Category Archives: market bag

DIY Summer Crochet Bags: Versatile & Stylish

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Summer is the perfect time to make and use crochet bags! Crochet bags are beautiful, stylish, sturdy, and versatile. They’re fun to make, and make fast little projects which are also very portable (so great for plane/train/car trips to the city/country/beach/cottage). They’re made with cotton, which is perfect for humid summer weather (most animal fibres except silk hold humidity, which is less fun in hot weather). The Portofino bag set is crocheted with Berroco Modern Cotton and the Costa Market Bag is made with Berroco Modern Cotton DK (both are ON SALE until the end of August).

A crocheted brown tote bag and matching bottle bag, resting on sandy beach terrain, with a light pink scarf or fabric peeking out of the tote.

Portofino Bag Set (crochet)

The Portofino bag set is the ultimate duo in accessories! A roomy tote for market scores, beach day essentials, or picnic must-haves in addition to a chic bottle bag to ensure you are always hydrated make the perfect pair this season. These quick projects are stylish, quick, and functional – the best combo!

I made the Portofino Bottle Bag for myself this weekend (picture below), and I’m sold, it’s a great one and I want to make the larger bag now too! I added one row to the body to make mine a little taller to accommodate some of my big bottles, and I only put on 160 sts for the strap. The bag fits my big, wide bottle perfectly, the mesh of the body of the bag is stretchy but also sturdy. The strap is extremely sturdy, and I don’t think it’s inclined to stretch out.

A person holding a crocheted tote bag and a matching bottle bag, standing in front of a wooden wall.

I used 1 skein of Berroco Modern Cotton (on SALE until the end of August) and it was ideal – it’s strong, sturdy, but also has a gorgeous sheen and luster, giving the finished bag some polish.

The instructions were clear and easy to follow. The pattern is free on the designer’s blog, or you can purchase a printable PDF that’s probably more concise (you know how blogs are these days, lots of ads and pictures).

A crochet bottle bag holding a stainless steel water bottle, resting on a person's leg with flip-flops visible in the background, on an orange blanket and grassy ground.

Size

  • Tote Bag: Width laying flat: 21”/53.5cm; Length: 15”/38cm; Depth: 7”/18cm; Strap length: 15”/38cm
  • Bottle Bag: Circumference: 10”/25.5cm; Length (adjustable): 7”/18cm; Strap length: 50”/127cm

Skill Level: Intermediate

Skills: Single crochet, Double crochet, Slip stitch, Chaining and skipping stitches (my favourite crochet skill tutorials are from Bella Coco on Youtube)

Materials

A crochet market bag in a brown hue, filled with three oranges, placed on a light fabric and surrounded by eucalyptus leaves and a halved orange.

Costa Market Bag (Crochet)

Tote all of your beach essentials or market finds in the Costa Bag, available in three sizes to ensure it will work for any occasion. A simple stitch mixed with a unique construction makes this classic net bag look polished and professional! The Costa Market Bag is a refinement of the very popular French Market Bag, which we made a few years ago, so I know it’s going to be a great one.

Skills Level: Intermediate

Skills: Single crochet, Single crochet decreases, Half double crochet, Half double crochet decreases, Working into chain spaces, Working flat and in the round, Crocheting into the sides of a row. (my favourite crochet skill tutorials are from Bella Coco on Youtube)

A person holding a crocheted brown market bag while wearing a light gray dress, surrounded by greenery.

Sizes

  • Mini (Medium, Maxi)
  • Width: 13 (15, 17)”/33 (38, 43)cm
  • Length: 13 (15, 17)”/33 (38, 43)cm
  • Straps: 17”/43cm

Materials

Colorful yarn arranged to spell 'SALE' with promotional details for a summer sale including discounts from July 12 to August 30.

Our SUMMER SALE is on now! Select products (including some clearance items) are 20% OFF until August 30, 2025, 11:59pm.

