Beginner to Advanced Beginner
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Bags & Totes 9 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Textured cotton crochet tote bag with sewn handles
Two-panel crochet tote bag, textured sc rows, 5 mm hook, sewn handles, finished with a border.
- Skill
- Beginner to Advanced Beginner
- Time
- 6-8 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted (Medium)
- Hook
- 5 mm
- Rounds
- 9
Worsted (Medium)
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
9
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This tote is built from two identical rectangular panels, each worked flat in rows rather than in the round, so the raised stitch texture reads clearly on both sides. Single crochet rows alternate with raised stitch rows to produce vertical ridges across a firm, stable fabric. The panels are joined along the sides and bottom, a separate long strip becomes the handles, and a two-round border finishes the top opening. Have the full 650 yards of medium weight cotton on hand before starting, along with a 5 mm hook, stitch markers for the seams, and a tapestry needle for joining.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Miscounting the starting chain of 53
- Count the chain in groups of ten before turning, and confirm Row 1 settles at 52 stitches before continuing.
- Losing the sc and raised-row sequence
- Keep a row tally or marker on the raised dc rows so the alternating texture stays consistent across both panels.
- Handle strip stretched unevenly over 70 rows
- Measure the strip against the 18-inch target partway through rather than relying on row count alone, since tension can drift over that many rows.
The materials list
- Medium weight cotton yarn, approximately 650 yards (594 meters)
- 5 mm crochet hook (US H-8)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Measuring tape
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 10 short forms
Front and Back Panels
Make 2 panels.
Ch 53.
Round 1
Sc in second ch from hook and across. Turn. (52 sts)
Round 2
Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (52 sts)
Round 3
Ch 2, dc across. Turn. (52 sts)
Round 4
Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (52 sts)
Round 5
48 Repeat Rows 3 and 4 twenty-two more times, ending after a single crochet row. (52 sts)Fasten off the first panel. Repeat for the second panel.
Main Pattern
Round 1
Sc in second ch from hook and across. Turn. (8 sts)
Round 2
70 Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (8 sts) Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing.
Each handle should measure approximately 18 inches (45.5 cm) before attachment.
Border Finish
Join yarn at the top edge of the bag.
Round 1
Ch 1, sc evenly around the opening, join with sl st.
Round 2
Ch 1, sc around, join with sl st. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Special Stitch
Texture Stitch: Alternate one row of single crochet with one row of double crochet. This creates a simple raised texture while keeping the fabric dense.
Assembly, in order
Step 1After completing the bag, gently block the panels to even out the stitches and improve the shape. Avoid stretching the fabric too aggressively, especially when using cotton yarn.
Step 2For care, hand washing or a gentle machine wash cycle is recommended. Lay the bag flat to dry and reshape the handles if needed.
Check these before you start
- Turning chains are not counted as stitches at any point, and slip stitches count only where the pattern states so directly.
- The texture depends on alternating sc and raised stitch rows in a set order; losing track of which row is next will flatten the ridge pattern.
- The handle strip is only 8 stitches wide across 70 rows, so tension stays even more easily if you work it in one sitting rather than returning to it across several sessions.
On one line
| Rounds | 9 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 4 |
| Level | Beginner to Advanced Beginner |
| Time | 6-8 hours |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Yarn | Worsted (Medium) |
Set-up
- Confirm the full 650 yards of medium weight cotton is wound and ready before beginning the first panel.
- Work a small swatch in sc and dc with the 5 mm hook to check that the fabric feels firm but not stiff.
- Count the starting chain of 53 in groups of ten before working Row 1, so the 52-stitch count lands correctly.
- Place stitch markers at the side and bottom edges of each panel before seaming, so the join lines stay matched.
Finishing
- Weave in all tails left from the panel rows, the handle strips, and the two border rounds.
- Join the front and back panels along the sides and bottom, then attach the handle strips securely at the top edge for strength.
- Block the joined panels gently to even out the stitches, taking care not to stretch the cotton fabric aggressively.
Construction
The front and back panels are worked as two separate flat rectangles, starting from a chain of 53 and settling at 52 stitches, so the raised stitch rows can be worked flat and the bag body built afterward by seaming the sides and bottom rather than working in rounds from the start.
The handle is a narrow strip of only 8 stitches worked across 70 rows, meaning its 18-inch length comes entirely from row count rather than stitch count, and it is worked and fastened off separately so it can be attached to the top edge for reinforcement.
Time per section
| Front and Back Panels | about 2-3 hours per panel because each is 52 stitches across worked over 5 rows with a raised-stitch row to keep even |
|---|---|
| Main Pattern (handles) | about 2 hours per handle because the strip runs 70 rows at only 8 stitches wide |
| Border Finish | about 30 minutes because it is only 2 rounds worked evenly around the top opening |
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.