How to make a beautiful bag with string, knitting

If you have some leftover string at home (strong and not too thin), which is quite common, you can use it for a creative project, to make, with knitting needles, a simple, elegant and understated bag.

With these materials and with this procedure.

Material

• Recycled twine (about 250–500 g, depending on the size of the bag)
• 6–8 mm needles (choose the size based on the thickness of the string)
• Wool needle
• Scissors
• Any recycled or knitted handles

Method

1. Start knitting
   • Cast on 40–50 stitches for a medium-sized bag.
2. Work the body
   • Work in garter stitch (knit all rows) or stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row).
   • Continue until you get a rectangle about 60 cm high.
3. Close the stitches
   • Close without tightening too much.
4. Fold and sew
   • Fold the rectangle in half.
   • Sew the two sides, leaving the top part open.
5. Making the handles
   • Cast on 6–8 stitches.
   • Work two strips 40–50 cm long.
   • Sew the handles inside the bag.
   • Alternatively, you can use ropes, belts, or handles recovered from an old bag.

A bag knitted with string is quite durable and has a rustic look, so it lends itself to many practical uses. You can use it as:

• Shopping bag, especially for fruit, vegetables or bread.
• Beach bag, to carry a towel, sunscreen and a book (if the string is made of natural fibre, however, avoid leaving it wet for too long).
• Workspace, to hold balls of yarn, knitting needles or crochet materials.
• Picnic bag, to carry dishes, tablecloth and snacks.
• Magazine or book rack, to keep next to the sofa.
• Home container, for example to collect toys, balls of yarn or other objects.
• Decorative vase cover, placing a waterproof vase inside.
• Reusable gift packaging, filling it with handcrafted products, food or other gifts.