My Favorite Tote Bag – Free Crochet Pattern
My Favorite Tote Bag is just that! It’s one of my favorite bags to make and to carry. It’s a medium size bag and can be lined or left as is. This features a modern flower granny square center, with texture provided by simple stitching for the body. The flower granny square on the front seems to float on top giving it interest with surface crochet. It is easy to customize the colors either in the granny square or the body to make it your own! Here we go…
This post contains affiliate links.
My Favorite Tote Bag
Click to save to your favorites & queue in Ravelry
This tote bag is part of the #CelebrateMomCAL and is sponsored by Premier Yarns and is a big event happening from April 6th through May 4th. There will be four free crochet patterns for you to make for yourself or as gifts. For the information post click HERE.
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Size:
11 ½ inches tall by 15 inches wide.
Supplies:
Yarn: Premier Everyday Yarn
Color A: Cream (# 100-02) 240 yds
Color B: Quiet Blue (# 100-48) 6 yds
Color C: Twilight Blue (# 100-47) 12 yds
Color D: Soft Peach (# 100-55) 24 yds
Hook: H (5.0 mm)
Stitch Markers: Quantity (6)
Tape Measure or Gauge Ruler
Yarn needle
Yarn Information:
Premiere Yarns Yarn Weight: 4 – Medium Economy Solid skein: 203 yards / 186 meters Unit Weight: 113 grams (4 ounces) Fibers: 100% Anti-pilling Acrylic
Care: Machine wash, warm. Tumble dry, normal.
Gauge:
17 rows and 14 sts = 4 inches in sc.
I crochet on the loose side, so you may need to go up on the hook sizes if you crochet tightly. Gauge is not critical to the bag.
Abbreviations: In US Terminology
Blo – back loop only
ch – chain hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
RS – right side sc – single crochet
sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together
sl st – slip stitch
sp(s) – space(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
tr – treble crochet
WS- wrong side
Special Stitches & Placement
Double Crochet Cluster (dc cluster) – Ch 3, [yo, insert hook, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook] 2x, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook. (1 dc cluster made).
Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog) – insert hook in st, yo, pull through, insert hook in next st, yo, pull though, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook. (1 sc2tog made).
Treble Crochet Cluster (tr cluster) – Ch 4, [yo twice, insert hook, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook] 3x, yo, pull through all 4 loops on hook. (1 tr cluster made).
Notes:
1. Tote is worked from the bottom up.
2. Worked in Rounds AND in Rows.
3. Chain stitches count as a stitch throughout, unless otherwise noted.
4. Stitch counts are in ( ) at the ends of the Rounds or Rows.
5. Repeat Rounds and Rows are in Red text to easily identify them.
Pattern Starts Here
Granny Square Instructions:
NOTE: finished square will have 22 stitches on each side. The measurement in inches given is not critical to the bag, but be sure you have 22 stitches on each side of the square for easy seaming.
Color A
Ch 6, sl st to beginning ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, 12 sc in ring, sl st to beginning sc. (12 sc).
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 sc, ch 2), skip 1 st, 1 sc in next st, *ch 2, skip 1 st, 1 sc in next st,* repeat *-* around, end with change to color B with sl st in ch 3 loop to join round. Do not end off Color A. (6 ch-2 loops, 6 sc).
Color B
Round 3: Ch 1, *[1 sc, 1 hdc, 4 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] in ch 2 loop, ch 1*, repeat *-* around, end with change to color A on last yo of last sc, sl st to beginning ch 1. (6 petals – 8 sts in each petal).
Color A
Round 4: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc, ch 3), skip 4 sts, 1 sc in next st (top of 3rd dc st), *ch 3, skip 3 sts, 2 dc between petals in ch 1 sp, ch 3, skip 4 sts, 1 sc in next st (top of 3rd dc st)*, repeat *-* around, end with ch 3, 1 dc in same space as beginning ch 6, sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 6. (6 sc, 12 dc). Measures 4.25 ”.
Round 5: Ch 1, *[3 sc in ch 3 loop] 2 times, 1 sc between dc sts*, repeat *-* around, end with 1 sc between dc sts, sl st to beginning sc. (42 sc). Measures 4.50”.
