by Let’s crochet a stylish and practical striped tote bag! This project is perfect for carrying your essentials, whether it’s for groceries, a trip to the beach, or your latest yarn haul. The striped design allows for endless color combinations, making each bag unique.
How To Crochet an Easy Striped Tote Bag
This pattern will guide you through creating a sturdy and chic striped tote bag. We’ll build it from the base up, working in the round for the body and then adding handles.
Skill Level: Easy
You’ll need to know:
- Chain (ch): The foundation of most crochet projects.
- Slip Stitch (sl st): Used for joining rounds and finishing.
- Single Crochet (sc): A compact, dense stitch, great for sturdy bags.
- Half Double Crochet (hdc): A stitch taller than sc but shorter than dc, offering good density and speed.
- Working in rounds: Crocheting in a continuous spiral or joined circles.
- Changing colors cleanly in the round.
Finished Tote Bag Dimensions (Approximate):
- Body: 13 inches (33 cm) wide x 14 inches (35.5 cm) tall (excluding handles)
- Handles: 18 inches (45.5 cm) long each
These dimensions can be easily adjusted by changing your starting chain length or the number of rows.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Yarn: Approximately 700-800 yards (640-730 meters) of Worsted Weight (Medium #4) Yarn.
- Recommended Yarn: Cotton or cotton blend yarn is ideal for tote bags as it’s durable, holds its shape well, and is easy to wash. Acrylic yarn can also work, but may have more stretch.
- Colors: Choose 2-4 complementary or contrasting colors for your stripes.
- Color A (Main/Base): Approx. 300-400 yards.
- Color B, C, D (Accent Colors): Approx. 100-200 yards each.
- Crochet Hook: Size I/5.5mm. Or the hook size that gives you a firm, dense fabric that won’t stretch too much when the bag is filled.
- Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): Essential for weaving in all your loose ends.
- Scissors: For cutting yarn.
- Stitch Marker (Optional but Recommended): Helpful for marking the beginning of rounds when working in a continuous spiral.
Gauge (Important for Size & Sturdiness!):
Getting your gauge right helps ensure your bag turns out the intended size and has the necessary density to be a functional tote.
- In single crochet: 14 sc and 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm).
- To check your gauge: Chain 16. Sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across (you’ll have 15 sc). Work for 16 rows. Measure your swatch. If it’s too small, go up a hook size; if it’s too big, go down a hook size.
Understanding Clean Color Changes in the Round:
This technique is crucial for neat stripes that look seamless.
- Work the last stitch of your current round with the current color as usual, but stop when you have two loops left on your hook. (For an sc, this means you’ve inserted hook, yarned over, pulled up a loop – two loops remain.)
- Drop the current color.
- Pick up your new color, yarn over with the new color, and pull it through the remaining two loops on your hook to complete the stitch.
- Then, continue with the new color for the next stitch/round.
- Always cut the old color yarn, leaving a 4-6 inch tail. These tails will be neatly woven in later to secure the change.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rep: repeat
- BLO: back loop only
- FO: fasten off
- (): repeat instructions within parentheses a specified number of times.
- []: indicates the total number of stitches at the end of a specific round.
Let’s Crochet Your Easy Striped Tote Bag!
This pattern is designed to be worked in a spiral for the body, meaning you don’t join rounds with a slip stitch unless specified. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the start of each round.
Part 1: The Bag Base
We’ll start by creating an oval base for the bag, which gives it shape and stability. Use Color A for this section.
- Foundation Chain:Ch 31.
- This chain length determines the length of your bag’s base. For a wider base, chain more; for a narrower base, chain less.
- Round 1:
- Work 2 sc in the 2nd chain from your hook.
- Sc in the next 28 chains.
- Work 4 sc in the very last chain.
- Now, you’ll rotate your work to crochet along the other side of the foundation chain.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches along the opposite side of the chain.
- Work 2 sc in the very last stitch (this completes the oval).
- [You should have 64 sc stitches.] Do not join, continue working in a spiral. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of the next round.
- Round 2:
- Work 2 sc in the next 2 stitches.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- Work 2 sc in the next 4 stitches.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- Work 2 sc in the next 2 stitches.
- [You should have 72 sc stitches.] Move your stitch marker to the new first stitch.
- Round 3:
- (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) rep 2 times.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) rep 4 times.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) rep 2 times.
- [You should have 80 sc stitches.] Move your stitch marker.
- Round 4:
- (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) rep 2 times.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) rep 4 times.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) rep 2 times.
- [You should have 88 sc stitches.] Move your stitch marker.
