The Harvest Herb Keeper Free Pattern – Knit a Cozy Garlic & Onion Storage Sack

Introducing the Harvest Herb Keeper: A Cozy Knit Storage Sack for Your Kitchen

There's something deeply satisfying about combining practicality with handmade charm, and this Harvest Herb Keeper pattern delivers exactly that. This rustic, textured knit sack is designed to keep your garlic, onions, or fresh herbs perfectly ventilated and beautifully displayed—whether hanging from a hook or nestled on your countertop. The breathable cotton blend yarn and ribbed mesh pattern ensure your produce stays fresh while adding a warm, farmhouse aesthetic to your kitchen. Best of all, this project is beginner-friendly, using simple stockinette stitch with a stunning colorwork leaf motif that looks far more complex than it actually is. Let's dive into creating this functional and gorgeous storage solution together.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather these supplies to ensure a smooth knitting experience:

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn (e.g., Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton)
  • Natural Cream (MC): approx. 150 yards
  • Sage Green (CC1): approx. 50 yards
  • Terracotta (CC2): approx. 20 yards
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• Notions: Tapestry needle for finishing, stitch markers (optional), crochet hook (for drawstring, optional)
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (after blocking)

Pattern Abbreviations

Familiarize yourself with these standard knitting abbreviations before starting:

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK: Slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• YO: Yarn over
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• MC: Main color (natural cream)
• CC1: Contrast color 1 (sage green)
• CC2: Contrast color 2 (terracotta)
• RS: Right side
• WS: Wrong side

Step-by-Step Instructions

Front Panel (Make 1)

Step 1: Cast On
With MC, cast on 40 stitches.

Step 2: Stockinette Base
- Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.
- Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 6 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row. This creates the smooth base of your sack.

Step 3: Begin the Leaf Motif
Now you'll incorporate the beautiful leaf design. Work in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS), using CC1 for the leaf body and CC2 for the stem. Follow the written instructions below carefully, maintaining the stitch counts exactly.

Leaf Motif Rows (worked over the center 20 stitches):

• Row 1 (RS): K10 MC, K1 CC1, K18 MC, K1 CC1, K10 MC.
• Row 2 (WS): P10 MC, P1 CC1, P18 MC, P1 CC1, P10 MC.
• Row 3: K9 MC, K3 CC1, K16 MC, K3 CC1, K9 MC.
• Row 4: P9 MC, P3 CC1, P16 MC, P3 CC1, P9 MC.
• Row 5: K8 MC, K5 CC1, K14 MC, K5 CC1, K8 MC.
• Row 6: P8 MC, P5 CC1, P14 MC, P5 CC1, P8 MC.
• Row 7: K7 MC, K7 CC1, K12 MC, K7 CC1, K7 MC.
• Row 8: P7 MC, P7 CC1, P12 MC, P7 CC1, P7 MC.
• Row 9: K6 MC, K9 CC1, K10 MC, K9 CC1, K6 MC.
• Row 10: P6 MC, P9 CC1, P10 MC, P9 CC1, P6 MC.
• Row 11: K5 MC, K11 CC1, K8 MC, K11 CC1, K5 MC.
• Row 12: P5 MC, P11 CC1, P8 MC, P11 CC1, P5 MC.
• Row 13: K4 MC, K13 CC1, K6 MC, K13 CC1, K4 MC.
• Row 14: P4 MC, P13 CC1, P6 MC, P13 CC1, P4 MC.
• Row 15: K3 MC, K15 CC1, K4 MC, K15 CC1, K3 MC.
• Row 16: P3 MC, P15 CC1, P4 MC, P15 CC1, P3 MC.
• Row 17: K2 MC, K17 CC1, K2 MC, K17 CC1, K2 MC.
• Row 18: P2 MC, P17 CC1, P2 MC, P17 CC1, P2 MC.
• Row 19: K1 MC, K19 CC1, K0 MC, K19 CC1, K1 MC. (Note: The center 0 stitches means the two CC1 sections meet in the middle.)
• Row 20: P1 MC, P19 CC1, P0 MC, P19 CC1, P1 MC.

