CROCHET TOTE BAG – Free Crochet Pattern

“Terra” Crochet Tote Bag

PURCHASE THE AD-FREE PDF OF THIS CROCHET TOTE BAG PATTERN ON ETSY OR RAVELRY (or scroll down for the free pattern).

I love a good crochet tote bag and this Terra design is just the one I need to start off my spring and summer! It’s perfect for the market, the beach or lunch out with a friend.

I wanted this crochet tote bag to be roomy and stretchy enough to accommodate a lot, but also stylish with a bit of a boho flair. I used a cross-over double crochet stitch (which you may have seen me use in my Harper Slouchy Hat and the Stonehaven Cowl). It is an incredibly easy stitch and looks beautiful here worked in the round in a continuous spiral instead of joined rows. You may have noticed by now I’m not a big fan of seams!

I used a 4wt yarn here (Caron One Pound in Off White) but you can use a cotton or cotton blend instead of an acrylic and it will look just as gorgeous. I used some large wood beads and some scrap yarn in a tan color to make the tassel which gives it an extra Boho vibe.

For more bag ideas from my blog, check out the Marais Handbag or the Quick Crochet Tote. For more patterns where I use cross-over double crochet, take a look at the Harper Slouchy Hat or the Stonehaven Cowl.

LET’S GET MAKING! Scroll down for the FREE pattern below OR you can PURCHASE the Ad-Free, printable version of this free crochet pattern from ETSY OR RAVELRY.

SUPPLY LIST

6 mm hook Any Category 4 cotton yarn (Used: Caron One Pound in Off White plus some scrap yarn, this can be your choice) Approx yardage: 450 y / 411 m 3 Large Wood Beads, Stitch Markers, Scissors & a Tapestry needle and some scrap yarn to make the tassel

STITCHES / ABBREVIATIONS

**All stitches are in North American terms** YO – yarn over CH – chain ST – stitch SK ST – skip stitch SL ST – slip stitch SC – single crochet DC – double crochet SC2tog – single crochet 2 together for a decrease CODC – cross over double crochet

SIZE

One Size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bag portion is 13” wide x 15” high, handle height is approx 10.5”

GAUGE

6 rows x 10 stitches = 4” x 4” of CODC

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Intermediate

PATTERN AND SIZING NOTES

– This crochet tote bag is made as one piece from the front bottom up.  The bottom and main body of the bag are worked in a continuous spiral and the handles are worked on to the body of the bag. – The stitch used here for the body of the bag is Cross Over Double Crochet.  This means that you skip a stitch, do a double crochet and then do another double crochet back in the stitch you skipped so the two double crochets cross over each other.  As this is worked in a continuous spiral instead of joined rows, the stitch count must be an odd number.  The pattern below will explain how to get from an even number in working the SC bottom of the bag, to an odd number for completing the CODC body of the bag.  The handles are worked in SC. – Please note that, other than the handles, the bottom and main body of this bag are worked in a continuous spiral, not in joined rows.  This means there are no seams in the bag – It is useful to use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch in a round, since we are working in a continuous spiral and not joined rows. – For the bottom portion of the bag where we create a circle, I have written the patter with off-set increases in different stitches in each round, so that you don’t create a hexagon shape, it will maintain more of a circle shape. – The CH 1 at the beginning of the bottom portion and on the handle joins are not counted as stitches. – Stitch count for each round will be indicated in parentheses ( ) at the end of the row.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TERRA CROCHET TOTE BAG:

*** USE A STITCH MARKER TO MARK THE FIRST ST IN A ROUND SINCE WE ARE WORKING IN A CONTINUOUS SPIRAL***

BOTTOM AND BODY OF THE CROCHET TOTE BAG:

CH 4 and SL ST back in to the first CH to create a circle in which to work OR create a magic circle. Then CH 1.

