cold water shocking—running the bag briefly under very cold water—can accelerate fiber bonding, though this step is optional. The felting process transforms the knitted fabric into a cohesive, structured material suitable for a functional handbag.

Yarn and Fiber Characteristics

Plymouth Yarn Gina is specifically chosen for this pattern due to its excellent felting properties. The yarn's composition and construction allow it to respond readily to the felting process, making it ideal for creating bags that require structural integrity and durability. The color 11 Spring Flowers provides a finished aesthetic suitable for a professional accessory.