The discount is online and in-store, and it will be automatically be added at check-out, so you don’t have to jump through any extra hoops or remember to put in a discount code (this discount can NOT be combined with any other offers or discounts, including free shipping – you won’t be able to use another discount code when you check-out).

SEE ALL SALE PRODUCTS

Create a Stylish Tote: Tide Loop Bag

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Tide Loop Bag

The The Tide Loop Bag is a pretty, slightly textured knit that will look great with all your summer outfits. It’s worked on 5mm/US8 needles using 2 strand held together to get a denser, sturdier fabric (which you kinda need for a bag). You can hold 2 strands of the same colour together, or mix a couple of colours to create a depth of colour and to add to the texture. My favourite yarn for this project would be Berroco Remix Light because it knits so well holding two strands together, but there are lots of other options, you aren’t limited.

Construction

The Tide Loop Bag pattern includes a tote bag and a beach bag with an organic structure inspired by sand ripples on the seabed, which become visible after the outgoing loop of the tidal wave. The beautiful change gives a light breeze and is naturally elegant.

The Tide Loop Bag is knitted from the bottom up. Begin by casting on stitches for the bottom with Judy’s magic cast on. Knit in the round with increases to shape the bottom of the bag while knitting the structure pattern according to the chart. To avoid too many purl stitches, knit the bag from the wrong side. The work is concluded with a handle, which is knitted seamlessly as an extension of the bag, just like the rest of the work is sewing-free.

Size

  • 1 (2)
  • Width_ 36 (46) cm
  • Height_ 39 (39) cm

Yarn Options

You’ve got a lot of options for making this bag! My favourite is Berroco Remix Light because it knits so well holding two strands together. But there are lots of other options:

Other Materials

  • Circular needles 5 mm – 24″/60 AND min. 47″/120 cm (or use 2 circular needles)
  • Circular needles 4.5 mm – 24″/60 cm.
  • PATTERN

FINISHED Granny Square Market Tote

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Granny Square Market Tote

I think I might be sliding into the granny square bandwagon … last spring I blogged a bit about grannies but I didn’t really get the itch to join the gook until the summer yarns started drifting in (it also didn’t hurt that I saw a lady at the art gallery wearing. groovy crochet granny cardigan and I saw how beautiful they can be).

Anyway, I found the Granny Square Market Tote and thought it was a fun, cute simple project. The pattern is available for FREE with some support video tutorials, or if you want a more succinct printable version you can pay for that. It’s a simple construction, just 3 big granny squares that are joined together and folded up, so it’s very easy crocheting. I used 3 skeins of Berroco Modern Cotton and a 4.5mm/US7 crochet hook, so it was easy on materials too. I definitely recommend using a plant-based fibre for bags, they wear better. Berroco Modern Cotton is a blend of Cotton and Viscose (a cellulose based fibre made from plants … bamboo yarn is a cellulose fibre), which makes it soft, strong, and the viscose gives the yarn a smooth surface and slight sheen.

You can see notes on my modifications below (I didn’t do anything too intense to change the pattern, mostly I just added a strap and the instructions for that are below and in my notes on Ravelry.

Overall, I think it worked out really beautifully and I think the Trinity Tote will be next! Or maybe the Salena Sweater ….

Materials

Modifications

  • I did the JAYGO (join-as-you-go) with the wrong sides facing (as described in the instructions), but the seams looked messy that way (I thought I did it correctly according to the video, but I could be wrong), so instead of ripping it all back I turned the bag inside-out and finished it with the wrong side out. The JAYGO technique is fast and avoids seaming, but for a nice straight seam you could skip it and just make 3 squares and sew them together.
  • I skipped the part in Square 3 round 13 where you join the tops of the two sides of the work together (I think it’s in the 6th line “(3Dc, Ch 1, JAYGO into Square 2 unworked Ch-3 space ….)” and just kept going around because I wanted to add a strap.
  • The pattern instructions don’t include a strap, despite the fact that there’s a strap in the picture. I added a strap, the instructions for how I did it are below.
Photos Salena Baca

Strap
1. Make the strap chain: after finishing joining the squares together, i rejoined the yarn at the chain space of one of the top-pointy parts (where you would want to
attach a strap, and chained 62 sts (or about 15″ of chain).

