OVERSIZED CROCHET TOTE – Free Pattern

“SOLARIS” OVERSIZED CROCHET TOTE BAG

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

It’s almost beach time and this oversized crochet tote bag, the Solaris, is the perfect catch-all bag for everything you need to take to the beach! Towels, blankets, snacks, sunscreen and toys can all fit in this bag.

I published this pattern 2 years ago as a guest post on Hooked on Homemade Happiness, but to be honest, it slipped my mind to post it to my blog as well… so here I am, doing it just time time to make this great oversized crochet tote bag in time for your family outings.

The main body of the bag is made using Bernat Maker Home Dec to give it a thickness and sturdiness required by an oversized bag, and the handle and seams are made using cotton to keep it from stretching too much when you’re carrying a heavy load.

The pattern includes a chart for the bobble sun motif. I think the sun motif adds a cute bit of whimsy to the bag and it’s reminiscent of it’s purpose – to carry all your essentials while you’re enjoying summer and sunshine!

I hope you enjoy this oversized crochet tote design, I’ve been using this bag for years during the summer months and it has held up so well I’m sure it will last many more years!

If you want to see other bag designs, check out my Quick Crochet Tote, the Terra Crochet Tote or the Marais Purse.

LET’S GET MAKING! Scroll down for the free pattern for the Solaris Oversized Crochet Tote OR you can get the Ad-Free, printable version from my ETSY OR RAVELRY stores.

SUPPLY LIST

6mm hook Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn (color used: Clay) – Approx. yardage: 950 yards / 870 meters Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (color used: White) – Approx. yardage: 15 yards / 13 meters Scissors Tapestry Needle

STITCHES / ABBREVIATIONS

**All stitches are in North American terms** YO – yarn over CH – chain BB – back bump ST – stitch SC – single crochet BS – bobble stitch

SIZE

One Size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

24” w by 21 h x 17” deep

GAUGE

Gauge is 11.5 stitches x 14 rows = 4” x 4” of SC

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Intermediate

PATTERN AND SIZING NOTES

– Must have knowledge of: bobble stitch, reading a chart, using single crochet to join pieces and whip stitch for the handles. – This oversized crochet tote bag is made in 5 panels which are joined together via single crochet, and then the handles are created and sewn on with the tapestry needle. – It is important to note that, for the bobble stitch, I only used 4 stitches instead of the traditional 5 to create the bobble, to keep the bobble from warping the panel but also to keep yardage down. – Just a reminder that the bobble stitches are created in even rows, which are on the wrong side of the work, but pop out on the correct side. – The CH 1 at the beginning of each row does NOT count as a stitch. – With the exception of the front panel with the sun bobble motif, all other elements of the bag are done in single crochet. – For the handles, you will create 2 long strips and whip stitch the majority of them together to create a rounded handle. – The 6mm hook is used on both the main panels of the tote bag and also on the white accent seam and handles. – I am providing a chart for the motif panel of the tote bag below, but am also providing written instructions. – The stitch count is given in parentheses ( ) at the end of each row.

INSTRUCTIONS

Main Panel of Solaris Oversized Crochet Tote Bag w/ Bobble Sun Motif:

CH 55 + 1 to turn

Row 1: SC in the BB of each chain across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 2 to 5: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 6: SC in each ST across *except* place a BS in ST# 28, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 7: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 8: SC in each ST across *except* place a BS in ST# 28, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 9: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 10: SC in each ST across *except* plae a BS in ST# 28, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 11: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 12: SC in each ST across *except* place a BS in ST# 28, Ch 1 & turn (55)

