DIY Knitted Snack Bag for School — Easy Eco-Friendly Pattern with Lining & Button Loop

Make a cute, reusable snack bag for school with this easy knitted pattern. The bag is small, cozy, and reduces single-use plastic while holding crackers or other treats. This guide includes materials, stitch abbreviations, step-by-step instructions for the bottom and sides, a picot bind-off, a button loop, and a simple fabric lining to keep the bag from stretching.

Size: 4.5" x 3" x 9"
Yarn: DK weight (sample made with Bernat Softee Baby)
Needles: Set of 5 size 5 double-pointed needles (DPNS)
Gauge: 6 sts per inch
Other notions: Yarn needle for weaving in ends, a button for the loop, fabric and basic sewing supplies if making a lining

Stitches & Abbreviations: CO = cast on, WS = wrong side, S = slip, K = knit, P = purl, DP = double point, PFB = purl front and back, ST(S) = stitch(es)

Knitted snack bag in yellow and green stripes — a small, reusable bag for school snacks.

Yellow and green stripes are created by using green on the following rounds: 44, 48, 51, 53–54, 56–58, 60–80.

Snack Bag Bottom

CO 30 onto one needle, work the bottom in rows. Variation: use a provisional cast on to make picking up these stitches later a little easier.

Row 1–19 odd (WS): s1 purlwise, p to end.

Row 2–20 even: s1 knitwise, k to end. Do not bind off; continue with the bag sides.

Bottom with provisional cast on

Snack Bag Sides

Rnd 1: With one DPN, pick up 19 sts along the short side of the bottom, p into each st; with next DPN pick up 30 sts along the long side of the bottom, pfb in first st, p28, pfb in last st; with next DPN pick up 19 sts along the short side, p into each st; with the last DPN, working in the 30 live sts from the last row of the bottom, pfb in first st, p28, pfb in last st.

After round 1 of sides — picked-up stitches and the start of working in the round on double-pointed needles.

Rnd 2–8 even: k19, (next needle) s1 purlwise, k30, s1 purlwise, (next needle) k19, (next needle) s1 purlwise, k30, s1 purlwise.

Rnd 3–9 odd: knit all sts.

Rnd 10–74 even: k9, p1, k9, (next needle) s1 purlwise, k30, s1 purlwise, (next needle) k9, p1, k9, (next needle) s1 purlwise, k30, s1 purlwise.

Rnd 11–73 odd: k9, p1, k9, (next needle) k32, (next needle) k9, p1, k9, (next needle) k32.

Rnd 75: p all.

Picot Bind-Off: k1, *k1, slip last st back onto left needle, CO2, bind off 4 (1 st on right needle), rep from * around the bag top. Clip thread, end work and weave in ends.

Button Loop

CO 3 and work an I-cord long enough to make a loop for your button of choice.

Variations: CO about 20 sts (depending on button size) then bind off all sts; or crochet a chain long enough for a button loop.

Snack Bag Lining

The bag can be used without a lining, but it may stretch with use. A fabric lining helps the bag keep its shape and contain crumbs.

First, draw the lining on the wrong side of your fabric. Make a rectangle as wide as one front plus one side of your bag, and as long as twice the height of your bag plus the depth of your bag. Add a 1/2" seam allowance around the rectangle. Draw stitching lines as shown in the photo below.

Lining pattern drawn on fabric showing seam allowances and stitching lines to create a fitted fabric liner.

Fold the rectangle in half along the center of the bottom (right sides together) and sew the side seams. Flatten the bottom corner into a triangle and stitch across to create the boxed bottom. Trim the triangle, leaving a 1/2" seam allowance, press the seams, and topstitch close to the edge to help the lining hold its shape.

Fold the top of the lining over 1/2", slip the lining into the knitted bag, and whipstitch the lining into the bag just below the trim line.

Sew on the button and attach the button loop. Enjoy your reusable, cozy snack bag!