Texel Bag Knitting Pattern

Texel Bag in Rowan Moordale

What is Being Made

The Texel Bag is a structured knitted tote bag designed by Lisa Richardson. This advanced beginner project creates a finished bag measuring 36 cm (14¼ inches) wide and 42.5 cm (16¾ inches) high, excluding the gusset. The bag features a 5 cm (2 inch) wide gusset and an integrated strap, making it a practical everyday accessory with considerable depth and capacity.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques that make it suitable for advanced beginners. The construction involves color work, with multiple yarn colors introduced and broken off at strategic points to create visual interest. The bag is constructed in separate pieces—back, front, and a combined gusset and strap section—which are later joined together. The pattern uses marker placement to denote important construction points, such as the beginning of the gusset section. Additionally, the pattern incorporates elastic integration as an optional feature, allowing crafters to add structure to the bag opening if desired.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (st st): Used for the foundational structure of the back and front panels, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Patterned rows: A 36-row repeat pattern forms the main decorative element of the bag, which is repeated multiple times throughout the back and front pieces, then simplified to a 12-row repeat for the gusset and strap
• Ribbing (K1, P1 rib): Applied as a finishing detail at the top opening of the bag, providing elasticity and a refined edge

Materials

The Texel Bag is knitted using Rowan Moordale yarn, a worsted-weight yarn requiring 100 grams total. The color palette consists of three shades: Feather 001 (2 balls, the primary color), Turmeric 003 (1 ball), and Blue Moor 008 (1 ball). The pattern is worked on 4mm (US 6) needles for the main fabric, with a change to 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed top edge. A 4mm (US 6) circular needle at least 80 cm long is required for the gusset and strap section to accommodate the large stitch count, though it is worked flat in rows rather than in the round. The pattern specifies a tension of 27 stitches and 62 rows to 10 cm measured over the patterned fabric using 4mm needles. An optional 55 cm length of 3 cm (1¼ inch) wide elastic may be added for additional structure at the bag opening.