2. Reinforce the strap chain: making sure not to twist the stitches, make 1 slip stitch in the chain space on the opposite pointy part, then 1 more slip st into the chain space to anchor things securely.

3. Work back across the strap chain: make 1 slip stitch in each chain, ending with a slip stitch in the chain space where the strap is joined.

4. Work around one side of the mouth of the bag: make 1 slip stitch in each DC stitch down 1 side of bag opening (skipping the ch1 spaces between the DC clusters), until you reach the other side of the handle chain, then make 1 slip stitch in chain space to anchor it.

5. Work back across strap chain: make 1 slip st in the outer leg of each stitch. At the bottom you can either fasten off and reattach on the other side of the strap, or slip stitch across the back (inside) of the base of the strap where it meets the chain space of the granny square.

6. Work back OPPOSITE side of strap: make 1 slip st in the outer leg of each stitch. slip stitch in chain space at bottom to anchor it.

7. Work around other side of the mouth of the bag: make 1 slip stitch in each DC stitch down 1 side of bag opening (skipping the ch1 spaces between the DC clusters), until you reach the other side of the handle chain, then make 1 slip stitch in chain space to anchor it.

8. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Photos Salena Baca

PROJECTS Market & Grocery Bags

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Since single-use plastic bags are being phased out in Canada, I thought it might be a good time to revisit the good old-fashioned string bag. I could be wrong, but I feel like we were doing well reducing our plastic before COVID, but the pandemic seems to kind of disrupt that progress. Setbacks happen, we’ll just get back on the horse and forge forward! The following are some of my favourite patterns … both knit and crochet. I prefer crochet because the nature of the crochet stitch strengthens the structure of the bag, but in the end, it’s really all good, as long as we’re cutting back on plastic.

Qualities I look for in a yarn for making string bags:

  • Washability: I want to be able to throw it in the washing machine.
  • Strength: it needs to be strong enough to carry stuff and not break.
  • Resilience: it needs to wear well, I want it to last.

Why Bother?

Some philosophies believe that we are connected to everyone and everything on this planet. Since there is now garbage in orbit around the planet, I’ll just extend it a little further and say that you’re connected to everything in creation. You are tethered to everything, and this connection is centred in love. You are important, what you say is important, and what you do is especially important. In The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz says we should be impeccable with our words, but I think it’s time we learn to be impeccable with our actions (as an aside, the audiobook narrator Peter Coyote is EXCELLENT).

During the early COVID shut-downs I noticed a LOT of plastic bags leaving the store, and it made me kind of queasy, so I started switching over to paper bags and biodegradable shipping bags. But paper isn’t the answer – it decomposes and recycles, but it’s substantially more expensive than plastic, it’s resource-heavy, and its manufacture and distribution generate lots of greenhouse gases. The solution is to not use resources that you don’t need to. We have to make new habits, but when you do, try to do it from a different context, try it from a place of love. Most of us live from a centre of fear, but I’ll be honest, I don’t think it’s working for us. When you approach things from a foundation of fear everything seems to be slow, jerky, resistant, and hard. When you come at it from a paradigm of love, things just seem to flow, they’re easy, and they move naturally. We have a lot of changes ahead of us, so if you can find a way to lean into it gracefully you’ll be leagues ahead of the game.

For more on the subject of living from love …

P.S. (Video Tutorials)

I tried to find you a suitable pattern with a video tutorial on Youtube, but while I was previewing them I started feeling really angry and frustrated, so I passed. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t follow one if you find one you like, it just means that I didn’t find anything that met my standards for referral (a combination of accessible skill level, clear instructions and happy energy).

