How To Crochet Easy Tote Bag -The Meadows Bag

This earthly bag is made by using modified sunflower granny square pattern. I have used recycled cotton yarn for this project. The yarn colours used here give a feeling of being close to the soil and firmly held by ones roots.

The written pattern for the bag is supported with step by step flat lay pictures, granny square chart and elaborate video tutorial. The video tutorial covers following steps-Part 1- how to make granny square , Part 2- how to join granny squares, how to make crochet edging, how to make bag straps, how to join straps to the bag, how to give lining to the bag.

You can find the link to the instant downloadable pdf pattern of the bag here – Ravelry, Ribblr, Lovecrafts, Etsy

Instructions

Gauge information-

Difficulty level – Intermediate

The pattern is written using US crochet stitch terminology. Here hook size 4 mm (US G/6 or UK 8) is used. The tension is 22 single crochet x 30 rows = 10 cm/4” in width and 10 cm/4” height. Bag measures = 45 cm (width) * 34 cm (height w/o belt). Belt = 75cm.

You will need following material

• Cotton DK weight yarn – Green – (A) ; Brown- (B) ; Grey- (C)
• Hook- 4mm and 3mm hook for joining the squares
• Scissors
• Markers to mark important stitches
• Yarn needle to weave in the ends

Symbols for reading the pattern instructions–

• SL ST- Slip stitch
• CH= chain stitch
• CH-SP = Chain space
• SC= Single crochet in stitch
• DC= Double crochet in stitch
• TR = Triple crochet in stitch
• BLO = Back loop only
• BEG = Beginning of round
• POP ST= Popcorn stitch
• REP = Repeat instructions
• SC2TOG = Single crochet two together
• Yarn colour = green (A), brown(B), grey(C)

Special mention-

• POP ST = Work 4 DC in the same ST. Remove hook from the working loop and insert the hook into the first DC ST of the group. Now grab the dropped loop with the hook and pull through the first ST (like a SL ST). 1 Pop ST made.
• POP ST at BEG = CH 3, Work 3 DC in the same ST. Remove hook from the working loop and insert the hook into the 3rd CH of 3 CH made at the beginning. Now grab the dropped loop with the hook and pull through the ST (like a SL ST). 1 Pop ST at BEG made.
• SC2TOG = Insert hook in ST, YO, pull up a loop (2 loop on hook), insert hook in next ST, YO, pull up loop (3 loops on hook), YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook. 1 ST decreased.

Step by step instructions for granny square

• Step 1- With yarn A, CH 4, 15 DC into the first chain stitch, SL ST into 3^rd CH of 3 CH (counts as 1 DC) made at the beginning. Total DC = 16.

• Step 2- Join yarn B. Work POP ST at BEG in first ST; CH 1; work *POP ST in the next, CH 1* in the remaining 15 ST in the round; SL ST into 3rd CH of 3 CH made at the beginning. Total ST = 32 (16 POP, 16 CH 1)

• Step 3- Join yarn A. SL ST into the nearest CH1 SP; SC in the same CH 1 SP; *CH2, SC in the next CH1 SP*; REP * to * till the last CH1 SP; CH2; SL ST into the SC made at the beginning. Total ST = 48.

• Step 4- SL ST into the nearest CH2 SP; CH 3, 2 DC into same CH2 SP; *3 DC in the next CH2 SP*; REP * to * till the end of the round; SL ST into 3rd CH of 3 CH made at the beginning. Total ST = 48.

• Step 5- Join yarn C. POP ST at BEG; CH 2; *skip 1 ST, POP ST in next ST, CH 2*; REP * to * till the end of the round; SL ST into 3rd CH of 3 CH made at the beginning. Total ST = 72 (POP-24, CH2-24).

• Step 6- Join yarn A. SL ST into the nearest CH2 SP; CH 3, 2 DC into same CH2 SP; 1^st Corner [3 TR,CH 1,3 TR] in next CH 2 SP; #3 DC in next CH 2 SP#, REP # to # 4 times more; 2^nd Corner [3 TR,CH 1,3 TR] in next CH 2 SP; REP # to # 5 times; 3^rd Corner [3 TR,CH 1,3 TR] in next CH 2 SP; REP # to # 5 times; 4^th Corner [3 TR,CH 1,3 TR] in next CH 2 SP; REP # to # 4 times ; SL ST into 3rd CH of 3 CH made at the beginning. Total ST = 88.

• Step 7- Join yarn B. POP ST at BEG ; *CH 1, skip 1 ST, POP ST in next* ; REP * to * once more ; 1^st corner- [CH 2, POP ST in CH1 SP, CH 2 ] ; skip 1 ST, POP ST in next ; REP * to * 9 times ; 2^nd corner – REP [ to ] ; skip 1 ST, POP ST in next; REP * to * 9 times ; 3^rd corner – REP [ to ] ; skip 1 ST, POP ST in next ; REP * to * 9 times ;  4^th corner – REP [ to ] ; skip 1 ST, POP ST in next; REP * to * 8 times ; SL ST into 3rd CH of 3 CH made at the beginning. Total ST = 96.

• Step 8- Join yarn A. CH 1; SC in the same ST; **SC in each ST until CH 2 SP; 2 SC in CH 2 SP, 3 SC over the corner POP ST, 2 SC in the next Ch 2 SP** ; REP ** to ** 3 times more; SC in each ST till the end of the round; SL ST into the 1^st SC. Total ST = 104. Cut the yarn and fasten off.

You can find the link to the instant downloadable pdf pattern of the bag here – Ravelry, Ribblr, Lovecrafts, Etsy

Happy Crocheting !!!