Round 6: Ch 4 (counts as 1 sc, ch 3), skip 3 sts, 1 sc in next st, *ch 3, skip 2 sts, 1 sc in next st, ch 3, skip 3 sts, 1 sc in next st* repeat *-* around, end with change to color C on sl st in ch 4 loop to join round. Do not end off Color A. (12 ch-3 loops, 12 sc).
Color C
Round 7: Repeat Round 3. (12 petals – 8 sts in each petal).
For Video Tutorial on Favorite Flower Motif – Click Here.
NOTE: Round 8 changes the shape from a circle to a square, [1 tr, ch3, 1 tr] makes one corner.
Color A
Round 8: Ch 7 (counts as 1 tr, ch 3), 1 tr in same sp, *[ch 2, skip 4 sts, 1 sc in next st between 2nd & 3rd dcs, ch 2, 1 dc between petals in ch 1 sp] 2 times, ch 2, skip 4 sts, 1 sc in next st between 2nd & 3rd dcs, ch 2, [1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr] between petals in ch 1 sp*, repeat *-* around, end with ch 2, sl st to 4th ch of beginning ch 7. (8 tr, 12 sc, 8 dc, 4 corners).
Round 9: Ch 1, *4 sc in next sp, [3 sc in next sp] 6 times*, repeat *-* around, end with sl st to beginning sc. (88 sc). Measures 7.00”.
End off yarn leaving 36 inch tail for seaming later.
Surface Crochet – optional:
NOTE: Working on top of the square with RS facing. Working yarn and crochet hook are on RS throughout. This can be added now, or after your bag is complete as a last step.
Color D
Attach Yarn: Work around the single crochet stitches of specified Round. Make a slip knot, place on hook, insert hook under and up sc st, yo, pull through, then pull through loop on hook.
Round 10: Work around the sc sts of Round 2. *Ch 3 (counts as st), dc cluster, sl st around next sc, closer to Round 3*, repeat *-* around each sc st, ending with sl st around first sc st, placing sl st closer to Round 3. End off yarn, weave in ends.
Round 11: Work around the sc sts of Round 6. See Attach Yarn above. *Ch 4 (counts as st), tr cluster, sl st around next sc, closer to Round 7*, repeat *-* around each sc st, ending with sl st around first sc st, placing sl st closer to Round 7. End off yarn, weave in ends. Place square aside until seaming.
Bag Instructions:
NOTE: Rounds 1-15 worked in the Round, do not join Rounds. Place stitch marker in 1st sc of Round 1, move it up to the 1st sc of each Round through Round 5.
Color A
Ch 39
Round 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next 37 sts, 3 sc in next st, 1 sc in unused loops of beginning ch, in next 36 sts, 2 sc in next st. (78 sc). Do not join rounds, move stitch marker up.
Round 2: 1 sc in next 38 sts, place 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 38 sts, 2 sc in next st. (80 sc).
Round 3: 1 sc in next 39 sts, place 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 39 sts, 2 sc in next st. (82 sc).
Round 4: 1 sc in next 40 sts, place 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 40 sts, 2 sc in next st. (84 sc).
Round 5: 1 sc in each st around to stitch marker. (84 sc).
NOTE: Move Stitch Marker to 1st sc of Round 5. Keep stitch marker here, do not move it to mark beginning point of Rounds for counting rounds purposes only.
Round 6-15: Repeat Round 5. (84 sc).
Mark Opening on Front of Bag:
Lay base of bag flat with front side facing, *starting at one corner end, count 11 sts towards the center, place a stitch marker in 11th stitch*, repeat *-* for other end. Count number of stitches across the front starting on one corner, you should have 10 sts, 1 stitch marker in next st, 20 sts, 2nd stitch marker in next st, 10 stitches across to the other end. If not, adjust the stitch markers (10 end, 22 center, 10 end = 42 stitches total).
Mark for square opening on the front of bag, do not work into stitch marker, work up to them on both ends.
NOTE: Rows 16 – 29 will be worked in ROWS, in BACK LOOP only, turn after each Row. Turning Ch 2 does not count as a stitch.
