I can imagine making many more bags and even tops with the colors available as they are subtle and beautiful. The yarn was just recently released from Lion Brand ( it’s called Rewind Tape Yarn) and I LOVE THE COLORS (see them all here).
I’ve named it the “Palmetto” because the little tassels remind me of palm fronds. ? Update: Lion Brand has made this into a kit that you can purchase HERE and the printable, ad-free pattern is now available for purchase in my Etsy shop HEREĪ girl can never have enough bags (lol) and this “Palmetto Market Tote” is super simple and cute for warm weather use.
You’ll find the “How To” below for this bag as well as a picture tutorial so you can make one for yourself. These are great to use for just about anything, including a trip to the swimming pool or the farmers market. Then when you feel confident in handling the yarn, you can have a go a bigger project.I’ve just finished crocheting this brand new market tote for spring! If you’ve crocheted a market tote, you probably remember that they’re generally pretty easy to make and work up really quickly too. If you’re unsure about trying a new material like tape yarn, why not start out with something small? Knit or crochet a square in the yarn to see how it feels – you can always use the finished piece as a table mat, trivet or even a pot holder. Why not have a go at the knitted pouffe from Knit & Stitch Creative issue 1 or the bath mat from issue 17? There’s also a great crocheted log basket in issue 43 you can make. Where it really comes into its own is for homewares – you can make an amazing range of cushions, rugs and other accessories. On the other hand, tape yarns can be turned into some interesting accessories – such as belts, bags and even jewellery. However, lighter versions of this yarn can be used to make items with an open, mesh-like finish – such as a summer vest top. Generally speaking, tape yarns will be too heavy to use in most garments. Tape yarn also twists as you work and so you’ll need to embrace this as a feature of your work, rather than worrying about producing a flat and smooth finish. You’ll need, therefore, large size knitting needles or crochet hooks. Like a more traditional chunky type of yarn, tape yarn is thick and has a distinct texture. Cut off the sleeves and turn these into separate strips, then cut strips from the front and back above the sleeves and either sew or stitch them together. Take an old T-shirt and, starting at the bottom edge, cut a spiralling strip of fabric from the body. In fact, you can have a go at making this type of tape yarn yourself. The original inspiration for these types of yarn may well have come from crafts people who were repurposing old T-shirts and other jersey fabrics by cutting them into strips to use in crochet and knitting. Tape yarns are often made from recycled materials. Tape yarns that are a blend of cotton and synthetics are a good choice because the man-made fibres will help the finished knitting or crochet hold its shape – and because of their construction, tape yarns are quite stretchy. Cotton tape yarns are very popular but you can also find a variety of other materials used.
In fact, a lot of the tape yarns that you can buy are actually long narrow tubes of fabric that have been made on special circular knitting machines. Tape yarn (also known as ribbon yarn) isn’t like the yarns that we’re used to – it’s not made up of strands of fibre that have been spun together, instead it’s a narrow strip of fabric.