This is a crochet pattern for my easy beginner-friendly Grid Tote Bag With Leather Straps. Find out what inspired me to design this pattern, what yarn I chose, and learn how to create the perfect tote bag from start to finish.
PDF PATTERN
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Design
I am not going to lie to you. This one was a hard nut to crack. Rather said, an ugly duckling for way too long. Let me explain.
My goal, for now, is to make at least one crochet tutorial per month. That gives me enough time to work on every aspect of the pattern without running out of time. Now, I can spend a whole week designing, a week on the tutorial, and the rest on blog posts, photo material, and designing a PDF pattern.
At the beginning of September, I got the idea of making a tote bag. Preferably with an interesting pattern and leather straps. I imagined it to have that playful vintage look. But still modern enough to fit almost every style.
My inspiration was a simple grid—the main color of yarn, mixed with pure white. I immediately started working on samples and came up with three simple designs.
The first two were interesting, but the third cut my eye and won my heart. I liked the most straight clean lines. Especially the side with slip stitches with just one loop. It looks almost like a sewing stitch.
But there was one problem. Every crocheter, knitter, everyone familiar with fiber arts knows how unwanted and easy to hate yarn ends are. And the fabric produced with this pattern has a lot of them.
And that is the reason I call it an ugly duckling. Because of the whole yarn end mess. But do not let this discourage you. Once you make the knots or even insert the lining, this crochet bag will be one of your favorite crochet projects you’ve made.
Yarn
The yarn I picked for this project is a 100% cotton yarn called Cotton Kings Cone. It’s classified as DK weight yarn and is available in a large cone. On one cone are 500grams and 1700 meters of yarn.
I bought one cone in Cobalt Blue (16) and one in Coconut (1) color. However, I used just half of the cone with blue yarn for one bag. The rest will come in handy in one of my future patterns.
And for the white yarn, you will need just a small amount. One skein of DK weight cotton yarn that weighs around 50 grams should be enough for this project. So purchasing a whole cone for just a few lines and not knowing what to do with the rest of the yarn would be wasteful. Therefore, go for a small skein of Yarn and Colors Must Have Yarn or Paintbox DK weight yarn.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Watch the video and follow the step-by-step tutorial to learn how to make this adorable crochet tote bag from start to finish. Please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel that you can find HERE, and turn on post notifications so you won’t miss any of my future videos.
MATERIALS
YARN – Cotton Kings Cone DK weight 100% cotton yarn in colors Cobalt Blue (16) and Coconut (1).
CROCHET HOOK – 3.5 mm crochet hook
ACCESSORIES – stitch markers, scissors (optional), tapestry needle, clips (optional), hole puncher, a small amount of leather (mine is not real leather, just an imitation).
GAUGE
GAUGE: Work 10 stitches and 13 rows in SC using a 3.5 mm crochet hook and an Aran weight yarn to measure 4 x 4 cm (1.6 x 1.6 inches).
When you find a new crochet project that you would like to make, you usually want to start immediately. We all do. But please take some time and check the gauge. It might save your project!
Checking the gauge is a crucial step in the process of making a new crochet/knit garment. It will help you achieve the right size of your finished item. Learn how to check your gauge here.
STITCHES AND ABBREVIATIONS
- Sst/sts – stitch/stitches
- ch – chain
- ss – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- MC – main color – green
- CC – contrasting color – beige
PATTERN NOTES
- Skill level: Medium (but just because of the stitching slip sts in a straight line)
- Sizes: Available one size only. However, you can add or take away rows and rounds in groups of five to get the size you want.
- Finished measurements: this bag is 36 cm long + 2 when the bottom panel lays flat and folded in half and 33 cm wide.
- The ch 1 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch. The first st of the round/row is worked into the same st.
- The pattern is written in US crochet terms.
- More instructions on how to read my patterns available here.
INSTRUCTIONS
Crochet Grid Tote Bag
The pattern for crochet baby romper is written a few simple steps:
- front and back panel
- side panels
- bottom panel
- grid
- straps
- assembling.
FRONT/BACK PANEL
Take the DK weight yarn in MC and 3.5 mm crochet hook and create a foundation chain made of 70 +1(turning chain) chains.
Start in the 2nd chain from the crochet hook.
Work in rows. After each row, ch 1 and turn your work. At the end of each row, change the color.
You will need to finish 2 panels. One for the front and one for the back of the bag.
Row 1 – 115: Sc 70. = 70 sts.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
SIDE PANEL
Take the DK weight yarn in MC and 3.5 mm crochet hook and create a foundation chain made of 15 +1(turning chain) chains.
Start in the 2nd chain from the crochet hook.
Work in rows. After each row, ch 1 and turn your work. At the end of each row, change the color.
You will need to finish 2 panels. One for each side of the bag.
Row 1 – 115: Sc 15. = 15 sts.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
BOTTOM PANEL
Take the DK weight yarn in MC and 3.5 mm crochet hook and create a foundation chain made of 15 +1(turning chain) chains.
Start in the 2nd chain from the crochet hook.
Work in rows. After each row, ch 1 and turn your work. At the end of each row, change the color.
You will need to finish 1 panel.
Row 1 – 82: Sc 15. = 15 sts.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
GRID
I will make a grid crochet pattern on three of my panels, front and side panels.
Take the DK weight yarn in MC and a 3.5 mm crochet hook. Work in straight lines.
HORIZONTAL LINES: Create a row of slip stitches every 5 rows. Create the first one, between rows 5 and 6, the next one between 10 and 11, and so on.
VERTICAL LINES: Create a row of slip stitches every 5 sts. Create the first one, between stitch 5 and 6, the next one between 10 and 11, and so on.
STRAPS
Take the piece of leather and a marker. Mark the sides of the straps which are long rectangle 54 cm (21 inches) long and 3 cm (1.2 inches) wide.
You can download the template for the holes HERE.
You will need two straps in total. I’ve made a different pattern for holes for the front and back strap. Both templates are available in the post.
ASSEMBLING
I am using a bunch of clips for this step. This is totally optional, however, it will make the whole process much sewing-friendly.
Attach the side panels to the front panel, crocheting the longer sides together. Make a simple row of single crochet stitches to join the panels.
Secure the rows made with white yarn with simple knots.
Attach the back panel to the side panels, crocheting the longer sides together. Make a simple row of single crochet stitches to join the panels. This will give you a long tube.
Attach the bottom panel to one opening and close one side of the tube with a round of single crochet stitches. Join the round with a slip stitch made into the very first st of the round.
Make sure all the crocheting (joining pieces together) happens on the outer side of the bag.
Take a small amount of yarn in MC, 3.5 mm crochet hook, and attach the yarn to the top of the bag. Preferably on the backside of the bag.
Row 1 – 2 : Sc 170. = 170 sts.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
Attach the straps to the top of the bag. Please follow the video tutorial that will teach you how to do it.
DID YOU TRY OUT THIS PATTERN?
I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by leaving a comment below. Or snap a photo and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag me @crobypatterns.
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