Row 16: Sc to the st before 1st stitch marker, ch 2 (does not count as st), turn, 1 BLO hdc in each st to the st before 2nd stitch marker. (62 hdc).
Row 17: Ch 2 (does NOT count as st), turn, 1 BLO hdc in each st. (62 blo hdc).
Rows 18 – 29: Repeat Row 17. (62 blo hdc).
Closing Square
NOTE: Rounds 30 – 36 worked in the ROUND, do not turn, do not join rounds. Stitches worked in both loops.
Round 30: Ch 22 sts, sl st to top of ch 2 on opposite corner, ch 1, 1 sc in each stitch around, placing 1 sc in each ch st to complete round. (84 sc). Note, place stitch marker at 1st sc of Round to mark beginning point of Rounds. Do not need to move it.
Round 31: 1 sc in each stitch around. (84 sc). Do not join rounds.
Rounds 32 – 33: Repeat Round 31. (84 sc).
NOTE: Rounds 34 and 36 are decrease Rounds.
Round 34: 1 sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 14 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 20 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 10 sts. (79 sc).
Round 35: Repeat Round 31. (79 sc).
Round 36: 1 sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog 1 sc in next 12 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 30 sts. (75 sc). DO NOT END OFF YARN, continue to Handle.
Handle:
Lay bag flat, with front side facing, *starting on one corner end, count 4 stitches towards center, mark 4th st with stitch marker*, flip bag over, repeat *-* on the back side of bag. There will be 8 stitches marked for width of handle. Repeat for the other corner end. You should have 8 sc sts for the handle with stitch markers on both corner ends.
NOTE: Handle is worked in Rows, back and forth. Ch 1 does not count as a stitch. Make handle to desired length by repeating Row 2. As shown, handle measures 22 inches in total length, or 11 inches when completed.
Row 1: Sc to 1st stitch marker to begin handle: 1 sc in next 8 sts. (8 sc).
Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), turn, 1 sc in next 8 sts. (8 sc).
Rows 3-88: Repeat Row 2 (or to desired length). Leave 12 inch tail for seaming, end off yarn.
Seaming:
With Yarn Needle
Handle: To seam last Row of handle to the bag, line up stitches just made to the stitches marked by the stitch markers on the opposite corner end. From the WS (inside) of the bag, using the 12 inch tail, whip stitch through all 4 loops of stitches across the 8 stitches. Secure by knotting and weaving in end.
Seaming:
With Yarn Needle
Granny Square: With RS facing, place the square on on top of the bag opening, lining up the 22 stitches around on each 4 sides. Using 4 stitch markers (or more if desired), attach one through each square corner to the bag corner to hold it in place. You will want to have the square taught, not sagging or loose. Try to keep the stitch placement consistent and even all the way around.
Using your yarn needle, start at any corner, using the running stitch. Stitch through the base of Round 9 (or it could be considered the top of Round 8) of the granny square to the bag approximately 2 Rows (or 2nd st) in from the bag opening. Starting from the WS (inside) of bag, working from the inside of bag up through the bag and granny square, pull thread through to the RS, then working through the front of the granny square into the bag, pull thread through to the WS. Check placement of the granny square to bag every 2 or 3 stitches, making adjustments as necessary. Continue sewing around until all 4 sides are completely sewn to the bag. Secure by knotting and weaving in ends.
Bag Without Surface Crochet
Bag With Surface Crochet
End of Pattern.
What’s On Your Hook?
Come by my Facebook page or Instagram and comment on this picture, what you’re making!
Here’s one for your Pinterest Board: Click HERE:
Thank you for visiting my blog today and spending some time here. I hope you will stop by often and find many projects that inspire you to get those hooks out and crochet! Stay in touch by signing up for my newsletter, and follow me on social media by clicking on the blue envelope and social media icons below. Happy crocheting.
Have a great day!
Copyright ©2018 The Purple Poncho. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, videotaping, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission from the author, designer Carolyn Calderon. Please feel free to sell finished items made from my patterns and a link back to www.thepurpleponcho.com for pattern credit would be most appreciated. Do not re-post or claim this pattern or photographs as your own. If you have any questions, please contact me HERE and I will be happy to help.