Crochet Tote Bag Free Pattern

Basic Beach Crochet Tote Bag Pattern

How do you crochet a simple tote? Just use this Free Crochet Tote Bag Pattern and work up my Basic Beach Tote! Make this trendy tote just in time for summer! Perfect for the beach, perfect for markets or perfect for a diaper bag! Just big enough to fit the essentials so you can easily do the things you love! Keep scrolling to use the Free Crochet Tote Bag Pattern with a Full Photo Tutorial in this blog post or click the button below for an affordable pdf!

Get a PDF on Etsy or Ravelry!
Best Bang for your Buck, get a Kit From Lion Brand includes PDF and Yarn!

What is a good crochet stitch for a bag?

Single Crochet is a good stitch for a crocheted bag for many reasons! It is a strong and simple stitch that is easy to do and looks great! By using Lion Band 24/7 Cotton and all single crochet his Crochet Tote Bag is sturdy, durable and just needs a good shake for most of the sand to fall off!

This Basic Beach Tote is just big enough to carry a few necessities for a trip to the beach! I love the look of a two-tone tote bag with a singular pocket and knew this style would be perfect!

Best Yarn for a Crochet Bag

Cotton yarns are clearly one of my favorites. I have so many different cottons and I just can’t seem to stop grabbing new ones when they come to market! Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is a great cotton yarn that can be used in so many ways! From Home Decor to Cleaning Rags to Clothing I knew this would also be a great yarn for a Crochet Tote Bag with a Pocket like this one! Keep scrolling to use the Free Crochet Pattern in this blog post or click the button below to get a Kit from Lion Brand that includes a pdf!

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Materials

• 3.25 mm Crochet Hook
• 2 Skeins of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Denim #761-108G 
• Color A in Pattern
• 3 Skeins of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Goldenrod #761-158R 
• Color B in Pattern
• Minimum 5 Stitch Markers

Not Using the Suggested Yarn? More Yarn Info Below!

• Any #4 Worsted Weight Yarn
• Color A – 325 yards
• Color B – 415 Yards

Gauge

20 sts x 23 rows is 4”x4” in sc in the round.

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations

• Chain Stitch – ch 
• Slip Stitch – sl st 
• Stitch(es) – st(s)
• Skip – sk
• Stitch Marker – SM
• Single Crochet – sc
• Foundation Single Crochet – Fsc – Chain 2, insert hook into 2nd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 1 loop, (2 loops on hook with 1 ch created), yarn over, draw through all loops (1 loop on hook, 1 foundation single crochet with chain at the bottom). *Insert hook to the bottom of the stitch you just made, it will look like the top or “V” of a stitch, yarn over, pull up 1 loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 1 loop (2 loops on hook with 1 ch created), yarn over, draw through all loops;* repeat from * to * for desired amount of stitches.
• Foundation Single Crochet Extension – Fsc Extension – (To do this as an extension, you will be making a Fsc but you will skip the Ch 2  and repeat from * as follows). *Insert hook to the bottom of the stitch you just made, it will look like the top or “V” of a stitch, yarn over, pull up 1 loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 1 loop (2 loops on hook with 1 ch created), yarn over, draw through all loops;* repeat from * to * for desired amount of stitches and reattach or finish off as noted.
• Surface Slip Stitch – Surface Sl St – Pull up a loop in the designated stitch, one loop on hook, *insert your hook into the next stitch or space, pull up a loop through stitch or space and though loop on hook, one loop on hook, repeat from * to end creating your sl st on the surface of your previously created stitches. 

Pattern Notes

• One Size – 16” across x  12” deep with 5” tall straps
• Skill Level : Intermediate
• * Designates a repeat.
• Continuous Rounds and Turning Rounds are noted in the pattern.
• “sc 1” means to single crochet in the next stitch.
• “sc 2” means to single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches.
• “2 sc” means to single crochet twice in the next stitch to create an increase.

Tote Base – Color A

Round 1 – Fsc 50, place SM in first st, 4 sc in base of last Fsc, place SM in 4th sc st, sc 49 in every base st of Fsc, place SM in last sc, 3sc in same st as last st, sl st to first Fsc.[106 total stitches]

• There should be 50 sts from SM to SM on both sides and 3 sc between both sets of SM’s to create a half circle at each end.
• Move SM up to first and last stitch on both sides to mark your place before and after the half circles.