Round 1: SC x 6 in to the circle and mark your first ST.  Do NOT join, we are working in a continuous spiral until the handle portion of the bag.  (6)

Round 2: Skipping over the CH 1 from the start, SC x 2 ST in each ST from the round  below.  Mark your first ST.  Do not join.  (12)

Round 3: [SC x 2 in the first ST and then 1 SC in the next ST] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (18)

Round 4: [SC x 2 in the first ST and then 1 SC in each of the next 2 ST’s] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (24)

Round 5: [SC x 3 and then place SC x 2 in the next ST] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (30)

Round 6: [SC x 2 in the first ST and then 1 SC in each of the next 4 ST’s] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (36)

Round 7: [SC x 2 then place 2 x SC’s in the next ST then SC in each of the next 3 ST’s] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (42)

Round 8: [SC x 6 and then place SC x 2 in the next ST and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (48)

Round 9: [SC x 2 in the first ST and then place 7 SC’s in each of the next 7 ST’s] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (54)

Round 10: [SC x 8 in the first 8 ST’s and then SC x 2 in the next ST] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (60)

Round 11: [SC in each of the first 5 ST’s then SC x 2 in the next ST then SC in each of the next 4 ST’s] and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round (66)

Round 12: [ SC x 2 in the first ST and then place 10 SC’s in the next 10 ST’s and repeat [ to ] for the remainder of the round EXCEPT place 2 x SC’s in the very last ST of the round to give us an odd number so that the CODC portion of the bag lines up correctly.  You now have 73 ST’s in a round. (72 + 1)

Rounds 13 to 32: SK the first ST of the new round, DC in the next ST then cross over top of that DC to place another DC in the SK ST.  Continue this CODC for 20 rounds, always marking your first ST in a round.  (73)

HANDLES OF THE CROCHET TOTE BAG:

When you have completed the last ST of the 20 rounds of the body of the bag, in the next ST SC2tog for a decrease back to 72 ST’s and SC in each of the remaining ST’s in the round.  We will now be working in turned rows for the handles, so when you reach the last SC of the round, SL ST in to the 1^st ST of the next round and CH 1

Handle Row 1: SC in the same ST as your CH 1 and do a total of 28 SC’s across the row, CH 1 & turn (28)

Handle Row 2 to 4: SC in each of the ST’s across the row, CH 1 & turn (28)

Handle Row 5: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, with regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (26)

Handle Row 6: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (26)

Handle Row 7: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, with regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (24)

Handle Row 8: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (24)

Handle Row 9: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (22)

Handle Row 10: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (22)

Handle Row 11: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (20)

Handle Row 12: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (20)

Handle Row 13: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (18)

Handle Row 14: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (18)

Handle Row 15: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (16)

Handle Row 16: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (16)

Handle Row 17: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (14)

Handle Row 18: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (14)

Handle Row 19: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (12)

Handle Row 20: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (12)

Handle Row 21: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (10)

Handle Row 22: SC across the row, CH 1 & turn (10)

Handle Row 23: SC2tog at the beginning and ending of the row, which regular SC’s in between, CH 1 & turn (8)

Handle Row 24 to 43: SC across the row, YO and tie off (8)

Count 8 ST on either side of the first handle and mark the  9^th ST on both sides – this is where your second handle is going, inclusive of the marked ST’s.  You should have 28 ST’s between the markers inclusive.  Tie on to the right hand ST that is marked and repeat the same handle instructions as above.  At the end of the 2^nd handle, YO and tie off leaving an 8” tail for seaming in the finishing portion.

FINISHING AND TASSEL:

– Tie on to one side of the top of the handle and SL ST in each ST around until you reach the top of the other handle. 

– Repeat the SL ST finishing on both sides. 

– Using the 8” tail from your 2^nd handle, seam the 2 ends of the handle together.

– Take an 18” piece of yarn and seam the handle together in the SL ST’s from one side to the other side of the handle where your increases stopped.  You can use your judgement on where you would like to start and end this.  I did this to reinforce the handle and keep it from stretching.  If you’d like, you can also wind leather strapping or crochet over this portion for extra reinforcement.

– Make a tassel with a few beads and tie on for an extra Boho vib.

Weave in all ends and VOILA, the Terra Crochet Tote Bag or crochet market bag will go across town or to the market with you all summer long!