Row 13: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 14: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [14, 26, 28, 30, 42], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 15: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 16: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [16, 26, 28, 30, 40], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 17: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 18: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [18, 38], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 19: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 20: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [24, 26, 28, 30, 32], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 21: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 22: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 23: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 24: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 25: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 26: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 42], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 27: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 28: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 29: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 30: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 42], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 31: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 32: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 33: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 34: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 35: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 36: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [24, 26, 28, 30, 32], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 37: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 38: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [18, 38], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 39: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 40: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [16, 26, 28, 30, 40], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 41: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55) SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [16, 26, 28, 30, 40], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 42: SC in each ST across *except* place BS’s in ST#’s [14, 26, 28, 30, 42], CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 43: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 44: SC in each ST across *except* place a BS in ST# 28, Ch 1 & turn (55)

Row 45: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 46: SC in each ST across *except* place a BS in ST# 28, Ch 1 & turn (55)

Row 47: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 48: SC in each ST across *except* place a BS in ST# 28, Ch 1 & turn (55)

Row 49: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 50: SC in each ST across *except* place a BS in ST# 28, Ch 1 & turn (55)

Rows 51-54: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 55: SC in each ST across, YO, pull through and tie off (55)

Back Panel of Solaris Oversized Crochet Tote Bag w/ Bobble Sun Motif:

CH 55 + 1 to turn

Row 1: SC in the BB of each chain across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 2 to 54: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 55: SC in each ST across, YO, pull through and tie off (55)

Side Panels (x 2) of Solaris Oversized Crochet Tote Bag w/ Bobble Sun Motif:

CH 25 + 1 to turn

Row 1: SC in the BB of each chain across, CH 1 & turn (25)

Row 2 to 54: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (25)

Row 55: SC in each ST across, YO, pull through and tie off (25)

Bottom Panel of Solaris Oversized Crochet Tote Bag w/ Bobble Sun Motif:

CH 55 + 1 to turn

Row 1: SC in the BB of each chain across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 2 to 28: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (55)

Row 29: SC in each ST across, YO, pull through and tie off (55)

Handles (x 2) of Solaris Oversized Crochet Tote Bag w/ Bobble Sun Motif:

Using the Handicrafter Cotton and your 6mm hook:

CH 80 + 1 to turn

Row 1: SC in the BB of each CH across, CH 1 & turn (80)

Row 2: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn (80)

Row 3: SC in each ST across, CH 1 & turn 80)

Row 4: SC in each ST across, YO, pull through and tie off (80)

Assembly of Solaris Oversized Crochet Tote Bag w/ Bobble Sun Motif:

-Using the Handicrafter Cotton, tie a slip knot

– Place the Front (bobble sun motif) panel and the left side panel wrong sides together

– Put your 6mm hook through both of the first ST’s at the top and SC through both panels’ stitches all the way down

– Continuing with the same working yarn, now place the bottom panel together along the bottom of the front panel (wrong sides together) and continue SC’ing through both panels’ stitches all the way across

– Continuing with the same working yarn, now place the other side panel together along the right side of the front panel (wrong sides together) and continue SC’ing through both panels’ stitches all the way up, YO, pull through and tie off

– Place the back panel together with the side panel on the right of the bag, wrong sides together and repeat the same process as you did for attaching the front panel

– You will now have all panels together and only the bottom sides will still be open, so tie on and SC these closed now as well

– Tie a slip knot and SC all the way around the top of the bag for the final seam.

– Using a length of Handicrafter Cotton about 2 feet, count in 9 stitches from each end and mark the stitches.  Fold the short side of the handles together and whip stitch through the stitches on both sides (almost like you’re creating a tube) from ST 9 to ST 71 – repeat for both handles

– To attach the handles, count down 9 rows and in 12 stitches from each side (about 2.5” down from the top and 4.5” in from each side – but this is to your discretion) – pin to secure and, using your tapestry needle, sew the handles on in a rectangle on the flat portion – be sure not to go all the way through the bag, as you will see the stitches on the inside of the bag – instead, try to secure it through the front loops of stitches on the bag.

– YO and tie off.

Weave in all ends and VOILA, you have a very functional oversized crochet tote bag to take you anywhere this summer!