Southampton Collection – Knitting Patterns for Five Fabric-lined Bags

Southampton Collection – Knitting Patterns for Five Fabric-lined Bags by Wyndlestraw Designs

Overview

The Southampton Collection by Wyndlestraw Designs presents five distinct knitted bags, each designed with practical fabric liners to create polished, functional accessories. This intermediate-level knitting pattern collection combines traditional knitting techniques with fabric construction, offering versatility for different carrying needs. Whether you need a shoulder bag for everyday use, spacious totes for shopping, or dedicated book bags for library trips, this collection provides multiple options in a single downloadable PDF pattern.

Bag Designs Included

• Weymouth Shoulder Bag: A structured shoulder bag featuring a lightweight cotton liner with integrated sewing instructions, allowing knitters to construct the lining from scratch.
• Sarasota Shopper: A large-capacity tote bag designed for carrying heavy loads, featuring a purchased canvas liner for durability and structure.
• Southam Tote: A second tote bag option with a colourful dyed canvas liner, adding visual interest and colour variation to the collection.
• Falmer Book Bag: A long-handled book bag with additional key tabs for convenient access to library cards or house keys.
• Second Book Bag: A complementary long-handled book bag design, completing the five-bag collection.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level collection requires a solid foundation in fundamental knitting techniques. Knitters will employ knitting and purling as the basis for fabric construction, combined with more advanced stitch work to create structure and visual interest.

• Provisional Cast-On: Used to create flexible starting edges that can be grafted or joined later, essential for seamless bag construction.
• Slipped Stitches: Incorporated for edge definition and creating neat, finished edges on the knitted fabric.
• Increases: Shaping techniques to expand the fabric where needed for bag structure and capacity.
• Working in the Round: Circular knitting methods to create seamless tubular sections, ideal for bag bodies and handles.
• Two-Colour Knitting: Featured in the Falmer Book Bag design for decorative pattern work.
• Swiss Darning: An embroidery technique worked over completed knitting, used for adding embellished details without the complexity of multi-colour knitting throughout.

Materials and Construction

The Southampton Collection is designed to work with aran and worsted weight yarns, providing excellent stitch definition and creating sturdy, durable bags capable of holding substantial weight. The pattern accommodates different yarn weights within these categories, offering flexibility in yarn selection.

Bag construction combines knitting with fabric liners. The Weymouth Shoulder Bag includes step-by-step sewing instructions for creating a lightweight cotton liner, while the remaining four bags utilise purchased canvas liners, simplifying construction for knitters who prefer to focus on the knitting elements. The colourful dyed liner option on the Southam Tote adds a design element that complements the knitted exterior.

Sizing and Dimensions

Bags in the collection are designed with practical dimensions. The drop measurement—the distance from the top edge to the bottom of the bag—ranges from 52-65 cm depending on the specific bag design, accommodating different carrying preferences and body types.

Skill Level and Suitability

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this collection suits knitters with experience in basic stitches who are ready to expand their skills with provisional cast-ons, circular knitting, and decorative techniques like Swiss Darning. The combination of knitting and sewing elements makes this collection ideal for crafters interested in exploring the intersection of textile arts.