Crochet Tote Bag

This Crochet Tote Bag can be made in any color combination in any size and is reversible! I think reversible bags are fun and this one is easy to make just by doing a few simple steps each round. I love how the stitch pattern looks like little beads stacked on top of each other. Would you believe this stitch is based on the super beginner and fundamental crochet stitch – the single crochet?!

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Easy Zipper Pouch Discovery

When I was making the red and white Easy Crochet Zipper Pouch (which is a FREE pattern you can see here), I thought it would be fun to make the pouch in 3 colors. The zipper pouch uses a variation on the Waistcoat Single Crochet stitch and has a very pretty look on the “Right Side.” But while I was experimenting with the 3 colors I noticed that on the “Wrong Side” of the stitch pattern there was a completely different looking stitch and this Crochet Tote Bag pattern was born!

Reversible Crochet Tote Bag

So, if you are like me and can’t pick which stitch you like better, you can make this crochet tote bag as a reversible bag and enjoy either stitch pattern whenever you want! When we work the stitch pattern we will have the “Right Side” facing the entire time and we will be working in the round. But you’ll see that while you make the variation of the Waistcoat Single Crochet stitches, the pretty bead-like stitch pattern will automatically appear on the “Wrong Side” – just like magic! 🙂 We do have to do one simple step at the end of each round so that the color changes are smooth and everything looks it’s best on both sides. You’ll see how to do that and the stitch pattern in the instructions below.

Step-by-Step Video Tutorial Now Available!

Now there is a step-by-step video tutorial for this project! I take you through all stages of the project including showing how I work the color changes so this bag is 100% reversible including how to do an invisible join. Click on the image below to watch the video!

Let’s get started!

Skill Level: Easy

Measurements:

10” tall x 10 ½” wide (when laying flat)

Handles = 25” long x 1” wide

Bottom rectangle = 10 ¼” long x 2 ½” wide

Supplies for the Crochet Tote Bag:

Click on the supply name to purchase

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3 skeins Cotton yarn – 1 skein each color (Common dishcloth cotton yarn works best)

(I used Circulo’s Natural Cotton Maxcolor 4/6 in red (Color A) and white (Color B) and Peaches & Creme in Seabreeze (Color C))

Total approximate yardage needed: 750 yards

(Color A – 325 yards; Color B – 225 yards; Color C – 225 yards)

J/6mm Clover crochet hook

Jumbo Tapestry Needle

Scissors

10-15 sewing pins

Optional: Measuring Tape

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Special Stitches and Abbreviations:

Sc (single crochet) = Insert hook into stitch, YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through 2 loops on hook

Sl st (slip stitch) = Insert hook into stitch, YO, pull through stitch and loop on hook

Wsc (Waistcoat Stitch) = Insert hook into ‘heart’ of next single crochet stitch and then complete single crochet as usual

(Not sure how to do the Waistcoat stitch? Then check out this short video tutorial here)

Join with Wsc (Join with the Waistcoat Stitch) = With slip knot on hook, insert hook into ‘heart’ of indicated single crochet stitch and then complete a single crochet stitch as usual

Invisible Join = Upon completion of last stitch, cut 6″ yarn tail and pull through loop on hook (Photo 1 below); Thread yarn tail onto needle, pass needle under both top loops of 2nd stitch of round (Photo 2); then pass needle down through center (between top 2 loops) of last stitch of round (Photo 3); Pull yarn tail to tighten (I like to weave this end of the yarn tail through a few stitches on the Wrong Side of my project as well to secure it) – (Photo 4)

**This step of the project is also included in the video tutorial here: https://youtu.be/TJ8prQISRmY

Join with sc (Join with single crochet) = With slip knot on hook, insert hook into stitch; YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through 2 loops on hook

Click here to watch a short video tutorial on this technique

Back bar of the Chain = When looking at the right side of a chain, you see many “V’s” and the chain looks like a braid. Turn the chain over and you see a series of bumps – it is in these bumps that you will work across the chain to produce a cord with even edges along both sides

Click here to watch a short video tutorial on this technique

Join with sl st (join with slip stitch) = With slip knot on hook, insert hook into stitch; YO, pull through stitch and through loop on hook

YO (yarn over)

Hk (hook)

Lp (loop)

Ch (chain)

St (stitch)

Sp (space)

Notes:

Project is worked in the round

For every color change simply use new color for last YO of last stitch of each round

Instructions for the Crochet Tote Bag:

Special stitches are written in bold and italicized text and defined above

With Color A put slip knot on hk

Ch 81

(To make a tote bag a different size than mine, simply chain an even number of chains and then add one more chain)

Row 1: 

Sc in 2^nd ch from hk and in each ch across. Fasten off. (80 sc)

Using tapestry needle and yarn tail, join last sc to first sc to create a “tube” and weave in ends.  Now we will be working in rounds.

