Crochet Tote Bag Pattern (Easy Market Bag for Beginners)

Cotton yarn gives this tote the structure and durability it needs to hold real groceries without stretching out of shape. The single crochet base makes it dense and sturdy.

Materials

• 300-400g worsted weight cotton yarn
• 4.0mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Optional: fabric lining

Base

Chain 31.

Round 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, 3 sc in last ch, continue sc down the other side of the foundation chain, 2 sc in first st to close the round. (62 sc)

Round 2: inc in first and last st of each short end, sc around. (66)

Rounds 3–5: sc around evenly, increasing slightly at the rounded ends to keep the base flat. (approx. 70)

Body

Rounds 6–24: sc around in each stitch with no increases, working in a continuous spiral. This builds the height of the bag (approximately 12 inches).

Handles

At stitch 10 from one side seam, chain 40 (skipping across the top opening), then sc in next stitch to continue around. Repeat on the opposite side to create both handle openings, then work 2 more rounds of sc reinforcing the handle chains (sc into each chain as if it were a stitch).

Finishing

Work 1 round of slip stitch around the top opening for a clean edge. Weave in all ends. If desired, sew in a fabric lining to keep small items from poking through the stitches.

Tip: cotton yarn has almost no stretch, so keep your tension even and slightly loose to make the stitches easier on your hands over a long project like this.

For a lighter open-weave version for summer, see the beach tote.