Fresh Market Tote, a Simple Crochet Market Bag
Familiar stitches are constructed in a new way to build the perfect market bag, the Fresh Market Tote!
Three cheers to my friends at JOANN Stores for inspiring this fun summer project. I’m a huge fan of farmer’s markets and love using reusable bags. So, why not make one? I’m excited to share this FREE pattern as well as the accompanying video tutorial for the Fresh Market Tote.
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Find a printer friendly, PDF version of the Fresh Market Tote Bag in my Ravelry shop and on TLYarnCrafts.com. PDF version includes single page instructions and easy-to-read recipe style pattern.
Favorite this pattern on Ravelry – CLICK HERE!
It just wouldn’t be summer in the Midwest without an abundance of farmer’s markets. I like to spend my Saturday mornings strolling the aisles of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables from local farmers. I also tend to go overboard on the flavored honey and hand-poured candles that the vendors bring. By the end of my trip, my bags are overflowing with goodies to take home.
The Fresh Market Tote was inspired by those Saturday morning visits, when I always bring my own bags to go shopping. I wanted to design a sturdy crochet market bag that was also pretty and easy to care for. My friends at JOANN Stores were kind enough to provide yarn support for this project, and I landed on using two Lion Brand products: Cupcake and 24/7 Cotton. The yarns are held together throughout the project to take advantage of the color changes in Cupcake and the strength of 24/7 Cotton.
The Fresh Market Tote is simply constructed using a combination of slip stitches chain stitches, single crochet, and double crochet. Experienced makers may recognize that the body of the bag is made with a modified granny stitch. Instead of placing 3 double crochet in one space, I went with two. This adds a lightness to the bag while also reinforcing its strength.
The entire bag is made flat and seamed along the sides. Then straps are added. To keep the straps from stretching, I reinforced them with some additional single crochet stitches. The overall effect is cute yet practical, and perfect for gifting.
Follow along while I make the Fresh Market Tote in this step-by-step video in this YouTube video:
Fresh Market Tote Pattern
FINISHED SIZE: 16.75″ wide x 16.5″ tall
MATERIALS:
-1 ball of Lion Brand Cupcake yarn. Samples made with colors Sand Castle and Gelato.
-3 balls of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn. Samples made with the color Ecru.
-5.0mm crochet hook
-Scissors
-Yarn needle
GAUGE: 4″ = 10dc + 4 ch sps x 6.5 rows
ABBREVIATIONS:
- Ch(s) = chain(s)
- Dc = double crochet
- Sc = single crochet
- Sl St = slip stitch
- Sp = space
- Sk = skip
- St(s) = stitches
- Rep = repeat
- Rem = remaining
- Tch = turning chain
- Tog = together
NOTE: Beginning ch 3 counts as a dc and beginning ch 4 counts as dc + ch 1.
STEP 1: Holding one strand of each yarn tog, ch 122. Dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc in the next ch, (ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in the next 2 chs) across to last 3 chs. Ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in the last ch.
STEP 2: Turn. Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout). 2 dc in the first ch 1 sp. Ch 1, (2 dc in the next ch 1 sp, ch 1) across to tch. 3 dc in tch sp.
STEP 3: Turn. Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1 here and throughout). (2dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1) across to last 3 sts. Dc in the space between the dc and tch.
STEP 4: Rep Steps 2 and 3, 12 more times. You will have 27 total rows.
STEP 5: Ch 1. Rotate panel clockwise and bring short sides together to begin a sc seam. Sc 2 sts in the ends of the first row, sc 1 st in the ends of the next row. Rep this pattern along short edge. Ch 1. Rotate panel clockwise to begin a sc seam along the bottom. Sc evenly across bottom edge. Cut yarn.
STEP 6: Turn bag right side out. Returning to the top of the bag, attach yarn in the st directly left of the seam. Ch 1. Sc in the same st and each ch 1 and dc around. Join with a sl st in the first sc of round. (118 sc)
STEP 7: Ch 1. Sc in the same st as join and each sc around. Join with a sl st in the first sc of round.
STEP 8: Ch 1. Sc in the same st as join and the next 18 sc. Ch 85, sk 21 sts, sc 38, ch 85, sk 21 sts, sc 19. Join with a sl st in the first sc of round.
STEP 9: Ch 1. Sc in the same st as join. Sc to chs. Sc in each ch. Sc to chs. Sc in each ch. Sc in rem sts. Join with a sl st in the first sc of round. Cut yarn and weave in all rem ends.
Purchase the printable PDF Fresh Market Tote pattern HERE!
I hope you love the Fresh Market Tote! I can’t wait to see all of your projects! Share then with me on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #TLYCMakers for a chance to be featured on my feed. Comment below and let me know what yarn and colors you’ll use for your Fresh Market Tote! 
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