Elisa's Nest Tote

This pretty tote bag was designed by Elisa, an Italian knitter and blogger who saw the Climbing Trellis Lace Pattern here on the Purl Bee.  She calls it her "No More Plastic Bag, Thank You!" It is a fast knit that takes only a few hours to complete.

Elisa's Nest Tote can be made from just about any cotton yarn (linen or hemp yarn work nicely, too). The stretchy lace stitch makes this bag practical and quite durable.

We would choose this dainty and durable tote over a plastic bag any day! 

Comments

[jodi]

love it! thank you.

[Ellen]

Thank you for this pattern. I am on my second bag!

[angie]

That is pretty, will have a go at this sometime.

[DawnK]

I'm 16" into the 24" that I have to knit! I'm getting near the end! It's a fun pattern, as long as you don't forget any yarnovers! LOL!

[Pauline in USA]

Thank you for the pattern! I found the reference to your site in my newspaper (The Daily Breeze) here in the Los Angeles area. california is currently moving to ban plastic shopping bags that we have gotten into the habit of using -- but which are now clogging our landfills. So this is a great pattern to use for me to make my own shopping bags. By the way -- your site is beautiful.

Happy Knitting!

[jodifur]

I must be a moron but I really don't see the pattern, can someone send me the link. This is adorable

[purl bee]

Hi Jodi,
You can find the full pattern by clicking on this link:
http://www.purlbee.com/elisa-nest-tote/

[Suzy]

I just finished my first bag and I made it out of some old scrap yarn and it is wonderful, so you are definitely not limited to a cotton. This was also my first I-cord and I love it...gonna go I-cord crazy now. Thanks for such a great pattern.

[Julie]

I love the idea of ridding the world of plastic bags, but I just finished my one and only nest tote. I'm satisfied with the result, but this took me a VERY long time, and I'm not a beginner. I just thought knitters should know that it will probably take more than "a few hours." Now I need to find something to do with the other 6 skeins of Rowan 4 ply cotton that I bought. Any ideas?

[Kim]

Thank you for the link. This was my first time on the site, what a great page for info!!

Kim

[Erin]

Thank you so much for this pattern! It only took me three days to knit and I've only been knitting for three months. I got to work on my crocheting, i-cord, and other skills, and it wasn't tough to make at all. I am in love with the bag. It's so beautiful!!!!! I prance around my house wearing it becasue I love it so much. Thanks again!!!!!

[Stephanie G]

Thanks for the great pattern! Made 2 for a bridal shower and was sad to see them go. Now it's time to make some for myself - any tips on making a bigger opening to fit a big ol box of cheerios into it? Thanks again!

[betty]

mine came out with lost of stiches, question, with the ssk i looked on line do you slip , slip and then knit thoses two together for a decrease, that would make sence but the pattern didnt say to knit the two slip stiches together, i am so confused,, help me quick..

[Rin]

I started this bag the other day and somehow I keep adding more and more stitches! I start with 41 stitches....does anyone know how stitches there are supposed to be in the following rows? Thank you for any answers in advance!

[purl bee]

Hi Rin,

You should have 41 stitches the whole time you knit the bag. It sounds like you might be doing something funny with your yarn overs. Make sure that you're just bringing the yarn forward into the purl position and then doing the k2tog's or ssk's. Remember that you don't really "knit" a yarn over; it's created by what you do after it!

Please let us know if you're still having problems and thanks for your question!

Whitney

[Candace]

I made this and I love it. I lined the inside and changed the handle a bit. You can read about here if you want: http://landlocked-art.blogspot.com/2011/10/nest-tote.html