I’ve been trying to figure out how to spend my birthday money. The list has gotten so long that I now have way more I want to buy than money to spend. The list includes everything from new headphones to a new dictionary to yarn for a big project to a new purse. Suddenly, it hit me. What if I combined two of my wants into one? I could cross two things off my list and save a little money in the process.

I ruled out knitting headphones and went straight for knitting a new bag. Not that I need any, really. I’m a bit of a bag junkie. I’ve got plenty of them lying around and yet I’m always ready to add one more to the collection. I’ve knit some bags before, including the colorful East Meets West Satchel designed by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence. So I know the joy of making my own bags.

As soon as it occurred to me that I might make my new bag myself, I was online looking for ideas. Here are some of the ones that appealed to me most. (None of them actually look like the bag I think I need, but that’s not that important, right?) Some are projects made by individuals, others are available as patterns or kits from distributors. I’m not endorsing or guaranteeing anything or anyone, just sharing the things I found interesting.

The first project that caught my eye was a wonderful crocheted house bag by The Twisted Yarn. An original design, this bag has lots of lovely detail on the outside plus some good design features (like a lining) that would make it a bag you can actually use. (The pattern is not available yet, but she says it will be soon.)

While I am theoretically looking for a new purse, I found myself perusing backpacks instead. The patterns were more whimsical and appealing to my “I refuse to be a grown-up” tastes. Morehouse Farm carries a bunch of kits for animal-themed bags and backpacks that are probably intended for kids. My favorite design? The elephants, both the backpack and the little purse.

A lovely backpack by InfiniKnits uses entrelac knitting in rainbow colors for a cheery effect.

Just as colorful is Made By Julianne’s string bag. This knit bag would be very handy on shopping day.

Most of the bags I’ve knit myself are simple drawstring bags, so I have to include a few of those, too. Knitwhits’ striped drawstring bag (available both as a pattern and a kit) is knitted and reminds me of my grandmother’s afghans.

I also found a pattern for a drawstring bag covered with cables. It looks like a great project for someone interested in practicing cables without committing to a sweater.

I still haven’t decided how to spend my birthday money, but at least I had fun looking at all these different projects and sharing them with you.