Simple Crochet Tote Bag | Free Pattern & Tutorial
Create your own stylish and practical crochet tote bag with this easy-to-follow pattern. Perfect for beginners, this pattern includes clear instructions for the base, height, and sturdy straps. Learn how to crochet this beautiful and functional accessory.
Clean and Simple Design
This basic crochet tote is a combination of simplicity and style. With its clean, basic shape and neutral color, it can easily complement any outfit in your wardrobe, whether you’re running errands or attending a slightly more formal event. This bag’s adaptability makes it a versatile addition to your accessory collection!
No-Sew Crochet Bag
This crochet pattern is super easy to follow! The entire bag is made in one piece, so you won’t need to worry about sewing it all together. This makes it even faster and easier to make, especially if you’re new to crochet! The simplicity of this pattern guarantees a smooth and enjoyable crocheting experience, and you’ll have a beautiful tote bag at the end of it.
Single Crochet Bag
Another reason that this bag is great for beginners is that it uses only one stitch through: the single crochet. This is a very basic stitch that is easy to do. Not only is it an easy stitch, but it also makes for a thick and strong bag!
Customizability
What sets this pattern apart from other crochet bag patterns is its flexibility. You can easily customize the size of the bag and the length and size of the straps. Whether you need a spacious tote for carrying all your essentials or a more compact one for lighter loads, you have the freedom to create the bag that suits your needs.
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Video Tutorial
You can follow along with my YouTube video to crochet your tote bag! I have timestamps included to section the video and help you jump to any point you need to!
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Materials
- 200 grams of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn in the color “Café Au Lait” (100% mercerized cotton)
- 4mm Clover Amour crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Dimensions
- Base – 26 cm long x 4 cm wide
- Body w/out strap – 30 cm wide x 25 cm tall
Notes and Tips
- This crochet pattern uses US crochet terms
- Use a stitch marker for the first stitch of every round, so it’s easier to see
- Tighten your slip stitches to make the seam smaller and less visible
- The chain 1 at the beginning of each round does NOT count as a single crochet
- Pull your loose ends to the inside of the bag and weave them in
Abbreviations
ch = chain
dec = decrease
sc = single crochet
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch
Base
Foundation Chain: slipknot, ch51
Do less or more chains to adjust the width (horizontal length) of the bag.
Note: If you do adjust the pattern for the base, you will have to adjust the pattern for the straps as well.
Row 1: sc across, starting in 2nd ch from hook (50)
Row 2 – 8: ch1, turn, sc across
Do less or more rows to adjust the depth of the bag.
Building the Height
Now, we’ll be working in rounds around this base. For the first round, we will rotate the rectangle base to work along each of the 4 sides.
Round 1: ch1, sc into side of each row, sc across foundation ch, sc into side of each row, sc across, sl st (116)
If you edited the chains or rows of the base, your stitch count may differ. It should be 2*(#chains + #rows).
Round 2-52: ch1, turn, sc around, sl st (116)
Do less or more rounds for a shorter or taller bag. Do an even number of rounds.
Straps
Refer to the diagram below to understand the amount of stitches needed, especially if your base is different from mine.
Round 53: ch1, turn, sc in each of the next 15 st, ch50, sk20, sc in each of the next 38 st, ch50, sk20, sc in each of the next 23 st, sl st
Do less or more chains for shorter or longer bag straps.
Round 54: ch1, turn, sc around and in each ch, sl st
Round 55-58: ch1, turn, sc around with dec at each of the four points the straps meet the bag, sl st
Finishing
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Hide loose yarn ends by weaving them into the stitches using the yarn needle.
And now you have a basic, everyday tote!
Very pretty. I love the simplicity of this. Can’t wait to make my own. Thanks so much for sharing your pattern. 🙂
Thank you! ☺️
So cute! I’m going to send this to my mother since she’s looking for a bad to crochet herself🤩 is it UK or US abbreviations?
It’s US terms!
This is so simple!! I made one for my mom for her birthday, and she absolutely loved it! Thank you for such an easy craft!
So happy to hear that!
How long did this take you to make?
It was around 8 hours!
Is there a way to use the formula for the straps when you make the bag wider (on all sides)? I’m having trouble figuring out the spacing
You can figure out how many stitches you need depending on the size of your base and the size of the strap hole you want. I updated the post with a diagram of how the first round for the straps is worked. I hope it helps!
Is it more important to have the 20 stitches in the middle when you adjust the straps or to have the 15 on the ends? I am trying to think about how it would hang if you made the bag wider and had the straps further out by the edge of the bag. Would the bag be more likely to buckle?
The number of stitches under the strap is important. If you skip too many stitches, the bag will fold in when you wear it
How many skeins of yarn do I need? Can’t wait to try this.
I used 2 skeins!