If you’re looking for a crochet tote bag with a difference, my free pattern could be perfect for you.
Crocheted in basic stitches, I’ve featured granny squares in the design to give a stylish look that’s right on trend.
Pair that with the colour palette and you have an eye-catching yet functional tote bag.
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Ditch the plastic and go out shopping in style!
- the handles worked as part of the bag means less stretch and more longevity
- the yarn is soft yet hardwearing and can be washed AND tumble dried
- have a favourite granny square design? As long as the gauge matches, switch it up and give this tote bag a personal touch
The tote bag pattern is written in UK crochet terms and US crochet terms.
Design Inspiration
I’ve designed a 13 granny square tote bag, a 2 granny square bag and an 8 square (pattern coming soon) … but not a bag that blended granny squares with basic crochet stitches. So I set myself the challenge.
I didn’t have a granny square in mind when I designed the bag but I knew I wanted it to look like this (excuse my lack of drawing skills – in my defence, this was a first quick sketch!):
I’m really chuffed with the finished project!
If you enjoy crocheting bags you might also like these patterns:
- Mosaic Tote Bag
- Rainbow Tote Bag
- Heart and Stripes Tote Bag
- Checkered Bag
- Bucket Bag
- 13+ Granny Square Bag Patterns
How the pattern is worked
6 granny squares in four rounds using different colours are worked first.
They are then joined together in two strips of 3 granny squares in each strip (one for the front of the bag and one for the back). See image below.
The squares are joined in the same colour of the last row of the granny square. Working on the right side, a slip stitch through both loops is used to join them. This gives a lovely ridged effect.
The squares are joined to the tote bag as a part of the body later on.
If you enjoy working with granny squares, have a browse of these granny square projects and patterns
Both sides of the foundation chain are worked for the base of the bag. Once the first side has been completed, the work is turned to continue crocheting on the opposite side and joined with a slip stitch.
Nineteen rounds (in total) of double crochet (US single crochet) form the base and the lower part of the bag.
Rounds of double crochet (US single crochet) back loop only, half treble (US half double) and another round of double back loop only separate the first part of the crochet tote bag from the next part of the pattern.
The pattern continues with 6 rounds of crossed half treble crochet (US half double).
The strips of granny squares are sewn/crocheted onto the tote bag.
Once the strips are joined to the bag, 4 rounds of double crochet are worked.
The handle is formed next by chaining and skipping stitches.
4 more rounds of double crochet are worked followed by one round of back loop only.
A round of slip stitches finishes the project.
Yarn
The main yarn used is Lion Brand Heartland in the colourway Virgin Islands.
This Aran/Worsted Medium 4 weight yarn is a soft premium acrylic that is washable and can be tumble dried.
5 oz / 142g / 251 yd / 230m
There’s a fabulous range of shades available.
This is the first time I’ve worked with this yarn and it’s been a great experience. It does feel soft and glides on the hook easily. No splitting, joined with knots or frayed ends. I have other shades in my stash and look forward to working with this yarn again!
If you’re based in the UK, Lion Brand Heartland is available from LoveCrafts. If you’re based in the US, Lion Brand is probably the best buy for you (it’s where I bought mine and it’s often on sale – if you’re in the UK, work out shipping costs and see if it’s a bargain for you).
You will also need small amounts of 2 complimentary colours. I had cream and purple in my stash. You can use any colour you have to hand.
Tote Bag Pattern Notes
- Chain 1 does not count as a stitch
- Chain 2 does not count as a stitch
- Chain 3 counts as a stitch
- Rounds are joined with a slip stitch
- Work is turned at the end of each round
- The three yarn colours are written as Yarn A (Virgin Islands), Yarn B (purple), Yarn C (cream)
- Colour changes in the granny squares take place by re-joining the new yarn colour
- Granny squares can be joined together with your preferred method
- Use stitch markers or pins to secure the granny square strip in place before sewing to the tote
- I found it easier to join the granny square strips to the bag with the right side of the bag facing outwards and the right side of the strip facing inwards
- Sew front and back granny square strips onto the bag separately and then join both sides with the same method you used to join the granny squares together
Skill Level
Easy
Materials
- H/8 (5mm) Crochet Hook
- 1 ball of Lion Brand Heartland in Virgin Islands colourway
- Small amounts of cream and purple yarn in Aran/Worsted
- Stitch markers/pins
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Stitches and Abbreviations
UK Double Crochet (dc) / US Single Crochet (sc)
UK Treble Crochet (tr) / US Double Crochet (dc)
UK Half Treble Crochet (htr) / US Half Double Crochet (hdc)
UK Crossed Half Treble (Xhtr) / US Crossed Half Double (Xhdc)
Back Loop Only (blo)
If you need help working these stitches, visit my stitch library for instructions.
- Sl st = slip stitch
- Ch = chain
- St/s = stitch/es
- Sk = skip
- Rep = repeat
- Ea = each
Gauge
Using a 5mm hook
Granny Squares – 4 rounds 11cm / 4.25inches X 11cm / 4.25inches
15 stitches and 20 rows Double Crochet/US Single Crochet (10cm / 4inches)
Not matching my gauge? Use the stitch gauge converter tool to help you make adjustments.
