Sorreia Bag Knitting Pattern

Sorreia Bag in Berroco Indio

What is Being Made

The Sorreia Bag is a knitted handbag designed by Donna Yacino, featured in Berroco Booklet #405. This intermediate-level project creates a finished bag measuring approximately 9 inches wide by 8 inches tall, not including the strap. The bag is worked in the round using a circular needle, creating a structured accessory suitable for everyday use.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified as intermediate difficulty. The bag is constructed using circular knitting techniques, worked in the round from a cast-on of 90 stitches. A key technique throughout the pattern involves working with 2 strands of yarn held together, which adds weight and structure to the finished piece. The pattern features a stitch pattern that creates intentional stitch count variations from round to round, requiring careful attention to the pattern instructions.

Stitches Used

The Sorreia Bag employs a variety of knitting stitches to create its textured pattern:

• Purl stitches (P) – used in blocks to create texture contrast
• Knit stitches (K) – the foundation of the pattern
• Knit through the back loop (K1tbl) – creates twisted stitches for definition
• Yarn overs (YO) – creates decorative eyelet details and lace elements
• Knit two together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) – a left-leaning decrease used to balance the K2tog decreases
• Multiple stitches from one stitch – the pattern includes instructions to work multiple stitches (specifically k1, yo, k1 repeated three times) all from a single stitch, creating dramatic increases in stitch count

Materials

The Sorreia Bag is knitted using Berroco Indio yarn, with 3 balls of color #7356 Scarlet required for completion. Berroco Indio is a 50-gram ball weight yarn. The project requires a 16-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.50 mm) for the main bag construction. Optional 2 double-pointed needles in size 7 (4.50 mm) may be used for the strap, though a circular needle can substitute. Additional notions include 1 stitch marker for tracking the beginning of rounds and waste yarn to hold stitches during construction. The recommended gauge is 40 stitches and 25 rounds over 4 inches in pattern, which should be verified before beginning the project to ensure accurate finished measurements.