CogKnition

Quinn: Cabled Bag Knitting Pattern

Quinn, a cabled bag

Quinn is a small-to-medium-sized cabled purse with a long braided strap so it can be worn over the shoulder or messenger-style across the body.

This bag is knit in two pieces. First, the top horizontal band is knit flat, and then the ends are grafted together to form a loop. Then the stitches for the main body of the bag are picked up and knit in the round. At the end, the stitches for the front and back of the bag are divided and grafted together.

The strap is knit separately and sewn to the inside.

FREE! Download (pdf, 351K)

  • 01/11/2009: New pattern template, but no major changes to the instructions.

Although this pattern is available free for non-commercial use, please consider making a small donation in support of the time and effort that went into this design. Thank you!

Quinn, a cabled bag

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 9" (23 cm) square

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash (100% superwash wool; 220 yds/201 m per 3½ oz/100g), shown in #844; 2 skeins

If you choose not to do the braided i-cord strap, one skein will be enough. However you will have little left for swatching.

This pattern would be great for beginning knitters ready to move into more complicated territory, or for experienced knitters who want something relaxing, but not boring to knit. You may find that this pattern is a good prelude to Rogue. This pattern includes:

  • Provisional cast-on
  • Beginner-to-intermediate cables—all cable patterns are easily-memorized 12-row repeats and are provided in both chart and written form
  • Grafting (three-needle bind-off may be substituted)
  • Knitting in the round
  • I-cord

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8 Comments

  1. Ginger says:

    AWESOME purse! Thanks for the free pattern, this will definitely be my next project.

  2. Lakaya says:

    NICE!!! But I altered mine a bit…I like my purse to have “sides” so I made it in 4 piece. Top, body, side 1, side 2. But the pattern is so cute. Thank you for posting it.

  3. Fenrii says:

    In the part that says main body I dont get it
    it says: “Beginning at the seam, pick up 144 stitches all the way around. You
    will be picking up one stitch for each row. Join for knitting in the
    round.”
    how do I pick up the 144 sttches??
    and what does it mean that I need to pick up one stitch for each row??
    HELP PLEASE!!

    • Yvonne says:

      Hi Fenrii,

      At that point in the pattern, you should have made a loop. That loop will form the top band of the bag. Starting where you grafted the loop together, pick up 144 stitches.

      If you need help picking up stitches, I recommend this Knitty tutorial.

      The comment to pick up one stitch for each row is to help you pick up the correct number of stitches. In many patterns (and in the example shown in the Knitty tutorial), you need to figure out how to space out the stitches you’re picking up in order to make it even. In this case it’s easy: just pick up one stitch for each row in the loop–the loop has 144 rows in it. If you do that, when you’ve picked up the 144th stitch, you will be back where you started and will be ready to join to knit in the round.

  4. Judy says:

    I’ve wanted to make this lovely purse for some time. Started it this morning and ran into T3F and T3B. I’ve done cables before but haven’t seen this. How is it done? Thanks!

    • Yvonne says:

      Hi Judy,

      Directions for the T3F and T3B are on the last page of the pattern. Please let me know if you have further questions.

      ~Yvonne

      • Judy says:

        Thank you so much. For some reason, when I printed the pattern out, it didn’t print page 7. I appreciate your quick response.

  5. Barbara says:

    The purse is so pretty!I’m a beginner but I can’t wait to try this!