Do you dream in denim? Well, the Jean Dreams Tote is the denim knit pattern for you!
The yarn for this design was provided by Lion Brand. All opinions are my own.
Made in a wonderful variety of jean colors, even the iconic top stitch color, this tote will show off your jean obsession! This pattern is super fun to knit up, and it is quite easy to adjust the size if you would like. You can even add fringe if you are so inclined!
Table of contents
Jessie At Home brings you a timeless and stylish tote bag! The Denim Knit Pattern Jean Dreams Tote is made with fashion and function in mind. This gorgeous bag features a jean-inspired design with an entrelac design reminiscent of jean square bags. Perfect for carrying around town or to the office, it’ll be sure to make a statement. Add a touch of fun and fashion to your wardrobe with this playful piece.
This easy-to-follow entrelac patter is perfect for knitters who want to give entrelac a try. or those who have already mastered the technique. Make your own tote bag, complete with patterned straps, or customize your own for a truly unique touch. Impress your friends and family with the finished product; get ready to make your own stylish jean dreams bag!
Jean Dreams Tote
Denim Knit Pattern
Intermediate Skill Level
Designed by Jessie Rayot
Jean Dreams Tote Supplies
Size
11″ x 14″
Yarn
Lion Brand Jeans: (100% Acrylic), Size 4 (11 wpi, worsted weight), 246 yds / 100 g (yds/g = 2.46)
Faded 105V: Color A (40 g / 100 yds)
Classic 110AF: Color B (40 g / 100 yds)
Vintage 150Y: Color C (40 g / 100 yds)
Stonewash 109W: Color D (40 g / 100 yds)
Top Stitch 121E: Color E (40 g / 100 yds)
Knitting Needles
Gauge
Learn about gauge HERE
20 sts x 40 rows = 4” [10 cm] in garter stitch
Other Supplies
Stitches and Abbreviations
click on highlighted sts for tutorials
bo – bind off
co – cast on
k – knit
k2tog – knit 2 together
pm – place marker
rs – right side
ssk – slip slip knit
st(s) – stitch(es)
Get the Ad-Free Printable PDF at These Sites
Pattern Notes
- Read through all instructions before beginning.
- This pattern has lots of ends to weave in. You may prefer to weave in the ends after each row is complete, leaving just the last tail to seam the tote together.
- This pattern is worked flat by making 7 rows of 12 small squares each.
- The stitch count is at the end of each rnd/row after the period, usually only if the count has changed from the previous rnd/row. {count here}
- Chs and sl sts are not included in stitch counts unless specified.
Denim Knit Pattern
Row 1
First Square
With Color A, co 10, pm, co 10.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Second Square
With Color B, co 10, pm, hold First Square with co edges on bottom and left, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Third Square
With Color C, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Second Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Fourth Square
With Color D, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Third Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Fifth Square
With Color E, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Fourth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Sixth Square
With Color D, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Fifth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Seventh Square
With Color C, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Sixth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Eighth Square
With Color D, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Seventh Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Ninth Square
With Color A, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Eighth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Tenth Square
With Color B, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Ninth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Eleventh Square
With Color C, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Tenth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Twelfth Square
With Color E, co 10, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the right side of Eleventh Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Rows 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
First Square
With Color D (A, D, B, C, E), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of First Square from previous row, pm, co 10.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Second Square
With Color A (D, B, D, B, D), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Second Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of First Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Third Square
With Color B (E, A, C, D, A), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Third Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Second Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Fourth Square
With Color E (C, D, A, E, B), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Fourth Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Third Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Fifth Square
With Color C (A, E, D, A, C), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Fifth Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Fourth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Sixth Square
With Color B (C, B, E, B, E), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Sixth Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Fifth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Seventh Square
With Color E (D, C, D, C, B), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Seventh Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Sixth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Eighth Square
With Color C (B, A, B, D, A), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Eighth Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Seventh Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Ninth Square
With Color B (E, D, E, C, D), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Ninth Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Eighth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Tenth Square
With Color A (B, E, B, A, C), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Tenth Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Ninth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Eleventh Square
With Color D (A, C, A, E, B), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Eleventh Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Twelfth Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Twelfth Square
With Color C (B, A, C, D, A), pick up and knit into 10 sts from right to left across the top of Twelfth Square from previous row, pm, pick up and knit into 10 sts up the side of Eleventh Square.
Row 1: K to marker, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat row 1: until 2 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through last 2 sts.
Seaming Bag
Fold bag in half with right sides facing so it is 6 blocks across and 7 blocks tall. Seam together along bottom and side. Turn right side out.
Top Band
With Color A, pick up and knit into 10 stitches along top of each square from Row 7. – {120 sts}
Rnd 1: Working in round, p all.
Rnd 2: With Color B, k all.
Rnd 3: P all.
Rnds 4 & 5: With Color C, repeat Rnds 2 & 3.
Rnds 6 & 7: With Color D, repeat Rnds 2 & 3.
Rnd 8: With Color E, repeat Rnd 2.
Bind off knit wise.
Weave in all ends.
Strap
Leave yarn tails of at least 8″ at the start and end of every row.
Co 120 with Color A, cut yarn
Row 1: K all. Cut yarn.
Rows 2 & 3: With Color B, repeat Row 1.
Rows 4 & 5: With Color C, repeat Row 1.
Rows 6 & 7: With Color D, repeat Row 1.
Rows 8: With Color E, repeat Row 1.
Bind off knit wise.
Center one end of strap on one side of bag. Place end on inside of bag and use a crochet hook to pull yarn tails through bag at base of first round of top band. Tie all ends together in an overhand knot to make a tassel. Repeat with other strap end on other side of bag.
With Color E, tack down top of Top Band to both ends of strap.
Weave in all ends.
Happy Stitching!
FAQs
Sure you can! Before seaming, pick up the stitches as explained in the Top Band section, then follow the Top Band pattern, only knit EVERY row (no purl rows). After binding off the top band, then you can seam up the side. No knitting in the round needed. 🙂
Rather than writing out 6 rows that are exactly the same other than the colors, I wrote them once using the same shorthand as for multiple sizes.
So you have: Rows 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
and in the rows you have parts like: With Color A (B, E, B, A, C)
What that means is when you make Row 2, you will use Color A in that part, when you make Row 3 you will use Color B, Row 4: Color E, Row 5: Color B, Row 6: Color A, and Row 7: Color C.
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