P316 Rosebud Bag

How to Knit the Rosebud Bag

Create a textured statement bag featuring a beautiful lace-style knitted fabric, oversized petal embellishments and a simple knitted handle. The Rosebud Bag combines decorative stitch techniques with the sparkle of Spirit Glitter yarn to create a unique accessory.

The bag is knitted as one main piece, joined with a seam, then finished with separately knitted petals arranged around the top edge. The textured stitch creates raised bobble-like details and elongated loops for a dramatic finish.

Project Details

• Project number: P316
• Difficulty: Intermediate knit
• Size: One size
• Construction: Knitted flat and seamed
• Main feature: Lace texture with knitted flower petals

Finished Measurements

• Circumference: approximately 40 cm
• Height: approximately 28 cm
• Height including handles: approximately 48 cm

What You Will Need

Yarn

The original project uses Makr Spirit Glitter yarn.

• Main yarn: 13 × 170 g balls Makr Spirit Glitter

The bag body is worked using two strands held together, then the top band and handle are worked using a single strand.

Needles and Equipment

• 5.00 mm knitting needles, approximately 30 cm long
• 10.00 mm knitting needles, approximately 30 cm long
• Wool needle for sewing seams and weaving in ends
• Pins for positioning petals

Alternative Yarns

Choose a smooth, lightweight yarn with some sparkle, texture or drape. The original design relies on a loose lace structure, so the replacement yarn should work well with larger needles.

• Chunky metallic yarn: Creates a similar statement effect and highlights the textured stitches.
• Double strand of DK yarn: A practical substitute that can recreate the thickness needed for the 10.00 mm needles.
• Soft acrylic blend: Provides durability and is suitable for an everyday handbag.
• Wool blend yarn: Adds elasticity and helps maintain the bag shape.
• Mohair or brushed yarn held with another yarn: Creates a soft, luxurious texture similar to the original sparkle effect.

When substituting yarn, match the tension rather than the ball size. The bag structure depends on achieving the correct fabric density.

Tension

• Single strand on 5.00 mm needles: 16 stitches and 27 rows to 10 cm in plain knit stitch
• Two strands on 10.00 mm needles: 11 stitches and 15 rows to 10 cm in plain knit stitch

Knitting Abbreviations

• B/F: knit into the back and front of a stitch
• K: knit
• K2tog: knit two stitches together
• P: purl
• St/sts: stitch/stitches
• Tog: together

Understanding the Textured Lace Stitch

The main bag fabric is created using a combination of decreases, increases and elongated stitches.

The pattern creates raised textured sections by:

• Knitting five stitches together to reduce multiple stitches into one.
• Rebuilding the stitch count by working multiple stitches into the next stitch.
• Wrapping the yarn around the needle multiple times to create elongated loops.
• Dropping the extra loops on the following row to create long flowing stitches.

Important Yarn Preparation

The bag body is worked with two strands held together.

1. Pull one strand from the centre of the yarn ball.
2. Pull one strand from the outside of the yarn ball.
3. Hold both strands together as one yarn throughout the bag body.

Knit the Bag Body

1. Using two strands of yarn and 10.00 mm needles, cast on 52 stitches using a long-tail cast-on.
2. Row 1 (wrong side):
   K2, *P5 together, then work K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 into the next stitch*. Repeat from * to * until the final 2 stitches. K2.
3. Row 2: Purl.
4. Row 3:
   K2, *work K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 into the next stitch, then P5 together*. Repeat until the final 2 stitches. K2.
5. Row 4:
   K2, knitting each stitch while wrapping the yarn around the needle three times for each stitch. Finish with K2.
6. Row 5:
   K2, purl across while allowing the extra loops to drop from the needle. Finish with K2.
7. Repeat Rows 1–5 until Row 20 is complete.

Work the Top Band

1. Change to one strand of yarn and 5.00 mm needles.
2. Work Rows 21–36 in plain knit stitch.
3. Cast off loosely.
4. Leave a 40 cm yarn tail for sewing.

Knit the Handle

1. Using one strand of yarn and 5.00 mm needles, cast on 12 stitches.
2. Knit every row for 100 rows.
3. Cast off.

Make the Decorative Petals

The petals are knitted separately and sewn onto the top edge of the bag. Create the following pieces:

• Petal 1 – make 2
• Petal 2 – make 2
• Petal 3 – make 2
• Petal 4 – make 1
• Petal Bud – make 2

Petal Construction Overview

Each petal begins with only a few stitches, increases to create width, then decreases back down to form a pointed petal shape.

Petals 1–3 are worked using 5.00 mm needles and one strand of yarn. Petal 4 uses two strands and 12.00 mm needles to create a larger, textured feature.

Finish the Bag

1. With the wrong side facing, fold the knitted piece in half.
2. Sew the side seams together securely.
3. Weave loose ends into the seams.
4. Turn the bag so the right side is facing out.
5. Arrange the petals around the top edge.
6. Pin the petals in position before sewing.
7. Sew each petal securely onto the bag.
8. Attach the handle evenly to both sides of the bag.