Round 2:

With Color B put slip knot on hk; join with Wsc in 2^nd sc of round; Wsc in same st; (sk next st, Wsc in next st) around; After last st, cut a 6” yarn tail and pull tail through loop on hook

Using tapestry needle and yarn tail, make an invisible join to beginning of round (see explanation and photos above)

Round 3:

With next color in color order put slip knot on hk; join with Wsc in 2^nd Wsc of round; Wsc in same st; (sk next st, Wsc in next st) around; After last st, cut a 6” yarn tail and pull tail through loop on hook

Using tapestry needle and yarn tail, make an invisible join to beginning of round

Repeat Round 3 working in color order until tote bag measures approximately 10”

(For my tote bag I worked 44 rounds in the Wsc stitch pattern)

Make sure to weave in yarn tails 2 to 3 rounds below the working round at the end of each round

**Remember, if you need some help with the stitch pattern or working the color changes, click here to see the video tutorial – there is a list of sections in the video in the description so you can skip ahead to what you need help with**

Last Round:

For “Wrong Side” Wsc to face out:

Turn crochet project so that “Wrong Side” is facing out

With Color A join with sc in any space between 2 Wsc groups; sc in same sp; work 2 sc in each sp between 2 Wsc groups around; join with sl st to 1^st sc. Fasten off.

For “Right Side” Wsc to face out:

With Color A join with sc in any st; sc in each st around; join with sl st to 1st st. Fasten off.

Bottom Rectangle:

With Color A ch 33

Row 1:

Working in the back bar of the chain, sc in 2^nd ch from hk and in each ch across. Turn. (32 sc)

Row 2:

Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Repeat Row 2 seven more times for a total of 9 rows

Fasten off

Handles:

Make 4 for reversible bag; Make 2 for non-reversible bag – if not reversible version, consider making handles with a double-strand of yarn:

With Color A ch 82

Hdc in 2^nd ch from hk and in each ch across; Do not turn.

Ch 1, sl st across end of row;

Ch 2, hdc in other side of next ch and in each ch across; ch 1, sl st across end of row. Fasten off.

For reversible version:

Place 2 handle pieces together with Wrong Sides facing

Leaving first 12 sts unworked, join with sl st in 13^th st of both pieces

Sl st through both pieces across stopping when 12 sts left (From 1 to 2)

Repeat sl sts on other long side of handles (From 3 to 4)

*Please note left-handers will crochet in the opposite direction (From 2 to 1 and From 4 to 3)

Work sl sts around all sections not part of previous join

Finishing and Assembly:

With Right Sides facing pin bottom rectangle to bottom of bag “tube” lining up centers

Sl st rectangle to bottom of bag making sure to go through both pieces

(Using sl sts as the way to “sew” the pieces together creates a nice bottom edge and makes the bottom more square – when you flip the bag inside out, you get the curved bottom like you see on the photo on the right above)

With tapestry needle and yarn tails sew handle ends to both sides of the bag using photo as a guide

You may want to pin the handles in place first

It helps to first sew on the handle ends on one side and then line up the other handle ends on the inside of the bag and then sew them on

Your Crochet Tote Bag is Complete!

Your Crochet Tote Bag is complete! Which side is your favorite? I love these colors together and can’t decide which version I like the best! 😉 I love how the Waistcoat Stitch makes 2 unique stitch patterns – definitely more bang for your crochet buck!

If you made this project, please send along a photo – I would love to see your bag and the colors you chose.

Don’t forget to pin the long image below so you remember where you found this pattern!

You can find all of my FREE crochet patterns here.

Thank you for stopping by – Happy crocheting!

Jennifer

Copyright – Jennifer E Ryan- www.celticknotcrochet.com- all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.

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