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Free Crochet Pattern – Simple Stripes Tote Bag

Bags are my favorite thing to design and make. They are just so fun and functional! For moms on the go in particular, we need a bag to put our own purse in, as well as snacks, a water bottle, maybe a coloring pad and crayons. No worries, mom, this bag will fit all that! It measures 14″ by 12″ and has a generously sized shoulder strap, measuring 2-1/2″ wide.

Perhaps one of my favorite thing about crocheting up a bag, is when you are a little ways done with it, you have a place for your ball(s) of yarn! Cotton yarn makes a really sturdy, easy to wash bag, and is fairly inexpensive. This project is also a great way to use your “economical” (perhaps a little bit scratchy) acrylic yarn.

To add this project to your Ravelry queue click here: Simple Stripes Tote Bag – Free Crochet Pattern

Simple Stripes Tote Bag

Approx. 300 yards color “A”, 30 yards each of colors “B”, “C”, and “D”
G Hook for bag, J hook for drawstring

Gauge is 7 stitches and 4 rows in 2″ double crochet

Measures 14″ x 12″, 4″ wide bottom
Strap measures 2-1/2″ wide

NOTE: If you make any alterations to the bag, the strap rows won’t work for you and you’re on your own. If you were confident enough to make changes though, you can probably handle crocheting the strap yourself. Happy hooking!

1. W/ Color A
Ch 39
Dc in back bump of 3rd ch from hook and next 35 chs
5 dc in next ch
(Rotate, working on other side of ch now)
Dc in next 35 st
4 dc in next st
Join to first dc w/ sl st (80 st)

2. Ch 2 (counts as dc)
Dc in same st
Dc in next 35 st
2 dc in next 5 st
Dc in next 35 st
2 dc in next 4 st
Join to ch-2 w/ sl st (90 st)

3. Ch 2 (counts as dc)
2 dc in next st
Dc in next 35 st
* 2 dc in next st
Dc in next st
2 dc in next st
Dc in next st
2 dc in next st
Dc in next st
2 dc in next st
Dc in next st
2 dc in next st *
Dc in next 35 st
Rep from * to * once
Join to ch-2 w/ sl st (101 st)

4. Ch 2 (counts as dc)
Dc in next st
2 dc in next st
Dc in next 35 st
2 dc in next st
* Dc in next 2 st
2 dc in next st *
Rep from * to * four times
Dc in next 35 st
Rep * to * four times
Join to ch-2 w/ sl st (112 st)

5. Ch 2 (counts as dc)
Dc in BL only of next st and each st around
Join to ch-2 w/ sl st (112 st)

6. Ch 2 (counts as dc)
Dc in next st and each st around
Join to ch-2 w/ sl st (112 st)

7. Ch-3 (counts as dc, ch 1)
Sk 1 st
* Dc in next st
Ch 1
Sk 1 st *
Rep from * to * around
Join to ch-2 of ch-3 w/ sl st

8. Ch 1
Sc in same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

9. W/ Color B
Ch 1
Sc in BL only of same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

10. Ch 1
Sc in same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

11. W/ Color A
Ch 1
Sc in BL only of same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

12. W/ Color C
Ch 1
Sc in BL only of same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

13. Ch 1
Sc in same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

14. W/ Color A
Ch 1
Sc in BL only of same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

15. W/ Color D
Ch 1
Sc in BL only of same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

16. Ch 1
Sc in same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

17. W/ Color A
Ch 1
Sc in BL only of same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

18. Ch 3 (counts as dc, ch 1)
Sk 1 st
* Dc in next st
Ch 1
Sk 1 st *
Rep from * to * around
Join to ch-2 of ch-3 w/ sl st

19. Ch 1
Sc in same st and each st around
Join to first sc w/ sl st

20. Rep 9

21. Rep 10

22. Rep 11

23. Rep 12

24. Rep 13

25. Rep 14

26. Rep 15

27. Rep 16

28. Rep 17

29. Rep 18

30. Rep 19

31. Rep 9

32. Rep 10

33. Rep 11

34. Rep 12

35. Rep 13

36. Rep 14

37. Rep 15

38. Rep 16

39. Rep 17

40. Rep 18

41. Rep 18

:Mark stitches for strap:
(Not counting current st)
Mark 2nd, 51st, 59th and 108th st over (counting left)

:Strap:
1. Sl st (loosely) into next 2 st
Ch 1
Turn
Sc in same st and next 8 st

2. Ch 1
Turn
Sc in same st and each st across (9 st)

3-?. Rep rows 1 and 2 until desired length is reached
(end on even numbered row)

Match strap to marked st:
Working through both thicknesses (strap and bag)
Sl st in same st and next 8 st
Sl st into next st
Fasten off
Weave in ends

Drawstring:
Using “J” hook and holding 3 strands together,
Ch 115
Fasten off
Weave through ch-1 spaces of round 40