Crochet Tote Bag Pattern

If you’re looking to make a colourful crochet tote bag that’s pretty and practical – I’ve got you covered with the Ides of March Tote bag pattern. With it’s short handles and wide opening, you’ll be able to carry all your essentials to the shop or to the beach! Made with 100% cotton, it’s a durable but beautiful crochet bag. 

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Free Crochet Tote Bag Pattern

I love to crochet items that I can use and gift to those that I love! And, if I can crochet projects that enable me to add to my handbag and purse collection, so much the better!

There’s no cheaper bag than one that costs a little yarn and my time and tah dah! A new handbag!

This super cute crochet tote bag is made using the Zig Zag lozenge stitch pattern and worked in the round.

Purchase the Printable PDF Pattern

You can download your printable PDF copy of the Ides of March Crochet Tote Bag from my Etsy Shop or Ravelry Shop. Click the button below to purchase. 

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Materials:

To complete this project you will need:

•  2 strands of DK (size 3) 100% Cotton held together in 3 shades – amounts given next to shade
  • I used PaintBox Yarns Cotton DK in the following shades
    • A – Stormy Grey – 200-230m
    • B – Tea Rose – 100m
    • C – Paper White – 100m
• 5mm crochet hook
• 4mm crochet hook
• 4 stitch markers
• Darning needle
• Scissors

I’ve fallen in love with the stitch pattern used in this pattern which I first used in a design a crochet coin purse! I loved it so much that I just had to create a tote bag to match! They go perfectly together and I can see both patterns being a firm favourite of those gift makers out there! What a perfect crochet gift set that anyone would love to receive!

Click here to see more information on the matching coin purse

Abbreviations – US Terms (UK terms in brackets)

St(s) – Stitch(es)

Ch – Chain

Sl St – Slip Stitch

Sc (dc) – Single crochet (double crochet)

HDc (htr) – Half double (treble) crochet

Dc (tr) – Double crochet (treble crochet)

2dc-cl (2tr-cl) – 2 Double (treble) Crochet Cluster

3dc-cl (3tr-cl) – 3 Double (treble) Crochet Cluster

Pattern Notes

• Whatever your skill level with crochet, I would always recommend reading through this pattern before beginning. Get in touch if you need any help completing the pattern.
• The base is worked in rows before the remainder of the bag is worked in rounds
• Rounds 1-7 are worked in a spiral. Instead of joining with a slip stitch, work 1st stitch of next round into the 1st stitch of the previous round.
• From Round 9 onwards, change colour each round, fastening off and re-joining in the same chain space
• Instructions within square brackets are to be worked into the same stitch e.g. [HDc,  Ch1 HDc].
• Beginning Ch 2 counts as 1st leg of 3dc-cl
• Beginning Ch 1 DOES NOT count as stitch
• It is recommended to carry the colour changes up the side of your project

Special Stitches

2 Double Crochet Cluster – 2Dc Cl

• Yo, insert hook into stitch or ch-sp indicated, (yo, bring up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, reinsert hook, bring up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through remaining 3 loops.

3 Double Crochet Cluster – 3Dc Cl

• Yo, insert hook into stitch or ch-sp indicated, (yo, bring up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops) 3 times, yo, pull through remaining 4 loops.

How to Make a Crochet Tote Bag

Holding 2 stands of A together,

Row 1: Ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. Turn. (9)

Rows 2-45: Ch1, Sc in each stitch across. Turn. (9) This should measure 30cm long and 7cm wide. Do not turn at the end of Row 45.

Round 1: Ch1, rotate to work in ends of rows, 1 sc into the end of each row, Place stitch marker into 1st Stitch made, rotate to work other side of beginning ch, 1 sc into each across, rotate to work in ends of rows, 1 sc into the end of each row, rotate to work across Row 45, 1 sc into each stitch across to stitch marker, do not join. (106 sc)

Rounds 2 – 7: Sc into each stitch around, do not Join. (106)

Round 8: Sc into each stitch around (place marker in 1st st) sc in each across until above the 1st corner (see picture), sl st to next to join.

Round 9: With B, ch3 (counts as hdc & ch 1), hdc in same st, *Skip next st, [hdc, Ch1, hdc] in next*, repeat between * & * to last, skip last, sl st in 2nd ch to join, fasten off. (106 hdc, 53 ch-1 )

Round 10: With C, join in same ch sp, ch3 , 2dc cl in same as ch 3 (counts as 3dc cl), ch1, working into ch sp, [3dc cl, ch1] into each ch sp around, sl st to top of ch 3, sl st in each across to next ch sp, fasten off. (53 3dc cl)

Round 11: With A, ch 3 (counts as hdc & ch1), hdc in same st, *skip next, [hdc, ch1, hdc]*; repeat between * & * to last, skip last st, sl st into 2nd ch to join, fasten off. (106 hdc, 53 ch-1 sps)



Rounds 12-25: Repeat Rounds 10 & 11, changing colour on each row.

Round 26: With A, sc in each st around skipping ch-1 sps, sl st to 1st sc to join. (106 sc)

Rounds 27-29: Ch 1, sc into each stitch around.

Continue to Handles

Pattern for Handles

• Lay the bag flat with the end of the Round to your right
• Pinch the left side edge to find the middle of the round and fold between a pair of stitches
• Count across 19 sts and place marker in the 19th stitch on each side of the bag
• Counting across the next 15 stitches, place a marker in the 15th stitch across
• This should leave 19 stitches unmarked to the other side
• Double check the stitch markers look like they are exactly opposite each other
• Proceed to Round 30



Change to 4mm Hook

Round 30: Ch1, sc into each around to 1st marker, ch 30, sc to next marked st, sc in each around to next marker, ch 30, sc in next marked, sc around to end of round, sl st to 1st st to join. (74 sc, 60 ch)

Round 31: Ch 1, sc into each st and ch around, sl st to join. (134 sc)

Rounds 32-34: Ch 1, sc into each around, sl st to join. (134 sc)

Fasten off and Weave in all ends.

If you’re ready to make your own Ides of March Crochet Tote Bag, click the button below.Purchase on Etsy Purchase on Ravelry