Free Crochet Market Bag Pattern – Elgin Tote Bag

With many grocery stores getting rid of plastic bags and switching to reusable bags, this is the perfect opportunity to show off our crochet at the grocery store by making our own grocery bag.  This crochet market bag pattern is made of basic crochet stitches and works up quickly.

This crochet bag pattern has a solid bottom and the body of the bag has no holes, making it a great shopping bag since there are no holes to stretch and for food to slip through.

Whether you’re off to the farmer’s market or a grocery store this is the perfect bag to take with you on your trip.

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Grab a printable, ad-free PDF version of this pattern plus the matching cup cozy in my Ravelry shop or Etsy shop.

Can I Use Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn For This Pattern?

If you have some worsted weight cotton yarn on hand that you’d like to use then you can use it for this pattern however, there are two things to keep in mind if you do:

1. You’ll need to change the hook size to something better-suited to your yarn
2. Your bag will likely be smaller

I personally find a lot of worsted weight yarn made in cotton to be actually thinner than a true worsted weight (like Lily Sugar and Cream Yarn) and if I were to use it with this pattern, I would hold the yarn double (meaning two strands of yarn worked together as a single strand), to make a bulkier yarn.  

If you want to learn how to crochet with the yarn held double, I have a step-by-step tutorial for crocheting with yarn held double here to show you how to do it. It’s a great way to use up your yarn stash fast.

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Supplies:

• J / 6.0 mm crochet hook
  
  
• Bernat Maker (72% Cotton, 28% Nylon, Bulky (5), 250g / 8.8 oz, 290 meters / 317 yards), 1 skein of each of the following colours:
  • Color A: Clay (approx. 8.6 oz/245 g/311 yards)
  • Color B: Steel Blue (0.78 oz/22 g/28 yards)
    
    
• Tapestry Needle
  
  
• Scissors
  
  
• Stitch Marker

Abbreviations:
(Click links in the list below to view a step-by-step video tutorial and photo tutorials for each stitch) 

• CH = Chain
  
  
• DC = Double Crochet
  
  
• FO = Finish Off
  
  
• HDC = Half Double Crochet
  
  
• Rep = Repeat
  
  
• RS = Right Side
  
  
• SC = Single Crochet
  
  
• SCINC = Single Crochet Increase / 2 Single Crochet Stitches in the Same Stitch
  
  
• SK = Skip
  
  
• SL ST = Slip Stitch
  
  
• ST(s) = Stitch(es)
  
  
• WS = Wrong Side
  
  
• YO = Yarn Over

Special Stitches & Techniques:

• Single Crochet in the 3^rd Loop: Insert your hook through the 3^rd loop of the indicated HDC stitch in the previous row (on the WS / backside of the fabric, directly under the back loop). YO and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook).  YO and pull through all both loops on your hook.
  
  
• Half Double Crochet in the 3^rd Loop: YO hook and insert hook through the 3^rd loop of the indicated HDC stitch in the previous row (on the WS / backside of the fabric, directly under the back loop). YO and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).  YO and pull through all three loops on hook.
  
  
• Double Crochet in the 3^rd Loop: YO hook and insert hook through the 3^rd loop of the indicated HDC stitch in the previous row (on the WS / backside of the fabric, directly under the back loop). YO and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).  YO and pull through the first two loops.  YO and pull through remaining three loops on your hook.

Notes:

• Gauge is not vital to the project but it may affect the amount of yarn needed for the project and the size of your finished bag. 
  
  
• The bag is worked from the bottom of the bag to the top of the bag in one piece. The RS is always facing you.
  
  
• Reading the Pattern: Instructions in brackets: I.e.: (SC, SCINC) x 6, this means you’ll work 1 SC stitch in the first stitch and then SCINC in the next and you’ll repeat that pattern a total of 6 times.
  
  
  • Numbers indicated in () at the end of a Round/Row indicate the number of stitches you should have at the end of the Round/Row. I recommend counting your stitches at the end of each Round/Row before moving on to the next.
  
