As an avid crocheter, I use a LOT of yarn. I work with yarn every day (or… almost). And as every crocheter in such situation, inevitably, I have a lot of yarn leftovers. Recently I started to look for more ideas how to use up all the scrap yarn and turn it into something pretty and practical (we all love it in crochet – turning yarn into pretty things, don’t we???).
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Also, I’ve already made quite a few crochet bags, but as I prefer to crochet than to sew (of course!), I never added lining, although sometimes I admit it might be useful. The truth is, I avoid sewing. I avoid it that much, that sometimes I give up a pattern I love just because there’s sewing involved…
But recently an idea came to me, a kind of „aha! moment”.
So if you:
- want to use up your leftover yarn, or
- are in need of a new pretty bag, or
- always wanted a lining but never wanted to actually sew it, or
- like granny squares, or
- want to learn how to make a granny square, or
- need a quick project to finish this weekend, or
- are looking for a great gift idea
keep reading!
So what’s the secret?
I thought of all the simple cotton tote bags I see every day on the streets, and those that I myself keep in my kitchen drawer. And suddenly and idea arose in my head: this simple, modest, light bag can become my Granny Square Tote with lining! How?
- Take your leftover yarn.
- Make two granny squares the size of your tote.
- Join three sides together.
- Tuck the tote inside.
- Using needle and sewing thread, sew the squares to the tote along the top edge. (I admit – there’s some sewing involved, but just a little!)
- Your beautiful Crochet Granny Square Tote Bag is ready!
If you dream of a sturdy tote bag with MAP OF THE WORLD on it, have look at my Travel the World Tote pattern HERE.
Some more good news:
Use any yarn weight you have, plus
it doesn’t matter, how big is your canvas tote (as long as it’s square or very close to it).
So let’s begin!
This pattern is available as ad-free, printable pdf on Etsy HERE.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.
Pin it for later HERE.
EXPLANATION: Make a beautiful, yet easy crochet tote bag, using just two classic granny squares and a simple canvas bag as lining. Beginner friendly, quick project for an outstanding effect! Just follow my FREE crochet pattern, below!
Supplies
- US G-6 (4 mm) hook
- scissors
- needle
- thread
- approx. 40x40cm/16″x16″ light canvas tote
- yarn: approx. 250g/8.8oz of DK weight yarn, preferably cotton or cotton blend. I used scraps of Drops Cotton Light (50% cotton, 50% polyester, 50g/1.8oz, 105m/115yds)
- You can use one to 36 colors, depending on what you like or what yarn you have. (I really mean it: make the bag one color or change color in every round, or mix 5-10 colors). If you have very small amount of any of the colors, just use it to make one of the first few rounds!
For yarn substitution, visit: yarnsub.com.
Gauge
10 cm/4”= 5 3dc clusters x 8 rows
Finished Size
40x40cm/16×16″
Notes
- Squares are crocheted in turned rounds.
- Start each round with ch3, that counts as dc throughout.
- After each round, cut off yarn and join another color to make next round, unless you wish to have uni color bag.
- When you change colors, make last yarn over of the final slip stitch using the new color, before you cut off current color.
- When both squares are finished, join them along three sides and place the tote inside.
- IMPORTANT: instructions are given to match 40x40cm/16″x16″ canvas tote, HOWEVER you can easily make it bigger or smaller, by adding or removing rounds. Also, you can use any yarn from your stash and forget the gauge: just make round after round and try if it matches your tote size, whatever it is.
Abbreviations (in US terms)
ch – chain
ch-sp – chain space
dc – double crochet
rep – repeat
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
st/s – stitch/es
PATTERN
Make two granny squares as follows:
Ch4. Sl st to 1st ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch3 (counts as dc throughout), 2dc into ring, ch2, *3dc into ring, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (12 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 2: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (24 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 3: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, 3dc between two 3dc clusters, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, 3dc between two 3dc clusters, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (36 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 4: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) twice, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) twice, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (48 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 5: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 3 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 3 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (60 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 6: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 4 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 4 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (72 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 7: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 5 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 5 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (84 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 8: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 6 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 6 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (96 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 9: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 7 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 7 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (108 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 10: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 8 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 8 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (120 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 11: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 9 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 9 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (132 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 12: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 10 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 10 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (144 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 13: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 11 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 11 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (156 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 14: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 12 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 12 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (168 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 15: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 13 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 13 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (180 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 16: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 14 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 14 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (192 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 17: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 15 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 15 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (204 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Round 18: Sl st into ch-2sp, ch3, 2dc into ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 16 times, 3dc into next ch-2 sp, ch2, *3dc into same ch-2sp, (3dc between two 3dc clusters) 16 times, 3dc into next ch-2sp, ch2*, rep *-* two more times, sl st to top of beg ch3, turn. (216 sts, 4 ch-2sp)
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Align both squares. Join yarn to one of the corners. Working through both squares, sc along three sides, 1sc in each st, 3sc in each corner. When three sides are joined, sc along each of the remaining square edges separately. Sl st to st in corner. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Place the canvas bag inside the „pocket” formed by two granny squares. Sew the bag to squares along the top edge.
This pattern is available as ad-free, printable pdf on Etsy HERE.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.
Pin it for later HERE.
See my Africa Shoulder Bag pattern HERE for an adventurous look!
I’ve worked hard to make the pattern accurate and the instructions clear. However, in case you have any trouble with this pattern or you find a mistake, do not hesitate to contact me: pukapukapl @ yahoo.com.
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