Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Bags & Totes 17 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Pastel granny square garden tote bag pattern
Pastel granny square tote with an eyelet top band and tasseled handles. 4.0 mm hook, 52-sc join round.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 15-20 hours
- Yarn weight
- Aran
- Hook
- 4.0 mm
- Rounds
- 17
Aran
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
17
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This tote builds from pastel granny squares, each one grown from a magic ring through a petal round, a corner round, and a Bright White joining round that locks in a crisp grid. You join the squares into panels, then work a lacy Eyelet Top Band around the opening before crocheting two straps separately as handles. Keep both the 4.0 mm and 3.5 mm hooks on hand, set a stitch marker in each corner space as you build, and cut your plastic canvas base piece before you start your first motif. The finished tote measures 14 by 13 inches (36 by 33 cm) with a 10 inch (25 cm) handle drop, and it's rated an intermediate project, though confident beginners who already know granny squares can take it on.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Magic ring left loose
- Pull the magic ring closed tightly right after the first round. A loose center leaves a visible hole in the middle of every square.
- Miscounting the eyelet repeat
- Round 2 of the Eyelet Top Band repeats double crochet, chain 1, skip 1 around. Count carefully so you land on the full 55 eyelet spaces before joining.
The materials list
- Color Approximate Yardage
- Bright White 350 yards
- Ivory or Cream 300 yards
- Lavender 60 to 70 yards
- Rose 60 to 70 yards
- Mint 60 to 70 yards
- Buttercup 60 to 70 yards
- Peach 60 to 70 yards
Total yarn needed
- 950 to 1050 yards (870 to 960 meters)
Suggested yarns
- Paintbox Cotton Aran, Lily Sugar’n Cream Solids, or Scheepjes Catona held double for aran weight.
- 4.0 mm (G-6) hook for the main motifs and body
- 3.5 mm (E-4) hook for the handles (creates a firmer fabric)
- 3 wooden beads, 12 to 16 mm, for the tassel
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
Optional
- small piece of plastic canvas for base support
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 12 short forms
The Sunburst Motif
You will make 30 squares total. Use Buttercup or Peach for the small center in Round 1. Use any one pastel for the petal ring in Round 2. Then use Ivory and Bright White as written below. Mix the pastels freely across your squares.
Round 1
Center Make a magic ring. Chain 3 (this counts as your first double crochet). Work 11 double crochet into the ring. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3. (12 dc)Pull the magic ring closed tightly right after working the 11 double crochet, so the center doesn't leave a hole.
Round 2
Petals Join your petal color in any stitch. Chain 3, double crochet in the same stitch. Work 2 double crochet in each stitch around. Join. (24 dc)This round doubles your stitch count and creates the petal effect.
Round 3
Ivory Join Ivory in any stitch. Chain 3, double crochet in the same stitch. Working around, double crochet in each stitch. In every 6th stitch, work (double crochet, chain 3, double crochet) to create a corner. You will have 4 corners total. Double crochet in all remaining stitches. Join. (28 dc, 4 corner spaces)
Round 4
Ivory Chain 3. Double crochet in each double crochet around. In each corner space, work (2 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet). Join. (44 dc, 4 corner spaces)
Round 5
White Join Bright White. Chain 1. Single crochet in each double crochet around. In each corner space, work (single crochet, chain 1, single crochet). Join. Fasten off. (52 sc total, which is 11 sc per side plus 4 corners)Weave in your ends as you go. It saves time later.
Colour Recipe Across your 30 squares, aim for a gentle, even scatter of the five pastels — no single color should cluster together. A balanced batch is Lavender 6 squares, Rose 6 squares, Mint 6 squares, Buttercup 6 squares, and Peach 6 squares. Lay your finished squares out before joining: arrange them as a 4 by 3 grid for the front and another 4 by 3 grid for the back, then add a 1 by 3 column for each side. Shuffle until the colors feel scattered and balanced, and take a photo so you can rebuild the layout while joining.
Joining the Squares & Base
Join with Bright White to create the clean lattice between motifs. Hold two squares with wrong sides together and work through the back loops of both for a flat, visible white ridge. You can also use whip stitch if you prefer.
Seam Join
With Bright White and wrong sides together, insert your hook through the back loops of the first corner space of both squares. Single crochet across, matching stitch for stitch. Work 11 single crochet per side, adding an extra single crochet into each corner pair. (11 sc per seam) Join squares into rows first, then join the rows together. Keep all white ridges on the same outer face.Keep your tension relaxed on the join rows so corners stay square and the bag hangs evenly.Front: join 4 squares across by 3 squares down (12 squares). Back: repeat the same layout (12 squares). Sides: make two 1 by 3 columns (6 squares total). Then seam Front plus Side plus Back plus Side into a continuous loop. This creates a tube that is open at the top and bottom. (10 squares around)
The base is worked flat in Bright White for a firm bottom, then joined to the square tube.