P.P.S. (COVID Related Supply-Chain Disruptions)

Distribution disruptions due to COVID are still in the works, and I received a note from the distributor last week that the price of Cascade Ultra Pima is going up to $14.97/skein. Our inventory is still at the old price, $11.97/skein, so if you were thinking of picking some up best to do it before we have to raise the price.

MORE FREE MARKET BAG PATTERNS

French Market Bag (crochet)

Here’s a great one for the people who aren’t afraid of the hook – a gorgeous french market bag crocheted with cotton! I’ s a substantial bag that will hold a lot of whatever you’re carrying. We made our store sample with Cascade Ultra Pima and we used about 320m of yarn. I’d like to try it with a linen, like Quince & Co Sparrow, I love the sturdiness and resilience of linen. If you want an even bigger bag, level up to a 4.5mm or 5mm hook and use Lion Brand Pima Cotton.

Suggested Yarns

Other Materials

Ilene Bag (knit)

Ilene is a great free bag pattern that’s been around a long time. It holds a lot, but if you want it bigger just make the body longer, and you can make the handle longer or shorter to suit your carrying needs.

Yarns

Other Materials

Crochet Grocery Bag

I designed this little bag many, many moons ago and it’s still one of my favourites. My favourite version were the ones I made a few years ago with some Quince & Co Sparrow Linen – they’re sturdy, light, and put away up nicely! This bag also makes a great little gift.

Suggested Yarns

Materials

Monteagle Bag (knit)

I’ve always liked the Monteagle bag because it’s just really groovy looking and reminds me of macrame. It’s like on larger needles to play up the stringiness of the string bag.

Yarns

Other Materials

Weightless Produce Bag (knit)

Materials

Portofino Bag Set (crochet)

This mesh bag set is the ultimate duo in accessories! A roomy tote for market scores, beach day essentials, or picnic must-haves in addition to a chic bottle bag to ensure you are always hydrated make the perfect pair this season. These quick projects are stylish, quick, and functional – the best combo!

Suggested Yarns

Other Materials

PROJECT Technicolor Tote from Petite Knit

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TECHNICOLOR TOTE BAG

The Technicolor Tote Bag is worked from the bottom up in a slipped stitch pattern. The bag is worked in three strands of yarn held together throughout, and the gradual transitions between colors are achieved by continuously changing between the different colors held together (don’t worry, the color changes are thoroughly described in the pattern and the pattern is supported with youtube videos). Work the bag in your favorite colors and either meticulously change colors as the pattern dictates or use the description in the pattern as a guide and inspiration and create your own interpretation of the Technicolor Tote Bag.

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS

#TechnicolorToteBag

This project also makes a GORGEOUS cushion …. see below for a beautiful picture.

STASHBUSTING?

This project is of course ideal for stash-busting, but the designer hasn’t given actual yardage amounts in the pattern, just suggestions for the number of balls required. I explored the finished projects and found a few people who had generously entered their accurate yarn totals, and it looks like you’ll need a total of 700 to 750m (900m on the outside) of DK weight yarn. A few projects say they used about 400g of yarn.

SIZE

  • Size: One size
  • Width: 34 cm [13½ inches]
  • Height: approx. 38 cm [15 inches]

COLOUR

How do the colours work? You’ve got a few different shades working together to create a harmonious composition:

C1: A medium colour that attracts the eye (royal blue was used in the original)
C2: A dark colour (dark brown was used in the original)
C3: A light neutral (ecru/light beige was used in the original)
C4: A medium-light neutral (camel was used in the original)
C5: A bright colour that POPS! (bright orange was used in the original)

YARN

Sandnes Garn Double Sunday (total of 11 skeins)

  • C1: 4 skeins Electric Blue (6046)
  • C2: 2 skeins Coffee Bean (4081)
  • C3: 2 skeins Almond (2511)
  • C4: 2 skeins Camel (2542)
  • C5: 1 skein That Orange Feeling (3819)

You can also use a summer yarn, like the following….

Cascade Ultra Pima (total of 6 skeins – approx $72)

  • C1: 2 skeins
  • C2: 1 skein
  • C3: 1 skein
  • C4: 1 skein
  • C5: 1 skein 

Lion Brand Pima Cotton (total of 6+ skeins, $48+, this yarn is a worsted to aran weight, you can use larger needles with it.)

  • C1:  2 to 3 skeins 
  • C2:  1 to 2 skeins 
  • C3:  1 to 2 skeins 
  • C4:  1 to 2 skeins 
  • C5:  1 skein 

Berroco Remix Light (total of 5 skeins, approx $85)

  • C1: 1 skein
  • C2: 1 skein
  • C3: 1 skein
  • C4: 1 skein
  • C5: 1 skein

Berroco Pima Soft (total of 11 skeins, approx $121)

  • C1: 4 skeins 
  • C2: 2 skeins 
  • C3: 2 skeins 
  • C4:  2 skeins 
  • C5: 1 skein 

Or if you want to take a more affordable route, try a blend of wool & synthetic:

Berroco Vintage Baby (total of 11 skeins, approx $61)

  1. C1: 4 skeins 
  2. C2: 2 skeins 
  3. C3: 2 skeins 
  4. C4:  2 skeins 
  5. C5: 1 skein 

Berroco Vintage DK (total of 6 skeins, approx $63)

  • C1: 2 skeins
  • C2: 1  skein
  • C3:  1 skein
  • C4: 1 skein
  • C5: 1 skein 

Want to go a little out of the box? Try something FUZZY!

Drops Air (a total of 7+ balls, this yarn is a worsted to aran weight, you can use larger needles with it)

  • C1: 3 balls
  • C2: 1 to 2 balls
  • C3: 1 to 2 balls
  • C4: 1 to 2 balls
  • C5: 1 ball 

OTHER MATERIALS

This project is a great opportunity to explore interchangeable needles!

ADAPTATIONS

I absolutely LURV Anmarkar’s Technicolor cushions!!!! What a brilliant and simple statement piece …. any sofa or chair would be lucky to be home to something like this.

#TechnicolorPillow

Looking for a larger bag? Look no further than the Petite Knit Technicolor Shopper! (I think this post is already long enough, just click on the picture or the link above to find all the details for the project.)

PROJECTS 3 Market Bag Patterns

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People have been asking a lot about market bags this summer, so I’ve put together a little bit of inspiration for you. I prefer crochet for market bags, the stitch reinforces the strength. Plus crochet is fun in the summer, it’s an extremely comfortable way to work with plant fibres. A basic crochet bag (like the second below) is also a great next level project for new or inexperienced crocheters.

FYI: All the Yarns Listed Below are 20% OFF until July 31st!

denim 1.JPG
Photo: eLoomanator

French Market Bag

Here’s a great one for the people who aren’t afraid of the hook – a gorgeous french market bag crocheted with cotton!

Suggested Yarns

Materials

Crochet Grocery Bag

I designed this little bag many, many moons ago and it’s still one of my favourites. My favourite version were the ones I made a few years ago with some Quince & Co Sparrow Linen – they’re sturdy, light, and put away up nicely!

Suggested Yarns

Materials

Provence Summer String Bag

I love the lace in this bag – it’s vintage without being too much. You can easily change the handles to make them longer.

