Materials:
Cotton Yarn – 6 balls of cotton medium weight yarn – I used Bernat Handicrafter (color 1 x 2 balls, color 2 x 2 balls, color 3 x 1 ball, color 4 x 1 ball)
Crochet Hook – US K/6.5 mm
Stitch market
Scissors
Yarn or tapestry needle
Directions:
Pattern written in U.S. terminology
ch = chain, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, hdc = half double crochet
BAG BOTTOM:
Using color 1, chain 48 stitches.
Hdc into 2nd chain from hook, then hdc into every stitch until the end, ch 2, turn. Carry on this way for 6 rows in total.
Without turning, sc back into same space as last stitch worked. Starting with the closest side of the base, sc into each row space, 2 sc into last space.
Turn to next side and sc into each stitch, 2 sc into last stitch on that side, carrying on in that fashion until the entire outside of the base is complete, making sure to do 2 sc in each corner.
BAG BODY (working in rounds):
Rounds 1 – 3: ch 2 and then hdc in each stitch, join with slip stitch.
Round 4: Change to color 2 yarn, ch 2 then hdc in each stitch, join with slip stitch.
Rounds 5 – 7: ch 4, *skip a stitch and then dc into the next stitch and ch 1*, repeat until the end of the round, join with slip stitch.
Round 8: ch 2, 2 hdc into each stitch space, continue until last stitch space, 1 hdc, join with slip stitch.
Round 9: Change to color 3 yarn, hdc in each stitch, join with slip stitch.
Round 10: ch 4, *skip a stitch and then dc into the next stitch and ch 1*, repeat until the end of the round, join with slip stitch.
Round 11: ch 2, 2 hdc into each stitch space, continue until last stitch space, 1 hdc, join with slip stitch.
Round 12: Change to color 2 yarn, ch 2 and then hdc in each stitch, join with slip stitch.
Rounds 13 -15: ch 4, *skip a stitch and then dc into the next stitch and ch 1*, repeat until the end of the round, join with slip stitch.
Round 16: ch 2, 2 hdc into each stitch space, continue until last stitch space, 1 hdc, join with slip stitch.
Round 17: Change to color 4 yarn, ch 2 then hdc in each stitch, join with slip stitch.
Round 18: ch 4, *skip a stitch and then dc into the next stitch and ch 1*, repeat until the end of the round, join with slip stitch.
Round 19: ch 2, 2 hdc into each stitch space, continue until last stitch space, 1 hdc, join with slip stitch.
Round 20: Change to color 2 yarn, ch 2 and then hdc in each stitch, join with slip stitch.
Rounds 21 – 23: ch 4, *skip a stitch and then dc into the next stitch and ch 1*, repeat until the end of the round, join with slip stitch.
Rounds 24: ch 2, 2 hdc into each stitch space, continue until last stitch space, 1 hdc, join with slip stitch.
Rounds 25 – 30: ch 2 and then hdc in each stitch, join with slip stitch. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
BAG STRAP:
Lay bag flat on a flat surface. Using your finger, find the stitch at the top of the bag that’s in the furthest right side/corner when laid flat. Mark the stitch with a stitch marker. Do the same on the left side/corner.
Count over 3 stitches from the stitch marker to the right, pull through end of yarn with crochet hook and make a knot with about a 3 inch tail.
*ch 2 and then hdc in the next 5 stitches, chain 2, turn.* Repeat and continue in this manner until your strap is as long as you’d like (mine strap was about 27″ long). Make longer if you’d like to make the tote more like a messenger bag.
Attach to the other side, matching the middle of the strap with the stitch marker. Fasten off and weave in the ends.