Round 2 – Ch 1, sc 50, 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc 50, 2 sc in next 3 sts, sl st to first stitch in round.
[112 total stitches]
Round 3 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 1) over next 6 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 1) over next 6 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [118 total stitches]
Round 4 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 2) over next 9 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 2) over next 9 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [124 total stitches]
Round 5 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 3) over next 12 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 3) over next 12 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [130 total stitches]
Round 6 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 4) over next 15 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 4) over next 15 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [136 total stitches]
Round 7 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 5) over next 18 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 5) over next 18 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [142 total stitches]
Round 8 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 6) over next 21 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 6) over next 21 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [148 total stitches]
Round 9 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 7) over next 24 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 7) over next 24 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [154 total stitches]
Round 10 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 8) over next 27 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 8) over next 27 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [160 total stitches]
Round 11 – Ch 1, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 9) over next 30 sts, sc 50, (2 sc, sc 9) over next 30 sts, sl st to first stitch in round. [166 total stitches]
Rounds 12 to 19 – Begin Continuous Rounds – Sc in each stitch, finish off. [166 total stitches]

Tote Body – Color B

Round 1 – Fsc 166, sl st to join, place SM in last stitch and move up as you complete each round.
Round 2 to 40 – Begin Continuous Rounds – Sc in each stitch. [166 total stitches]
Round 41 – Create Pocket Opening – Sc 25, Fsc Extension 30, skip 30, sc 111.
Round 42 – Continuous Round – Sc in each sc and fsc. [166 total stitches]
Round 43 to 51 – Continuous Rounds – Sc in each stitch. [166 total stitches]

Tote Base & Body Attachment – Color B

1. Lay your Tote Base flat so that the semi- circles are perfectly folded in half.
2. Lay your Tote Body flat so the the Pocket Opening is perfectly centered, if necessary use a tape measure.
3. Mark the each stitch at the furthest points. 
4. Carefully place the Tote Body inside the Tote Base.
5. Using your Crochet hook pull up a loop on one side using the corresponding marked stitches.
6. Using a Surface Slip Stitch, attach the Last Round of the Tote Base to the First Round (Fsc Round) of the Tote Body. [166 Surface Slip Stitches]
7. Finish off by threading your Darning Needle and working though your first Surface Slip Stitch to complete the last one. 

Turn your Tote Bag inside out.

Tote Pocket – Color B

Row 1 – Reattach your yarn to the Fsc extension of Round 41 of the Bag Body, sc across in each stitch. [30 total stitches]
Row 2 – Ch 1, turn, 2 sc, sc 28, 2 sc in last stitch. [32 total stitches]
Row 3 to 40 – Ch 1, turn, sc across. [32 total stitches] Finish off leaving a long tail, at least 36 inches.

Pocket Seaming & Trim Color A & B

Using Color B

1. Thread the long tail you left on the pocket flap with a darning needle.
2. With the bag still inside out, lay it flat and make sure the pocket falls center and align the last row of the pocket with the first round of the bag body.
3. Using your seaming method of choice (I used a mattress stitch) seam Bag Body Round 1 to Pocket Row 40.
4. When you reach the last stitch, turn your Tote Bag so that you can work up the side of the pocket.
5. Using your seaming method of choice (I used a running stitch) seam the side of your Pocket to the Bag Body making sure to hide your seam by following the direction of the yarn in the stitch. 
6. When you reach the beginning of your pocket at the Fsc Extension, finish off and weave in your end.
7. Thread your Darning Needle again and reattach your yarn at one end of the pocket of the unseamed side and repeat Step 5. 
8. Turn your Tote Bag right side out.

Using Color A

1. Pull up a loop on one side of your Pocket, 1 Row down. Leave a 6” starting tail.
2. Surface Slip Stitch across. [30 total stitches]
3. Finish off leaving a long enough tail to create an extra Surface Slip Stitch if needed after the Strap Attachment .

Straps – Make 2

Row 1 – Fsc 148, leaving a long starting tail for seaming. [148 total stitches]
Row 2 to 7  – Ch 1, turn, sc across in each stitch, finish off on Row 7 leaving a long tail for seaming.
[148 total stitches]

Strap Attachment

1. Lay your Tote Back flat with the pocket facing you and centered. Use a tape measure if needed.
2. Place one of your straps forming an arch from the Tote Base vertically up next to the pocket, over and back down vertically next to the pocket.
3. Make sure the ends of the Strap remain the same distance apart as the width of the pocket.
4. Place a SM at each end to mark where the Strap attaches to Round 19 of the Tote Base.
5. Thread your Darning Needle with one of the Strap tails and using your seaming method of choice sew your strap to Round 19 of the Tote Base, weave in your end.
6. Repeat Step 5 on the other side.
7. Once both Strap ends are attached the to the Tote Base, place a SM where each Strap meets Round 51 of the Tote Body, be sure to use your measuring tape to keep the spacing the same.
8. Using your crochet hook, pull up a loop though the Strap and Tote Body, begin using a Surface Slip Stitch to attach the two pieces together.
9. Working up towards the top of the Tote Body, make sure to keep the stitches aligned and straight.
10. Continue your Surface Slip Stitch though the Strap towards the next side.
11. When you reach where the Strap meets the Tote Body again, pick up both pieces and begin working your way back down the other side toward the Tote Base.
12. Finish off and weave in your end at Round 19 of the Tote Base.  
13. Flip your Tote Back over and Repeat Steps 2 to 12 for the second Strap making sure it mirror the placement of the front Strap. Now Enjoy!

Looking for more crochet projects using cotton yarns?

Click the photos below to use some of my other Free Crochet Patterns!