Knitting Pattern for Aran Cable Tote Bag
This knitting pattern for the Aran cable tote bag is inspired by the Aran laptop cover pattern at Canadian Living’s website.
My Aran cable tote bag sitting on the dashboard of my car
It is not a very big bag, just enough for my wallet, mobile phone, tissue and some knick knacks. The central panel is made up of a wild oak cable “borrowed” from the Aran laptop cover. It is knitted in the round so you need to mark out the left and right side of the bag and then repeat the pattern twice.
Materials
I used 1 hank of Wool of the Andes Bulky Yarn (color: Storm) from Knitpicks. I like the feel of the Peruvian wool on my needles and it blooms slightly after washing. You can use bulky yarn from any brand but wool is probably best.
Equipment
4mm circular needle (16 inch)
Sewing needle for weaving in the ends
Stitch markers
2 cable needles
If you do not have a 16 inch cable needle, you can use the 40 or 47 inch ones and use the magic loop technique to knit in the round.
Body
Cast on 80 stitches. Join in the round and knit 1 row. Place a stitch marker to indicate the start of the round. Count 40 stitches and places another stitch marker.
The instructions in the square brackets are for the wild oak cable central panel.
Row 1: K3, P2, K3, [P2, K3, P4, K6, P4, K3, P2] K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 2: K3, P2, K3, [P2, K3, P4, slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold it at the back, K the next 3 stitches, K the 3 stitches from cable needle, P4, K3, P2], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 3: K3, P2, K3, [P2, K3, P4, K6, P4, K3, P2], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 4: K3, P2, K3, [P2, slip 1 st to a cable needle and hole at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, P2, slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, slip 1 st to a cable needle and hole at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, P2, slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, P2] K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 5: K3, P2, K3, [P3, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, P3], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 6: K3, P2, K3, [P3, slip 1 st to a cable needle and hole at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, Slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, P2, slip 1 st to a cable needle and hole at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, Slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, P3], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time.
Row 7: K3, P2, K3, [P4, K6, P4, K6, P4] K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 8: K3, P2, K3, [P4, Slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at back, K3, K3 from cable needle, P4, Slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P4], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 9: K3, P2, K3, [P4, K6, P4, K6, P4] K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 10: K3, P2, K3, [P3, Slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, Slip 1 st to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, P2, slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, Slip 1 st to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, P3], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 11: K3, P2, K3, [P3, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, P2, K3, P3], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 12: K3, P2, K3, [P2, Slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, P2, Slip 1 st to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, Slip 3 sts to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle, P2, Slip 1 st to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3, P1 from cable needle, P2], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time.
Row 13: K3, P2, K3, [P2, K3, P4, K6, P4, K3, P2], K3, P2, K3. Repeat one more time
Row 1 to 13 makes up one complete cable pattern. Repeat the pattern 3 or more times till desired length.
If you prefer the chart version, I’ve attached a screenshot of the chart from the original pattern. Source: Canadan Living.
The wild oak cable chart
Legend for the chart
Shaping for the handles
Knit 10 stitches, bind off 20 stitches and knit 10. Repeat one more time
Knit 10 stitches, cast on 20 stitches and knit 10 stitches. Repeat one more time
Knit all stitches for 10 rows.
Bind off.
Finishing
Sew up the bottom seam of the bag using back stitch or mattress stitch.
To finish, line the bag with fabric.
Sources:
