So what better way of welcoming the return of summer weather – and farmers markets – than a Market Bag, made, of course, from Simply Soft Eco. I chose three shades of neutrals, to let the colors of the produce poke through.
I also wanted to experiment with different drop stitch combinations to see what would work best – and, of course, look best. So here’s a photo with my “experiments:”
 
 
For the Market Bag, I wanted something that was sturdy but still open so it would collapse easily when bringing it to market (so you could also bring multiples), that was fast to knit and that would be multi-purpose. I liked Sample 3 the best. Note that what you see in the sample is a flat, blocked swatch that will look quite different in the finished project. Reason is that when drop-stitch swatches lie flat, the stitches next to the dropped stitch (usually the ones to the left of it) tend to become irregular in shape. But when the bag is finished – and full – those stitches straighten right out. So it’s good to put a bit of tension on the swatch if you really want to know what it will look like in the finished project.
I also really like Sample 4, but I think I’ll try that for a summer wrap.
One more thing that’s great about drop-stitch patterns: you knit only about one third to one half the length of knitting than the finished project will be. This is due to the elongation of your knitting after you drop the stitches.
OK, now on to the technique and the bag pattern. I’ll be using the Sample 3 stitch configuration below, which is a multiple of 5 stitches:
 FARMERS MARKET BAG
The photos show what the bag looks like empty as well as full. This shows you just how elastic this stitch is – and how sturdy the bag is with so much in it.
Finished dimensions (slightly stretched, excluding straps): approx 17” wide x 15” high.
 MATERIALS
Simply Soft® Eco: 1 skein each Natural #0002 (Color A) Soft Taupe #0004 (Color B), Chocolate #0006 (Color C). Note this amount of yarn will be enough to make two bags.
Tools (besides the USM): Embellish-Knit, 5-6 claw weights, tapestry needle.
Gauge: Not important for this project but use a #2 keyplate.
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Using WY, cast on 73 sts. K 6 R. Break off. Tip: for your WY, use the heaviest yarn that works on a #2 keyplate and be sure to knit 6 rows before breaking off, as when you drop stitches, the WY stitches can easily unravel to the MY section.
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With Color A, K 18 R. Break off.
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With Color B, K 18 R. Break off.
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With Color C, K 36 R. Break off.
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Repeat Step 3.
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Repeat Step 2.
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K 6 R WY. Do not remove from machine.
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Skip first 3 sts, *drop next 2 sts, skip next 3 sts.* Repeat across.
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Push needles with dropped sts back to NWP and unravel the dropped stitches through the WY cast-on.
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Remove work from machine.
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Make casing #1:
• Bring forward 45 ndls to HP.
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Using claw weights to hold down the kitting, pick up the 3 live (“un-dropped”) sts across. Note that along the cast-on edge, it will appear as if there are just 2 sts to pick up, but you will need to pick up a loop from the dropped stitch section to come up with the 3 “non-dropped” sts (see photo).
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With Color C, K12 R.
• Pick up sts from first R casing (see photo) and place on ndls in WP.
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Push first set of sts back behind latches, leaving the picked up sts in the hooks of the needles.
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Pull forward the back sts over the needles so the sts encircle the sts in the needle hooks. (This is the same technique that’s used for knitting together shoulder seams.)
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K 1 R Color C and BO across using chain st.
- Make casing #2. This is the same as for casing #1, but there will be 3 live sts to pick up between each set of dropped sts. Here’s what your bag will look like before you sew the sides:
 - Fold bag in half width-wise. Starting at the top of Color B, sew side seam, around to the top of Color B on the opposite side of the bag. Repeat for opposite side.
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Make straps: using Embellish-Knit (note: the tightness of the knitting created on the Embellish-Knit makes for a very sturdy, round strap), make a 54” length of cording using Color B and the same length using Color C (I used two different colors just for interest).
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Thread each cord through one side of the casings and knot together. (Note that when a bag is full, the straps will elongate, so take this into consideration if you don’t want to re-knot the straps when your bag is full.)
VOILA!! Your very own Farmers Market Bag! Try making a couple more but using bright colors for your kids to use.
  As a side note, when I’d finished the bag section and put on the casing, I thought, what a great neckwarmer! Make it longer, and it’ll be a scarf. Make it just a slightly bit longer and you’ll have a shoulder shawl. Make the casing in a fancy stitch, with beading, etc and you’ll have a whole new look!
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