Suggested Yarns

Materials

PROJECT Popham Crochet Bag

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Popham in Quince & Co Sparrow

Popham

Quince & Co Sparrow Linen is finally restocked just in time for the good weather! And it’s a good thing, because I seem to have reached maximum pandemic and my brain doesn’t seem to want to work good. If you are in the same boat, Popham is a nice little crochet bag (I know the crocheters are always jonesing for pretty projects), ready for you to go hit the outside and stand in a line (but it’s outside, so that’s a nice change, right?). If you are not a crocheter you can take the knitted version, Rue Mouffetard, for a drive. And another cool thing, this pattern is written for two sizes of yarn (a nice touch), the thinner Quince & Co Sparrow (the brown bag) and the thicker Quince & Co Kestrel (ecru bag) (also restocked).

Popham in Quince & Co Kestrel

Materials: Longer, Narrower Bag (thinner yarn)

The brown bag in the pictures. Size is 4½” [37 cm] wide and 27½” [70 cm] total length (including strap).

Materials: Shorter, Wider Bag (thicker Yarn)

The ecru bag in the pictures. Size is 4½” [37 cm] wide and 27½” [70 cm] total length (including strap).

Popham in Quince & Co Kestrel

Popham in Quince & Co Kestrel

Popham in Quince & Co Sparrow
Popham in Quince & Co Sparrow

FREEBIE French Market Bag

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French Market Bag

Here’s a great one for the people who aren’t afraid of the hook – a gorgeous french market bag made with DENIM! I love Rowan denim, and I love small summer projects that are high on satisfaction and low on commitment. Plus, the yarn is on SALE all month – how can you go wrong?

Materials

Notes

If you want to read more about knitting with denim yarn see the recent post by Mason Dixon Knitting, they’re denim fanatics and know all the ins & outs. Personally, my only advice (when making a market bag) is that the indigo dye comes off (it’s supposed it, that’s what good indigo does), so use metal needles, wear dark colours, and don’t sit on light coloured furniture when you work with it – its a nice throwback to when I was a kid and my mom dressed me up in dark clothes when I chose to play in the mud.

FREEBIE Crochet Grocery Bag

Quince Sparrow Crochet Market Bag 2

Crochet Grocery Bag

Oh crochet, how I have MISSED you! I just finished this handy-dandy grocery bag with less than one skein of  Quince & Co Sparrow organic linen. I wrote this simple pattern a million years ago, and it’s kind of nice to revisit an old friend. Plus it’s a fast & portable project, a cool summer yarn, and makes a great hostess or teacher gift.

The yarn & hook size are slightly smaller than the original, so check out our project notes for modifications. I also put a locking stitch marker (actually calabash pins worked well with this yarn) in each round to help me keep track of where I was (especially useful around round 12+).

Working with Linen

Pure linen is kind of a ‘product’ fibre, rather than a ‘process’ fibre. You’re going to love the project once it’s done, but it isn’t the easiest yarn you’ve ever used. In the skein it is stiff, but rest assured that it will loosen up as it is knitted, and then completely after washing. I’m not telling you this to put you off, but rather to help set your expectations for a different kind of textile experience. Quince & Co Sparrow is the most beautiful 100% linen I’ve ever come across and I’m always extremely happy with my projects made with it. I definitely suggest you give it a try!

Materials

Other Options

If you want to make the project as it was originally written you can use a 4mm/G crochet hook and one skein of Cascade Ultra Pima.

If the idea of a market bag gets you going but you aren’t into ours, here are some other options:

New Free Pattern: Janice Market Bag



Janice Market Bag

Skills
Cast on, Knit, Purl, pick up stitches, cast off.

Materials
° Berroco Origami (50g/90m): 3 skeins (or Berroco Linsey, Captiva, or Seduce)
° 4mm-16” or 24” circular needles
° 4.5mm-16” or 24” circular needles
° 4mm crochet hook (optional, for picking up sts)
° Small stitch holder or scrap yarn ° Scrap yarn for provisional cast
° Darning needle (straight is easier) ° 4 Buttons: 3/4” wide
° Sewing needle & thread (in colours matching yarn and buttons)

Gauge
19 stitches & 25 rows = 4”/10xm in stocking stitch on larger needles 



Download Free Pattern Here