Now add the terracotta stem (CC2):

• Row 21: K1 MC, K18 CC1, K2 CC2, K18 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 22: P1 MC, P18 CC1, P2 CC2, P18 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 23: K1 MC, K17 CC1, K4 CC2, K17 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 24: P1 MC, P17 CC1, P4 CC2, P17 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 25: K1 MC, K16 CC1, K6 CC2, K16 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 26: P1 MC, P16 CC1, P6 CC2, P16 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 27: K1 MC, K15 CC1, K8 CC2, K15 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 28: P1 MC, P15 CC1, P8 CC2, P15 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 29: K1 MC, K14 CC1, K10 CC2, K14 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 30: P1 MC, P14 CC1, P10 CC2, P14 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 31: K1 MC, K13 CC1, K12 CC2, K13 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 32: P1 MC, P13 CC1, P12 CC2, P13 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 33: K1 MC, K12 CC1, K14 CC2, K12 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 34: P1 MC, P12 CC1, P14 CC2, P12 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 35: K1 MC, K11 CC1, K16 CC2, K11 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 36: P1 MC, P11 CC1, P16 CC2, P11 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 37: K1 MC, K10 CC1, K18 CC2, K10 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 38: P1 MC, P10 CC1, P18 CC2, P10 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 39: K1 MC, K9 CC1, K20 CC2, K9 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 40: P1 MC, P9 CC1, P20 CC2, P9 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 41: K1 MC, K8 CC1, K22 CC2, K8 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 42: P1 MC, P8 CC1, P22 CC2, P8 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 43: K1 MC, K7 CC1, K24 CC2, K7 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 44: P1 MC, P7 CC1, P24 CC2, P7 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 45: K1 MC, K6 CC1, K26 CC2, K6 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 46: P1 MC, P6 CC1, P26 CC2, P6 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 47: K1 MC, K5 CC1, K28 CC2, K5 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 48: P1 MC, P5 CC1, P28 CC2, P5 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 49: K1 MC, K4 CC1, K30 CC2, K4 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 50: P1 MC, P4 CC1, P30 CC2, P4 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 51: K1 MC, K3 CC1, K32 CC2, K3 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 52: P1 MC, P3 CC1, P32 CC2, P3 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 53: K1 MC, K2 CC1, K34 CC2, K2 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 54: P1 MC, P2 CC1, P34 CC2, P2 CC1, P1 MC.
• Row 55: K1 MC, K1 CC1, K36 CC2, K1 CC1, K1 MC.
• Row 56: P1 MC, P1 CC1, P36 CC2, P1 CC1, P1 MC.

Step 4: Complete the Front Panel
- Row 57 (RS): Knit all stitches with MC.
- Row 58 (WS): Purl all stitches with MC.
Continue in stockinette stitch with MC until the piece measures 12 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row.

Step 5: Create the Drawstring Eyelet Row
- Eyelet Row (RS): K2, *YO, K2tog, K2; repeat from * to last 2 stitches, K2. This creates a row of decorative holes for your drawstring.
- Work 4 more rows in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS).
- Bind off all stitches loosely. Set aside.

Back Panel (Make 1)

Step 1: Cast On
With MC, cast on 40 stitches.

Step 2: Stockinette Body
Work in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) until the piece measures 12 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row.

Step 3: Eyelet Row and Finish
- Work the same eyelet row as the front panel: K2, *YO, K2tog, K2; repeat from * to last 2 stitches, K2.
- Work 4 more rows in stockinette stitch.
- Bind off all stitches loosely.

Finishing and Assembly

Step 1: Seam the Sides and Bottom
Place the front and back panels with right sides together. Using a tapestry needle and MC yarn, sew the side seams and bottom seam using mattress stitch or whip stitch. Leave the top edge open—this will be the opening of your sack.

Step 2: Turn Right Side Out
Carefully turn the sack right side out, gently pushing out the corners to create a clean shape.

Step 3: Create the Drawstring
With CC2 (terracotta), crochet a chain approximately 24 inches long. Alternatively, you can knit an I-cord of the same length. Thread the drawstring through the eyelet row, starting and ending at the front center. This allows you to cinch the sack closed securely.

Step 4: Weave in Ends
Using your tapestry needle, weave in all loose yarn ends on the inside of the sack to keep the exterior clean and polished.

Step 5: Optional Hanging Loop
For a charming hanging option, crochet a 6-inch chain with CC2 and securely attach it to one top corner of the sack. This makes it easy to display your herb keeper on a hook.

Step 6: Block Gently
Lightly block the finished sack to shape. Since cotton yarn holds its shape well, a gentle steam or wet block will smooth the stitches and define the leaf motif beautifully.

Your Harvest Herb Keeper Awaits

Once finished, your Harvest Herb Keeper will be a stunning, functional addition to your kitchen. The breathable cotton fabric keeps garlic and onions fresh, while the earthy leaf motif adds a touch of rustic elegance. Whether you hang it on a hook or let it rest on your counter, this handmade sack is sure to become a beloved kitchen staple—and a wonderful handmade gift for fellow cooking enthusiasts. Happy knitting!