Bags like this one turn up in every store, and the hand-knit chunky yarn bag in this tutorial is made with two fingers and no needles at all. I was curious whether I could make one myself, and then I found this tutorial by day la hanh, which turned out more beautiful than the design I had in mind. The supply list runs two lines: super soft bulky yarn and a pair of scissors. Watch the video below for the full instructions.
A hand-knit chunky yarn bag is finger knitted rather than needle knitted. You chain six loops of bulky yarn, work back along them to build rows of paired loops going counterclockwise, then run a border through every loop and pull it tight. The strap is more chains, joined at the center of each side. Yarn and scissors are the only supplies.
Materials:
- super soft and bulky yarn (cotton tube with polyester fiber)
- scissors
Instructions:
Step 1:
Make a slip knot. Take your short tail and hold it in your right hand. Put it underneath the longer one. Take out the yarn from the loop using your two fingers to make a slip knot.
Step 2:
Insert your two fingers into the loop and take the longer yarn to make another loop. Repeat to make a total of 6 chains.
Step 3:
Turn the end loop to the left. Insert your two fingers into the loop of the fifth chain and pull the yarn to make a loop. Repeat with the other chains. Once done, make a knot.
Step 4:
On the same hole on the first loop, make another loop. Repeat for the other holes. Now you will have 6 pairs of loops.
Step 5:
Insert the yarn on the pair of the last loop. Repeat with the loops on that row. Turn it around and work on the other side.
Step 6:
Make the third row for the two sides, the same process as the second row. You will see two Vs and the loop. Always work counterclockwise. Repeat for the 4th to 7th row.
Step 7:
Make the border by inserting the yarn on all loops. Pull it to tighten.
Step 8:
Make the strap by imitating the loops on the sides. Just make the chains until your desired length.
Step 9:
Find the center on the other side, then cut the yarn long enough to attach it to the other side. Take the end of the yarn and insert it on the last loop of the handle. Connect the strap on the other side by inserting it on the loop, then on the loop on the strap. Hide the remaining yarn inside the chains.
Step 10:
Cut the cotton inside the yarn and cut the seams. Hide inside the chains and tie them into a knot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What weight of yarn do you need for a chunky knit bag?
Super soft and bulky yarn, specifically the cotton tube kind with polyester fiber inside. That construction is what gives the bag its thick, squashy look and lets the loops hold their shape without any stiffening. It is also why the last step involves cutting the cotton inside the yarn rather than simply snipping a strand off.
Can you make this without knitting needles?
That is the whole method here. Every loop is made with two fingers, from the first slip knot right through to the border, so there are no needles and no hook on the supply list. Yarn and scissors are all you need. The one thing worth watching in the video is how the fingers pull each new loop through, since that is hard to catch in photos.
Does a chunky knit bag stretch out?
The border is what controls that. Once the rows are done you run the yarn through all of the loops around the opening and pull it to tighten, which draws the top in and stops the bag from sagging open. Working every row counterclockwise keeps the tension even. Loose ends get hidden inside the chains and knotted rather than left to work loose.
