You will crochet a two-color striped market bag with a firm oval base and an open mesh body that stretches to hold groceries. It uses single crochet, chain and double crochet, so a confident beginner can finish it in roughly four to five hours of working time.
Blue and White Striped Market Bag
Free crochet pattern · US terms
- Yarn
- 4 – Medium (worsted) — suggested
- Hook
- 4.5 mm (G-7) — verify with a swatch
- Gauge
- 14 sc x 16 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet, unblocked (calculated, not measured)
- Size
- approx. About 13 in (33 cm) wide across the base and 14 in (36 cm) tall including handles, unstretched
- 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 built from the bottom up. A dense oval base in single crochet gives the bag its shape and strength, then the sides switch to a striped mesh of chain spaces and double crochet. Two flat handles are worked at the top and joined into a round for extra strength.
Working in joined rounds keeps the stripes level and the mesh even. Two colors alternate every two rounds, so you carry the unused color up the inside of the join rather than cutting yarn each time. The finished bag suits market shopping, beach trips or a project bag.
Before You Start
Materials
Suggested materials. Any yarn of the same weight works if you match the gauge.
1 skein worsted cotton in white, about 150 yd (137 m)
Cotton holds shape and does not stretch as much as acrylic, which matters for a bag carrying weight. A cotton-acrylic blend is a reasonable substitute if you want a softer hand.
1 skein worsted cotton in medium blue, about 150 yd (137 m)
A contrasting solid color keeps the stripes crisp. Avoid variegated yarn if you want clean two-color stripes.
4.5 mm (G-7) crochet hook
Matches worsted weight for a firm bag fabric. Go up one size if your single crochet is tight.
Stitch marker
Useful for marking the first stitch of each round. A scrap of contrasting yarn works too.
Tapestry needle
Needed for weaving in ends and reinforcing the handle joins. A blunt tip is best for cotton.
Yarn needed (estimate): about 300 yd (275 m) total / roughly 150 yd (137 m) each of two colors
Gauge and Size
Gauge: 14 sc x 16 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 13 in (33 cm) wide across the base and 14 in (36 cm) tall including handles, unstretched. Your size depends on your gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms)
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| st | stitch |
| sts | stitches |
| sp | space |
| rep | repeat |
| FO | fasten off |
Special Stitches
Chain space (ch-sp)
A gap formed by skipping stitches and making chains above them. In this pattern each mesh opening is made by ch 2 and skipping 2 sts, then working 1 dc into the next st.
Joined round
At the end of the round you work a sl st into the first stitch of that round, then ch 1 or ch 3 to begin the next round. The join sits at one side of the bag.
How This Pattern Is Written
- All instructions use US crochet terms.
- The bag is worked in joined rounds from the base upward. The turning chain at the start of a round does not count as a stitch unless stated.
- In the mesh rounds the starting ch 3 counts as the first dc.
- Right side faces you throughout. Do not turn between rounds.
- Color changes happen at the join. Carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the bag; do not cut it every time.
- The base is an oval worked around a starting chain, so increases sit at both ends of the oval to keep it flat.
- The handle round is worked in one continuous joined round that skips the mesh and builds two straps.
The Pattern
Base
Striped Mesh Body
Top Border and Handles
Finishing and Assembly
Sizes and Variations
Taller beach bag
work Rounds 5-28 of the mesh body instead of Rounds 5-20, adding about 4 in (10 cm) of height. Stitch counts stay the same.
Wider tote
start the base with ch 27 and add 6 sc to each long side in Round 1, giving 54 sc. Every following round increases by 12 sts, and the mesh round becomes 24 dc and 24 ch-2 sps.
Solid body
replace the mesh rounds with sc rounds in alternating colors. Work 60 sc per round for the same height, which uses noticeably more yarn.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Handles stretch out of shape | Too few stitches around the chain loop | Undo Round 4 and make sure you work exactly one sc into every chain of each loop. |
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap and squeeze gently rather than wringing. Roll in a towel to remove water, then dry flat away from direct heat and reshape the handles while damp. Do not tumble dry.
Questions Makers Ask
How much yarn does a crochet market bag need?
This bag uses roughly 150 yd (137 m) of each color, about 300 yd (275 m) total. Treat that as an estimate, since tension and yarn brand change the real amount.
Can I make this bag with acrylic yarn?
Yes, but acrylic stretches more under weight than cotton. If you use acrylic, work the base and top border with a hook one size smaller to keep the shape.
Do I need to line the bag?
No lining is needed for shopping. If you plan to carry small items, sew a simple cotton lining to the inside of the top border.
How do I keep the stripes even in joined rounds?
Change color at the join, not mid-round, and carry the unused color up the inside. Working the join in the same place each round keeps the color changes in one line.
Next: Try a crochet tote with a solid single crochet body and a leather-style strap, which builds on the same joined-round skills.