  
  
  • Where SC followed by a number (i.e. SC 14), you’ll work 1 SC stitch in the next 14 stitches or chains, unless the pattern specifies to work those stitches into the same stitch or chain.
    
    
• The pieces in this pattern are worked in joined rounds (unless stated otherwise).  I recommend using a stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the Round.
  
  
• Do not turn at the end of each round unless stated otherwise.

Grab a printable, ad-free PDF version of this pattern plus the matching cup cozy in my Ravelry shop or Etsy shop.

Elgin Crochet Tote Bag & Market Bag Pattern

Using Color A, CH 37.

Round 1: SCINC in the 2nd CH from hook, SC 34, work 5 SC in last CH. Working on the other side of the CH, SC 34, work 3 SC in last CH. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST (from here on out referred to only as “join”). (78)

Not sure how to work on both sides of a chain? Check out my how to work on both sides of a chain tutorial here.

Round 2: CH 1, SCINC in the 1^st and 2^nd ST, SC 34, (SCINC) x 5, SC 34, (SCINC) x 3. Join. (88)

Round 3: CH 1, (SC, SCINC) x 2, SC 34, (SC, SCINC) x 5, SC 34, (SC, SCINC) x 3. Join. (98)

Rounds 4 – 7: CH 1, (SC in the first ST, DC in the next ST) x 49. Join. (98)

Round 8: CH 1, HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (98)

Round 9: CH 1, working all STs of this round in the 3rd loop (see Special Stitches & Techniques), (SC in the first ST, DC in the next ST) x 49. Join. (98)

Rounds 10 – 12: CH 1, (SC in the first ST, DC in the next ST) x 49. Join. (98)

Round 13: Rep. Round 8. (98)

Round 14: Rep. Round 9. (98)

Rounds 15 – 17: Rep. Rounds 10 – 12. (98)

Round 18: Rep. Round 8. (98)

Round 19: CH 1, working all STs of this round in the 3rd loop (see Special Stitches & Techniques), HDC around. Join. (98)

Round 20: Rep. Round 9. (98)

Rounds 21 – 23: Rep. Rounds 10 – 12. (98)

Round 24: Rep. Round 8. (98)

Round 25: Rep. Round 9. (98)

Rounds 26 – 28: Rep. Rounds 10 – 12. (98)

Round 29: Rep. Round 8. (98)

Change to Color B.

Round 30: Rep. Round 9. (98)

Rounds 31 – 33: Rep. Rounds 10 – 12. (98)

Round 34: Rep. Round 8. (98)

Round 35: Rep. Round 19. (98)

Round 36: CH 1, working all STs of this round in the 3rd loop (see Special Stitches & Techniques), SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (98)

Rounds 37- 39: CH 1, SC in the first ST and in each ST around. Join. (98)

Round 40: CH 1, SC 17, CH 70, SK 28, SC 21, CH 70, SK 28, SC 4. Join. (42 STs, 140 CHs)

Round 41: CH 1, SC in each ST and CH around. Join. (182)

Round 42: CH 1, SC in each ST around. Join. (182)

FO and weave in ends.

That’s it! I hope that you enjoyed making my Elgin Tote Bag Pattern. Want to make the matching cup cozy pattern? Check out my Elgin Cup Cozy Pattern and tutorial here.

I’d love to see your finished crochet bags! If you share your crochet projects on social media, please tag me @theloopylamb and/or use the hashtag #theloopylamb so I can see your project and share it as well.

Join The Loopy Lamb Crochet Community Facebook Group to connect with other crafty friends and share your fabulous projects made with this easy crochet market bag pattern,

You’ll love these other free crochet market bag patterns!

 Rainbow Saver Tote, Shoreline Seeker Tote Beach Bag, Vendbar Tote

Join The Loopy Lamb Crochet Community Facebook Group to connect with other crafty friends and share your fabulous projects made with this easy crochet market bag pattern,

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