- Round 5:
- (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) rep 2 times.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) rep 4 times.
- Sc in the next 28 stitches.
- (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) rep 2 times.
- [You should have 96 sc stitches.] Move your stitch marker.
Part 2: Forming the Bag Sides (Creating the Striped Body)
Now we’ll work straight up to form the sides of the bag, introducing our stripes. We’ll primarily use half double crochet (hdc) for a good balance of speed and density. We’ll change colors every 2 rounds for crisp stripes, but you can adjust this.
- Round 6 (Color A):
- Work hdc in the back loop only (BLO) of each stitch around. This creates a neat ridge that defines the base of your bag.
- [96 hdc] Move your stitch marker.
- Round 7 (Color A):
- Work hdc in both loops of each stitch around.
- [96 hdc]
- On the very last hdc of this round, perform a clean color change to Color B. Cut Color A, leaving a 6-inch tail.
- Round 8 (Color B):
- Work hdc in each stitch around.
- [96 hdc] Move your stitch marker.
- Round 9 (Color B):
- Work hdc in each stitch around.
- [96 hdc]
- On the very last hdc of this round, perform a clean color change to Color C. Cut Color B, leaving a 6-inch tail.
Continue Repeating the Striping Pattern:
- Repeat Rounds 8 and 9, alternating your chosen colors (e.g., Color C, then Color A, then Color B, etc.) until your bag reaches your desired height. For the listed dimensions (approx. 14 inches tall), you’ll need around 45-50 rounds total for the body (including the base rounds).
- Aim to end on a round of Color A (or your main color) before starting the top edging/handles.
- Once you reach your desired height, sl st into the next stitch to join the round. This will create a seam for the top of the bag, which is helpful for handle placement.
- Do NOT fasten off.
Part 3: Top Edging and Handle Creation
This section gives your bag a finished top edge and creates the handles. We’ll use single crochet (sc) for durability.
- Round 1 (Top Edging – Color A):
- Ch 1 (does NOT count as a stitch).
- Sc in each stitch around.
- [96 sc]
- Sl st into the first sc to join.
- Ch 1, turn. (Turning here helps align handles later).
- Round 2 (Handle Placement – Color A):
- Sc in the first 15 stitches.
- Ch 40 (This creates your first handle. Adjust this chain length for longer or shorter handles. 40 chains make an 18-inch handle roughly).
- Skip 18 stitches (these skipped stitches form the opening for your bag).
- Sc in the next 30 stitches.
- Ch 40 (This creates your second handle).
- Skip 18 stitches.
- Sc in the last 15 stitches.
- [60 sc stitches and two ch-40 spaces.]
- Sl st into the first sc to join. Do NOT turn.
- Round 3 (Handles Strengthening – Color A):
- Ch 1 (does NOT count as a stitch).
- Sc in each of the 60 sc stitches around.
- When you reach a ch-40 space, work 40 sc stitches around the chain (this means working directly into the chain, not into individual chain links). This will reinforce your handle.
- Continue around, working sc in the remaining body stitches and 40 sc around the second chain space.
- [140 sc stitches (60 from body, 80 from handles).]
- Sl st into the first sc to join.
- Round 4 (Final Handle Reinforcement – Color A):
- Ch 1 (does NOT count as a stitch).
- Sc in each stitch around. This final round of sc will make your handles very sturdy.
- [140 sc stitches.]
- Sl st into the first sc to join.
Part 4: Finishing Your Tote Bag
- Fasten Off: Cut your yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Yarn over and pull the tail completely through the loop on your hook to secure the last stitch. Gently tug to tighten.
- Weave in All Ends: This is the most crucial step for a beautiful and durable tote bag, especially with all those color changes.
- Thread each yarn tail onto your yarn needle.
- Carefully weave them through several stitches of the same color on the inside of your bag. Weave in one direction for a few stitches, then change direction slightly and weave back through a few more stitches (this locks the tail in place and prevents it from unraveling).
- Take your time with this to ensure your bag looks neat, won’t unravel with use or washing, and the tails are completely invisible from the outside.
- Optional: Steam Block (Carefully for Cotton/Acrylic): While not strictly necessary for a tote, a light steam block can help even out your stitches and make the bag lay flatter. Be very careful not to over-steam cotton or acrylic, as they can lose their shape. Simply hover a steamer or iron with steam over the bag without touching, then gently shape it. Let it dry completely.
You’ve now created a fantastic and functional easy striped crochet tote bag! This durable and stylish bag is perfect for all your needs. Enjoy carrying your handmade creation!
