Felted Knit Bucket Bag Pattern

 

    I wanted to try my hand at felting, and I thought a bucket bag was the perfect shape for a structured design. So, I designed this pattern! The bag is knit in the round from the bottom up, then felted and shaped for a sturdy finish. Here’s how to make your own!

Gauge & Finished Size:

Gauge isn’t critical for this project, but different yarns and tension can affect the final size after felting. My finished bag measures about 6 inches in diameter for the base and 7.5 inches in height after felting and shaping.   

Materials:

• Yarn: ~250 yards of worsted weight 100% wool suitable for felting (I used Noro Kureyon)

• Needles:

    • 6.5mm circular needles (30” or longer for magic loop) or 6.5mm DPNs

    • 5mm DPNs for i-cord

• Optional:

    • Shorter circular needles for the body (I switched to my 3” shorties with a 14” cord)

    • Bag strap hardware (such as D-rings and swivel clips)

    • Quilting clips or pins for shaping while drying

Pattern Instructions

Base

I use KFB increases, but you can substitute any other one-stitch increase if you prefer.

Cast on 8 stitches and join in the round using magic loop or DPNs.

Round 1: Knit.

Round 2: KFB all stitches. (16 sts)

Rounds 3-4: Knit. (2 rounds)

Round 5: KFB all stitches. (32 sts)

Rounds 6-9: Knit. (4 rounds)

Round 10: KFB all stitches. (64 sts)

Rounds 11-18: Knit.

Round 19: KFB all stitches. (128 sts)

Knit one more round. (Now is a good time to switch to shorter circular needles, or continue with magic loop/DPNs.)

Purl one round. (Helps shape the bag upward.)

Body

Knit all stitches in the round.

Decrease 4 stitches every 5th round until you’re at 104 stitches.

Continue knitting straight until the bag measures 9 inches from the purl round.

Eyelets for Drawstring

Round 1: Knit 5, [cast off 2, knit 11] repeat 8 times, knit 6.

Round 2, Knit 5, [cast on 2 using the backwards loop method, knit 11] repeat 8 times, knit 6.

Knit for another 2 inches, then bind off using a regular bind off.

Drawstring (i-cord)

Using 5mm DPNs, cast on 3 stitches and knit an i-cord for about 35 inches or desired length.

Strap (optional)

Cast on 8 stitches and work in stockinette for 18 inches or desired length.

• For sew-in strap: Position the strap between two eyelets on each side and sew securely to the bag. 

• For removable strap: Sew D-rings to the bag between two eyelets on each side. Then attach swivel clips to either end of the strap. 

Make sure all strap attachments are secured before felting.

Felting Process

1. Weave in all ends before felting. 

2. Pre-soak (optional): If using highly pigmented or multicolored yarn, soak the bag in cold water with a little bit of white distilled vinegar for 10 minutes to help prevent color bleeding. 

3. Boiling: Heat a pot of water to a boil, then let the bag soak for about 10 minutes.

4. Machine Felting: Transfer the bag (along with the boiling water) into the washing machine. Wash on a hot cycle with agitation—adding towels, jeans, or sneakers in a pillowcase helps. (If you’re concerned about fabric shedding, you can wash the bag in a pillowcase or mesh garment bag, but i found the felting to work better without it.)

5. Repeat if necessary: Some yarns take multiple cycles to full felt, so check after each wash and repeat as needed. 

6. Shaping: While the bag is still damp, shape it to your desired structure. You can clip it to a cylindrical container with quilting clips, or stuff it with paper towels to help it dry in shape. Make sure to gently stretch open the eyelets while the bag is still damp to ensure they remain functional for the drawstring. 

*Felting results can vary depending on water temperature, agitation, and yarn. If the bag is still too large or flimsy after the first wash, repeat the felting process. If it shrinks too much, stretching it while damp can help.

Final Touches

After the bag has dried completely,

• If desired, trim any fuzz from the felting process for a cleaner look.

• Thread the drawstring through the eyelets.

• Clip on the strap if you chose the removable option.

And that’s it! Your felted bucket bag is ready to use. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram @funkyfreshfibers. If you make one, I’d love to see it—feel free to share your project and tag me so I can check it out! 

Thanks for checking out my free pattern! If you’d prefer a clean, easy to read PDF or just feel like supporting the biz, you can purchase it on my Etsy shop. Happy knitting!

My pre-felted bag

My bag, after felting