Feb
What You Actually Need to Get Started
So I made my first real tote bag in January 2023 when I was stuck inside for like two weeks straight and needed something bigger than those tiny amigurumi projects. You’re gonna need a decent amount of yarn, and I used Lily Sugar’n Cream because it was on sale at Michael’s and honestly it holds up really well for bags. Got the hot green color which was… a choice, but whatever.
For the hook, I went with a 5mm because that’s what I had laying around. Some people say use bigger but then your stuff falls through the holes, you know? You also need:
- Scissors obviously
- A yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Stitch markers if you’re bad at counting like me
- Maybe some fabric for lining if you want to get fancy later
The pattern I sort of followed was just a basic rectangle folded up situation. Nothing complicated.
Starting the Base
You can either start with a chain and work up, or do a circle base. I did the rectangle base because circles stress me out when they start getting big and wobbly. Chain like 30 stitches, or however wide you want your bag. Mine ended up being about 12 inches across.
Then you just single crochet back and forth. I did maybe 8 inches of height for the base but honestly I wasn’t measuring that carefully, I was watching The Great British Baking Show and just kept going until it looked right. The base takes forever and it’s boring but you gotta do it.
Building Up the Sides
This is where it actually starts looking like a bag. Once your base is done, you’re gonna work in the round instead of back and forth. You need to single crochet all the way around the edge of your rectangle, and this is annoying because the corners are weird. I did 3 stitches in each corner to make it turn properly.
Put a stitch marker at the start of your round or you’ll lose track immediately. Then just keep going round and round in single crochet. I did mine about 10 inches tall but you could do taller if you want like a beach bag situation.
One thing that really annoyed me was how the bag started leaning to one side after like round 15. Apparently this happens when you always work in the same direction? So I switched directions halfway through which helped but then you could kind of see where I switched. Not a huge deal but it bugged me for weeks.
The Stitch Pattern Stuff
You don’t have to just do plain single crochet the whole way up, though I mostly did because I wasn’t following a real pattern. You could do:
- Some rows of double crochet to make it work up faster
- That shell stitch thing if you know how
- Stripes with different colors
- Granny squares sewn together but that seems like way more work
I threw in a couple rows of half double crochet near the top just to change it up. Made it a bit sturdier there too.
Handles Are the Worst Part
Okay so handles are where everyone’s bag either looks professional or like a kindergarten craft project. I tried three different methods before I found one that didn’t make me want to quit.
First attempt was just chaining a long strand and attaching it. Way too stretchy and it looked cheap. Second attempt I tried to do that thick braided handle thing but my cat knocked over my coffee onto it when I was halfway done and I had to start over, so I was already annoyed.
What actually worked: I chained about 60 stitches (test it against your shoulder to see if the length works), then went back and did a row of single crochet, then turned and did another row back. So it’s basically a thick strap that’s three layers. Did two of these for both handles.
Attach them by weaving the ends through the top edge of the bag on each side. I put mine about 4 inches in from each side seam. You gotta really secure these because if your handle rips off when you’re carrying groceries you’ll be so mad. I wove the yarn ends back and forth like six times and tied them off inside.
Making It Actually Functional
So here’s the thing nobody tells you – crochet bags stretch like crazy when you put weight in them. That cute tote you made will turn into a saggy mess after one trip to the farmer’s market. There’s a few ways to deal with this:
You can add a fabric lining which I didn’t do on my first one but did on the second bag I made later. Just get some cotton fabric from Joann’s, sew it into a bag shape on your machine or by hand, and stitch it inside the crochet. Makes a huge difference and also hides all your ugly ends.
Or use a tighter stitch. My friend swears by half double crochet for the whole bag because it’s denser. Takes longer though.
Some people use two strands of yarn held together which I tried with some Red Heart Super Saver I had (the grey one) and it definitely made it sturdier but my hands hurt after like an hour of that.
The Size Problem
I made my first bag and thought it was a good size, then I actually tried to use it for groceries and it was weirdly small. Like it held two boxes of pasta and a bag of apples and that was it. So for the second one I made it way bigger, and then it was too big and awkward to carry.
Measure other bags you actually use and like. Don’t just guess like I did. A good medium tote is usually around 14 inches wide, 12 inches tall, and maybe 4 inches deep if you want it to stand up on its own.
To make it deeper, you need a bigger base. So instead of just doing a flat rectangle for the bottom, make the base like 14 inches by 4 inches, then when you work up the sides it’ll have that depth built in.
Bottom Support Thing
If you cut a piece of cardboard or plastic canvas to fit the bottom, it helps the bag keep its shape. I used one of those plastic canvas sheets from the craft store, cut it to size, and just stuck it in between the crocheted base and the fabric lining. You can take it out when you wash the bag, or just… never wash your bag which is also an option.
Yarn Choice Actually Matters
I know I mentioned the Lily Sugar’n Cream earlier but lemme tell you about other yarns I tried. That Red Heart Super Saver works fine and it’s cheap but it’s got that squeaky acrylic feel that some people hate. It’s durable though, I’ll give it that.
I tried making one with some fancy Wool-Ease yarn thinking it would be nicer, and it was super soft but it stretched out SO bad and started pilling after like two weeks. Total waste of money.
Cotton yarn is really the way to go for bags. It’s sturdy, it doesn’t stretch as much as acrylic, and it looks more… professional? I guess? The Lily Sugar’n Cream comes in a million colors and it’s dishwasher safe which is weird but good to know. Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK is also nice if you want something a bit thinner, but then you need to use a smaller hook and it takes even longer.
Oh and I tried making one with that t-shirt yarn (Hoooked Zpagetti or whatever it’s called) because I saw it all over Instagram. It works up really fast because it’s so thick, but it’s expensive and the bag ended up being really heavy even when it was empty. Looked cool though.
Common Stuff That Goes Wrong
Your gauge is probably gonna be inconsistent, especially if you’re working on it over multiple days. I crochet tighter when I’m stressed and looser when I’m relaxed, so my bags always have this weird tight section from that one evening when work was terrible. It’s noticeable if you look close but whatever, it’s handmade.
The sides might start curling in or flaring out. This usually means you’re either adding or losing stitches as you go around. Count your stitches every few rounds or you’ll end up with a wonky bag. I got to round 20 once and realized I had somehow gained 8 stitches and had to frog the whole thing back.
Weaving in ends on cotton yarn is harder than acrylic because it doesn’t grip as well. Use a sharp yarn needle and really weave them through thoroughly, going back and forth in different directions. I had an end pop out of my first bag after a month and it was just hanging there looking stupid.
Variations If You Get Bored
Once you make a basic tote you can mess around with it. I added a button closure to one by making a little flap and sewing on a wooden button I found in my junk drawer. You could do a zipper but that seems hard and I haven’t tried it.
Interior pockets are good if you’re using a lining anyway. Just sew a piece of fabric inside before you attach the lining to the bag. Or crochet a little pocket separately and stitch it to the lining.
Some people do those long straps that go across your body instead of just handles. Just make your handles way longer, like 100+ chains. I think that would dig into your shoulder weird but maybe it works.
You could also just make a way smaller version for like a lunch bag or whatever. Same process, just less chains to start and not as many rounds going up the sides. Takes way less time too, you could probably finish one in a few hours if you’re watching TV or something and just keep going.