Base Row 1
Chain 49. Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and across. (48 sc)
Base Rows 2-14
Chain 1, turn. Single crochet in each stitch across. (48 sc each row)
Base Border
Chain 1. Single crochet evenly all around the rectangle, working 3 single crochet in each corner. Join. Space the stitches so the round totals 110 single crochet to match the tube. (110 sc)With wrong sides together, line up the base border (110 sc) with the bottom edge of the square tube (10 squares times 11 stitches equals 110 stitches). (110 = 110) With Bright White, single crochet through both layers all around. Join. (110 sc) Your bag now has a solid bottom and structured sides.
Eyelet Top Band
This lacy band is worked in the round in Bright White on the top edge of the body (110 stitches around). It gives the tote its soft, airy collar.
Round 1
Join White at the top edge. Chain 3. Double crochet in each stitch around. Join. (110 dc)
Round 2
Eyelet Chain 4 (counts as double crochet plus chain 1). Skip 1 stitch. Double crochet in the next stitch, chain 1, skip 1 stitch. Repeat from * around. Join to the 3rd chain. (55 dc, 55 chain 1 spaces)
Round 3
Chain 3. Double crochet in each double crochet and in each chain 1 space around. Join. (110 dc)
Round 4
Chain 3. Double crochet in each stitch around. Join. (110 dc)
Round 5
Chain 3. Double crochet in each stitch around. Join. (110 dc)
Round 6
Picot Trim Chain 1. Single crochet in the next 2 stitches. Work a picot (chain 3, slip stitch in the first chain). Repeat from * around. Join. Fasten off. (110 sc, 55 picots)
The picot trim adds a delicate scalloped edge to the top of your bag.
Handle Strap (Make 2)
Row 1
Chain 9. Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and across. (8 sc)
Rows 2–90
Chain 1, turn. Single crochet in back loops only across. (8 sc each row)
This creates a strap about 24 inches (61 cm) long.
Finish: Fold the strap in half lengthwise and single crochet the long edges together into a rounded cord. Or leave it flat for a wider strap. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Assembly, in order
Step 1Making the Tassel: 1. Wrap Lavender and Ivory yarn together around a 4 inch (10 cm) card about 20 times. 2. Thread a strand under the top of the wraps and tie tightly. Slide the loops off the card. 3. Wrap a strand several times around the bundle about 0.75 inches (2 cm) below the top to form the neck. Secure with a knot. 4. Cut the bottom loops and trim level. 5. Thread the top ties up through 3 wooden beads. Tie the tassel to a corner of the eyelet band. Knot securely and hide the ends.
Step 2Final Finishing: Weave in all remaining ends on the inside of the bag. Gently steam block the body so the squares sit flat and even. Optional: Cut plastic canvas to the base size and slip it inside for extra structure.
Check these before you start
- Mark the 4 corner spaces on each square as you finish the corner round, so you don't have to hunt for them when joining panels later.
- Keep your join point (the slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain 3) in the same spot on every square, so the Bright White grid lines run evenly across the finished tote.
- Gauge: one finished sunburst square through the white round measures 3.5 inches (9 cm) square with a 4.0 mm hook, and the body/band gauge is 16 double crochet by 8 rows for 4 inches (10 cm). Check your gauge before starting — if your squares run big, go down a hook size, and if they run small, go up a hook size, so your squares join evenly and the bag finishes the right size.
On one line
| Rounds | 17 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 4 |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 15-20 hours |
| Hook | 4.0 mm |
| Yarn | Aran |
Set-up
- Check your yardage against the color list: Bright White 350 yards, Ivory 300 yards, and 60 to 70 yards each of Lavender, Rose, Mint, Buttercup, and Peach.
- Work one full granny square before committing to your color order; confirm it lies flat and that all 4 corners sit square.
- Have both hooks ready before you start: 4.0 mm for the motifs and body, 3.5 mm for the handle straps.
- Read through the Eyelet Top Band rounds first; round 2 skips stitches to open the eyelets and round 3 fills them back in, so it helps to know that shift is coming.
Finishing
- Weave in the yarn ends on each granny square as soon as you finish it, before moving on to assembly.
- Join the squares into panels, then work the Eyelet Top Band in Bright White around the full 110-stitch top edge.
- Attach the two handle straps, assemble the tassel with the wooden beads, and tie it securely to a corner of the eyelet band.
Construction
The petal round doubles the stitch count from 12 dc to 24 dc, and that doubling is what pushes the petal shapes outward from the magic ring center.
The Handle Strap is worked flat in short turned rows rather than in the round, which is what allows the two long edges to be single crocheted together afterward into a rounded cord instead of staying a flat panel.
Time per section
| Granny squares | about 10 to 12 hours because each square runs through 5 color-changing rounds |
|---|---|
| Eyelet Top Band | about 2 hours because the 6 rounds work over a 110-stitch top edge |
| Handle Straps (make 2) | about 3 to 4 hours because each strap runs 90 turned rows of single crochet |
| Total | about 15 to 20 hours overall for the whole bag, once joining the squares, building the base, and making the tassel are included. |
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.