You will make a firm, boxy tote with a raised embossed texture and two crocheted handles. It uses only single crochet, chain and slip stitch, so a confident beginner can finish it in roughly four to five hours of crochet time.
Prairie Embossed Crochet Tote Bag
Free crochet pattern · US terms
- Yarn
- 4 – Medium (worsted) — suggested
- Hook
- 4.5 mm (G-7) — verify with a swatch
- Gauge
- 16 sts x 18 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet, unblocked (calculated, not measured)
- Size
- approx. About 12 in (30 cm) wide, 11 in (28 cm) tall and 3.5 in (9 cm) deep, with handles about 6 in (15 cm) long
- Level
- Confident beginner
- Time
- about 4 h 30 min (estimate)
Written and count-checked on paper, not yet physically tested. Make the gauge swatch and the checkpoint below before you commit all your yarn.
The bag is worked from a flat oval base upward in continuous rounds, so there is no join line running up the side. The embossed look comes from working front post single crochet stitches into the round below, which pushes a ridge to the surface.
Two short handles are crocheted directly onto the top edge, so there is no sewing of straps. The dense fabric and doubled yarn make a firm bag that holds its shape without a lining.
Before You Start
Materials
Suggested materials. Any yarn of the same weight works if you match the gauge.
2 skeins of 100 g worsted weight cotton, about 420 yd (385 m) total
Cotton holds the embossed ridge crisply and resists stretching. A cotton-blend or acrylic works as a substitute but the bag will be softer and less firm.
4.5 mm (G-7) crochet hook
This size gives a dense fabric with worsted cotton. Go up one size if your single crochet is tight and the base curls.
Stitch marker
Used to mark the first stitch of each continuous round. A short piece of contrasting yarn works just as well.
Tapestry needle
For weaving in the two yarn tails at the end. A blunt tip is easier on cotton.
Tape measure
For the gauge swatch and the base checkpoint. A ruler is enough.
Yarn needed (estimate): about 420 yd (385 m) / 2 skeins of 100 g
Gauge and Size
Gauge: 16 sts x 18 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet, unblocked. This gauge is calculated from the yarn and hook above, not measured on a finished sample. Make a 4 in (10 cm) swatch first; change the hook size, not your tension, until it matches.
Finished size (approximate): About 12 in (30 cm) wide, 11 in (28 cm) tall and 3.5 in (9 cm) deep, with handles about 6 in (15 cm) long. Your size depends on your gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms)
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| fpsc | front post single crochet |
| inc | increase (2 sc in the same stitch) |
| st | stitch |
| sts | stitches |
| rep | repeat |
| FO | fasten off |
Special Stitches
Front post single crochet (fpsc)
Insert the hook from front to back around the post of the next stitch one round below, yarn over, pull up a loop to the height of the current round, yarn over and pull through both loops. The new stitch sits in front of the fabric and makes a raised ridge.
How This Pattern Is Written
- All instructions use US crochet terms. The bag is worked in continuous rounds; do not join or turn unless a round says so.
- The base is an oval worked in rounds with increases at both ends. The sides are worked upward in rounds with no increases, so the stitch count stays the same.
- The bag body is worked in continuous rounds, so no turning chain applies there. For the handle rows, ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
- The right side of the bag is the outside face as you work; the fpsc ridges are worked on the right side.
- Embossed rounds alternate with plain rounds. Keep the plain rounds loose so the ridge does not pull the fabric in.
- Stitch counts are given at the end of every round as (number of sc).
The Pattern
Base
Sides
Top Edge and Handles
Finishing and Assembly
Sizes and Variations
Smaller market bag
start with a ch 15 base and work the same increase pattern, giving 42 sts around the sides and a finished width of about 9 in (23 cm).
Taller tote
add 8 more plain and embossed rounds to the side wall, keeping the stitch count at 54.
Contrast handles
work the top edge round and both handles in a second color for a two-tone look, with no change to the counts.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The base cups upward instead of lying flat | The increases at the oval ends are too few for the yarn and hook | Rip back to Round 3 and work one extra increase at each end, then continue with the same plain rounds. |
| The side wall flares outward | The back loop round was worked in the front loop, or the plain rounds are too loose | Check that Round 7 went into the back loops only. Work the plain rounds a little tighter while keeping the embossed rounds relaxed. |
| The embossed ridge is hard to see | The fpsc was worked into the stitch beside the post rather than around the post itself | Insert the hook from front to back around the vertical post of the stitch one round below, not into the top two loops. |
| The handle stretches out of shape | Cotton handles lengthen with weight | Work the handle rows with a slightly tighter tension, or add a second layer of sc along the handle for firmness. |
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap and squeeze out gently without wringing. Reshape the bag while damp and dry it flat away from direct heat. Steam block lightly to refresh the ridges.
Questions Makers Ask
Do I need to line this bag?
No. The dense single crochet fabric and the firm top edge hold the shape on their own. A lining is optional if you carry small loose items, and it can be hand sewn to the inside of the top edge.
Can I use acrylic yarn instead of cotton?
Yes, but the bag will be softer and may stretch more with weight. Choose a heavier worsted acrylic and check the gauge swatch so the base still measures about 9 in (23 cm) long.
How much yarn does the embossed texture use?
The front post stitches use a little more yarn than plain single crochet, which is why the estimate is about 420 yd (385 m). Buy both skeins at once so the dye lots match.
Next: Try a matching small pouch in the same embossed stitch to practice front post single crochet on a quicker project.