Measurements
36 cm / 14.25 inches (W) X 26 cm / 10.25 inches (L)
Tote Bag Instructions UK Crochet Terms
Make 6 granny squares
With Yarn A and a 5mm hook
Ch 6, sl st into first ch to form a ring
Round 1: ch1, 12 dc into the ring, sl st to ch1
Round 2: ch3, work 4tr into same st, ch3, (first corner made), sk 2 sts, *work 5 tr into next st, ch3 (next corner made), sk 2 sts, rep from * 2 more times, sl st into top of ch3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Join Yarn B into the first tr of any 5 tr group
Round 3: ch3, 1 tr into next st, 5tr into next st (this is the centre st of the 5 tr group), 1tr into next 2 sts, ch3, *1 tr into next st, 5tr into next st, 1 tr into next 2 sts, ch3, rep from * rep 2 more times, sl st into top of ch3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Join Yarn C into the first tr of any 9tr group
Round 4: ch3, 1tr into next 3 sts, 5tr in next st (this is the centre st of the 9 tr group), 1tr into next 4 sts, ch3, *1 tr into next 4 sts, 5tr into next st, 1 tr into next 4 sts, ch3 * rep 2 more times, sl st into top of ch3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Join granny squares together in two strips of 3 granny squares in each strip
Begin Base and Body of Tote Bag
With Yarn A and a 5mm hook
Ch47
Round 1: dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, turn to work on opposite side of foundation ch, dc across to last st, join with a sl st to ch1, turn (92 dc)
Round 2: dc in same st as ch1, 2dc in next st, dc to corner, 2 dc in corner st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc across to last st, 2dc in last st, ch1, turn (96 dc)
Round 3: rep round 2 (100 dc)
Round 4: dc in ea st, join with a sl st
Round 5 – 18: rep round 4
Round 19: dc in blo in ea st, join with a sl st, ch2, turn
Round 20: htr in ea st to end, sl st to join, ch1, turn
Round 21: rep round 19
Round 22: Xhtr in ea st to end, join with a sl st, ch2, turn
Round 23 – 27: rep round 22
Fasten off
Join granny square strip to front and back of bag. Join the granny square strips at each side (see Pattern Notes)
Rejoin yarn to top of granny square strip
Handles
Round 1: ch1, dc in ea st around, join with sl st, ch1, turn
Round 2 – 4: rep round 1
Round 5: dc in next 19 sts, ch15, sk 12 sts, dc in next 38 sts, ch15, sk12 sts, dc in next 19 sts, ch1, turn (100 dc)
Round 6: dc in ea st and ch to end, join with sl st, ch1, turn
Round 7: dc in blo in ea st around, join with sl st, ch2, turn
Round 8: htr in ea st around, join with sl st, ch1, turn
Round 9: rep round 7
Round 10: sl st in ea st around
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Tote Bag Instructions US Crochet Terms
Make 6 granny squares
With Yarn A and a 5mm hook
Ch 6, sl st into first ch to form a ring
Round 1: ch1, 12 sc into the ring, sl st to ch1
Round 2: ch3, work 4dc into same st, ch3, (first corner made), sk 2 sts, *work 5 dc into next st, ch3 (next corner made), sk 2 sts, rep from * 2 more times, sl st into top of ch3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Join Yarn B into the first tr of any 5 dc group
Round 3: ch3, 1 dc into next st, 5dc into next st (this is the center st of the 5 dc group), 1dc into next 2 sts, ch3, *1 dc into next st, 5dc into next st, 1 dc into next 2 sts, ch3, rep from * rep 2 more times, sl st into top of ch3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Join Yarn C into the first tr of any 9tr group
Round 4: ch3, 1dc into next 3 sts, 5dc in next st (this is the centre st of the 9 dc group), 1dc into next 4 sts, ch3, *1 dc into next 4 sts, 5dc into next st, 1 dc into next 4 sts, ch3 * rep 2 more times, sl st into top of ch3
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Join granny squares together in two strips of 3 granny squares in each strip
Begin Base and Body of Tote Bag
With Yarn A and a 5mm hook
Ch47
Round 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, turn to work on opposite side of foundation ch, sc across to last st, join with a sl st to ch1, turn (92 sc)
Round 2: sc in same st as ch1, 2sc in next st, sc to corner, 2 sc in corner st, sc in next st, 2sc in next st, sc across to last st, 2sc in last st, ch1, turn (96 sc)
Round 3: rep round 2 (100 sc)
Round 4: sc in ea st, join with a sl st
Round 5 – 18: rep round 4
Round 19: sc in blo in ea st, join with a sl st, ch2, turn
Round 20: hdc in ea st to end, sl st to join, ch1, turn
Round 21: rep round 19
Round 22: Xhdc in ea st to end, join with a sl st, ch2, turn
Round 23 – 27: rep round 22
Fasten off
Join granny square strip to front and back of bag. Join the granny square strips at each side (see Pattern Notes)
Rejoin yarn to top of granny square strip
Handles
Round 1: ch1, sc in ea st around, join with sl st, ch1, turn
Round 2 – 4: rep round 1
Round 5: sc in next 19 sts, ch15, sk 12 sts, sc in next 38 sts, ch15, sk12 sts, sc in next 19 sts, ch1, turn (100 sc)
Round 6: sc in ea st and ch to end, join with sl st, ch1, turn
Round 7: sc in blo in ea st around, join with sl st, ch2, turn
Round 8: hdc in ea st around, join with sl st, ch1, turn
Round 9: rep round 7
Round 10: sl st in ea st around
Fasten off and weave in ends
Happy crocheting!
Copyright Notice
The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Goodwin at Jera’s Jamboree. This pattern and design are subject to copyright and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not share, resell, alter or redistribute this pattern in part or in whole. You may, however, sell any finished items you make. If you would like to include this pattern in a roundup, you may take one photo and link back to this pattern.
