How to Knit a Bag on a Loom

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

When you're learning to knit on a simple loom, the easiest go-to projects are bulky beanies and flat scarves. Bump up your crafting finesse by knitting an impressive striped tote -- but using a simple beginner stitch. Make cozy knitted bags to gift your friends for the holidays or a set for the car for eco-friendly shoppers.

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Things You'll Need

  • 22-inch rectangular knitting loom

  • Loom hook

  • Drinking straw

  • Several skeins of yarn

  • Scissors

  • Yarn needle

  • Measuring tape

  • Rivets

  • Leather trim or straps

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Step 1: Casting onto the Loom

Tip

Create a threading wand by cutting a drinking straw and threading your yarn through it before tying onto the loom. This makes wrapping the pegs of the loom easier and faster for both beginners and experts alike.

Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Tie the yarn end in a half-knot on a peg at one end of your loom, leaving a 2-inch tail.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Using your hands or a threading wand, wrap each peg on the loom, wrapping from behind, in a clockwise motion.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Continue wrapping each peg until you reach your starting point. Take care not to let go of the yarn -- your work will quickly unravel.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Step 2: Knitting rows

To knit the first row, repeat wrapping all the pegs until every peg has been wrapped twice.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Using your loom hook , pick up the bottom loop and pull up and over the top loop and peg, releasing it at the interior of the loom.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Repeat this step on every peg to complete the first row.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Tip

Create a clean rolled hem on the top edge of your bag by knitting approximately 2 inches, then feeding the bottom edge up through the center of the loom, and placing the first loops back over the corresponding pegs. Simply knit as if it were a regular row, and continue knitting the body of the bag. This keeps the edge from curling inward and provides additional stability when attaching straps to the bag.

Image Credit: lindsey Crafter
Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Complete additional rows by re-wrapping all the pegs and repeating the steps. When you have completed approximately 15 inches of knitted rows, you're ready to cast off from the loom.

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Tip

Achieve a color-blocked pattern by cutting and tying on a new color of yarn at the end of a row.

Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Step 3: Casting off

After you finish the last row, pass the yarn end behind the second-to-last peg.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Wrap the yarn around the peg and knit as if you were completing a stitch in a row.

Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter
Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter
Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Catch the finished stitch with the loom hook and place it on the last peg.

Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Knit the last peg, and place the finished stitch back on the second-to-last peg.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter
Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter
Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Repeat these steps until you have a bound edge, and your knitting is disconnected from the loom.

Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Step 4: Create bottom seam

Cut a long length of yarn and thread it through the yarn needle. Turn knitting inside out and stitch the opening using a simple whip stitch so the seam will appear on the interior of the finished bag.

Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter
Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Step 5: Attach shoulder straps

Measure and choose placement for straps. Feed the strap ends through gaps in the knitted piece and secure them in place with metal rivets.

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Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Your finished bag makes the perfect catchall for running to the farmers' market or a day trip to the shore. Customize your bag shape and color by experimenting with different yarn textures and sizes of looms.

Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter
Image Credit: Lindsey Crafter

Have questions about a step in this project? Leave them for us in the comments section below.

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