A knitted Christmas gift bag is not only a beautiful way to wrap holiday presents but also a charming part of your festive décor. This seasonal accessory, decorated with winter-inspired motifs, creates a cozy atmosphere, adds a personal touch to your gifts, and can be reused year after year.
Designer: Claire Neicho
Materials, Tools, and Knitting Techniques
Size
Finished circumference: 29.5 cm (11.6 in)
Yarn
The original design uses John Arbon Textiles Knit by Numbers.
1 skein of each color:
- KBN19 — Main Color (red)
- KBN55 — Contrast Color (white)
Yarn specifications:
- 250 m (273 yd) per 100 g skein
- 100% merino wool
Needles and Tools
- 3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle, 30 cm (12 in), or double-pointed needles
- 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle, 40 cm (16 in), and/or double-pointed needles
- 3.75 mm (US 5) circular needle, 40 cm (16 in), or double-pointed needles
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Stitches and Techniques
- Stockinette stitch
- 1×1 ribbing (alternating knit 1, purl 1)
- Snowflake pattern.
Gauge
24 sts × 26 rnds = 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in) in stockinette stitch with colorwork using 3.75 mm needles.
How to Knit a Christmas Gift Bag
Beginning
Using the red main color and 3.25 mm needles, cast on 90 stitches.
Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches, and place a marker for the beginning of the round.
Work 1×1 ribbing until the piece measures 10 cm (4 in). Switch to the medium-size needles. Knit 1 round.
Eyelet Round for the Drawstring
- K4, k2tog, yo,
- K9, k2tog, yo,
- K10, k2tog, yo,
- K9, k2tog, yo — repeat 3 times,
- K10, k2tog, yo,
- K9, k2tog, yo,
- K5.
Body
Increase Round:
Repeat twice: K1, M1R, K43, M1L, K1 = 94 stitches.
Next Increase Round:
Repeat twice: K1, M1R, K45, M1L, K1 = 98 stitches.
Knit 1 round.
Switch to 3.75 mm needles and join the contrast color.
Work the border pattern:
- Rounds 1 and 3: Knit all stitches in white.
- Round 2: K1 red, K1 white; repeat to the end of the round.
Then work the main chart three complete times. Next, repeat Rounds 1–15 of the main chart once more.Work the border chart once again in full.
Switch back to the medium-size needles and cut the white yarn. Knit 1 round.
Decrease Round
Repeat twice:
- K1, SSK, K43, K2tog, K1 = 94 stitches.
Next Decrease Round
Repeat twice:
- K1, SSK, K41, K2tog, K1 = 90 stitches.
Three-Needle Bind-Off
The Christmas gift bag is finished using a three-needle bind-off:
- Turn the bag inside out so the right sides face each other.
- Arrange the stitches on two needles parallel to one another.
- Using a third needle, insert it through the first stitch on the front needle and the first stitch on the back needle.
- Knit these two stitches together.
- Repeat with the next pair of stitches.
- When two stitches remain on the right needle, pass the first stitch over the second.
- Continue in this manner until all stitches have been bound off.
Knitted I-Cord Drawstring
Using the white contrast yarn and medium-size double-pointed needles, cast on 4 stitches.
Knit all stitches.
Do not turn the work. Slide the stitches to the opposite end of the needle, pull the working yarn tightly across the back, and knit all stitches again.
Repeat until the cord measures 54 cm (21¼ in).
Bind off.
Finishing
- Weave in all loose ends.
- Wet block the bag.
- Thread the cord through the eyelets.
- Tie knots at both ends of the cord.
Your knitted Christmas gift bag is now ready for the holiday season!
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